Rampant

Chapter 4: Alaska

There stood Washington, red faced and furious like a little kid having a tantrum.

Through the door, I could hear the others conversations. They were discussing me, mostly how I arrived here in horrible condition. No one else seemed to hear.

Carolina pushed Washington away and opened the door. The discussion immidiatly stopped as their attention was directed to me. Out of everyone in the room, there were three I had not met.

A girl with short blonde hair, darker then mine with pink tips sat on the side, next to a man with a curly black mustache. The man with the mustache stuck out his hand and I shook it.

"Ello my dear, we are the freelancers. I am Wyoming, and This is South," Wyoming gestured to south and she shook my hand.

"North Dakota and South Dakota are twins" York added. I nodded. I turned my gaze to a freelancer.

The one I haven't met. I knew he was here, I was just saving him for last. This man, bald with scars crossing his face like a tic tac toe board, was very intimidating.

He looked up and I felt like I shrunk. My palms started to sweat. This man was dangerous. He made a weird growling noise as he approached. His massive, muscular hand grabbed mine and shook it. I felt a bead of sweat roll down the back of my neck and I gulped.

"That is Maine. He can't talk due to a battle injury." York visibly was a little uncomfortable. Maine retreated to his seat.

"Can I go see to my sleeping arrangements?" I asked. I tried to sound confident, but my voice came out with a barley inaudible squeak. Carolina put her arm around me like a shell protecting the soft body of a turtle.

"Sure" her eyes showed with concern as we walked out.

She led me down a well lit hallway into a room. It was small and damp. One bed was pushed against the back wall next to a window. Ragged purple drapes hung from rusty bars on top of the window. There was a small desk in the corner, and a white dresser, with the paint chipping off.

I jumped in the bed with a huge sigh. A wave of exhaustion smacked me right in the face. I yawned wide and Carolina stepped out the door without a word. All I wanted in the world was sleep, and finally it came to me.

I woke up to a worrier little boy's voice outside my door, accompanied by a concerned North Dakota.

"It will be fine, I promise." I heard North Dakota say.

I only heard one pair of footsteps walking down the hallway, but two voices. I rubbed my eyes, as to rub away the intense exhaustion that I felt. I was prepared when North opened the door, yet it was only him.

"Hey" North Dakota smiled as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"I wanted to show you something." North stretched out his hand and a blue, pink figure popped out of nowhere seemingly.
This thing resembled a boy, in full armor. I tilted my head in confusion without realizing.

"I-I'm Theta. Norths A.I." It looked away, as if embarrassed or scared. I looked up at North.

"Can I touch it?" I asked dumbly. Even though Theta was wearing a helmet, I could feel his mood lighten.

"No silly!" Theta chuckled.

"I'm a hologram!" He stated as I tried to bop his nose. Theta found lots of humor in this; so much he lied down and started to laugh. I smiled down at him. Theta suddenly disappeared and my smile dimmed a little.

"Theta warmed up to you unusually fast." he paused for a second.
"What's wrong with you? He's usually shy!" North tried to cover up the the question as it was a joke, but I know he was serious.

I knew the freelancers thought something was odd about me, I could hear them talking at times: New York and Washington in the other room. What was wrong with me? I seemed to hear, see, and feel things that nobody could. Why was I so different?

Just then, a pair of footsteps. One barefoot, and one in leather shoes.

The director.