[quote=Metronome]
Isam had left the house when it was still dark. Maybe night he found himself laying in bed, awake, too tired to fall asleep. He finally decided to get up, get dressed, and maybe go do something useful. At the ungodly hour that he ventured out, the most useful thing he could think to do was sweep the front porch. It gave him time to get some fresh, to clear his head. Once the sun had risen, Isam made his way over to his closest friend's home. Omar was usually who he went to talk to when things got rough. He knew the things Isam was forced to live with, and he somehow always knew what to say to him. The man's home was almost all the way across the city, which was fine with Isam. The walk was peaceful and refreshing. He kept his hands in the front pockets on his jacket as he walked along, halfway dazed with exhaustion. Maybe he should sleep soon.
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Shaylly was always awake an hour before the sun rose. By now her internal alarm clock woke her up 90% of the time. She set the alarm on her watch just thereafter for those days she needed an extra kick out of bed. The morning was her refuge from all that was not right with their planet. It was quiet, calm, a peace that allowed her mind to wander freely without the burden of the usual negative thoughts. Shay tried to focus on the positive but she was also a realist and didn't want to fool herself on things that were not or never would be. She was grateful for finding a home in the Paradise Land, grateful for what Mother had provided for everyone. Shay was even more grateful to be able to serve the city with her knwoledge in fitness and nutrition and more recently aerial support. But she didn't think this was all that was left of their lives. She always wondered what else was out there beyond their sanctuary. Perhaps there were other safe havens created by other leaders. The radioactive hell hole that was now Earth, a rotting planet that gave more death than life, had created beings beyond human. It was as if Earth knew it was dying and was using the radio active trash it was dealt with to produce super evolved beings to survive and keep it alive. Her mind always raced on these fanatical thoughts. She had no proof it was right or wrong. They had very little communication with the outside world, or what was left of it. When she had the chance to fly on her own she wondered what she might do to feed her curiosity. 

Shay was out her door 30 minutes before the sun would begin to rise. She was wearing dark sweats, a grey tank and a black hooded jacket; around her neck, as always since she arrived, she wore her brothers flying goggles. The goggles were given to Shane by a friend of theirs, who happened to be a pilot. Shane fell in love with all things flying and would pretend to fly around, his arms stretched out, his face covered by the large goggles. Shay smiled to herself with the memories. 

Shay was keeping a 7.0 pace, her hands gloved, the hood of her jacket lying low over her brow and shielding her face. She enjoyed her privacy and solitude. In her ears were her ear buds, music pounding with a heavy beat as she kept a strong pace. Her heart was beating hard but steady, sweat glistening on her brow. She trained every day and this was only the beginning of her fitness routine. She worked hard to serve this city that protected her, helping to keep it strong and free from the Dead. Today she would get to test fly one of the few fighter jets on her own, having just finished all training and course materials needed for the position. 

Her mind wandered as usual, her eyes looking down, mostly to avoid catching the eyes of others for fear of being pulled in to some unwanted conversation. She turned a corner, and as her mind raced, she unknowingly picked up her pace. Shay turned the next corner and entered the main street; with her eyes still adverted down she didn't see Isam walking down the normally empty street. At this hour most people were still in bed or barely waking up to start their day. Shaylly crashed in to the side of Isam with full force, not having seen him coming in her way for even a moment. She rebounded back, her head snapping up to look at what she hit as she stumbled from the blow. She almost lost her balance but regained it quickly enough, grabbing a light pole on her right to steady herself. She looked to Isam, breathing hard, having to catch her breath from both her run and from running in to him. "What the hell man? Would you watch where you're going?" She snapped at him. Her hair was pulled back in a loose pony tail, her bangs messily covering the sides of her face and brow. Steel brown eyes glared accusingly at him through her bangs that were just as dark.