Flash Fiction Friday: Strategy on the Run

We return to the Supers Universe today. This story takes place a few days after "An Unnerving Discovery" and "Bad Partners." You don't have to be familiar with the universe to understand the story.

“No, I said we were safer, not safe.” Cameron closed his laptop and scrubbed his hands over his face as he yawned. Two days worth of stubble prickled over his palms, making them itch. “Just because you managed to lose them, and I erased every mention of us I could find doesn’t mean they can’t find us.”

“I know that, Cam,” Emma grumbled. Her eyes never left the road. She guided the car into the other lane, and the engine’s pitch raised a step as she pressed the gas to get around a minivan. “I was asking if you thought we’re safe enough to stop for the night.”

“Why?” Cameron asked. He leaned his seat back a bit and stretched like he was going to settle in for a nap. Once he relaxed out of the stretch, he turned his head to smirk at his partner. “You don’t trust my driving?”

Emma’s jaw clenched, but she still didn’t take her attention off the road as she swerved back into the correct lane. Her right arm shot out, and she thumped him across the nose with that uncanny aim of hers.

“Idjet,” she muttered. “We both need a shower and some proper sleep something awful.” Emma gestured to the car in general before returning her right hand to the wheel. “Swapping this thing for something else wouldn’t hurt us any either.”

Cameron forgot about his stinging nose and sat up. “I’m not ditching Monte!”

“I know you love your car, Cam, but it sticks out.” Emma sighed. “How many early 70s muscle cars to you see on the road these days? Let alone one that’s fire engine red!”

“I’m still not ditching the car.”

Emma growled, and her knuckles blanched. “I’m not saying leave it somewhere we’ll never find it again,” she said. “I’m sure we can find somewhere off the beaten path to hide it. Come back when the heat’s off.”

“We destroyed illegal governmental records on the location and abilities of all known metas in the country, Emma,” Cameron argued. Groaning, he let himself fall back against his seat and stared up at a small rip in the car’s liner. “The heat’s never going to be off.”

“It’s only been a week.” Emma’s voice was softer than he’d heard it in days, and the undercurrent of guilt in her tone pulled at his heart. “Don’t give up yet.”

“Cut it out, Em,” Cameron said. “I agreed with the plan, so don’t you go feeling guilty about it.”

Emma’s attention flicked to the rearview mirror, and her expression hardened. Sitting up, Cameron raised his seat back up and turned to look out the back. He couldn’t tell much about the vehicle behind them because of the glare of its headlights. A rough right turn had him bracing himself on Emma’s seat to stay in his own, and the car behind them followed at the same reckless speed.

“Look’s like we’ll have to table this discussion for now.”

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Each story in this series is 500 words or less and is prompted by a first line taken either from a random first line generator like this one or reader suggestions like "Don't Forget Me" and "Culture Shock." I much prefer working from reader suggestions over generators, but to do that, I need to hear from you.

If you have a prompt you'd like to see done, comment below, send it to my Tumblr asks, Tweet it at me, or leave a comment on any of the audio stories from this series. I'll screen shot it, write it, and post it for you.