I really didn’t blame Danni, I had my own reason for having mixed feelings about returning to the Mall and I can understand Danni having them too even if I didn’t know fully why. Either way I let her speak as I stand there quiet and just gently nod my head.
"I understand, it’s not easy. I can only imagine how you feel, but if it helps or mean anything…you’re not alone" I say and smile softly at Danni. My smile then drop looking at her red letter, part of me felt like she was right but there was the other part not agreeing.
"Maybe… but we also didn’t know what would have happened if we had stayed away, who ever wanted us here clearly knew how to find everyone" That was the part that scared me the most.
Listening to Cloe I nod, it was reassuring that i wasn’t the only one who wasn’t sure they wanted to be here. ’It helps,’ I agree, looking at her for a moment I return her smile, ’when did you get so wise?’
Nodding I can’t help but agree, ’that is true, and they knew what to say to persuade us, especially if others have returned.’
Taking a deep breath I half smile, ’right, let’s do this… I’m glad I bumped into you, glad I’m not doing this alone!’
I gave Danni a small smile, i know that the feeling could make someone feel a little lonely but i wanted her to know she wasnt alone in this. I laughed a little and shrugged my shoulders, ”I grew up and thank god for that. Salene might back me up in that i was not easy to deal with” I admitted.
”Maybe its then better if we are here… together” i hope i added in my own head. We really had no idea in the end and even this was taking a chance.
I smiled at Danni again and placed a hand om her shoulder, ”Me too, i did have the others but i am glad i bumped into you” it wasnt just the same with Tink, Jamie and Radar as they had not been Mallrats. ”Come on, lets do this”
Cloe’s words offer some reassurance and I nod, ’yes, let’s do this, before we both change our minds.’
Giving Cloe a smile I stand properly and look towards the direction of the sewers. ’Not sure I’m looking forward to the sewers but at least they’ve turned off the booby traps.’
It takes more energy than I like but I slowly head towards the sewers, where we are reunited with Cloe’s friends. ’Sorry about that,’ I comment quietly. I didn’t like showing weakness to strangers but I couldn’t hide my emotions at the impact of the current situation.
I smiled as we started to walk and then let out a laugh, ”Yeah, we Will still have to deal with the smell but at least no traps”
Tink and Jamie were the only ones smiling when we met up with them again which was nothing knew for me. ”No worries” Jamie said flashing a comforting smile.
”Yeah yeah, whatever lets go” Radar said and starting to move into the sewers. ”Jerk” i muttered. Oh dear god the smell was not easy to forget and it did not disapoint.
I hadn’t even thought about the smell but it might have improved slightly given that the sewers hadn’t been used in ages.
One of Cloe’s friend offers a smile and I return it, grateful for the lack of judgement.
We head into the sewers and I crinkle my nose slightly, ok the smell hadn’t improved. ’Let’s do this quickly!’
I head down towards the mall as quickly as I can, the scent preventing me from lingering too much. It really wasn’t pleasant. Reaching the mall I take a moment before going inside. The whole place felt the same and yet different, memories flood my brain and I stagger slightly at the weight of it all.
Moving into the mall I make it as far as the fountain until I sink down, sitting on the edge I just look around trying to process everything flooding through my head.
Carefully I raid the once probably fancy shop. Rossini sounds Italian. Italian shoes were expensive. Even I know that, even when I was far from being a shopping teenager when the virus wiped the plate.
I reach Leo to Andy when I realise he fell deep asleep (bless the sleep of a baby!) and take one of the boxes that stand around. Unceremoniously I empty it out, brush it off and put in Leos blanket to coat the bottom. Then I take Leo back from Andy, and put him carefully into the box, covering him then with the crocheted pullover I have been luckily wearing when the fire happened.
And luckily I had a shirt underneath. Never less we need to find different clothes. Though I am sure not asking Alix for her ideas. Zandra seems to be the better choice for that…
"That has to do for now… Maybe we are lucky and find some baby stuff hidden away somewhere. Maybe things from Brady. Or things they might have already organised for Amber’s child. I still don’t know why the Mall Rats even left this place, but whatever it was, must have been serious. But I remember Bray had only a small bag for them.So if they had organised stuff before, it would have been kept in the place…
I start to raid through the boxes, pulling out a blanket with some holes. Better then nothing, right?
I just smile and shake my head a bit, “Why am I not surprised?” I said to KC, some things never changed. I grinned a bit at what Alice said as it was true. "Just like old times"
I then glance back and forth at everyone with Alice looking at the letter I had gotten and KC who had his out as well. I placed my hand on my hip while the other was rubbing my chin as I thought, it was not Lex as he was here with us.
"Luke?" I tried not to judge Ellie on that one, I guess Luke wasn’t that bad but any former Chosen still left a bad taste in my mouth. "I guess we better hurry along then"
I had probably been spoiled where I lived now a days where it mostly smelled of flowers in the summer and also salt water from the ocean. “Yeah, the faster we get away from this smell the better” I say as I quickly follow along. I could hear our footsteps echoing as we walked.
When I was inside the mall I looked around and had been taking big and deep breaths, “Wow! this is huge” Tink had said as she looked around.
"It feels so different" I say sinking down next to Danni, memories were floating back to me and so many happy but also sad memories hit me all at once.
’It does,’ I agree when Cloe comments how different it feels. The mall hadn’t always been my home, I hadn’t always felt welcomed here, but it had become something. I look around letting the memories wash over me ‘everyone, this is Danni… she’s come to help’. Part of me wished I’d never let Bray talk me into coming here, how different things would be.
Looking around I take a moment before putting my bag down on the floor, it was so strange to be here. I’d never thought I’d be back, not after everything that happened.
’I wonder who else has come back,’ I comment after a moment.
We bend over an old map we found here. It looks like someone made kind of military plans on it. Who knows. What I could read from this old journal, told me that the city has seen exciting and dangerous times.
I mean… My childhood among slaves hasn’t been sugarland. But I am tempted to say that it sounds like life in the city has been a Rollercoaster.
"Looks like it’s like thirty, forty miles…" Kyle signs to me. "That’s doable for us in half a day. We could reach the city at nightfall. I mean… We are awake anyway. No use sitting around here…"
I sigh looking at the little pile of usable things we found. Mostly screws, nails, some tools, batteries which are probably empty… Sone metal sticks that can be used as weapons though…
Normally we wouldn’t travel in full daylight. But Kyle is right. Why linger here? The place gives me the chills anyway.
"Okay… Let’s get packed and leave… But we aren’t going to the mall. I am not running in there without the fuck of a clue who is living there…" I sign back. Sam pats my arm.
"Of course we stick to that part of the plan. We search some bar or whatever and collect information first…" She signs. I nod. We learnt that no matrer how small or run down a village or city is, there is always at last one bar or casino.
I take one last look around, while Kyle puts what we seemed to be of value into his rucksack. All of us then shoulder their own baggage and off we are.
We left our place a month back. As we are used to walking and running that was no big deal for us. Besides we still hunted, sourced fresh water and fruits. Sometimes made the occasional trade. I coukd mostly forget why we were even doing this journey. But now it bevomes real. I wish I could drag it out. Just keep on traveling with my two soulmates.
But I ran away once as a boy… I am not running away again.
The grin stayed on my face “What can we say, when we’re in the same location we like to hang out, great company and all” I tell Alice before nodding at Ryan “Absolutely, not gonna lie I’ve missed the Mall a bit, and I can’t wait to see whose there”
Even from here, the state of the city was a clear indication of what we could expect the Mall to be like “Do you think any of the Mallrats came back here before these letters started arriving?” I asked the group as I slowly skated along side them.
I headed to the fountain “Welcome back to the Mall” I say as I reach them “I suppose introductions are the best way forward, I’m Zane, me and the Serpents live here and have done for years, we’ve also received the love letters telling us to leave”
I give them a small nod “Mallrats have been allocated the downstairs rooms and we’ve taken the upstairs so I guess go pick a room?” I suggested. There wasn’t much else I could say really.
I was still hovering in the doorway when I heard voices near the grille, the choice between going out there and start tidying this room isn’t an easy one, purely because I didn’t know which was worse.
I chew my lower lip slightly “Come on Zan, you can do this” I tell myself I go further into the room, the dust was thick, there were piles of clothes and random objects everywhere, where to even start.
I started seperating everything into two piles, one of stuff I wanted to keep and the other the things that I had no interest in, there was quite a lot of clothing, some that I would be able to alter into outfits for myself.
Picking up a jumper I let out a scream as the biggest spider I have seen in a long time went running across the floor “Fuck” I tell myself trying to calm down while keeping an eye on where its gone.
As we sail away from our home, I feel my heart sink. Life on our little island had been blissfully calm, nothing much ever happened there. Such a difference to the chaos of the mainland.
The last of a group of little blue penguins vanishes out of sight while Aurora is happily chattering away.
I look at the dark clouds forming in the distance, hopefully we will make it to the other side in time.
“Pats…” I say softly, nodding my head into the direction of the clouds as not to alarm Aurora. “I think the nearest beach might be a better option then the harbor to arrive for now, though it might be a longer walk from there…”
I look up as Brady speaks, I look in the direction she’s telling me. Nodding my head I look at her. ”lets go to the nearest beach, we can manage to walk, and if it gets to hard we got the trolley so it’s easier for us to bring our things”* I say. The trolley is also a good place to put Aurora when she gets tired.
lets get to the beach I say and start to adjust the boat so that we will get to the beach.
Everyone spreads out to look for rooms and I glance around the cafe, well, that went better than anticipated. I sit for a few minutes until I feel a hand on my shoulder, looking up at Bekah I give her a small smile, ’well, that went well,’ I comment quietly, ’we probably need to prepare for more guests, can you and Alix do a food run, get us set up with the essentials?’ she nods before squeezing my shoulder. Hopefully it wouldn’t take us too long to work out the situation and get the rats out of our hair.
Standing I make my way out of the cafe and look around, Luc has a handle on the new people and the others seem to be sorting themselves. Making a quick decision I head upstairs to my room, might as well catch forty winks while everyone is otherwise occupied.
I opened my mouth to say something but then a guy I didn’t know either came up and introduced himself. “Ohh Hi Zane, I’m Cloe…wait you’ve been getting letters telling you to leave?” I was very confused, who was this person was sending us these letters wanting the Mallrats back and these serpents to leave. Was it another Mall rat? no could it be really? or was it someone else.
"Thank you, I…I guess we will do that" I say with a short smile before eyeing Danni. “Yeah, so far I’ve just seen Salene… I wonder…” I trailed of a bit as I thought to myself, part of me wondered if Bray was here or Amber. There were so many people I thought about and some I dreamed of seeing again.
"Shall we go and see if we can find some rooms and settle down?" I asked Danni, but also Tink, Radar and Jamie.
I had started to dust up a bit, I had coughed and waved my hands to get the spider web away and the dust away from my face. “Gross” I muttered as I continued to clean. Right now it was important to get away all the dust and make sure the bed was good enough to sleep in, I refused to sleep in old and dusty sheets.
Hearing a scream I myself let out a smaller one in surprise and dropped what I was holding,it came in the direction Zandra had stayed in when I had walked by that room before. “You okay?” I called out.