Wonderer's Wish World 2: Evolutionary Rebirth

Crashing Dunes

Day 25

Time: 6:48AM

Location: The Basement, Death-Tastin Desert

"Misfortune, wait up!" Hilda called as she and Darius raced after the little girl, speeding towards her across the dark walkway, feeling it shudder and groan beneath them with every step. Darius wondered if Ben heard them, and if he'd care if he did. He didn't bother to look.

Suddenly, Misfortune stopped suddenly in front of one particular door that didn't look any different than any other door, other than the fact that it was held open with a bucket pressed between it and the wall. Grabbing it, Misfortune pulled, using all of her strength and body to yank the thing open. Darius and Hilda exchanged a look, clearly feeling sorry for her, and they both slipped in as soon as there was room. Misfortune looked relieved.

As soon as he stepped in, Darius gasped, his eyes widening as he looked around the space in wonder. The room they had emerged in... it was nothing like he expected. It certainly was not like any of the other rooms that these doors seemed to lead to.

In fact, it was less of a room and more of a hallway that stretched far in front of them, lit with a number of torches similar to the ones from the hangers and cluttered with bags, suitcases, boxes, and plenty of people sitting on the suitcases and boxes, all looking tired and rundown as they sat in the hallway. Some looked up as the three entered, but most continued with what they had been doing, whether that was eating, or sleeping, or just sitting and staring at the wall.

Darius gulped, trying not to stare as Misfortune once again took the lead, taking them further down into the hallway, but it started to get difficult when everyone had their legs stretched out in front of them, seemingly uncaring when Darius stumbled over them, hastily apologizing as he rushed forward.

"What... What is this place?" Hilda gasped in awe. Darius glanced at her, and saw her doing the exact opposite than he was, taking in every sight around them and drinking them in like a tasty beverage, her mouth slack and agape as she stared. Darius winced at that, wondering if he should tell her off, but in the end, he found that the people she was staring at didn't really seem to care all that much, so he kept his mouth shut.

In front of them, Misfortune could only shrug. Evidently, she had been here before, as she kept her eyes straight ahead and focused, and Darius doubted it was out of politeness.

"Are Molly and Greg here?" He asked her, and Misfortune nodded, the only thing she gave them as they hurried down the long hallway, passing all sorts of people as they walked.

It felt like they walked for a long time before someone finally popped out of the crowd, her face brightening as she spotted them.

"Darius!" Molly cried. "Hilda! Over here, over here!"

Hilda and Darius reluctantly made their way over, careful not to hit anyone else as they passed them, though that was somewhat impossible, as people had spread out tents, beds, radio stations and more all around them, seemingly acting like their own spot of hallway was their home. But the thing that nobody had, Darius couldn't help but notice that no one had food.

When they got to Molly, they all sat, having to all squish into a little ball of themselves in order to fit beside each other, and even then, they were all still sitting practically on top of one another, brushing shoulders, legs, backs... Darius shivered, more than a little uncomfortable.

"I'm glad Misfortune found you guys!" Molly told them as soon as they sat down. She suddenly looked apologetic. "I'm not sure you would have found it otherwise. I only found it thanks to... dumb luck."

Molly gave Darius a significant look, though a bit of an unnecessary one. Darius had already figured out what she meant.

"What is this place?" Hilda asked her urgently. "Who are these people? Are they... from above? Like us?"