It seemed that since they had men on the ground they stopped bombing but the men were causing just as much havoc running around with guns and apparently flamethrowers, probably, among other things. They peeked out the back of the car and over the front seats checking every which way before crawling out the door on Evie's side which was now barely hanging on its hinges. The cab was half on the side walk and Evie and Yu-Jun were huddled by its side.

Evie was horrified and didn't think she'd ever be able to scrub the image from her mind, tears began to roll down her cheeks and she pressed her hand to her mouth pressing close to the side of the cab. Yu-Jun kneeled half over her as if to shelter her view.

Get it together Evie.

He knelt lower in front of her, "we're going to have to make a run for it. Which way are we going?."

Evie pointed toward the other side of the cab across the street. "I'm not sure I can run." She looked down and lowered her sock, her ankle was purple and swollen.

"You're the only one who knows where to go, Baby Girl." He looked at her waiting for her response. Hoping she didn't comment on the name that just slipped out.

In the midst of all the fear and pain her heart still skipped a beat when he called her 'Baby Girl,' even though she knew it was just something popstars did when they didn't know someone's name. Baby Girl, Sweetheart, Darlin', Sweetie. It was all the same to them and had no deeper meaning than that. Still, she knew she had to do something to get them out of this, after all it was her idea to come here and he was right, she knew where to go. "We still have about two blocks to go but we can cut through the building there." She pointed across the street to the department store. She looked at her shoulder bag trapped between the seats still in the cab and sighed. Yu-Jun reached back in and dragged out his backpack. Then helped her stand. She stood for a minute assessing the pain in her foot, there was none, it was numb which was very concerning but the pain in her ankle was the opposite. She wanted to scream out it hurt so bad, but she decided then and there that this was not the way she wanted to die: defenseless and leaving behind someone who needed her help. She wobbled and Yu-Jun grabbed her arm, steadying her. She took a deep breath and balanced on one foot.

Yu-Jun looked at her, "Do you need it?" He looked back at her bag.

She thought for a second, "I suppose not." She'd have to replace her stuff but with what was going on it wasn't like anyone was likely to steal anything from it anytime soon or that they'd be able to use it.

He picked up his backpack from the sidewalk and put it on his front. "I think you should get on my back at least until we're inside the store. That way we can move across the street faster. Less chance of being seen."

Evie hesitated. She wasn't sure if he could carry her, plus his bag, and move fast enough.

"Don't you trust me?"

Again her heart jumped. Stupid heart. "It's not that."

"Come on then we have to be fast and get off the street." He turned his back to her stooping down.

She placed her hands on his shoulders using her grip and her good foot to hop up onto his back. She landed against him, he gripped her thighs and did a little bounce to lift her higher and get a better hold on her. Her heart bounced with him. She didn't realize she'd held her breath for a second until he stood with ease and she released it. She tried to ignore the irregular beating of her heart. Not the time nor the place. She leaned her lips to his ear and whispered softly, "Let's go."

He shivered slightly in response and she curled her lips between her teeth, biting them tightly realizing what she had done.

Yu-Jun's heart raced and he wondered if she could feel it. How he wished this was not the way this was happening: talking to her, holding her, helping her. He leaned down ducking behind the cab looking up and down the street cautiously. Then he darted from behind the car and crossed the street with barely any sound.

Once inside the building she expected he would put her down but he didn't.

"Yu-Jun."

His heart skipped a beat, not only because she knew his name but because he liked the way it sounded when she said it. "Yes?"

"Maybe you should let me down." She whispered a bit demandingly.

"And how are you going to walk?" He asked her.

She knew she had no answer because it was painful to walk. It was painful now just dangling there. "If you don't put me down we are going to move too slow."

He smirked, "Are you trying to insult me?"

"What? No. I just-"

"We both know you can't walk and if I put you down you will try and make it worse and I'm not going to leave you behind so don't even say it."

Evie's heart fluttered and she sighed then lay her forehead on his shoulder and whispered, "Thank you."

Yu-Jun smiled. "Good girl."

Evie's cheeks burned as they walked through the store.

"Evie." She said realizing he didn't know her name. "My name's Evie."

"Good girl, Evie." He teased and she could hear the smile in his voice and it felt as though her heart might stop. Stupid heart. "I'm Yu-Jun." He said.

Of course Evie knew this already but she knew he was trying to officially introduce himself now so she said, "Thank you for saving me Yu-Jun." She sat her chin on his shoulder looking around.

"Look just what we need." Yu-Jun whispered excitedly.

Evie turned her head to where he was walking and saw they were walking toward a swivel chair that had wheels and was on display. "Good idea."

He pushed it up against a pillar so it wouldn't roll as she sat on it. Then gently lowered her, letting her sit down. It even had a footrest. He gingerly lifted her leg and put it on the rest. "We should find something to stabilize your foot. It will help with the pain and possibly lessen damage in the long run."

She arched an eyebrow at his random knowledge, "Superhero in your off-time?"

"Heh, what off-time? More like, enough injuries in my line of work."

Her other eyebrow went up, "Scary and impressive."

His cheeks turned a soft pink, a shade lighter than his lips and hair, barely noticeable but still there and endearing just the same.

"Imagine a pop star getting embarrassed by a girl calling them impressive." She said smiling.

She saw his cheeks glow a bit brighter as he quickly stood up and moved behind the chair. He began to push her along through the store. This time it was Evie who smirked.

"Omg just what we need!" Yu-Jun slapped a hand over his mouth looking around realizing he'd been a bit loud but no sounds came from anywhere inside the building. Evie craned her neck around to look at him and he pointed to a sign that read 'Medical Supply and Pharmacy, Second Floor'. "Wait here I'll be right back."

As he began to walk away she grabbed his sleeve. "I'll be there." She pointed to a short wall to one side of the store meant for displays and sales racks. Evie didn't want to wait alone but what could she do she'd never make it up those stairs. She used her good foot and scooted herself along on the chair until she reached a wall partition where clothes hung on a rack. There she hid herself among the hanging clothes and kept a watchful eye on the stairs. Her thoughts began to wander and soon she was thinking of her sister. Is she safe? Is this worldwide and she saw the news, that's why she called? She was safe but worried. She tried to make herself feel better. Evie stopped breathing for a second. What was that noise? Her eyes darted around the shop. She wanted to call out for Yu-Jun, but he knew where she was. He also wouldn't be making noise unless-

"Shh!" Came a voice from somewhere in the shop.

"There's no one in here. I told you, it's fine." Another voice said.

"It won't be fine if someone hears us."

Evie held her breath listening to the hushed voices of the two people who'd entered the store.

"We can hide out in here, it doesn't seem like they've even bothered entering any buildings."

Evie closed her eyes and took a slow steady breath without making any sound.

"Did you hear that?" The first person asked in a whisper.

Evie's eyes flew open. It was the unmistakable chime of the shop's bell signaling the door had been opened.. Something clattered upstairs and her heart leapt to her throat. Did the sound catch Yu-Jun off guard? Evie peeked between the clothes she hid behind. She could see two women gesturing up and toward the back of the shop. They'd heard the noise from upstairs as well as the bell from the back.

Suddenly they both turned to face the back of the shop and dropped down behind some clothes racks. Evie's eyes darted to the staircase toward the middle of the shop. Yu-Jun hadn't come down yet. She couldn't see the back door from her position.

"Come out pretties." The voice was heavily accented, though where the accent was from Evie couldn't say. Pretties came out as preetties. Tears stung Evie's eyes as heart beat faster, fear gripping her in its cold hands. Then she saw Yu-Jun at the top of the stairs holding a fire extinguisher in one hand and something flesh colored in the other. He hoisted the fleshy lump while looking where Evie was hidden, motioning as though he was going to throw it over the side of the banister across the shop from where she hid. Evie shook her head no. Yu-Jun stubbornly nodded back yes. He mouthed the word "three" at her and Evie felt panic wash over her. She had no idea what he expected her to do.

"Two."

She peeked out of the clothes looking around.

"One." Yu-Jun flung what Evie now noticed was a mannequin foot at the far wall. Then jumped on the banister and slid down.

"I've got you now." The man that had come in the back popped into view with a flamethrower, panic gripped Evie and she froze. Not another one. Yu-Jun was sprinting toward her without a sound, still gripping the fire extinguisher. Evie came to her senses unfreezing long enough to hop up to a standing position. Yu-Jun shoved the canister into her hands and grabbed her around the waist, hoisting her over his shoulder. She bumped the backpack he now had hanging on his back. He bolted for a side door of the shop. The man with the flamethrower was blasting through the shop moving away from them as he set everything in view ablaze and Evie wondered if the other two women had gotten out. Yu-Jun grunted slightly as he opened the door, stumbling off the sidewalk out into the street.