It's been two days and she's finally stable enough to be discharged. Before departure the head doctor made a stop to hand William one way bus passes to a city he'd never been in. He smiles gratefully as she hands them a large backpack filled with snacks and reminds him he needs to make sure Elizabeth sees a specialist for spinal surgery.
The threshold between temporary sanctuary and overzealous trackers, took a second to walk through, but a few minutes later and they were on their way toward a completely different city. Three hours and a long bus ride later, a half awake Elizabeth, and an anxiety ridden William, emerged onto the streets of the wrongfully named Crystal city.
William glanced around for a few seconds before turning his attention toward simply helping his woman walk. They made it several paces down the road before anyone thought to venture near them; a strange clean cut man with deep set black orbs and close cut black hair. William watched as the strangers eyes flashed something horrifyingly demented before remembering to mask.
William's immediate response upon seeing the man's features change entirely was to push Elizabeth a little farther behind him; the man saw this and a sadistic smile etched across his eerily calm features.
"Where you headed to friend?"
His voice was laced with fake concern, as his eyes danced when he spotted Elizabeth, unwell and fighting the exhaustion. William continued to push her farther behind him, eyeing the stranger wearily,
"We're just passing through."
Silently he cursed himself for sounding so hesitant and watched as the stranger stepped over the train tracks. William stood where he was between the man and Elizabeth as he came closer before putting his hand up signaling him to stay where he was.
"That's close enough. We don't know you and don't want to cause any trouble. So if you'd leave us alone we'll continue on our way."
Something calculated flashed in the man's eyes as he digested William's words. He didn't move just watched them begin to walk away before clearing his throat and suggesting,
"You're friend looks tired. Why don't you guys rest for a little while and then keep going? My name's Ru by the way. What's yours?"
William hesitated at the thought of giving the stranger, Ru, their real names; he also knew that they couldn't keep going much longer, with her new condition, and the exhaustion from running the past few days. A few minutes passed as his last brain cell tried to come up with either an excuse, or a strategy, that didn't involve getting Elizabeth and Ru more acquainted.
Under the disturbingly calm gaze of the man, William, eventually came up with something. He smiled devilishly at the man, before casting a glance at Elizabeth, who shrunk a few paces back, giving him enough room to completely stand in front of her.
"I think we'll do just fine, thank you though."
He placed his hand on Elizabeth's left arm and gently began guiding her toward the opposite side of the tracks. The only problem was that Ru, became persistent and started following them. With every step taken away from him, he'd closed the gap with three more. Eventually they came to a stand still when Ru step directly into their path.
His now cold beady black eyes bore into William's beautiful browns and he'd since lost the factious smile previously pasted along his face; the tattoos that covered almost every inch of visible skin seemed to radiate irritation as his gaze toward Elizabeth.
"Do you want a break sweetheart?"
Sickening sweetness oozed passed his lips causing William to struggle with holding in his laughter.
"She doesn't speak English smart guy. So she doesn't know what you're saying."
Calculated rage exploded behind his eyes upon hearing these words, and it was all William could do, to retain his hidden smile. A tired, hungry, and annoyed Elizabeth, peered at both of them through jade green eyes, from behind a vail of satin long red auburn hair. She couldn't understand words but she defiantly started picking up the notion they possibly knew each other.
Several minutes passed as the three stood at a stand still on old wood rotting train tracks. Eventually she became sick of them playing their silent game as she tried to push past them and continue walking; before William could react, he watched Ru, meticulously wrap his arms around her, and attempt to pull Elizabeth close. She glared at him, and kneed him where the sun doesn't shine, causing William to double over onto the ground in fits of laughter.
Glaring daggers from his position, kneeling in the red clay and gravel, Ru, addressed him much as a demon would upon being forced out,
"Shut your mouth and do what I say. You're little wench is mine now. Her actions caused this. You're free to go but she stays."
After saying this, his body shifted so he was strictly positioned behind Elizabeth; he didn't have to wait long for the accident prone woman to stumble and fall. Upon catching her, he glanced up momentarily to glare daggers and flash a demented smile. All William could do was stand and stare as the woman he'd accidently fallen in love with was about to be carted off by someone who's only intentions were to cause her harm.