grrrmmm…
8-43 glared down at her stomach as it announced its state to her once again. Though she’d heard that bodies did such things when they were in need of fuel, she’d never had the chance to experience it. She quickened her pace.
Two hours, maybe three hours before, the smoke of the burning compound had left her vision. The sun had risen and was now well above head. What few people she’d passed had all watched her with startled looks on their faces, and she didn’t understand why. She’d never received any special attention in the compound, so why should she here? Her logic suggested there was something wrong with her appearance, but other than being somewhat dirty, she was perfectly normal. Granted, she’d realized at one point, her uniform was not like the city clothing these people were wearing, but why would they see her as so odd? Certainly they must see many uniforms…
Continuing to try and puzzle this out, 8-43 moved into a city.
= - =
Looking over the isles of brightly colored packages, 8-43 stared in near-dismay. She had to choose something from this flashy display of edible goods. She’d been given a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, along with twenty dollars by a woman who’d stepped from her home and nearly ran into her. The woman had made something of a fuss over her appearance while asking if she had a place to stay for the night.
8-43 had a bit of dilemma at that point, seeing as she’d been given choices. The woman, thankfully, had finally insisted that she stay the night and shower. The clothing confused 8-43, but not so much as the woman’s demanded of her name. Names were something for people. A GELF had no need for a name. Of course, the news had flashed a “breaking news” report before she could answer, and a woman announcer by the name of Adrienne had proclaimed that some sort of accident had happened, and there were people being searched for.
8-43 had been very grateful that the woman had shut the television off with a disgusted look before moving to gather food for a meal. The place of this accident had been Indian Lake. The very compound the GELF had seen explode.
The matter of her name had been forgotten after that, and early the next morning, 8-43’s friend, for indeed she’d realized that was what the woman would be considered, had apologized, given her money, and told her that she could no longer return to the house.
“What’s the matter, Missy?” the older man behind the counter asked, “You lost?”
8-43 focused on him, not sure what was expected of her. He had a slight smile on his face which suggested he’d been joking, but humor was another thing 8-43 did not understand.
The guy sighed, looking away, “Just ask me if you need help.” he muttered, pulling a magazine from a rack.
“I’m sorry.” 8-43 muttered after another moment, moving toward him, “I’m…not awake.” she lied glibly, “I don’t remember what I was going to buy.” she swept her eyes over the room again, “It was healthy, at least.”
He blinked at her, startled, setting the magazine down. “Healthy, from a convenience store?” he raised an eyebrow at her, then smiled, moving around the counter, “You’re not from around here, are you?”
“No, Sir.” she muttered, following him.
He lead her to a section of less flashy packages of varying sizes and shapes. “Here’s our health food. It’s a bit spendy, but it’s offered.”
She nodded, thinking of her cash. She understood the exchange of units through the teachings she’d been given. She knew that her bill could only buy her a certain amount of items.
The guy chuckled, “You look like you’d get away with junk food, girlie.” he informed her, moving back toward the counter, “You’d work it off in no time, I’m sure.”
This also seemed to be something he expected a reaction to. After her talk with the woman the night before, 8-43 had realized that a smile could suffice for many things. She did so now and the man nodded, disappearing a moment, then reappearing at the counter, opening his magazine again.
8-43 was impressed that it had worked so easily, moving down the isle to find food that needed preparation, such as a stove or microwave. This section was equally small as the health food. She shook her head, moving around the isle. The things on this side were smaller and less expensive. 8-43 knew that she would need at least a two days worth of food. At that point she figured she’d either be in an area where she could test her hunting knowledge, or she could make another friend.
The man laughed when she set her choices on the counter, then gestured toward a cooler, “You should get something to wash this down with as well.”
Again, 8-43 smiled and followed his pointing finger to another array of colorful bottles with odd words on them…like Pepsi. The Pepsi bottle, at least, was primarily blue. Blue like the uniform she’d had before at the compound–not quite as dark, but similar enough to catch her eye. Grabbing this, 8-43 moved to the counter once more, passing the man her money and watching him bag her purchases. He muttered pleasantries as she left, to which she smiled once more, then started off yet again.
= - =
“Heyo! Pepsi!”
8-43 turned to the guy who was waving energetically at her. While she was in New Delphi, she was still very close to the edge. The streets seemed dirty, and people watched her with distrust. Why this guy was calling to her, she did not know. She waited to see what was asked of her.
“Well, Princess, you look like you could use a shower, a bed, and a good meal.” the guy muttered with consideration in his tone, looking her over. “I can tell you’re a run away, though you look old enough to be on your own. Do you have someone to stay with here?”
“No.” she replied, blinking languidly at him, maintaining her perfect stillness.
He frowned, looking her over again, “You’re awfully trusting.” he muttered finally.
“No.” she replied again, tilting her head very slightly. She’d picked up on these slight movements that the humans she’d talked to had made. She’d been walking for nearly two weeks. One man had set her to weed his garden, mow his grass, and fix a weird wooden lawn-ornament with a pointed roof she’d never heard of. He’d been grateful to her for it, and in return let her take a shower, washed her clothing, and given her a hundred dollar bill before thanking her profusely. She’d been carefully using this money to buy food…and Pepsi. The taste of the drink was very pleasing to her.
The man in front of her frowned still-more and looked her over, “Why are you here?”
“My reasons are my own.” she replied with a smile. Unfortunately, this did not please him. It only served to aggravate him more.
“Listen, I’m just trying to be helpful.” he muttered, “A friend of mine actually called me and said you were heading this way. She said you were a sweet girl and that if I helped you, she would be very grateful. It was sheer chance that brought me out this afternoon. So don’t go getting an attitude with me.” he glared.
Taken aback, 8-43 blinked at him, processing his words.
“Do you want my help or not?” he demanded, “I have a spare bedroom and a few connections.”
She nodded slowly.
This seemed to make him feel better. He relaxed some as he studied her, then nodded and gestured for her to follow. He remained silent as they moved into one of the old apartment buildings. “My name is Adam.” he informed her as he opened a door and let her in, “My friend is Melissa. You stayed with her a week or more ago.”
8-43 nodded, setting her bag beside the door and looking around the place curiously. It was messy with a very lived-in look to it. There were two doors on the right, one was closed, the other open with a bed in it. This room also looked messy. On the left was a wall that ended a good seven feet in. 8-43 could just make out a chair in the darkened opening.
“Well?” Adam demanded, frowning at her after he locked his door, looking at her expectantly.
“Well?” she returned, frowning slightly in response. She had a feeling that he didn’t like her smile.
“What is your name?” he asked as if he thought it were an obvious question.
She blinked at him, thinking back to the people she had interacted with. They’d all had names like Gloria and Gina…Melissa. Names that she’d never thought of for herself.
He was starting to look annoyed again.
“Adrienne.” she blurted out before she truly thought this through, “Like the news anchor.” she added before she could stop herself, feeling an odd sensation of heat creep up her cheeks.
He looked startled by this as well, smiling slightly at her, offering one hand. “Nice to meet you, Adrienne…like the news anchor.”
She blushed even further, dropping her eyes, shaking his hand quickly before turning her back to him.
He made a noise like a laugh and a cough, moving around her to a basket of clothing beside the coffee table. He dug in this a few moments, then offered a pair of jeans to her and a shirt, “I can’t provide you with…anything else. But if you can give me your size I can go…buy…them for you.” he looked slightly nervous by this prospect, “Meanwhile, you can shower.”
8-43 looked around the room until she spotted a third door between the other two–only because he’d opened it and had flicked a light on. It was the facilities.
He turned to her with a rueful grin, gesturing toward the shower, “You’ll have to excuse my mess. I’ve lived alone for a few years now. I’ll clean up the bathroom and find you a clean towel.” he moved back into the bathroom.
8-43 was feeling peculiar. There was something she didn’t understand going on. He was nice to her, but seemed nervous, and she herself had reacted in an odd way. She shook her head, opening her soda again and taking a sip.
“I know you don’t have any money,” he muttered when he appeared again, dropping an armful of clothing into an empty basket next to the door, “So I can’t promise that you can stay here long. If you get a job, though…” he shook his head, meeting her eyes once again, “We can work something out, otherwise.” that strange grin from before crossed his face, but vanished as he turned into the bedroom–8-43 assumed this was his sleeping-quarters. When he reappeared, he was holding a folded towel. He offered it to her.
Taking this, 8-43 stepped into the bathroom, starting to pull off her shirt.
Adam pulled the door shut behind her.
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