"Remind me again why we thought college was a good idea?" I question my partner in crime as we make our way to our second class of the day. Said friend laughs before replying. "Well, in my case, this gets me out of high school faster. In your case, it was your own choice." I only shake my head, knowing he was right. "Just because you know it all doesn't mean you have to rub it in, Raf." A smile is on my face, however, and he only laughs in response. "Come on, Rache, you're going to make us late... again!" He takes off towards the science building, and I can barely hold in my laughter as his tiny frame weaves between the legs of all the adults around him.

Raphael, the seventeen-year-old genius that has been my closest friend for the past two years, was racing me, the twenty-two-year-old college kid that regrets her life choices, to our next class like kindergartners.

Then again, we've been doing this for the past two years.

So I was already right behind him.

Most of the other students around us are already making a path. A few newcomers stumble out of our way, to which we quickly yell "Sorry!" as we rush past. Raph's shortness helps him maneuver easier, however, my long legs still easily surpass him as we near the door. My foot steps in the door first, and I turn around just as he makes it in.

"I still win, short stack." He huffs, then laughs. "Whatever you say, too tall."

Out of breath, we trek up the stairs to our class and prepare to have our minds numbed for the next hour and a half. The lecture begins a few minutes after we take our seats. Nothing out of the ordinary speech detailing micro bacteria and their effect on the human body when the immune system crashes or is depleted from a lack of proper substances. We take notes, swap doodles, highlight exam-related areas, and proceed to make it look like we hadn't already studied this whole chapter and figured out the homework two nights ago. It was always our usual thing to do, study ahead so if something comes up, we can take a raincheck and enjoy life.

Today was one of those days.

Normally, we'd leave for another class after this one, but Raph and I decided our weekend should start a bit sooner. Everything was already turned in and graded for the next class, so we were skippin' out and heading to the new gaming cafe that opened up down the street.

It feels like an eternity until the professor finally turns the projector off and we all pack up and start filing out the door. Just as Raph and I start to exit, the professor calls him over. The professor's expression is grim, but I try not to seem worried. I wait outside, slightly peeking in to see the professor hand Raph a note, and Raph slips him a twenty-dollar bill. The professor says something in a very hushed tone, but Raph only gives him a soft smile and a slight nod. The professor sighs and turns away.

As Raph rejoins me, I motion with my hand towards the note. "Well? What did he find?" Raph shoos my hand away as he walks to a sitting area away from the crowds. Here at the school, there is another person that holds a similar interest in what's going on in the world that people are trying to keep hidden. We've never officially met, but online we have bumped into each other while... 'researching' some government websites.

We keep in touch via notes to the professor to keep said government off our scents.

Mr. Professor likes the extra cash on the side.

It's a win-win.

Once we are finally out of the general sight of most people, Raf unfolds the note, and we both grow rigid as an atom in zero kelvin temperatures.

"Caught"

That's all it said, and we knew exactly what it meant. All our plans for the night have now changed, and we needed to get out of here as fast as possible. Quickly, he crumbles the note and pockets it. Tightening the straps on our backpacks, we book it down the stairs and out the door. We swiftly make our way through the masses of students, pushing and shoving, trying to still say sorry, but the panic was taking over. The parking lot was so close, but it felt like lightyears away. I could see my car parked near the middle, but my eye drifts to my left when large black SUVs stick out like a sore thumb. There were three in total, and they couldn't scream 'FBI' any louder.

"Need you to run faster, Raph!"

"Easier said than done, gazelle!"

I quickly pull my keys from my pocket and auto-start my car. I start to think that maybe we should slow down, and not seem suspicious, but that thought is thrown out the window as soon as the lights turn on on those SUVs. "Don't stop! They're already here!"

"WHAT?!"

I hear the tires screech as our feet slam against the parking lot pavement. Within moments, we are by my car. I launch over the hood, sliding across it before landing on the other side and nearly ripping the door from the hinges. Raph quickly hops into the passenger seat, and I waste no time in getting the car fully running and floor it. The parking spaces in front of us for the next four isles are completely open, and I use that to my advantage. One of the three black vehicles skids to a stop as we blast through each vacant spot. Finally, we emerge on the other side, and I swiftly shift gears. We skid into traffic just as the light turns red. Cars begin moving, blocking the SUVs that were right on our tail.

Until one decides to slam through them.

A curse slips through my lips, and Raph turns in his seat. "What are they doing?! Someone's going to get hurt!"

I only growl and grab his shirt. "You're going to get hurt if you don't sit down and get your seatbelt on!" Yanking him down, I grab the steering wheel again. Just as he clicks his seatbelt on, I shift gears once more before slamming the wheel to the right. Tires screech as we drift through a small opening in traffic, and the blasted cop vans were right behind us. The on-ramp for the highway was just ahead. All I needed to do was get on it and lose them. My father was one of the best racers I knew, and he taught me everything I know.

I could easily outrun any cop.

Popping onto the highway, I carefully yet quickly make my way to the fast lane. My speedometer was starting to max out, but the SUVs were slowly gaining on us again. I could see Raph turning in his seat, worry pooling off him in waves. "I don't know if we can outrun them, Rache!" I start to feel doubt as well until I spot an eighteen-wheeler pulling a massive trailer coming up on our right. A mile ahead of it was an off-ramp that we needed to take. If I time it just right...

My eye shifts to the symbol on the side. It looks like some sort of tribal-like head. I look down at my steering wheel, my thumb rubbing over the exact same symbol.

'That's.... Odd...'

However, I don't have time to think about it as the off-ramp grows closer and a train horn echoes in the distance. "Hold on!" I shout before yanking the steering wheel once again to the right. My foot was on the floor, and I force my way over in front of the semi-truck. Once I'm safely on its right side, rip my ebrake up and downshift to first gear. Releasing the brake, I slam on the gas and fly down the off-ramp, out of sight of the SUVs...

But I wasn't taking any risks.

The train was growing louder, and I drift the car left through a light and under the highway. Railroad tracks were dead ahead, and the lights were already flashing on the crossing ties. "Rachel..." Raph was pushing himself back in the seat, but I wasn't letting up. We could make it. The ties start dropping, the train horn was rattling in our ears, I could even feel the ground shaking beneath the car.

We fly over the tracks, ties scraping against the roof of the car.

The train blares its horn as it grazes the tailgate of my Corvette, but nonetheless, we were now safe. I let out a breath of relief as Raph hoots in joy. "Keep an eye out, just in case." He only nods and slightly turns in his seat to watch behind us. They couldn't follow after us once the train blocks them, and once they can follow, we'll be long gone.

For the next twenty miles, we work our way down dirt roads, around potholes, and past many woodland creatures before pulling up on an old log cabin. At first glance, it looks abandoned. However, the A/C unit outside is brand new and no windows are shattered. I park just behind it, and we wait. For a while, nothing happens.

A flash of light from the inside.

Raph taps my arm and hands me a small flashlight from his bag. I quickly return the flash, then give two consecutive flashes after.

Two flashes, pause, then two more flashes.

Swiftly, Raph and I grab our bags and rush through the back door.

Our contact was here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[A/N]: Hey guys! I know I've been really inactive after finishing my Minecraft series (especially when I said I'd write more...). Health issues have risen, scheduling conflicts with school and work, and now I'll be gone all summer again. I needed something to brighten my day, then I got comments on the original version of this story.

I had nearly forgotten about it.

I'm officially rewriting it after cringing at my 18-year-old writing. Why did you guys actually read that I am so sorry T^T

Anyways! No promises on dates of uploads. They will happen when I have time. Anyways, enjoy this sneak peek into the new and improved "Who Guards the Guardians?"

Maybe I'll actually make a scene where the title makes sense... who knows