Feeling someone bump into my back gave me such a fright, I’m sure I probably freaked out Alice when I suddenly jumped and shouted out. “Who’s there?” and it seemed the other party had the same thought and had shouted, the voice sounded slightly familiar.
I turned around and it took me honestly a few seconds, as it had been many years it really took me a while before it hit me who it was I was staring at. “L…Lex?” I said looking shocked, I looked at Alice as well to see that I wasn’t actually hallucinating.
The guy I bumped into says loudly… That voice is familiar… I recognise it but I can’t place it, I turn to see him looking at me… His eyes as wide as mine…
"L…Lex" he stutters
He looks at the woman with him… I can’t breathe I just stare for what seems like forever… I must have fallen asleep…
"Ryan?" I say as a question "Alice"
The three of us stare at each other in disbelief before I grin and hold my hand out to shake his…
"I don’t believe this" I grin "I’m going to the mall and of all the people to run into it’s you"
I hope this is as happy a moment as it is for me… It’s been almost 20 years since the chosen took Ryan away and then Alice was taken by the technos… My head is swimming…
I listen as the tribe who have the mall start to introduce themselves to us, and then my eyes cut to Zandra and Lottie… It’s freezing, but at least they are making the short dresses work for them… I just hope non of the Mall Rat pigs show up, Lex being the womanizer he is, he’s going to be shocked enough to see Zandra is alive let alone in a short dress, his eyes might pop out his head as he starts drewling… I looked at Will and Andy as they walked in, Andy seemed to roll his eyes while Will seemed to go wide eyed, Dawn nudged him and he gave a slight smile before turning his attention back to the buisness at hand… Will and Dawn were not Mall Rats so really didn’t belong here, the took a seat as far from us as possible while still keeping everyone in view and earshot… Always ready to protect…
“Well I am Tally. Andy’s twin." Tally smiles introducing herself and Leo "And mother to little Leo here. I get that having a baby here seems the most undesirable thing ever. But I assure you Andy and I are good with sharing things between us. I’ll do what I can to keep him well so he won’t cry too much. But occasionally he will. I apologize in advance. Like said before Andy and I are pretty able traders. And we can repair all kind of stuff. We know a place in walking distance where are wild growing vegetables and chicken… And well… I can cook pretty decent soups I think and bake bread.”
My turn
"Hi, I’m Salene… I promise, we will all makes sure Tally has help with the baby, so we can avoid as much disruption to your lives as possible" I add
They seem to be greatful for that…
"I can also cook" I smile "I’ll happily help with the cooking and cleaning, I used to do it in the beginning for the Mall Rats"
I look over to Zandra, still unable to believe she is here… I swallow…
"I’ll be going home as soon as the mystery of the letters is over, we honestly don’t want to disrupt your lives more than we have too, thank you in advance for your hospitality…"
I sit in hope that I don’t upset or offend anyone…
The introductions begin… I join the girls sat down. I give Sal a little squeeze before I say ‘hi’. "Just like Sal, me Eciov an old Mall Rat will be out of your hair with my two current members Will and Dawn once this mystery is settled. Whilst we are here we will hunt, forage and be respectful house guests. Will is also good with his hands and Dawn is a brainiac. Maybe between them, they could get your grille working if you wanted? Oh and I love to clean!"
They probably didn’t mind it didn’t work and wanted it to stay broken to stop people from getting in but I was being nice. I move from the girls and sit with Will and Dawn.
It was too late to turn back, I knew this but I could feel all kinds of emotions build up inside of me. I was afraid of disappointment and also scared of what was waiting for me inside the mall.
As I was walking on the road towards the Mall I did see another person, we stopped for a moment trying not to be seen but something felt familiar with that person. As I looked closer the feeling of familiarity washed over me and my heart started to beat hard as I moved forward and out of the grip of Radar that had stopped me. “Danni? is that you?” I called out to the person.
I’m in my own world looking down the street towards the mall remembering everything that had happened… not just the first time but also when I’d returned. The emotions swirl and I freeze to the spot unable to move forwards, I wasn’t sure how I would feel seeing other mallrats again, hadn’t really thought about that when I’d made the decision to come back but now it suddenly hit me that I wouldn’t be the only one who had received a letter summoning them home.
I don’t know how long I’ve stood there before a sound brings me back, I turn on the spot hearing someone call my name. The girl looks familiar and yet not, I frown for a moment trying to place her and after a moment it hits ’Cloe?’ I almost step towards her but hold myself back, ’Cloe, is that you?’
I look at the other people with her but don’t feel a sense of familiarity with them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t also mallrats, I just can’t quite place them.
Everyone introduces themselves and I take note of names and talents, sounded like we had a fair few who could cook so we could definitely divvy that up between us.
’I am glad we are all on the same page,’ I comment after a few minutes of everyone introducing themselves. Looking at Tally I think for a moment, ’we all understand that babies cry, sometimes for no reason, so don’t worry about that too much.’ I knew that we wouldn’t be able to hear too much of the crying if we were on separate floors as the place had pretty decent soundproofing, even after all these years.
Eciov states a couple from her group might be able to fix the grille and I think for a moment before nodding, ’it may be handy to have a second route of exit and entry, especially as we don’t know the story behind the letters, so yes, we would be grateful if you could take a look.’ I tell them. I also knew it would be easier for people if the grille was in working order as the sewers weren’t always easy to traverse, especially in bad weather.
Looking over at the serpents I think for a moment, ’I am presuming that if you all got letters telling you to come home that other mall rats may also be on the way, I guess we should all prepare for an influx of guests. With that in mind, it may be worth getting a few of the stores ready for people to stay in, if you are all happy with that decision?’
For a moment I had thought that maybe I had been mistaken, that this couldn’t be Danni. The last I knew and remembered if I remembered that right was that she was taken by the chosen. Hadn’t she been killed like the other tribe leaders? or was that a lie or a false memory I had?
All the questions in my mind caused me a bit of a headache, but then the woman she had thought to be Danni spoke and said my name then I knew it. It was Danni and it made me smile a little as I nodded my head. “It is… it’s so good to see you. It’s been so long” I said almost feeling teary head for some reason.
I turned to look back at the others and smiled, "It’s alright, Danni was a Mallrat like me, Danni these are my friends, Tink, Radar, and Jamie"
Tink smiled softly and nodded her head in a greeting while Jamie just nodded his head politely taking in the woman in front of them. Radar didn’t say or do anything, in ways he reminded me of Lex at times. Mistrusting of people he didn’t know.
‘It’s been so long’ I nod at her words, almost completely dumbfounded, the woman in front of me was Cloe but also, wasn’t, the shadows in her eyes had replaced the childlike innocence I remembered from the years before. ’You’ve changed,’ I comment after a moment before realising how stupid that sounded, of course she changed. I shake my head slightly, ’sorry, of course you have.’
She introduces her friends and I manage to offer them all a smile, I probably seemed crazy travelling alone but the others were needed at the farm and it was easier without them.
Looking at Cloe I sigh quietly, ’red letter?’ I ask her after a moment. The reality of the situation washing over me, I obviously wasn’t the only one to get one… but what did that mean?
Seeing the redhead guy back I remembered I had left his coat back with my clothes, I would make sure to give it back to him as soon as possible. Underneath the table I still pulled a little on the hem but then just laid my hands over my lap.
"The Mallrats I knew back n the hand including Salene" I stopped and gave her a light smile, “Did use to see this as their home and each other has family and wasn’t the ones to easily back down so I would say you are correct in saying more will come” We couldn’t be the only ones who has gotten these red letters and the only ones who will return to the city and to the mall.
I sit listening to Callan, I felt confident in my decision to get him to lead this, he is definitely the level-headed one of us. Getting the grille working would be brilliant and it would solve alot of problems that we have been having. I think about the rooms, god knows what they are like “We don’t use the downstairs rooms so whatever is in them is free to use, though be aware they have been left for some time”
I stand up “This will get done a lot quicker if we all help” I hold back the groan that I was feeling, I hated cleaning with a passion and usually had a way of trading the chores I didn’t like “Why don’t you all go pick a room and the rest of us will attempt to sort the other rooms out for whoever else turns up and wants to stay”
I had just been a child when we last saw each other so I didn’t mind when Danni said what she said, but she wasn’t wrong. I had changed a lot, not only grown up but a lot had happened between the chosen coming to town and now and not all had been good. “No, it’s alright. You’re right I have changed” I said with a light smile.
"Any friend of Clo, is a friend of ours" Tink said with a sweet smile while Radar scuffed and rolled his eyes. “I would ignore Radar though, he’s crumpy out of this group” Jamie said as he gently nudged his friend and smiled over at Danni.
Then a serious feeling fell over us when Danni mentioned the red letter and I nodded my head, “Yeah… how did you…wait you got one as well?” that’s the only way how Danni would know about it if she had also gotten one. Did that mean that more Mallrats were getting it? well the ones that were still alive and I had no idea who that might be.
I sit listening to what everyone is saying, I bet the rest of them are eager for more Mallrats to turn up but personally I wasn’t really wanting any reunion, these people are my past and I wont be looking back once this is all sorted and I can go back to the bar.
When Luc says for everyone to go pick a room, perfect excuse to get away “Lets go pick” I say as I jump up with a smile and head off to pick a room. I briefly thought about getting the old boutique next to the cafe but settled on the superette.
Reaching the room I opened the door and hoved in the door way as I looked inside, it was dusty inside and I was already dreading the spiders that could be hiding anywhere, I hated spiders.
I watch the friends interact and a moment of sadness washes over me, I remembered having people like that but now… I shake my head as if trying to shake away the pain.
Hearing Cloe’s question I nod, ’more than one,’ I admit after a moment, ’I ignored them at first, ignored them until I couldn’t any more.’ I turn and look towards the mall, ’this is the last place I want to be,’ I tell them, ’it doesn’t exactly scream happy memories.’
Looking back at Cloe I try and push the negativity away, ’but I’m sure you don’t want to hear all about that…’ I look back towards the mall, ’shall we get this over and done with?’
I could hardly believe it, it was actually Lex that was standing there right before us. Part of me thought I was at home sleeping and that this was all a dream, I looked at his hand before starting to grin and shook his head. “It’s so good to see you, Lex!” I said with a bright smile and looked at Alice.
"We were heading there ourselves" I say gesturing to myself and Alice. It did feel good to see my old friend and to see him looking well too.
I look back at the three of my friends and shook my head a little, I did smile though. As embarrassing they could be at times I did love them.
My eyebrow rose before falling and nodded my head, “My too, I tried to ignore the first one and the few that followed but the more that came” I shook my head looking down before my gaze was also at the mall. “I know what you mean, I have some but it’s also… painful ones” I said feeling some sorrow fill me up and Tink squeezed my shoulder.
"Maybe some other time when this calms down, or at least where you’ve been since…" I stopped and I smiled a bit instead. "Yes, I don’t think I’ll get more ready so if you are ready let’s do this"
Skating through the streets I see three people ahead and I quickly realise who there are “Well well well look what the letters are dragged in” I called, I was actually buzzing seeing them and makes me excited to reach the mall and see who else is there.
Coming to a stop by the group I shake my head “Lex” I grinned at my old mentor who I was once so close to before turning to the others “Ryan, Alice… It’s mental to see you guys again! I thought our last farewell would actually be our last”
I stood up as well and gave the others a polite nod, I did stop when I almost walked by the redhead guy. “Your coat is with my clothes at the moment but I promise to give it back to you and…thanks for the loan” I tell him with a soft smile before I walked out of the cafe.
I found the music store and thought it was a perfect size for me, I opened the door ad a light coldness ran through me. It didn’t seem like someone had been there for ages so it really needed a dusting off and some fixing but it will do and I could deal with fixing it up. “Even with all this dust talk about Deja vu” I said out loud.
I notice the way Cloe responds when talking about the mall, and the reassurance her friend offers, for a moment I want to press her and ask what happened but I know better. I wouldn’t want anyone pressing me about my story so instead I stay silent. People share when they are ready, not when they are forced.
Cloe agrees we should head to the mall and I nod, although I don’t make any steps to actually move. ’Should we just… go through the grille?’ I ask her after a moment. It probably seemed weird to defer to someone younger but at the same time Cloe had been a mallrat much longer than I had and she might have a better idea.
My arms tighten around the bag as I glance down the road, I knew the sooner we did this the sooner it would be done but that didn’t mean I actually liked the idea.
The chosen came with their own painful memories but the ones that were haunting my mind were the ones that came after. But maybe it was my fault, I fell for the wrong guy and pissed off the wrong people. But I couldn’t think about that right now, I wasn’t ready to open up about it.
I walked closer to Danni as I stared at the Mall and took a deep breath, "I guess… otherwise there is always the sewer, not a pleasant one. But it was a great way to sneak in and sneak out as long as you knew where the traps were " I did remember well the traps we had set up in the early days of living in the Mall.
"I have no idea if there even is someone in there" I admitted to her.