Mall Rats Return

[Salene]

Dee

We stand outside the sewers for what feels like forever as we wait for some sign that things are okay inside… Suddenly Tally pops up from the sewers making me jump…

"Andy? Hey… All of you? Please come down. We can reach Leo down for now. I didn’t get the topic to the hole that’s maybe here. Those guys are losing their patience. It’s not the time to let them realise there might be a hole in the home they choose. It’s time to be clever Andy."

"Okay" I smile

Eciov quickly takes over…

"Will if you stay up here with the baby and the bags, and Andy goes down the ladder, then you can pass the baby down to Andy and Tally, then pass our bags down to me, Dawn and Dee"

I look around the group as Will and Dawn agree with Eciov, picking up the bags we move closer to the sewer exit… I wonder how much it’s changed on the inside, I then go back to Andy and offer to hold Leo while he stands up and sorts out his mode of transport, making it safe and secure while we are inside…

@Zwenja @Jack

[Jack]

Andy

After what feels like forever, Tally returns. I let out a sigh of relief. The leader of The Everglades gives us all a role, she’s good. I pass Leo to Dee, The Everglades move all of our belongings over to the manhole whilst I camouflage Bert and Ernie.

Not an inch of them could be exposed, I was taking my time. Tally must have shouted from the sewer to start moving the bags down as there was less stuff by the manhole and Eciov was nowhere to be seen. Dee makes her way over to me and says, “Andy, come on man. Chip N’ Dale are well and truly hidden. Your sister is getting impatient, she wants her son back in her arms.”

I don’t let on to Dee she got the name’s wrong for my beautiful babies, but instantly within that moment I stop. There was nothing more to do here. I nod at Dee and take Leo from her. “Tally we are coming!” We walk over to the manhole, the last bag goes down with Dawn leaving just Will by the manhole. I hand him baby Leo. “We’ve got this,” I say with a nod.

Dee makes her way down the ladder not quietly. I manage to not laugh as I follow her down. And with the most care Will and I are precise with the exchange of baby Leo into my arms. My sister was saying things like please please be careful but I had switched off and focused on Leo being in one piece. Baby Leo was safe. Thank God.

I turn and pass him to my sister who is itching to have her son and smile at the joy of seeing her holding him again. My sister was once again complete. Looking around the group, everyone was smiling.

@Zwenja @Salene

[Salene]

Dee

I follow Ecoiv and Dawn down the ladder after giving Leo back to Andy…

"Sewer, I hate the god damn sewers" I mutter under my breath "It stinks, it’s gross, now everything I pwn will smell like shit, blurgh, could’t sort the grille, what sort of stupid people can’t make their front door work, gross, disgusting, nothing changes"

As I reach the ground I see Ecoiv and Dawn giggling at me…

"I really hope we don’t to leave in a hurry, 20 people or more trying to get out of one man holes gonna be fucked up" I moan as I put my bag on my back and grab Salene’s one…

Andy comes halfway down the ladder as Will hands a squirming Leo down to him and Andy hands him back to his mother… Tally seems to immediately relax as she is reunited with her son, we wait as Will now makes his way down, taking his pack from Dawn then his bow and quiver full of arrows from Eciov, he slings it over his shoulder…

"Lead the way" I sigh "I hate the sewers"

"We gathered that" Will laughs

We follow Tally and Andy towards the big green doors… The sewer doesn’t smell as bad as it used too, with no water, there’s no baths or toilets working so there’s no fresh sewage to deal with so the sewers have dried out… Tally leads us into the mall, I look around with a gasp at how the mall looks now, sooo run down…

"They are in the cafe" Tally tells us

We follow her to where the cafe is…

@Jack @Zwenja

(Tally moved with Zwenja’s permission)

[Jack]

Andy

Tally and I led everyone through the sewers, the whole time Tally was fixated on Leo. Tally says to everyone they are in the cafe.

Tally, Leo, Dee, Eciov, Will, Dawn and I enter the cafe. Tally can see Sal sat down, she heads over to her immediately.

The two ex Mall Rats were not present. But the new tribe members that I had gone to town on were. I wasn’t going to beat around the bush, I wanted to clear the air and ideally get along with everyone.

"The fireball has returned… Let’s just say I was a complete prize prick earlier… Sometimes my attitude can reflect my fiery hair. I apologise to you all, I was out of line. Maybe I could have done with a bucket of water over my head to cool me down. I also want to take back the nonsense I said about the Mall Rats being one big family from the beginning to the end. What a crock of shit that was, my sister and I were never truly accepted. Sal that excludes you. Our brother Ned being wasted and The Techno’s coming was kind of a blessing in disguise for us… This is your home now and we are truly grateful for your hospitality and hopefully acceptance whilst we are here. Today is an odd day for us all and the sooner we establish who is behind all of this we can go back to where we were or like my sister and I start our next chapter…" I feel a hand come up on to my shoulder and turn my head to see it is Dee. We share a smile.

@Zwenja @Salene @Danni @Zandra @Tribelover15

(Zwenja isn’t feeling herself today; permission to move Tally.) Hope you feel better later.

Eciov

The sewers were dried up. The Mall looked tired. Worn graffiti sprawled across the walls. It was strange being back now all grown up. I began to remember the silly times I had here. I wonder where Sammy is these days. Maybe I will get to see him soon unless he has done something stupid like not opening the letters and eating them. Dawn gives me a little hug before we all stand in the cafe where Andy apologises. I was concerned what was wrong with Salene but Tally was comforting her.

[Salene]

Salene

Sitting at the table still in a daze from seeing Zandra, I see Andy, Tally, Dee, Ecoiv, Dawn and Will come into the cafe, Tally comes straight to me and sits down, I smile at her then at Leo who grins sleepily back at me…

"Hey little man" I say quietly "How you doing"

I gently run my finger down his cheek, I haven’t been around babies since Brady and baby Bray were small… It hurt after I lost my baby… Tally smiles as she rocks her son gently

"I’m here if you need help or a break" I whisper to her

"Thank you" she mouths back to me…

Before we can say any more Andy breaks into a big apology to the guys who now live in the mall… A part of his speech sticks in my head…

"I also want to take back the nonsense I said about the Mall Rats being one big family from the beginning to the end. What a crock of shit that was, my sister and I were never truly accepted. Sal that excludes you" Andy says with a sigh

I never knew they felt like that, I at least never wanted anyone to feel unaccepted… I see Dee place her hand on Andy’s shoulder, Tally reaches out and touches my hand with a smile…

"Did you really feel that way?" I ask quietly

"Some times, from certain people" Tally sighs

"I never knew, I’m so sorry" I sigh sadly

"It was a very long time ago" Tally smiles "It doesn’t matter anymore"

I lean in and gently hug her, I look at Leo as he battles to stay awake… The memory of being on the roof slams into me, the image of Tally bringing Brady up as Trudy was trying to talk me down, Tally saying she couldn’t find Amber, Brady cried and suddenly I snapped out of the dark place and focussed on Brady…

"Where did you go?" Tally asks

"Sorry, just a memory" I say "Don’t worry"

She smiles at me, Dee comes to me and puts my bag down beside me then takes a seat at the table to wait and see what we are going to do next…

@Jack @Zwenja

[Tribelover15]

Lottie

I had some issues getting the leggings off as they had started to stick more to my body when they got wet,I also hadn’t paid much attention to what Alix had brought us so when I took the outfit and held it up my jaw almost dropped.

"Ohh damn" I mutter and shook my head. “Same, this…is not something I usually wear” I say before starting to get dressed. “Okay, I’ll be right out” I tell Zandra and continue getting on the dress and then I stood there trying to pull it down a bit but not much luck. I blow out some air before giving up, "Alright, here we go"

I walked out and looked at Zandra “My legs feels naked” was all I got out.

@Zandra

[Zandra]

Zan

I looked at Lottie “Well at least we’ll be feeling it together. I get the feeling she’s the woman in charge around here” I look towards the cafe “But the dress looks good on you, so we either have to own it and strut our stuff or look awkward” I smirk “And I know which option I’m going for” I winked at her and headed towards the cafe stopping myself to trying to pull down the dress.

I can’t even remember the last time I wore anything as short as this but there wasn’t a chance that I was going to show it that I felt a bit uncomfortable, I am going to work this dress.

Walking into the cafe I smirk “Thanks for the dress Alix, love it” I say as I walk over to the table I was at previously and sitting down.

[Danni]

CALLAN

We are joined in the cafe by multiple new people including the small human that had previously been mentioned, I watch them all interacting silently before Andy apologises for his behaviour. I nod slightly, I understood the desire to watch out for the people I cared about although I wasn’t keen on his approach. In most instances people wouldn’t be forgiving if they were verbally attacked the first time they met someone.

After a few moments Alix returns with a smirk on her face, but before I can question it Zandra and Lottie have returned to the cafe. I quickly realise why Luc had asked Alix specifically for clothing, her style really was unique… and short! I get a view of two very nice sets of legs but now wasn’t the time or place.

’Right,’ I pause looking around at everyone, ’thank you all for joining us,’ I look at Luc for a moment before nodding to myself, ’I’m Callan, and we are The Serpents. We have lived in the mall for a long time, and while it was your home before, it is our home now so I would ask that you remember that.’ I hold up my hand before anyone else can speak, I want to get all my thoughts out first, ’from what I can gather, you are as bemused, bemuddled and bewildered by these red letters as we are, so I will not point fingers but I will also not have you pointing fingers at me or this tribe. We have not been sending the letters, so before any accusations fly please remember that. We want you hear about as much as I think you want to be here.’

’For whatever reason you have been drawn back here, and we are being told to leave, now we don’t want to do that… we like it here, so i believe it is in our best interest to cooperate until this little mystery is solved.’ I pause again, giving them time to digest my words, ’with that in mind, I would like to offer the downstairs shops for you to utilise while you are here, after your journeys I am sure you will need space to recoup.’ I glance over at Luc for a moment, hoping I haven’t overstepped the, ’we have limited hot water, and some electricity for cooking but not much so don’t expect luxury. The city is very different to how it was before and most large tribes have moved on.’

I realise I haven’t introduced everyone, we are one of the small tribes to remain in the city, as it has everything we need. You’ve met Luc and Alix, Bekah and Jaz are the two ladies over there and then we have Liam and Zane.’ I look around at the assembled people, ’feel free to introduce yourself.’

[Danni]

ALIX

Well, I was impressed, both girls had balls and weren’t put off by the dresses. I had almost hoped they’d refuse to wear them, refuse our hospitality, but they hadn’t… interesting

[Zandra]

Luc

Seeing the girls walk in made me smirk, they are dry clothes after all. Turning I look at Callan letting him take lead. I’m not gonna lie when he invited them to stay I had to hide the groan that I was feeling, having them for a couple of hours was what I was looking for but I had agreed for Callan to handle this so I wasn’t going to go back on that and I trust him to make the right decisions.

“Serpents will take the upstairs and we’ll leave the rooms downstairs for any Mallrats who wish to stay. We work as a tribe here which means doing runs for food and essentials and while figuring out these letters is a priority there will be a lot of mouths to feed here and we are not in the position to play host when it comes to supplying food” I pause “We are however willing to share food to make decent meals and will equally share jobs when it comes to cooking and cleaning”

“Callan is going to lead our input on this so decisions for the time being will be decided by him”

[Tribelover15]

Ryan

“Man… this is what’s left of the city?”* I say to Alice as we had reached the city limits, I could already tell what the rest would look like. Nature is taking over and buildings starting to crack. It was very different from when I last saw it.

"Come on, if we’ll keep going we’ll be there long before it turns dark" I nodded my head, I wasn’t scared of the dark or anything like that, but it’s been so many years since we were in the city. We didn’t know who still lived here and what went on after dark. It didn’t feel wise to be on the street then not knowing what could happen.

"You’re right, let’s go"

@Trudy

(Permission to move Alice from Trudy)

[Tribelover15]

Lottie

"That I gathered as well, best to keep her and all of them on their good side" I smiled and looked down a little still trying to pull the dress down and sighed when it just bounced back up. “Thank you, so do you as well. Ohh I for sure don’t want them to know how uncomfortable I am” I said as I fixed my hair a bit, it wasn’t soaking wet anymore but not fully dry either but enough for me to fix it up a little without looking like a wet dog.

I took a deep breath before walking towards the cafe, I didn’t hate the dress it just wasn’t something I normally wore myself but now when I had it, I might as well rock it out. “Thank you Alix, the dress looks great” I smiled as I walked towards the table and sat down next to Zandra once more.

I listened to what Luc and Callen said, I nodded my head as it only seemed fair for us to help out if we were gonna stay here. "For those who hasn’t heard me I’m Lottie, I’ll admit I had no back up plan of where to stay when I came here. But I’m not a bad cook and willing to help out in what I can"

[Salene]

Lex

I make it to the city limits… I turn in a circle shocked at the state of the city… As I walk backwards aimlessly, looking around I walk straight into some one, our backs hitting and almost bouncing off each other…

"WATCH IT! I say sharply as I bend to pick up the stick I dropped…

I found it and thought it might be handy for a weapon if I needed it or to knock fruit from the trees…

I turn and look at the backs of two people infront of me… I then get a funny feeling in my gut as they turn and we face each other…

@Tribelover15

[Zandra]

Zan

“I’m with Lottie, the stopover house I was at last night is gross, and will take you’s up on the offer to stay here and I’m happy to cook too” I withhold the comment that I am good at cooking a chicken and I really really hate washing pots “I am also really good when it comes to sewing and altering clothes and doing hair” I smile “And if there are any clothes that are no longer needed I’ll happily take them off your hands as you can tell I didn’t have much to bring”

I wasn’t going to go into the whole staying of leaving my last tribe with pretty much nothing before going to the bar and meeting Eve and I couldn’t exactly leave, taking Eve’s things with me “For those that don’t know, I’m Zandra” I add quickly.

[Tribelover15]

Cloe

"So if this plan with the mall falls through then what?" Radar asked as we walked along, I did care deeply for him but sometimes he did get on my nerves. I rolled my eyes and sighed “Then… we’ll have to look for a place to stay the night. If we’re lucky some place is vaccant” I said. I really didn’t know but I didn’t want to admit that out loud.

“I think… once we’re there I need to do this alone”** when I said this three people stopped and just stared at me. "Are you insane?" Jamie asks me.

"You’re not doing this alone" Tink tells me and gives my hand a tight squeeze. It did warm my heart to hear them say this. “Thank you guys, I’m just a little nervous” I then stopped seeing the Mall, had we really gone that far? “I…I remember this… it’s home… well my old home” I said smiling softly. At least some memories seemed to be correct.

[Patsy]

Patsy.
Brady tells me she only needs a little while to get ready. I nod my head and take Aurora with me to find her teddy and to pack the last things. Aurora runs into her room and I make my way to the kitchen and take two jars of honey that we have collected and preserved this summer, together with some of the food that we have grown. I place them into a basket before carrying it with me to the hall. I make my way outside and find the trolley to place the bags and backpacks in. I find it in the building where tools has been stored, pulling it with me back to the main house we have been using.

Once inside again I find a several blankets and place in the bottom of the trolley before I place the finished backed bags into it. Brady comes outside with what shes going to bring and places it into the trolley. I place the food basket with the fresh water, honey, some bread and other vegetables into the trolley and put my backpack on. This is going to take time, Auroras little feet are going to get tired, luckily we don’t have to walk far to get to the boats, but the journey from the beach and to the mall is long enough.

Aurora comes running over to me smiling. ”mommy! I found teddy! She was hiding under the pillow!” she says with a excited smile. I smile and instructs her to go and grab her jacket. With backpacks, and bags packed. I look at the house before locking the door, who knows we might decide to go back? We start making our way down to the boats. I pull the trolley behind me and Aurora skips next to us singing ‘the wheels on the bus go round and round’ she stopped. ”mommy do you think we will see a bus in the city?” she asks. I smile and shake my head. ”I don’t think so princess, the busses have not worked since I was a little girl” I tell her. Aurora frowns. ”but mommy your not little! Your big!” the child says shaking her head before she continues to sing. Moments like these I wonder why I’ve teached her the old children songs, but then again, what other songs could I have thought her?

Reaching boat place we pull the trolley with us out on the pier. Hopefully we can get it to fit into the boat. Brady and I work together to get the trolley down into the boat. It will make things easier when we reach the city.

(@Trudy allowed me to godmood brady some )

[Jack]

Andy

I had already done my introductions earlier and after a very open gracious apology, all I got was a nod. Clearly the ex Mall Rats wearing next to nothing redirected his thought process. I wanted my coat back. I had found ‘Lottie’ hot earlier but seeing her in an outfit you could see she wasn’t comfortable in changed everything. Why did
she allow such exposure? I get she didn’t want to cause any beef, but come on. Your pork and rice is on show! It was then when the fruit loop dingus managed to share his name with us ‘Callan’ and actually show the kindness and hospitality I had mentioned when saying sorry sincerely. Us ex Mall Rats had the downstairs of the Mall. I love my inner thoughts, no one else can hear them. Me and Callan from The Serpents were gonna get on like the colour of my hair, a fire burning just like the one that always was alight outside the front of the Mall when I was a nipper!!! I catch Dee’s eye from where she is now sitting. Her incorrect naming of Bert and Ernie earlier had tickled me. Just like Salene, she was pure. Her heart beated in unison with Eciov and her tribe. Tally and I were in uniform with who we had stepped back into the Mall with. We were all singing from the same hymn sheet. It was bizarre but powerful. Something we hadn’t felt before.

[Zwenja]

Tally

I hold Leo close as we finally get the introduction done. I raise a brow as the other two ex Mall Rats come back in dresses that are maybe cool for a party, but sure not for a meeting with a strange tribe im your decaying once have been home in fucking winter time. I freeze just looking at them.

Though both can wear it. Good legs and all. I look to the girl Alix who gave those to them. Oh miss I get what you’re playing. Trying to rile them up?!

Guess that point clearly goes to Lottie and Zandra.

I listen to Callan telling us to take the shops around the Cafe to our use. We’ll that’s actually wise as down here the echoes of crying won’t vibrate as much through the building and I’ll be closer to the way out. I still plan to look for that hoke though…

I nod when he speaks about sharing chores. People start to introduce themselves. I am torn between rolling by eyes and a snort as Andy speaks. That Callan and him completely started off the wrong feet.

But that’s often the case with independent men. Alpha behavior. But as Andy is all about protecting Leo and I, I can’t be angry.

I cough a bit “Well I am Tally. Andy’s twin. 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.” I shrug a bit, not knowing what else to say.

I don’t want to give away all about Alice and Ellie’s old farm. In case they come here… Even when it’s overgrown and decaying… It’s still their childhood home

It’s not like I am filling out an appliance to get a place among their tribe. I am just trying to make our unwelcome stay not as unwelcomed? I reach a hand to my brother and grab his in mine. Squeeze a little.

@Jack @Salene @everyone in Café

[Zwenja]

Phoenix

I jump up as vibrations let the ground beneath me literally shake. Just in time to see are VERY angry, Sam storming up to me. She grabs my collar and shakes me. I can read it from her lips, as she pronounces every word she say carefully "WHAT THE HELL GOT INTO YOU? LEAVING US?!"

I shove her gently off “Left the stone…” I sign. "Yeah… In a completely unknown area to Kyle and I. You were kidnapped from here. We don’t know what to await around this area!"

I look to Kyle who shrugs and says “Sorry mate…I am on her side in this!” I sigh and move fast to grab Sam’s face. “Sorry…” I mouth to her. There are some words I can at last form with my lips. But guess only Sam and Kyle are able to understand.

I lean in and kiss her gently. She sighs with a tiny smile “You’re lucky you can kiss so good!” I laugh voiceless, let her go and grab now Kyle’s face. “I am not that easy to get!” I read from his lips.

I crock a brow. He grins cheeky. So then… Instead of giving him a I am sorry- kiss I lean forward and… Bite his nose!

I jump steps away as he lunges for me “Ouch! Idiot!” I see Sam laughs her ass off as Kyle tries grabbing me and I dance and duck around him.

"Pff… I didn’t want a kiss anyway!" Kyle then says and crosses his arms looking around. I grin to myself. “So what’s this place now?” He signs at me, trying clear for a neutral topic. Kyle hates to be pranked.

"Old observatory. Maybe some secret military stuff hidden. Found a journal, handwritten. But not much to read there. Letters are fading…" I sign back, clip and clear like a soldier.

I take the journal that I tossed to the floor as I felt their footsteps. Sam looks at it. “I could read that it holds some information about the city… There is a tribe mentioned cslled the CHOOSEN” (I use the spelling here as no gesture exists for them) "who obviously saw a God in Zoot… That guy who died in the mall. Told you about it. I could figure out that there was a fight lead by the Mall Rats and in the end they won. Before the Chosen came they seem to have become pretty big in the city… They found the antidote…"

Both look confused at me. “Antidote? Like against the virus?” Sam signs. “Here was a second wave…it killed people…” “Fuck…” She mouths. We have seen outbreaks of the virus too. But always only kind of softer ones… Rarely someone died. A comrade of us said that there might be different mutations all over the world. Not all must lead to death…

"So…but if your old tribe was so big… Why aren’t they around anymore? I mean… As Sam said before… I don’t think this letters come from a friend calling you home?!" “This journal was written by a Techno…” (again I spell the name) "They did an invasion… My guess is to get whatever was hidden in here… The joirnbal seems to end suddenly… The writing got very sloppy… No idea what happened…"

Kyle sighs, driving a hand through his hair. “Okay. Weird. But let’s hope we get answers in that Mall. So… As we are all awake… Should we move on?” Both look at me.

"I… Actually I think it might be worth raiding here. There might be at last some tools or such left…I don’t think after whatever made those Technos leave, that many people came here. Every item can be useful…" both nod as I finish my signing and sign an “OK” to me.

Sam makes her way over to the stacked boxes and starts to look inside in an organized manner. Kyle shuffles over to brush off some dust from a surface. “Some screws and nails…” He signs over his shoulder, jumping then as he realised I moved close beside him “God you freaking sneak!” He breathes. I grin “What?” He snaps “Just this…” I sign before I place my lips on his… Of course he gets his I am sorry - kiss! His hand wanders into my neck as he kisses me back enthusiastically, giving the lie to his former statement that he didn’t want a kiss…

[Zandra]

KC

When I first set off to the Mall I was angry, angry that I had trusted Rae and she did what she did but as I skated and had time to think about the situation, the more I realised we were together for so long but it had become boring, like they were together because that’s just how it was and not because we were in love with each other.

Although there was still anger, my mood had dramatically increased by the time I could see the city in the distance. The joy of roller blades was I could get there faster and the fact that I had taken them from Garret made me feel even better – the wheel on mine had gone and these were brilliant and had plenty of life left in them.

“I’m back” I yell loudly as I skate into the city, now just to get to the Mall, hopefully there will be a welcoming feast, maybe a cooked chicken or pig from the farm.