The gravel beneath my feet is the only sound that rings out in this depleted city. Buildings are torn apart, ghosts of what they once were. Four months ago, they stood tall and proud, watching over the entire city of New York. Now they are nothing but a memory to those who have survived.

The small hairs of the back of my neck are sweaty. Some of my dark hair, which is put up into a ponytail, blows in the light wind. My bright blue eyes look around, watching for any predators.

A noise to my left startles me. I quickly pull out a gun and face towards my left, the gun pointed, loaded and ready for the trigger to be pulled.

A soldier dressed in what looks like a SWAT team uniform is pointing his own gun at me, only it's bigger than my own small handgun. He cocks his weapon. "State your business," he orders in a uniform voice.

My hands are shaking as I two-hand the gun to try to keep it steady. "W-what?" I stutter. He moves closer and I see his finger tense up where the trigger is. I quickly pull the trigger on my own gun, but I miss and hit a slab of stone behind him. It throws him off and that's enough time for a dark figure to dart past me and take out the soldier. I see it's a tall man and he had rammed the other man into the stone that I accidentally shot. I hear the impact and the soldier slumps to the ground, unconscious.

The man takes the soldiers guns and ammo then turns and looks at me. He's tall, that's for sure, with brown hair and green eyes. He's muscular, yet lanky at the same time. I didn't think that was possible, but this strange man who saved me definitely does have muscle on him. "Are you okay?" he asks, his voice steady. I nod. He walks over to me and holds out his hand. "I'm Jack."

"Vanna," I introduce and shake his hand. He holds on for a second longer then lets go. "Why was that man about to kill me?"

"He's President Hall's new military soldier called Vigilum. They're a special group of soldiers that go on classified missions to 'help end this war'," Jack explains.

"What war?" I ask.

"You haven't heard of the war?" he asks. When I shake my head, telling him that I haven't, he continues, "Ever since the nation fell, and Hall took office, death and destruction had fallen all over the country. Rebel groups were formed, just like the one I belong to. I know that isn't much to go on, but since for the past couple days the only person I found is you, we're gonna have to go. I’ll explain more later."

Prior to me asking what he means, he lifts a hand to his left ear and speaks. "Guys, come on! There's only one person down here! Hurry up!" Suddenly, the sound of blades beating fills my ears and the wind picks up. I look up and a large chopper appears out of nowhere. Jack gets to his feet just as a rope ladder drops down. He grabs on and I get onto the ladder on the other side of him after putting my gun in my belt.

A few minutes later, we're inside the chopper, and there are two people inside, one built male and a small female. The female with her long blond hair and bright blue eyes, hands me a headset and I quickly put it on. The other rebel, a dark skinned man with dark eyes and a scar on the right side of his face, watches me as I put on the headset. The girl is wearing all black besides her blue hoodie, but I can easily see a bulletproof vest underneath, with black leather straps crossing over each other on her chest, making an X along with a knife sheath on her exposed thigh just beneath her black shorts. She wears combat boots that go up to her knees; she holds a gun while looking down at the ground outside the chopper. On her back strapped to the leather straps is another gun. The dark skinned man wears no shirt except for a white vest and army green pants and black boots. He, too, holds a gun in case of aerial attacks.

She turns to Jack, "Who is this girl?" she yells over the beating of the blades.

Jack looks at me then at the heavy-set man, "This is Vanna. She's a new recruit for SRA. Vanna, this is Angel" - he points the blond haired female- "and this is Daryl." he shouts over the noise, pointing to the dark skinned man. I give Jack a confused look.

Angel explains, "Subdivision Resistance Army. We help people against the Vigilum soldiers. Anyone who takes a stand against the Vigilum joins SRA. And that's where you come in. You could help us."

I look at Jack. "I'm not cut out for this. I wouldn't know what to do to help the people against Vigilum," I tell her.

Jack gives me a surprised look. "You've survived the past two years and you say you're not cut out for this?! Vanna, you were made for this! This is what you were destined to do! To fight for our freedom from President Hall and his stupid army!"

I give Jack, Angel and Daryl a worried look. Is joining this rebel group worth saving the lives of others? Will it help me find who I'm looking for? Then I sigh and look Jack in the eye, "I'll do it, but it's only temporary."

Jack beams at me and Angel gives a shout of joy. "Temporary or not, you're going to help us!"

Maybe this'll be good for me, I think. Maybe I'll finally find my sister...