Shielded

---Part 3. Sorry its taken so long... I've been studying for an English exam that I have in two weeks. Any criticism welcomed again.---

The man's 'light tube' slipped from his hands with a clatter, making Autumn jump. He bent down to retrieve it, his face in line with hers.
"Please don't hurt me! Please," Autumn whispered. She'd meant it to be a cry, but she couldn't find her voice.

The man backed away, raising his hands in a surrender. "I won't touch you. Um, do you need a ride?"

Autumn considered his words. It seemed that if she had been found by this man, then it would be possible for others to find her too. And, since the man didn't seem a threat, it would be nice to get a break from walking. She nodded numbly and climbed to her feet. The man gestured for her to follow, and headed through the corn field.

The truck was a faded green colour, and had a trailer on the back which held several boxes and crates. The man opened the door and entered the truck. "Well get in then," he said, turning the engine on. It was the same rumbling noise as the big truck had made earlier -when Autumn had freaked out - but slightly quieter. She placed her hand on the door's handle and pulled it slightly. Nothing happened. Autumn could feel the man's stare and it made her nervous. She yanked the handle, harder this time, and it sprung open, startling her. The man chuckled. "Have you never seen a car before?"
No, I haven't actually, Autumn wanted to say. Instead she just shrugged.

When they'd started driving, and once Autumn had gotten over the humiliation of buckling the car's 'seat belt', the man pulled out a small box filled with little white tubes. He rolled down the car's window, and then used his free hand to light one with a plastic container that bared a flame when flicked. Autumn stared at him, bewildered as to what he was doing. "Do you mind?" the man asked, placing the tube between his lips. Thick white smoke came out the end, and down through his nostrils as he exhaled. Autumn had no idea what the man was doing, but didn't object to his strange doings, after all, he was being kind enough by letting her ride in his car.

"You're a quiet one, aren't you?" the man commented. Autumn didn't know what to say to this. She wasn't normally quiet, but given the circumstances, she thought was acceptable. The man looked at her expectingly. "How about we start with names. I'm Elijah. Who are you?" he said when Autumn didn't answer. She opened her mouth to speak, but then hesitated. Was it wise to tell this man her name?
"I'm Autumn," she said in a barely audible voice, figuring that since she was already in his car, she might as well speak.
"Well, nice to meet you, Autumn," Elijah said, taking a draw at his 'smoking tube'. He blew the smoke in the direction of Autumn's face, and coughed as it traveled through her lungs. Elijah gave her a long stare, and Autumn thought she'd offended him by coughing, but when she looked into his creased eyes, he looked away immediately. "So, how'd you get all the way out here? There's not a settlement for miles,"
There was, actually: The Camp, Autumn's only known home - but she wasn't about to tell Elijah that.
"I guess I just got lost," Autumn said, turning to look out into the night. The road was dark apart from Elijah's truck's lights. Thankfully, he seemed to accept this answer and the rest of the drive remained silent.

"Autumn,"
When Autumn's eyes fluttered open, she was blinded by the breaking of dawn. She had a crook in her neck, like she hadn't been lying on a pillow.
"Autumn,"
Suddenly, the previous day came beck to her. Autumn shot up, and found she was still in Elijah's car. He chuckled when he saw the confused look on her face. "Morning," he said, biting into a bread roll.
"Morning," Autumn croaked, her throat parched.
"Well, I'm gonna be heading south from now. Will you be okay from here?" Elijah asked, brushing crumbs off his lap. Autumn was sure she wouldn't be, but what had she expected coming out into the world on her own with absolutely no experience? "Where are we?" she asked, to try and get her bearings. She'd studied a little geography during her very few years of schooling, and the subject had always fascinated her. She knew they couldn't possibly be out of the USA, they'd only been driving for a matter of hours. She'd have realised if they had crossed a continent, wouldn't she?
"We're in Philadelphia," Elijah replied.
Autumn was pretty sure the colour drained from her face, then. A city. She'd at least thought she could have started out in a small town, that might have been marginally possible, but a city...this was unthinkable.