Whisper

Chapter 45

With Phantom back in her trench coat and everyone seated back in their not-assigned-but-sorta-assigned seats, Whisper instructed Weaver all the way to another abandoned building on the outskirts of Los Paraiso. 

"Wow, homey," Lora commented as she scrunched her nose at the musky smell coming from the building. "Are you sure we can't just stay at a hotel?" 

"The cheapest hotels around here are $50 a night for a single bed room." Whisper was helping the others unpack some of their necessities, "Golem, there is an ATM on Banner Road, can you withdraw $350?" 

He nodded, stacking the bag he was holding on top of Spring's pile and promptly began walking away, leaving Spring to comedically teeter-totter his way into the building and set the stuff down on a relatively clean spot on the floor. 

"Weaver can you turn some of the rubble over there into wool, those will be our beds." Whisper was directing the group masterfully and before you know it the once just rubble and trash was a semi-homey base for them for a week or so. 

Golem came back, a bit surprised about how nice it was but didn't say much as he found his designated sleeping area. Some privacy curtains were being put up by Spring with a mixture of shrubs, vines, and leaves. 

"It won't block out sound but at least I won't have to look at your ugly ass," Spring sneered at Frost who just rolled her eyes at him. "My thoughts exactly." 

Lora just watched them in awe, amazed at how used to this they seemed to be. Since she didn't know any better, she thought they were on the road for months rather than a few days. 

Turning to say something to Whisper, Lora nearly screamed when Phantom was standing right behind her. His back was turned, only revealing his nicely cut hair and awkwardly layered clothing, but hearing her sharp intake he turned slightly to look at her with a raised brow. 

"Uh sorry," Lora cleared her throat, a bit thrown off by his nearly black irises. Golem didn't creep her out but Phantom just gave her the spooks. 

Quickly fleeing away, Lora tired to look occupied by standing next to Frost who also raised her brow at Lora but didn't comment on it. 

Whisper was in the middle of unpacking a random clothing bag, sorting it into piles so that everyone had their own wardrobe for the few weeks they are going to be here.

She almost forgot Phantom came out of her jacket and nearly had a heart attack as well when she turned to walk, only to run into him face first into his chin. 

A solid thunk emanated from the contact and both inhaled sharply as they held their respective wounds in silent pain. 

"S-sorry," Whisper mumbled, a bit surprised that her body didn't move herself out of the way before she hurt herself. She was so on top of everything down to the smallest detail. 

"It's fine." 

Phantom's chin stung a bit as he followed Whisper like a little puppy. She helped Weaver set up the beds and had him trim a bit of Spring's bushes so that the 'rooms' were a bit neater. 

"We're going out," Whisper suddenly said as she collected about $40 from Gollum. "You ready?" 

Phantom nervously looked over to the outside where it was about sunset, and darkness fell over the streets. "Y-yeah, I'm ready." 

"We'll be back, you all are welcome to stay here or get $25 from Gollum and be back here by 10." Whisper looked out to the tired group who all seemed to just want to stay here and sleep, "There is a small convenience store down the block. It's pretty old and outdated but there is a working bathroom and no security cameras." 

"Perfect," Frost sighed, "Lora want to come with?" 

Lora nodded, following Frost who grabbed their allowance from Gollum and headed out before Whisper. Just two young women going off into the city streets. 

If Frost didn't have the powers she did, Whisper would've recommended Gollum to go with them. 

You can't trust strangers in the dark. 

Unless they are darkness incarnate I suppose. 

Phantom walked like he was Whisper's shadow, barely 3 inches were between them as he actively hated walking around in his physical form. He never liked the way he looked: so scrawny, so bony, and so awkward. But when he was a shadow, no one could see what he looked like and he could move around with ease and the grace of a snake. 

"Where are we going?" Phantom already wanted to turn around and just hide in his cubicle of a bedroom. He felt like his heart was crawling up his throat. His esophagus felt tight and tense, ready to gag or puke or both. 

"Just around the corner," Whisper kept a quick pace, knowing Phantom wanted to just be done with this. But one thing was on her mind, why did she run into Phantom? 

A simple incident that a normal person would've already forgotten about but her powers had been keeping her relatively uninjured except for when her life was on the line. The slight bump on her head was just reminding her how infantile her powers still are. 

One other person who seems to evade her mind was Conrad Carson, someone who made her mind feel fuzzy when she tried to ask questions about him. Only the most basic one seemed to have a clear answer.

Is he alive? 

Yes. 

What is he doing now?

He's preparing to go up North. He's travelling South to the ARC Delta base. He's with his family. 

She pinched the bridge of her nose as her mind grew sore. Too many vague answers and too many possibilities. 

He's an anomaly.