[ Our Calamity ] A TFP Shockwave x OC Fanfic

-13-

Allagash, Maine -12:00 AM-

While Raileigh pulled the chains of the warehouse door to shut it, Val was completely still as she stared at the robot tied down to the parked trailer in the center of the warehouse. With any chance she got, she studied it, totally mesmerized. Her eyes were glued to the rear view mirror after they drove it back on the trailer. A part of her ached having to leave it. She watched as it eventually was hidden behind the metal  door and the chains stopped clinking.

"You wanna stay over tonight in case big and scary comes to life?" Raileigh said pointedly as she turned to approach the house.

Val tore her eyes away from the door, "Yeah, sure. Be kind of an asshole not to."

Raileigh led Val into the cozy house past the line of trees in front of the warehouses. It was smaller than her home and had more of a cabin feel. Various pots of plants and metal garden decorations littered the front porch.

As they stepped into the house, Val noticed the lights were off. Raileigh's grandparents must've been asleep. She reminded herself to keep the noises to a minimum to not raise suspicion. She anxiously tiptoed into the living room and followed Raileigh.

Raileigh simply waltzed in, unabashed by the loud thumps her shoes made on the hardwood. Val was surprised by her relaxed mood as she walked in.

The two shared a look of confusion.

"Val, you're fine. My grandparents don't care I was out late." Raileigh scoffed.

"Oh...  right."

Suddenly, a lamp clicked on beside the living room. Val froze and looked to the figure standing beside it and found a old woman in pajamas squinting at them.

"Finally you're done with your racket outside. I couldn't sleep a wink." Raileigh's grandmother croaked.

"Sorry, Mimi." Raileigh gave her grandmother an apologetic look.

"This is Val right?" She pointed at Val.

"Yes, ma'am. Nice to meet you. Sorry for waking you up."

"It's alright, you have to be hungry—from working that damn truck all night—I have a nice stew in the fridge I can reheat." She said as she walked into the kitchen.

"You don't need to—" Val protested.

"Nonsense, it's starting to get colder these nights. You have to stay warm. Stay right there I'll grab you two a bowl," She disappeared behind a doorway into the kitchen.

Raileigh and Val gave each a weak chuckle, unable to protest against the older woman.

"And Rairai! Find a blanket for that poor girl!"

After Raileigh and her grandmother went to bed, Val curled up under the blanket on the living room couch, feeling warm and comfortable with a full stomach. Her cold limbs were soothed from the outside cold they worked in to bring the robot to the warehouse. A heavy feeling of guilty made her stomach turn. That robot is in Raileigh's warehouse. After the kindness her grandmother just showed her, she knew she could be putting them in danger.

That won't happen. She was going to make sure of that, and in order to do that, she'd study that robot inside and out.

The following morning, Raileigh left early to work at the town Inn. Before she left, she stressed Val to give her a call the moment anything suspicious happened with the robot. She could understand her worry, and reassured her she would.

Soon after she left, Val lept up from the couch and after quickly folding away  blankets, sprinted out the door.

The front porch stairs squealed as she stomped down them. Val was more than eager to see the robot again. It was still early morning, with the birds singing as the sun was rising up from the marine fog, painting a sky a pale-grayish blue. Her warm breath puffed clouds of air in front of her face as she ran to the second warehouse.