Times Square, New York 10:15 AM ______________________________________ The once lit-up and crowded Times Square was a ghost of itself. The buildings were barely still standing, windows shattered and with random holes throughout the structure. Debri coated the sidewalks. Everything was dark and gray... Nothing like the busiest place in the country as it once had been. Hunter loved it. He hated people and he hated bright lights. He thought everything that had happened to the people that had walked these streets was well deserved. The world had been greedy and selfish. Not that it still wasn't, but at least there were less of swine in the herd now. The clouded sky overlooked the ten or so people in black as they followed him down the skeleton of New York City. They had been walking for hours and had only found two little rabbits with nothing but clothes on their scrawny bodies. Hunter knew it had been his duty to put them out of their misery. Little Red would understand. "Stop."Hunter commanded. He turned to the group, who had quickly circled behind him, ready to hear what he had to say. It was funny how wearing a white mask amidst a bunch of black ones made them all bow to his every will. That's just how it was even with wolves. Everyone needed a leader to guide them. "I'm hearing voices in a couple directions. Split up. You four go down and check out the stores down south. The rest of us are going down towards this way. We're going to check the markets." "Yes, White Wolf." Four of the ten in black masks turned and went the other way. One thing that Hunter did not like was that they were getting infamous. People were starting to be aware of them and hide. Stories were being told, both true and untrue. Though he did like prey with fear in their eyes, they would definitely be more challenging. Maybe he did like that. Their group tended to call everyone else rabbits since all they did was take and kill them. When he wasn't around to control the wolves, they'd take more than just supplies from women but he supposed Little Red did not need to know of that. He would meet up with her later at noon and could contact her through his walkie talkie if need be but he knew it wasn't necessary to tell her every little detail. His wolves deserved to take whatever they wanted. They ruled this world now. ______________________________________ A market in Frankford, New Jersey 10:15 AM ______________________________________ Elijah had been sitting on the curb of the street, watching Adelaide go from vendor to vendor, trying to find a ride. One guy had a truck but he had wanted to take everything she had for it. She was not that desperate of course. The market only had around 12 tables set up. There were maybe twice that many people here as well as a few small settlements around the area. He let out a shaky breath, watching it cloud up in the cool air in front of him. This wasn't going well. Walking all the way to New York would be dangerous. A lot of people were passing through this way. He was young but he wasn't stupid. A kid and a girl who was barely an adult were easy targets. He knew Adelaide was tougher than any girl he'd ever met but she was not invincible. "Hey little boy," Elijah's gaze snapped up to a nearby table with an old woman, leaning over it to look at him. He didn't see a lot of old people anymore. They were as rare as kids. "Here. Take this." She smiled warmly and handed him a toy robot. He took it reluctantly and examined it, reading out the name printed on it, "Op... Opti..Optee-... "He tried to sound it out. He didn't remember much about his childhood but he guessed he hadn't learned to read that well. "Optimus Prime, "She corrected him, "It was my son's when he was about your age. You can have it, free of cost." "Really? Thanks." Elijah said, "but doesn't your son still want it?" She shook her head, "No sweetheart. My son doesn't really like to dwell on the past. He finds it easier to ignore it." "I can understand that I guess." Elijah said and grabbed the strap of his backpack, pulling it over his shoulder and on to his lap. He pulled out a flower and set it on her table, "I don't have much but I think you will like this." "Aw how sweet. "The old woman smiled genuinely, "Take care okay?" "Yeah you too." It was also rare that anyone found nice people anymore. Elijah hoped she'd be okay. He looked over as he suddenly heard Adelaide calling his name from the back of a truck. "I'm sorry. I gotta go. Nice to meet you."He got up and ran over, climbing on the back of the truck with her. There were four other people there, clinging to the sides of it. Adelaide was on the very end, clearly trying to avoid looking at the other four people. He wondered if they had been rude to her or something. "I told you I could work my magic."Adelaide smirked at him as she helped him up. She pulled the back latch closed and looked at him, "What do you have in your hand?" "Optimus Prime."He picked it up and showed it to her. She took it quickly and began looking in the cracks and even smelling it. "God, Addie you're so weird sometimes."He mumbled. "Sorry. People are crazy."She sighed and gave it back to him. "Hang on to the sides and don't look at anyone, okay?" He nodded and put the robot in his backpack. Elijah grabbed the sides of the truck as it began to move and tried his best to keep his gaze down but he was curious. He found himself glancing at the other people anyway.