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The rebel commander stormed across the parking-lot.  Her long-coat flew like batwings, dark as the sky above them.  Her hands swung loose at her side, seeming to point the driving wind and rain toward her enemies.  Her pace measured the distance between her and the foe and found it wanting.  Her bare, tattooed scalp reflected the searchlight, rain rolling into the collar of her shirt.

The sirens slowly died.  The rain did the opposite.

Neil glanced at his watch – timer steadily counting down.

7 minutes.

“It’s a trap.” The boy – that’s right, Andrew, his name’s Andrew – clutched his arm, eyes wide.  “That redneck will kill you!”

“Your pardon?” Neil glanced at the woman – standing specter in the searchlight and rain.

The boy (use his name!) held out a piece of paper.  “Got a communication from cyphers.  They say there’s a bomb.”

Neil sucked in a sharp breath, side-eying the woman.  the billowing long-coat.

Southern born and bred.  To her, it was bitter cold.

He cleared his throat sharply.  “Thank-you for the warning.” he lowered his voice.  “I promise everything will be fine.”  He turned to the barracade (so flimsy, like a scene out of Les Mis – his sister would be singing if she were here).

Thin – too thin – fingers latched to his sleeve.

“Please sir.” Andrew whimpered.  “Don’t go sir.”

6 minutes.

Neil quietly pried the hand off and walked to the barricade.

“Commander Carol!” he bellowed through the speakerphone.  “Commander Charlotte Carol! Are you armed?”

The woman laughed clearly, waving her empty hands.  Rain-water sprayed from her fingers.

5 minutes – he thought.

“I’m coming out!” He set down the speakerphone, climbed over the barricade, and stepped into the driving rain.

“We should have been more intelligent about this.” he muttered.

He stomped through the parking lot.

“No.  No, they’ve been out here.  If the rain can’t stop them, it can’t stop me.”

4 minutes?

“Comrade.” He pulled out his pack of cigarettes.

“Brother.” She flicked on her lighter, shielding the flame with her scarred hand.

A moment later, both exhaled, smoke curling around their lips.

Charlotte smiled – almost flirty, mostly flinty.

Neil returned the smile – attempting flinty, mostly tired.

She glanced at his wrist. “Time?

3 minutes.

“Any regrets?”

The words where in the air – but who said it and who it was meant for was unclear and of no consequence.

They smirked – they were made of nothing but regret.

The searchlights were still on them.  They should be talking more.

“A truce – until the politicians send out word?” Her hand tightened into a bitter fist, but the slight shiver was sparks of joy.

Neil chuckled, rolling his cigarette in his fingers, one hand shielding the lit end. “But of course.  You on your barricade, I on mine.”

2 minutes.

“This peace – it could have been the greatest thing.” She exhaled a long coil of smoke.

Neil sent his own poisoned stream chasing hers.  “Not really.”

She shrugged.  He did too.

“Food.” She said suddenly.  “I guess I should ask you about food.”

“I guess you should.” Neil glanced up.

The rain drove down, plinking against him like fey bullets.

“You think He’ll flood us – for our wickedness?” she brought the cigarette to her lips again.

“I don’t think so.” He shivered – the rednecks were right, it was cold! “He doesn’t exist.”

“I think He does.” She shivered with him, “I think He’s disappointed in me right now.”

“Cold feet?”

They laughed uneasily.

1 minute.

“Your scar suits you.” Neil tapped the side of his face.

“Thanks.” Charlotte traced it absently.  “I remember when you gave it to me.”

His laugh was hollow, bitter.  “I never did thank you, did I?”

“For what?”

Neil shook his head.

They were silent, to dragons waiting.

“Time?”

He held out his watch – the numbers glowed blue.

Ticking.

Ticking.

Ticking.

Ticking.

17…

16…

15…

14…

13…

“I think… I regret it.” Neil whispered.

“I think… I don’t.” Charlotte frowned.  “At least not yet.”

3…

2…

1…

Beepbeepbeep.  Beepbeepbeep.  Beepbeepbeep.

Neil thumbed the watch.  She sighed and slumped.

All that happened was a blink.

The watch resetting.

8 days

19 hours

17 minutes

The rain lightened.  There was a cheer from her side.  They glanced up.

She shivered, the cigarette back in her mouth.

“I thought I would hear it.”

Neil raised an eyebrow.

“I know it’s silly – but I thought I would hear it.  At least spiritually.”  Charlotte glared at the huge buildings around them.

Sniff.  Smell the carnage.

Sniff.  Smell the smoke, just the smoke.

A quick shake of his head, and Neil said, “I guess, I was expecting more too.”

“The headlines will be screaming tomorrow.”

A green and red blinking star drifted over a gap in the clouds.

“Wonder if that’s them.” she murmured.

Neil took a last drag.  The rain was trickling off.

She threw her cigarette to the ground, twisting her boot-heel over it.

“They’ll say tonight is the beginning.” She tipped her head to the side – birdlike – and smiled.