Twisted

Chapter 26: Tattoo Parlor

It took our group a week to figure out the city. It was very different from outside the walls, but it seemed that the Flair was slowly trickling through WICKED's walls. The first few days I didn't notice it, just trying to focus on street names and the turns. It seemed to be laid out pretty straight forward, straight streets that crossed in a grid pattern. The further our group walked away from the train station the big sky scrapers spread out in the centre and right in the centre was the big fancy shiny new WICKED building.

But spread out from there were entire communities, thousands of people going about their everyday lives. But the longer I was in the city and the more I got used to the wild lights and constant noise the more I started to notice the smaller details and the more unsettled I became. Almost everyone I saw looked uneasy. They all seemed to be avoiding each other-and not just to be polite. They seemed to take obvious measures to stay clear of anyone else.

Today we were going to the last little section we hadn't explored yet. The closer we got to this section the more graffiti covered the walls, the dirtier the streets became and the builds were definitely abandoned. There were posters and signs all over the walls of the buildings, most torn or obscured with spray paint. Some warned of the Flare and spelled out precautions; others talked about the dangers of leaving the cities, or what to do if you came across an infected person. A few had terrifying pictures of Cranks way past the Gone. I spotted one poster with His picture; dark wild eyes, his thin liked smile that looked normal but behind it, I knew, I knew how twisted he really was! The poster had his fake caring smile with the slogan DIRECTOR JANSON CARES FOR YOU across the bottom.

Just seeing his face in poster form made my heart beat faster and my breathing shallow. I felt my palms become sweaty and itchy.

"Come on, let's keep going." Gally placed a hand on my back and directed me away from the poster.

I could feel the fear and I could almost feel my eyes dilating in fear. Gally slid his arm over my shoulders and pulled me close. I wrapped my arms around him and we slowed our pace, but kept walking.

"Breath. In and out. You're okay Charlie. I have you, breath Sweetie." He whispered into my hair. I closed my eyes letting him guide me, and took his advice.

Some type of security force patrolled the street in great numbers, all wearing red shirts and gas masks, a weapon in one hand and in the other a smaller version of the viral testing device they had seen scattered around. To get into some places you needed to take these. Telling the establishment if you were infected or not.

We all quickly crossed the street and kept walking, our heads down. And despite the sun glinting off windows high above, a darkness had settled over the place. We made it to the last section. It was definitely the dirtiest darkest section of the rest of the city.

"Well, that building, there," Zayn said pointing, "would make a good lookout. Looks abandoned and faces WICKED's building."

I looked at where he was pointing, a tall building stood in the middle of the area. Magnus headed for it. He had a big bag filled with equipment. As we headed down the one block there were a few commercial buildings lining this street.

"How are these places still in business?" I whispered.

Gally glanced at the few places and shrugged. A sketchy looking coffee shop, a hair dresser, some kind of small convenience store, tattoo shop, some kind of repair shop and a dive bar."

"They probably have a lot of good information though." Sophie pointed out, "like I'm sure they get all kinds of people in there. Especially in the tattoo place and bar."

"You're right! Look." Magnus growled quietly, and nodded his head.

A man came stumbling out of the bar. He was wearing a dishevelled suit, his tie was hanging lopsided and a few buttons undone. He stumbled towards the tattoo parlor.