Haruko blinked up at the ruined awning over the saloon door. The sewn-in words, "White Crater Saloon," had been torn nearly in half. Through the ragged tear, she could see the broken window above. Sounds of shouting erupted from inside, announcing that the girls' dramatic escape had not gone unnoticed by the saloon's staff and patrons.
Quickly, Haruko checked on Natsuko. The girl was dazed but uninjured.
"C'mon, we need to get out of here!" Haruko said as she hauled the other to her feet. They raced down the dusty road, passing onlookers who gawked at the spectacle from the safety of their shaded doorways. The witnesses leapt for cover, however, when an angry cyborg leaned out the broken window of the saloon and continued firing. The dirt erupted around the girls' feet as a barrage of laser blasts barely missed them. Terror put new energy into their steps and they soon disappeared around the end of the street.
Hoping to discourage any possible pursuit, they turned as many corners as they could. The weathered buildings provided little in the way of refuge, but their haphazard layout created a veritable maze for a couple of runaways to get lost in.
Finally, they slowed down. Spotting a mechanical wagon parked by the back of a building, the two girls wedged themselves into the space between the vehicle's rusty side and the wall. It surprised them how far they had run, especially with the hot sun beating down on their unprotected skin. Of course, with their line of work, it made some sense that they would be equipped with a good amount of stamina.
Natsuko collapsed against the wall. "Now what are we gonna do? Which way do we run, now?"
Haruko shrugged weakly. "I don't know where we are. I don't even know what we are anymore." She held up her broken arm and cringed. "Whatever we are, it's not human."
"Oh, Jon," gasped the other girl. Gently, she took Haruko's ruined limb and inspected it with morbid fascination. "I didn't see how bad it was earlier. Does it hurt?"
"No. In fact, the rest of me seems to be perfectly fine. I think I'm some kind of android or something."
"So, we're both like this?"
"I'm guessing so. Whatever wish you made turned me into this. And my wish for you to have a body like mine must've done the same to you. Karyn, what did you wish for?"
