Lost in Time ~ Five Hargreeves

Chapter 46

A little later, the Hargreeves were wandering aimlessly through the park.

"What are we doing?", Allison asked at some point.

"Ruminating."

"Why is everyone staring at us?"

"Because we look like the damn Village People just lost a fight," Diego said.

"You aren't?", Rhea asked.

The girl walked between Five and Riley, crossing her arms.

"You know what? I need to go find Claire," Allison explained. "I'll catch up with you guys later."

"Hey, Allison, no. First, let's get somewhere safe, clean up those cuts, and then we'll go find her," Vanya suggested.

"But honestly, what are we doing? We can't stand here bleeding out in this park."

"I don't know, but we better gear up fast before they come for round two," Diego said.

"What makes you think they'll come after us?", Riley inquired.

"Because I would."

"Yeah, we did break into their house-"

"- Our house-"

"In this timeline, it's their house."

"- busted up all their nice antiques and stuff."

"Yeah. I don't think the crime-fighting super nerds are going to let that go," Luther remarked.

"Let's just think of some place off the radar where we can lie low and not draw attention," Five suggested.

"What kind of weird-ass place are we not going to draw attention to?", Diego asked.

Everyone looked to the one person who might know such a place.

Klaus thought for a moment and actually could think of a place.

~~~~

Klaus led the others through the city and to a hotel.

"I've never noticed the hotel before," Riley muttered as they crossed the street.

And now Riley understood why Klaus had led them here- people just walked right past it without a second glance unless you were wanting to.

The teenager stopped in front of the door and gestured for Rhea to wait a moment as well.

Rhea didn't understand why she should wait until everyone else was about to squeeze through the door at the same time.

"Oh. Okay. Honestly?"

"We don't all need to be squeezed."

"There were two entrances, by the way."

Riley chuckled and followed the others, while Rhea wondered if it was always like this.

"Oh, Hotel Obsidian. I missed you, you slutty old dame," Klaus began. "Absorb her. Absorb her into your bosom. You know, 'cause back in her heyday, she played host to world leaders. Roosevelt, Gandhi, Stalin, Gorbachev, Castro, King Olaf of Norway, one of the Kim Jongs, Tito, Dalai Lama, Elvis, and not one but two Kardashians, apparently. Wouldn't that-"

Klaus stopped as Allison walked away from the group.

"Where are you going?"

"I gotta make a call."

"Nowadays, she's just a flophouse, a party house for those of us not looking to be judged by society's rules and norms.

"You mean, a place to hide?"