W3LC0M3 70 34R7H

K'5 D1N3R

The two went into a food store. Mason wasn't very sure what it was called since the sign read: K's Diner

When they went in a little chime from the bells on top of the door rang. It was a small building. There were only three tables. One was a small square and could only fit in four chairs. Another was a circle that could only fit two chairs. And the last was a long rectangle table up against the wall that was able to fit in eight people but only three chairs were seen. Behind a counter in the very back of the store was an elderly man with a bandage on his neck. He waved toward the two with a bandage on his neck. He waved toward the two with a shaky hand and said in a raspy voice, “Welcome. How are you two?”

“Fine, thank you. Do you have enough food to spare for us today?”

The man nodded slowly and pointed toward the tables to site down as he crouched down behind the counter. He got up and walked toward the two with a plate filled with only 3 sausages.

“I only have one clean plate right now. Sorry.” the man apologized.

“No, it's okay.” Mason assured the man.

“Can I have something that doesn't have any meat?” Luna said quietly but lord enough to be heard.

The man nodded and went back behind the counter. As the to were waiting for him, they heard another chime from the door. Luna’s face seemed to drain all color it had when she looked up. Mason raised an eyebrow and turned around to see who it was. His mouth opened in shock before he could stop himself.

There, standing in front of the door, were two figures. Both big and buff. Though one of them carried a scared look in his eyes. The other one seemed a bit familiar to Mason though.

“You?” he somehow got out.

“Nice seeing you again, scum.”

It was the boy from before. The one that Mason tried to runaway from after stealing their food. But the reason Luna went white was because of the other person. They had a tattoo with a barcode and a name on top: L0G4N H.

The two suddenly pulled out two guns.

“Got loads of cash to take that girl down. And, course, you.” the boy smirked.

“Sorry...” the other one, Logan, said with a sad smile.

Logan raised his gun ans aimed towards Luna. And the other boy also raised his towards Mason. But before either one could shoot, n object was flung across the room. It went right through the unknown boy's neck. He fell to the ground with a thud and blood filled the ground. Logan stood in horror and then his eyes, also followed by Mason and Luna, led towards the elderly man behind the counter. In his hand carried another knife.

“Run, boy. Run as fats as you can before they find you!” he yelled.

And Logan dashed out leaving his gun clashing onto the floor.

“And you two!”

Mason and Luna backed frighteningly away from the man.

“Don't worry about me. I won't hurt you.” he uncovered his bandage to reveal a barcode with name over it: N31L50N K.

“But I don't have time to explain! Come here.”

Neilson grabbed both of the two and dragged them behind the counter.

“On the counter were a bunch of canned food and a few throwing knifes. The elderly man bent down and opened a latch that was unseeable at first. Inside were several rows of stairs.

“Go in and follow the corridor.” he said while quickly giving them a lantern and some oil for it.

Before either one of them could respond, he shoved them in and quickly closed the door. Mason landed safely on one of the stairs but had to catch Luna since she had almost fell.

“Damn it.” he huffed.

He grabbed some of the oil and lit the lantern. It glowed brightly. The two heard a click above.

“He locked us in.” Luna sighed.

The two had no choice but to descend the 50 somewhat flight of stairs. When they finally got to the bottom, Mason sighed in relief and sat down as Luna panted and also sat down.

“Are you okay?” he raised an eyebrow worriedly.

“Yeah. Just not used to this much walking.” she held her head.

“If we keep walking to where that guy wants us to go, we might end up in a place with a few bandages for you. So, let's go. For now you can just lean against me.” Mason instructed.

Luna agreed and the two started walking again. The first few minutes were filled with only tapping of their feet and their breathing. Luna's small weight tugged onto the boy's shoulder. Suddenly Mason spoke up.

“So what was with that woman and her hands?”

“That was called sign language. It was something the people before our time used to communicate with deaf people; or people who couldn't hear.”

Mason nodded in understanding, “Then what did she say?”

“She said, 'Tongue cut. Plan C in thought.'”

“What does Plane C mean?” Mason raised an eyebrow.

“I'm not sure. But it's probably bad if the P30PL3 are planning it.”

The two started to walk in silence again. Both thinking.

“First, that means my thoughts about Ronnie were true. She was a lab rat that got her tongue cute off as an experiment... terrible P30PL3. It also shows how many lab rats are outside. Luna, Ronnie, Neilson, and that guy named Logan. But then there's also Plan C. What could that be, I wonder...”

His thoughts were interrupted by Luna.

“Back at the house. How come that man didn't pull the trigger on you?”

“Why?” Mason smirked, “You wanted him too?”

“No, no. Of course not. I'm just wondering.”

“That's because of this rule the P30PL3 made. Well, more accurately what their maker made. It was the rule that no P3R50N, or robot, could kill a human being unless for prison or law reasons. I was not a reason to wast a bullet so he let me free. Some abuse this rule; forgetting that if they made too much trouble they were a reason good enough.”

“Why haven't they changed the rule yet?”

“I'm not sure. Until now did I ever think that.” Mason frowned at what he realized too late.

And again, the talking ceased and tapping and breathing took over. The two came at a dead end. So they decided to walk back to see if they missed anything. This time, the two held the walk to check for any signs of a hidden door. Mason decided to ask one more thing.

“Did you really away just because they made you cannibalize?”

Luna stared down at the ground and was quiet for a moment.

“No...” she softly said.

“Then why did you?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Because...” she paused, “Did you hear that?”

She raised a finger for silence. There was thumping sound and yelling noise coming from the ground. Mason bent down and felt around the ground. He found a latch and pulled it open. It was a dark hole under.

“Should we go down?” Luna asked.

“I guess... I'll go first though.” he sighed and handed Luna the lantern.

Mason placed one foot down to feel for any solid surface. Then the lantern burned out. Luna panicked and bumped into Mason making both of them fall into the hole. Mason felt like he was falling for eternity until he hit the ground square in the chest. Luna fell on top of him making him groan in pain more. Then the lantern almost fell on his head but just inches away.

A sound came closer to them. It frightened Mason as the two stood up in the darkness. The sound was something Mason never thought he would hear in a long time.

“A doggy?”