Elizabeth fumbled with her lighter.  With a few bad attempts, the mass of trash caught fire.  Elliot jumped, causing it to fly through the air.  He grabbed Elizabeth’s arm and they began to run.

            “Elliot, I can’t run this fast in these heels!” Elizabeth cried out.

            “Just run!” Elliot yelled, “Would you rather have a broken ankle or be eaten alive?!”

            Elliot leapt into the cold ocean water without even thinking.  He just knew that they had to get away from those monsters before the fire died.  Elizabeth screamed.

            “Hush!” Elliot hissed, “Don’t alert them to our position.  I don’t know if they can swim.  You brought scissors right?  Give them to me.”

            Elizabeth did so.  She watched as Elliot climbed up onto a ship, with surprising skill for an intellectual.   He cut down a life boat and then jumped back into the water. 

            “Get in!” he barked and Elizabeth clamored inside, “Start rowing with me.  We need to get away from here.”

            They rowed until their arms grew so tired that they had to rest.  Elizabeth stretched out and laid her head on his lap.  Elliot just let his eyes rest for a while, making sure they didn’t drift too far, but in time they both fell asleep.

***

            “Captain!  There’s a lifeboat off the starboard bow!”  A voice shouted.

            “Well get’em up here!” another voice yelled.

            Elliot woke when he heard these voices.  He looked up and saw a giant ship. 

            “Liz… wake up!” Elliot croaked.  The blond woman opened her eyes.  Elliot began to row closer to the ship.

            “Tie ‘er off and we’ll raise ya up!” one of the sailors called.  Elliot hurriedly tied the ropes to the lifeboat and they were raised up onto the deck.

            “You two came out of New York?” the captain asked, “We thought the whole place had been annihilated. Yer lucky to be alive.”

            “Don’t we know it,” Elliot said, “Judging by your appearance I would say you are not the victim of Nuclear War.”

            Elizabeth looked as if she wanted to say something but Elliot shot her a look and she decided it best to just let it go.

            “Not at all m’boy,” the captain said, “Most of the Eastern half of the US is destroyed, but Europe’s all fine.  That’s where we’re heading.”

            “I’ve always wanted to see Europe,” Elizabeth spoke up.

            “I’d be happy to tour it with you,” Elliot said with a charming smile, “We could get that coffee in Paris.”

To Be Continued…