"Can't rest yet... I have to keep moving," he panted.
He staggered along, mostly unnoticed. A few passers-by glanced in his direction, but quickly looked away. "Come on, Wade, you'll be out of town before dark if you just keep moving."
Wade kept putting one foot in front of the other. Eventually the buildings became older and further apart.
Separated by weed-filled parking lots and undeveloped plots of land, many of the structures had been abandoned for many years. The empty highway stretched endlessly before him.
He sat down on the cold, hard pavement and took off one shoe. He opened up the rubber sole, and removed a small baggie containing a memory card. "If I can just get this into the right hands, this whole thing will have been worth it."
He quickly replaced it, and put his shoe on. "It would be so easy to just sit here and sleep. I'm more tired than I've ever been in my life - and that's saying something."
He shook his head. "No, I have to keep moving. Everything depends on getting that card to the rendezvous point."
Wade forced himself to his feet, but almost fell every few steps.
"Maybe I should spend the night in one of these empty buildings," he whispered, as he pulled up the collar of his tattered, mud encrusted coat.
As he said this, a newer model sports car sped by.
He sighed. "No, I'm still too close to town. They'll find me for sure, unless I can get to the meeting place. I have to keep moving."
A few minutes later, he saw an equally bedraggled figure approach one of the buildings, and pry the edge of a board aside before crawling into a window. Once the board was replaced, everything looked deserted again.
"Maybe they wouldn't be able to find me after all. These places are probably full of people who look just like me."
He carefully approached the window, and lifted the board. The place appeared empty. "I guess he went up into one of the rooms. I'll just lay under those stairs, where I can watch the window without being seen."
Wade crawled into the small space, and laid down without even removing his coat or baseball cap. Soon he was fast asleep.
"Put your hands where I can see them. No tricks."
Wade was instantly alert, but kept his eyes closed. "I knew I should've kept moving. But how did they find me?"
The woman laughed. "I know you're awake, Wade Riggers. Open your eyes."
He sighed in relief, his eyes still closed. "Styx, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize your voice at first. You wouldn't believe the week I've just had. I'm beat."
He stretched, then opened his eyes. He gasped. "What are you doing, Styx? Why are you pointing that thing at my head?"
"Put your hands where I can see them," she repeated coldly.
He complied, but only after he peeled a strip of flesh-colored tape from his palm. "But why? I was going to meet you at the rendezvous point. If you wanted to double cross us, all you had to do was wait, accept the package, and walk away."
Her eyes glistened, but she somehow managed to clear them without blinking. "If the package disappeared from the rendezvous point, my cover would be blown. This way, nobody will suspect my involvement."
He shook his head, causing his already askew baseball cap to fall off. "I thought I meant more to you than this. You could have come in with a mask and taken it from me. I'd never have recognized you, you're even more filthy than I am. How did you even find me out here? Did you plant a tracker on me?"
She frowned. "I seriously thought about taking it and letting you go, but you're too good of an agent. You'd never stop until you recovered the package."
He laughed sharply. "Gee, thanks for the compliment, but I'd rather not be so highly thought of. So where is the tracker? Of course, in the Swiss army knife with the hidden gun, that you gave me last Christmas."
"To answer your question, there was never a tracker. I remembered the nights we talked evasion strategies. I hired a car and driver, and had her drop me off a few blocks ahead of you. I wrapped some rags around me that I found in a dumpster, and waited for you. Then I came in here. I could see you were exhausted, but I didn't think you would stop without some encouragement. And you know how I feel about eliminating witnesses."
Wade sighed, and shifted his weight. "I'm not afraid to die, you know that. I've been running in fear though, Styx. And now you are the only one who can decide if that fear becomes reality."
Styx cocked her head, then remembered herself and readjusted her stance. "And what fear is that? I've never seen you afraid, and we've been in some pretty tight spots together."
He locked eyes with her, and waited ten seconds. "The fear of losing you. Walk out of here right now, and nothing changes between us. I never breathe a word of this to anyone."
She blinked rapidly. "And the package? You're willing to hand it over, and cover for me?"
He lowered his eyes. "You know me better than that, Styx. I could no sooner lie to a friend or colleague than I could teleport out of here. But think of a way that I wouldn't have to, and yes."
She nodded. "Alright, first give me the package, then strip. I'll take your weapons and gadgets. You're going to disappear, and get a new identity. I'll have to keep you somewhere safe for quite a while though. Acceptable?"
He smiled sadly. "It's better than losing you forever. But Styx, I can't walk out of here in nothing but my birthday suit. That might get a few glances, even around here."
She giggled. "You can put these on," she replied, dropping her layer of rags off, to reveal somewhat grimy blue jeans and a tank top.
She kicked the dirty pile towards Wade, her weapon still steadily pointing in his direction. "No tricks. Give me the package first."
He sighed. "I do wish you would trust me. Very well, it's in a secret compartment in my cap."
He casually picked up the cap, and before she could protest, tossed it in front of her feet.
In one fluid movement, she backed up and adjusted her aim. "I said no tricks."
He shrugged. "What trick? I just gave it to you. The bill is hollow."
She blew out a puff of air. "Pick it up, open it, and remove the package. Slide the hat away, and reach out one hand with the package in it. Keep the other one in the air."
He carefully approached, and picked up the cap slowly. "Morning gymnastics were never my thing, but I'll give it a try."
Soon he was holding a small baggie with a memory card in it. He squeezed it in his palm, making a fist. "Amazing how this thing is more important than us. Maybe I should just destroy it, and see how much I really mean to you."
She stiffened. "Don't try it. You mean the world to me, but only if I know I can trust you. This will be your first test."
He slowly opened his fist. "A test, after everything we've been through? What's happened to you?"
As he held out the package, his other arm high in the air, she took a step forward. "We were on the same side then. I just need to know I haven't lost you."
She quickly snatched it then backed away. "Wipe off your hands before you change clothes. You got into something nasty," she said, wiping a greasy substance onto her jeans.
He nodded. "I will. Do you have any wipes on you?"
She stashed the baggie in her pocket, and readjusted her aim. "You know I never carry them, they're just extra weight."
He grimaced. "I had to ask."
As Wade slowly collected the pile of dirty clothes, Styx began to stagger. He ignored her, watching out of the corner of his eye.
By the time he'd gathered everything and headed towards an old but sturdy looking chair, she was on her knees.
He dropped the filthy clothes, and shed his own as well, to reveal slacks and a T-shirt. She was motionless on the dirty cement floor before he finished.
Wade walked over to the stairwell, and retrieved the flesh-colored adhesive paper. He covered his palm, then checked on Styx.
Before he left, he ripped up the rags and used them to tie her up. "You'll probably still be asleep when our superiors get here, but I can't take that chance."
He gently kissed her forehead. "Sleep well, Love. My worst fear came true long before my mission ever started, I just didn't know it yet. I should've just kept on moving, instead of stopping here. Maybe I never would have found out I'd lost you a long time ago..."
Cover image made in Canva Pro using their gallery
Sources:
https://www.canva.com/photos/MAGTbUCfa3c/
https://www.canva.com/photos/MAEFkAXw_0w/
https://www.canva.com/photos/MAEEIxWT9HE/
