The Runaway

Chapter 15

Robyn and Theodore promised that they’d stay and fix up the place even more while they were gone. Robyn went as far as waving her bandana and pretending to cry, making Theodore hold her by the waist. “Our children are growing up, Dale. They’re going to make it in the big ol’ city. Theodore stood there looking mighty uncomfortable and confused as he watched her theatrics.

Mabel and Valerie departed with nothing except Robyn’s knife which was hidden and strapped in Valerie’s boot and a flash light which Mabel swung as they walked. They hadn’t given much thought to what they would do if they were questioned for loitering in the city. It may have risen suspicion in Security to see two unaccompanied teenagers waltzing through the city.  Maybe they could pretend that they were looking for their grandmother Calice and get escorted directly to her house. Or maybe they’d just be arrested on the spot and taken to trial.

Well I dunno but I assume that the second option is the more likely one out of the two.

Valerie had to agree with her voice there.

“Let’s take a detour through the city – we should scope out the area – look for others and maybe bring some flowers for Calice or something. A small gift to persuade her to let us stay for a day or two.”

She was a smart girl, that Mabel. She would go far in life if she had the opportunities laid out for her but knowing her even if that didn’t happen, she’d carve out the opportunities for herself.

Skip forward a few hours and they had gone over the wall, traversed the whole sector and made it through the welcome that Calice had thrown with a shower of tears and hugs. They had spent the night. The next morning Mabel had decided against going out to find more people, instead settling down in the armchair to continue where she had left off from the last book she had read before they had gone. Valerie resented her for making her come all this way just to abandon her for a book. She, on the other hand, went off in search of anyone to bring back with them and Calice promised to go out to the market for her to collect more resources and essential things for their little camp and pack it away in a bag or two.

With no idea where to start looking, Valerie went to the place that she was most confident with: the painted alley. To her alarm she found that Security had upped the ante and established checkpoints here and there where they would stop random citizens and ask them if they’d seen a certain blonde haired silver eyed boy.

Stay calm. If you look suspicious they’ll single you out. Latch onto a group and pretend to walk with them. If that doesn’t work then just run like hell.

She fell into step with an elderly couple, going as far as hovering her hand over the woman’s back as if she was urging her forward. She passed right by Security and they didn’t even bat their eyelids in her direction.

She detached from the crowd and made her way into the alleyway where she found that its inhabitant had gone over all of his previous work and now one wall was dominated by a portrait of an auburn haired mermaid, eyes closed with fish darting in and out of her floating hair around her face. He had also added three dinosaurs at the bottom for some unknown reason. On the opposite wall there was a giant elephant, undecorated. Probably his work in progress. The artwork brought a smile to her face. She’d always wanted to see a real elephant.

“I knew you’d like it.” She whirled around and Axel smiled, eyes shining. He had just walked into the alleyway, seemingly gone to get some more paint.

“I guess. . .” She hugged herself. He’d caught her openly admiring his work. He’d caught her with her barriers down. It was a rare occurrence and one that she wished not to repeat again.