Speeding along Route Guano, the wind rushed through my hair. Mad Gear and the Missile Kid blasted through the tiny speakers on my bike, and the sun hung low over the mountains. A Dead Pegasus station was coming up on my left.

I raced into the lot, sending up a shower of dust on the small group of brightly dressed Killjoys gathered outside.

"Dammit Chaos! That was not even funny, and you know it!" Said a Killjoy with dark brown hair, save for the tips of his bangs- which were dyed neon blue. Underneath his mask, I could see his hazel eyes light up when he saw me. Neon Fiend.

"Just keeping you on your toes, Fiend!"

He laughed. "Yeah, well..."

I blushed, looking down at the ground, feeling a light, tickling sensation in my stomach.

Ever since I've known Neon Fiend, we have shared this instant connection, and I loved being with him.

“Hey, come here,” Fiend said, as he opened his arms wide, ready for my embrace. I let his arms wrap around me, and I finally felt safe. He started to kiss my neck, each one traveling up closer to my mouth, where our lips finally met. It seemed almost perfect… us together, in this living hell. I loved it. I loved him.

“Ugh! Disgusting! Get a room you guys!”

Still holding each other close, Fiend and I looked over at the one who was disgusted by our reunion. A Killjoy with dark skin, black hair, and piercing grey eyes, lined heavy with black makeup, stood outside of the door to Dead Pegasus. Her arms were folded across her chest, with a look on her face that could kill. Shadow Sister.

Fiend chuckled. “Well, that’s a good idea Shadow, because it seems like I can’t keep my hands off of my lady.” He pulled me closer, and brushed his lips against my neck once more. I giggled. Out here in the desert, I was free to do what I wanted. This was what I wanted.

Shadow Sister still stood there, watching us. The look on her face said that she was still grossed out, but in her eyes, I saw something. A flash of jealousy, then anger.

“Gross. While you guys go do the nasty, I’m going to raise some hell. Later bitches.”

Before she could turn around towards her car, Fiend wiggled his fingers and said, “Buh-bye Shadow Sister. Have fun with your little car ride!”

She responded by putting on her sunglasses and flipping him off. Classic Shadow Sister.

"Come on you guys! We are never going to get to see it if you don't hurry up!" Shadow called down to us.

"Well, maybe if you were considerate enough, you would climb at the same pace as us!" Fiend yelled up at her. She responded by flipping him off with her free hand, the other gripping the rock face.

We climbed the face of the mountain, our sweat pouring down our faces, determination fueling us. Fiend and I finally raced to the top, meeting Shadow Sister, who was sitting on the edge, looking over the desert.

It was a year later... but you could still see the aftermath. Shells of burnt cars. Trash littering the ground. Giant piles of ash.

The sun had just started to set , and the stars were twinkling in the early night sky. It was quiet. Peaceful.

"I'm glad we didn't miss it..." I said, before I sucked down a bottle of water. Fiend nodded in agreement.

We stared out at the sinking orb of light, letting the calm settle over. After a long period of silence, Shadow Sister spoke.

"Do you guys ever think about what life would be like if it never happened? Like, we wouldn't know each other. We would just keep on living our lives, going on and on in some life made up for us. But now, we are young and loaded. We are unstoppable."

The notion didn't even faze us. It was true that we were young. We were still children, living after the end of it all. But that was enough to live off of. Were we unstoppable? Not entirely, but we still thought that way.

I smiled at Shadow. In the dwindling light, I could see a slight smile appear on her face. Up until then, she never smiled. Ever.

I put my arm around her, the other around Fiend, and together, we watched the last light of day surrender to the night.

As the sun retreated behind the mountains, Neon Fiend grabbed my hand, and led me through the door of his hideout. I pulled him towards me, grabbing fistfuls of his jacket, wanting to be closer. He quickly took it off, our mouths never separating, and he undid my belt buckle. We collapsed on the sofa, him on top of me, our bodies familiar with one another.

Some time later, Neon Fiend looked into my eyes. "I love you Cori."

Without his mask on, I could clearly see his face. His tanned skin covered in a few freckles here and there. Thick, full lashes surrounding his beautiful hazel eyes, which were somewhat covered by the neon blue of his bangs. He was sincere.

I whispered into his ear. "I love you too Adam."