Previously:

      Sam spent her free time gathering a few things and putting them in a bag for Marco and his journey home. Including one of her mechanical trinkets, a rabbit who's ears twitched side to side. It was relatively small only two inches big, small enough to fit in a pack.

Present:

     Sam let Marco sleep for a few hours before she gently shook him awake. "Hey, hey Marco, is it safe to travel outside the tower during the night time?"

"No, dummy." He said sleepily turning over to his other side.

     Sam frowned and tried keeping a retort in. "Then we'll just go scout tonight. It's almost night time and that would be a good time to snoop around. Maybe we can find your way out."

"Ok." Marco yawned and sat up, " I think I know what we're going to be looking for."

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"Well, I remember hearing the adults talk about a sign above vents and how the guards were getting rid of them. Maybe we can find one still existing?"

"Hm, we'll try. Let's go check out the Water Filtration floors because I think that's where you came in at. Speaking of which, how did you get that high to get in?"

     Marco, now fully awake, "Oh that's easy, there are stairs that lead to a few areas on the tower. Probably for maintenance? Anyways, I climbed up those."

"Fair enough I suppose. You ready? "

Marco groaned, "Yeah, I guess so."

Sam handed him her pack, "Here, for your travels home, hopefully, it'll be enough food and water to get you wherever you're going. "

Marco stared at the pack with an unreadable expression on his face. "Thanks."

     And with that they headed out, climbing up the stairs till they go up to the water filtration floors. It took about an hour and a half with only a couple of pauses to take a breather. It was 149 floors that they climbed and it had been a while since Sam had gone this high in the tower.

     Passing all the other system floors, the Water Filteration floors were closest to the top. Right under The Residents floors, these floors were usually the most guarded during the days, and the workers on these floors usually slept here. Evident by all the sleeping bodies on chairs and tables. Sam turned to Marco, who also looked out of breath, and put her finger to her lips in a sign to be quiet.

     The Water Filteration floors were fairly large, averaging around 30 ft per floor, there were tanks and pipes of every size everywhere. Even on the first floor, you could feel the humidity and heat coming off some of the pipes. Scaffolding was used for almost every tank and led around the floor. It's so much more sophisticated than my floor Everything was pretty high tech and orderly.

     Walking around the perimeter of the floor, Marco and Sam checked all the vents they could find with no luck. Going up the stairs and check the other floors, Sam knew they were running out of time. Few more floors. The heat and steam was getting to both Marco and Sam. Their shirts clung to them and were drenched in sweat.

     Sam was about to give up and call it a night till Marco suddenly tugged on her arm and pointed to vent that was partially covered by boxes. In the lower corner, it looked like the steel had been dented in three places to form a triangle of sorts. Sam let of a sigh and relief and walked over to the vent. Whispering to Marco she asked, " This looks like it, think you could find your way back from here?"

     Marco nodded and Sam continued, "Why don't we put your pack inside so it's ready to go when you are." Marco handed over his pack and Sam quietly opened the vent to put in the backpack against a wall. Putting the vent cover back on they stood up and put everything back where it was before. "Ok," she whispered, "We'll come back tomorrow morning so you'll have a full day to travel and the rest of today we'll rest."

     Marco gave a small smile and looked like he was sleeping on his feet. Sam was feeling the same way and knew it had to be just after midnight. Going to have to skip work today. By the time we get back to my floor, it'll be only a couple hours from when I'm supposed to go to work. 

     Grabbing Marco's hand they started to go back to the stairs leading down. That was, until Sam noticed a familiar-looking bulky man, with long brown tie tied back and looking around frantically. Sam's blood ran cold and she froze in her spot.

FUCK! Gotta hide the kid. 

     Sam was about to push Marco under a table but was too late as her eyes locked with Don's and his mouth opened as if he was about to say something. His eyes darting between her and Marco. Acting on instinct, Sam grabbed Marco's had without saying anything and ran back in the direction of the vent.

"Wait! Samantha! STOP!" Yelled Don as he started to run towards her.

"Why are we running?" Called Marco as he was struggling to keep up.

      Sam didn't respond as the only thing that she could think, was that there was no going back. Don would know better than any lie she could tell and Marco would be lost. Never able to go home. Sam's heart beating quickly as she ran faster hoping to lose Don before they got to the vent.

     Rounding a corner Sam pushed Marco into a dark corner and spoke quickly. "You're to go to the vent and get in. People aren't waking up yet so it should be clear. I'm going to lead him off your trail and try to circle back. If I'm not back in five minutes, leave without me." Without checking to make sure he understood Sam ran off hearing Don approaching quickly.

     Through the steam coming off some pipes Sam ran through the hallways without looking back. She could hear Don keeping up, if not gaining and She knew she had to come up with a plan quick. Her lungs, while getting better, were still not completely healed and she could feel them burning. Her body felt heavy as she quickly scurried up the scaffolding and ran back towards the vent.

     Sam heard Don thundering up the ladder after her and she stopped to grab a pipe wrench that she saw out of the corner of her eye. Turning around she aimed back at the ladder and waited for Don to pop his head up the ladder. As soon as she saw his hair coming into view, she aimed and threw the wrench at his head. Hoping to slow him down or something.

     Sam almost let out a laugh as her aiming was perfect and just as Don's eyes caught sight of the flying wrench, it was too late and it hit him right in the forehead. Causing him to lose his grip and fall back off the ladder. Sam knew she didn't have the time to see if he was OK and instead turned back around and ran calling out "Sorry Don! Please forgive me."

     Taking advantage of the time she got, Sam ran back to the vent to find it open and Marco on his hands and knees in anticipation of her return.

     "Go, go, go !" she whispered as she rushed in the vent with Marco. Grabbing the cover she quickly set it in place and scuffled with Marco inside the vents, with him in the lead. Marco was confident and quick inside the vents, moving quietly and quickly. Meanwhile Sam was bigger and clumsier, banging her sides and head all the way down the vent. Still not thinking straight she followed Marco through the vents and soon she saw light coming from the other side of a slotted vent. 

     Sam felt her heartbeat quicken as she knew what was on the other side. She could smell the difference in the air. It smelled, fresher, lighter, and without the stuffiness that the tower gave. Sam couldn't describe it, she had never smelt something so... easy. But, it was scary, terrifying, it hit Sam like a blow to the stomach. She was about to leave the tower, her home, Robin, never to return. What am I doing?!  Sam could feel herself hyperventilating and had to stop. Marco pushed the grate out and light flooded the vent.

     She couldn't think, couldn't move. Every muscle in her body was shaking and her mind just shut down. Marco turned around and scuffled back to Sam, waving his hand in front of her face.

"Sam! Sam! Come on, we have to go. They're coming!"

     Sam bowed her head and curled into herself. "I can't." She whispered and repeated it to herself over and over again.

     Marco put his hand on Sam's shoulder. "You told me you would help me get home. I can't leave you here, I promise it's not scary out there, only different."

     Sam looked out the vent and saw the red sand staring back at her, she used to fantasize about going out onto the planet surface. To see if it was as mysterious as it seemed, why was she so scared now? She didn't know but she couldn't stop the shaking in her body. Marco grabbed her hand and tried to pull Sam forward, She let him and followed him outside the vent.

      Once Sam stepped out of vent she was awestruck, she felt the wind hit her body and it was something that she had never felt before either. It electrified her body, sending shivers down every inch of her skin. The sand looked redder and more vibrant than it had in the tower. Rolling dunes of blood and cliffs as far as the eye could see. The sky had a reddish tint with stars shining brightly, the suns were about to rise. Marco still holding on her hand, kept pulling Sam along.

"You can stare later, come on!"

    Sam shook herself out of it and with a shaking body, she followed Marco down the stairs. It's always easier going down, quicker, and they quickly reached the bottom.

"Ok Marco, you lead the way."

       Marco turned away and pointed off into the distance over the dunes. "That way, about a days walk out."

Sam couldn't stop herself as she let go of a "Fuck!"

Marco's eyes widened and Sam quickly apologized. "Sorry, just tired. Let's go."

Sam grabbed Marco's hand and together they jogged in the direction of his home.