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• Amir •

 On the long drive to the hospital, everyone rushed for freedom and shelter.

They were out.

But they weren't free, or alone.

Not all the vehicles were blown to shreds or weren't working properly. The group was chased both on the ground and in the air. Amir sat in the backseat with Luna, but the tranquilizer kept closing her eyes. He tried to get himself in its way. He could see that the man was aiming with a loaded gun from the top floor. He just couldn't move quickly enough. It can put people to sleep for hours if not days.

"There's a light shining on us!" Sergeant Decker yelled from the driver's seat. "What do you think we should do?"

The motel Faisal and Amir booked was a few blocks from the main highway, two miles away.

"I have an idea!" Amir shouted over the helicopter blades nearing. "Ditch the truck!"

"What?" Faisal shouted beside Amir.

"We have no choice," Amir told him.

"Amir?" Darren said, sitting in the front seat and gazing back at him. "You guys aren't that far from the main highway. Ditch it there."

"This vehicle is almost out of gas," Sergeant Decker said over the loud sounds of sirens in the distance. "Who the hell comes out here for work and keeps their truck low on gas? It's stupid."

"Just reach the end of the road, and we'll make a run for it," said Amir.

Sergeant Decker nodded back and slammed down on the gas pedal.

He reached the end of the road ten minutes later, and they all hopped out. Amir scooped Luna into his arms, and she felt so light—lighter than a teddy bear.

"We'll run to my motel room," Amir told Sergeant Decker as he shut off the truck. "Both of you run toward the campground. I'll contact Cami when Luna and I are safe."

Cami nodded and hugged Luna.

"Be safe, guys," Cami said.

"You too. See you soon."

Amir and Luna took cover in a huge woods as the helicopters abruptly slowed down, shining their bright light over the truck they drove in. They witnessed men dropping to the ground while they searched on foot.

Not even five seconds passed, and Amir heard gunshots in the distance and worried about Cami and Sergeant Decker getting to safety. He didn't even think about what would happen if he were caught. The sergeant saved them. He kept that secret from Amir for a few days. His wife was also tethered.

Between New Orleans to surrounding cities, Amir and Luna crossed two railroads. They rested on long wooden piles in an abandoned building. He had to check on her, but stopping was dangerous. As Luna's heart rate increased, Amir feared for her life.

He looked at the sky and saw nothing. Only a few stars were out, and the moon was a crescent, which he admired. Amir caressed her face with an arm around her waist while holding her close to his chest.

"Why . . . Why did you stop?"

"You needed a rest."

"We need to go. They'll . . . catch us."

"We will keep going in a few minutes, Moon."

"Not here. It's too . . . too close."

"Baby, please." Amir's voice croaked on the last word. Her eyes shot open, and she placed a hand over her chest. "I want you to rest. I don't want you to have a seizure."

"We can't stay here long."

Amir reached for her gun and slipped it behind him in his pants pocket. "When we get up, I can officially give you a piggyback ride."

She stared at him with her cute, devious look.

"What?" he asked, smiling as she glanced around them and back at him. "I wish you could see yourself right now. Your aura is brighter than the moon. You are my moonlight."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You want to flirt with me instead of saving your energy."

"Party pooper."

"I'm not a party pooper." Luna hopped up. "I think we should focus on what the next step is."

"You feel up to running some more?"

She nodded.

Crouching, Amir hooked both of her arms around her knees and took a step forward. Her legs like this made him feel something: she was finally safe.

"I'm ready when you are," she said, breathing next to his right ear.

He smiled. "Hold on tight, my love."

Luna smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. "I love you, Amir."

"I love you, Luna Carlyle."

Moving closer, she whispered, "Luna Khan."

At hearing that, Amir kicked off the ground. He picked up a different speed he didn't know he had. Self-defense classes weren't this fast. He believed being caught and exposed caused his body to go into overdrive. They needed shelter immediately.

When he spotted the motel lights close by, he slowed down and stood beside an empty warehouse to take a breath. "We're close, baby."

She wriggled loose and flopped. "I can go the rest of the way."

Amir held Luna's hand as they sprinted over ditches, drainage systems, and tall grass to the motel. They slowed and stayed in backyards after noticing the small neighborhood's roofs. They both avoided porch lights, street lamps, and all other sources of light. Until they heard dogs barking, they were quiet.

"I smell like an animal. Rotten." Luna gazed longingly at a large house's window with its bathroom light on. "I can't wait to clean myself up. I smell like sewage. Probably worse."

Both of them were covered in dirt, mud, and dust from being on the run. "I thought I smelled something back there."

Luna smirked. "I'm glad you like it."

"You could smell like a garbage truck, and it would still fascinate me."

"Yeah, well, you can forget about having dessert later. That's out of the question."

Amir laughed and led them around a set of large hedges. The street lights were barely shining. One hedge was in the shape . . . Hell, he had no idea what it was supposed to be. Maybe a huge dinosaur crossed with a dog?

The streets were calm and almost empty, and Amir wondered how long they'd been running. He didn't even know the time, and only one motorist passed by.

"I want a shower badly," Luna said as they crossed a vacant road. "There's soot on my clothes."

"Your need to get wet is very amusing, Moon."

"Do not insult my need to get this nastiness off me." Amir giggled as she stopped and pointed to a bright light far away. "Is that where you and Faisal are staying?"

He squinted his eyes so he could see the sign in the distance. The C was a dim white, which said Crescent Motel. "Yeah."

They took off on the side street and crossed in front of dark storefronts, then hurried along a sidewalk. The trip to New Orleans might have been hectic, but it was so worth it for Amir.

"Crap," Luna said, letting go of his hand. "They could have people sitting in the parking lot in their cars, eyeing your room."

She had a point. The staff knew Amir helped her and Cami escape, so Chase or Dr. Kim only had to look up his information.

But he shook his head. His only concern was gathering his belongings and running to the nearest convenience store to get a taxi. He wondered about Cami and Decker.

"I could connect to Faisal. If he's in our room, he can check the window before we go."

"I wish I could, but the sedative is running through me." She shifted from one foot to the other.

"I'm sorry. I knew it was coming, and I wasn't fast enough." Amir sniffed. "Do you want me to hold you?"

"I'm okay, baby."

When she called him that, he smiled.

"I'd have taken that tranquilizer for you. Hell, I'll take a bullet for you. As long as you are safe."

Amir and Luna stopped beneath a faint light near the motel. Several benches and picnic tables were placed in a small park. Luna's face was dirty and her shoes and ankles were bloodied.

His stomach lurched. "Were you shot?"

"Not by a gun. Just a tranquilizer. The blood is from stepping around different soldiers' bodies. I . . . I shot a few."

Amir felt some relief, but her struggle to escape the institution overshadowed it. He returned her gun and cupped her face.

"Listen," he whispered. "I'll contact my cousin. If you get scared, use the gun. I'll be fast."

"Okay," she said, strolling to a bench. "I'll wait for you here."

"Great. I'll see you in a moment. Just connect with me. Should you need me?"

Luna nodded. "I will."

Amir couldn't move. His heart pounded as he looked into her tired eyes. To talk to Faisal, he left her.

His cousin was at the bayou with Cami and Sergeant Decker, not the motel.

"Amir?" Cami saw him. She tossed some long branches she had in her arms.

"Hey," he said before Faisal turned.

Faisal rushed up to him. "We're so worried about you and Luna."

"How did you get out here?" Amir asked.

"By me," Sergeant Decker said, emerging from a forest with firewood in his arms. "How's Luna?"

"Waiting for me on a bench. We're at Crescent Motel." Amir saw many families launching more fireworks. He'd seen enough firework displays to last a lifetime. "How did you all get here?"

"Liberty and Vikram are with Sarah at their cabin over there," Faisal said, pointing to numerous cabins. "They picked me up from the motel during the hospital commotion. Once you fled, we picked up Darren at the airport and connected to Cami. She and Colin—that is Sergeant Decker's first name—were running through cornfields. I couldn't connect to you. No one could."

"Luna was impacted by medication and tranquilizers. It's affecting me."

"Wow."

"You haven't been in the room?" Amir asked, and Faisal shook his head. "Damn. I hope nobody is surveying our room."

"They're not," Colin replied a few steps away. "They don't know you're there. Darren set you up at a hotel outside of Metairie."

"Thank you. I've got to get back to my girl."

"I was hoping to see Luna," Cami said as she pouted.

Faisal hugged her waist.

Amir replied, "She's exhausted and upset."

"Yeah. Everyone needs some rest and we can reconvene in the morning," Faisal suggested. "We'll come by tomorrow."

"What time is it now?"

Amir saw the time on Faisal's watch. It was after one a.m. They hopped in the truck at eleven. People were still up and partying in the camp.

He stepped away from them after a short goodbye and walked to the front lobby. Amir had no room key, so he needed one.

A jovial little ding sounded as he opened the door. Linen and pine trees filled the air. A small gift shop and tattered seats around a vending machine were on the right. On the other side was the desk clerk.

From the ice fridge, an older man circled the counter. His white hair reached his shoulders and his eyes were small. He wore a cowboy hat, blue trousers, and a white shirt.

"Good evening," said the man. "What can I help you with, sir?

"Sorry for how I look," Amir said, barely making eye contact with him, embarrassed by his appearance. "I need to get another key to my room."

"Sure. Which room?"

"Bottom floor. Room nine."

"Okay. Let me get that for ya." The man stepped away, and Amir dug into his pocket to see how much money Colin handed him, which was a couple of hundred dollars. "Okay, partner. I have a key here for you. Just to be sure you are who you say you are, what name is under the room again?"

"Amir Ibrahim Khan, sir."

"Okay. That's all I need." He handed Amir the key. "Say, where are you from?"

"Pakistan. Islamabad, specifically."

"Oh, wonderful place. It's beautiful over there."

"Have you ever visited my country?"

The man nodded and tilted his head. "Sure have. A few years back. I was a tourist and had the money to travel to many parts of the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Pakistani people are generous folks."

"That's very kind of you," Amir said. "I will look around and grab a few things."

"Sure. Take anything you need. We can charge it to the room if you'd like."

Nodding, Amir walked over to the unisex shirts with the words I Vacationed In New Orleans, Louisiana emblazoned in bold gold across the front. He grabbed a large one for himself and a small one for Luna. He saw a few pairs of jogging pants with New Orleans Saints logos printed on them that would fit both of them, so he grabbed two. Then he turned to scan for food items.

But his eyes landed on a stuffed baby doll with tanned skin and dark hair. Amir smiled and picked it up for Luna. He couldn't help but imagine having a daughter with her. Sarah would be a big sister.

Our little Aluna.

"I have more Louisiana merchandise by the window."

Amir grinned. He wasn't looking for souvenirs, but only for things he and Luna needed. "Thanks."

"Yeah, the fourth of July is a busy time of year around here. We have many visitors from out-of-town." The man slid his glasses on and sat in his chair behind the desk. "You should definitely try out the attractions we have. Haunted houses are a fun treat."

"I'm not going to be here for very long." Amir held onto a basket with his stuff and gazed at the snack section. "Do you believe in ghosts and haunted houses? That sort of stuff?"

"I've lived in this area my whole life, brother, and I've seen some unexplainable things. Either it's spirits or ghosts, or possibly people making claims. I'm not a big fan of the idea of it being real. Now, I will say I believe in people who have a special gift."

"Yeah," Amir retorted.

He purchased a New Orleans Saints tote bag, a cheap prepaid phone with minutes to call home, and other stuff at the counter. Before collecting them, he grabbed another doll. A boy. Luna will have both genders because they wouldn't know the gender of their first child. They could even have twins. He longed to live with Luna and Sarah.

"The icebox is outside. It used to be in the lobby, but the thing kept leaking," the man added as he finished counting Amir's things. "Come back for anything else."

"All right. Shukria."

Outside, Amir held his key and bags. Luna sat at the picnic table with her head down, waiting for him. She looked up as he neared. "How did it go?"

"Faisal is with Cami and Sergeant Decker right now while Vikram, Liberty, Sarah, and Darren are in the park." He reached inside the bag and sat beside her. "I got you something. Something you may like."

Luna's head tilted and chin narrowed. "A portable shower and clean clothes?"

"No, but I have a room key. You can have that shower now." He took out the dolls. "Thought about my girls."

A small smile spread over her lips as she looked at both dolls, noticing their dark hair and light brown skin.

Watching her smile caused his heart to do a funny spasm.

"These are cute. I love them. Thank you," Luna said, holding them tight. "I will name them Ibrahim and Aluna. Brother and sister."

"I like it. Is that our children's names?" Amir joked.

"Could be. I kind of named our children shortly after our shared reflection. It's silly. Crazy even—"

"No. Baby, no. I was planning our future, too." They both laughed, and Amir laid a hand over her shoulder. "Come on. Your shower is calling you."

Entering the room, Amir was happy. Luna looked at Faisal's clothes folded neatly on the dresser and Amir's belongings surrounding the bed he'd been sleeping in. He put the bags on the table, went to the bathroom, and grabbed towels, soaps, and hygiene products from the gift store for her.

Luna was clutching the dolls when he returned around the corner. It was crazy and odd, but she still looked beautiful covered in dirt, grime, sweat, and blood. Just looking at her had his heart beating. It ached for the love he had for her.

"You okay with me staying in the same room?" she asked. "Because I know with your lifestyle, you don't share a room with the opposing gender. I want to respect your wishes."

"Luna?" Amir rushed toward her. "I'm still new to all of this. I'm in my 30s and never had sex. I've always been careful about opening up my life to people, but this amazing woman standing before me offers me a reason to open up. We'll take this process slowly," he said, and she nodded, clutching the dolls. "Get in the shower, Moon. I want you to feel better."

Luna winced as he placed the dolls on Faisal's bed to look like they were watching TV. Then she walked around the corner to the bathroom. "It'll only take a few minutes."

"Don't rush."

For a moment, it looked like Luna was going to say something, but then she changed her mind. After a long, last look at Amir, she turned and walked into the bathroom. The sound of the shower was what made him burst into a wide smile.

Amir reached inside the bag, grabbed the disposable phone, and opened it. A hundred minutes were already stored on it. He probably shouldn't contact home right now because doing so could put them in harm's way. He put it down and went to the window. It faced the road and parking lot, which was perfect.

Amir looked out from behind the thick burgundy curtains and hoped that no one from St. Matthew's would see them. He and Luna were out. And they were never going back. If he had to wipe out an army, set fire to an entire city, and cause worldwide chaos to prevent Luna from entering that facility, he would do it.

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