Cypher 0X

Chapter 7 - Audit

Cypher was awoken by the sound of something exploding in the distance. She bolted up and began wildly swinging the lightning rod in her hand. She was relieved to see light filtering in through the crystal windows on the other side of the store. Cypher put away her weapon and stretched, basking in the calm warmth the sun was producing. She looked towards the charred remains of the table as she rose, wondering what she should do about it.

When Cypher was finished moving things away from the door she began cleaning up the rest of the shop. She didn't think they were coming back, but the least she could do is make it look nice for anyone else that was unlucky enough to fall into the Underworld. Cypher looked towards the cakes and bread underneath the counter and her stomach grumbled. She hadn't eaten since breakfast yesterday, and she was just now feeling the affects. Sighing, she opened the back and began placing loaves into the pouch she had brought.

Cypher paused while in the middle of moving the contents of her pouch to make more room. Her olive eyes widened as they froze on the back of a lanky man's white head. She set the bread in her hand down and, as stealthily as she could manage, crept over to the door and pulled the bell on it off. From the looks of things, the man was carrying something in both of his arms as he looked around at the stunning trees. Cypher slowly opened the door, lightning rod in hand. The white haired man set down the thing he was carrying, which slightly surprised Cypher. It was a flower pot. She could only see the outer petals, just like she could only make out the man's hair. Both of which were a creamy white. She noticed something else, a journal sitting on the pot next to the stem of the flower. It looked like it was falling apart at the seams, the yellow coloring of the pages weren't helping it look any younger.

Cypher stepped outside the sweets shop and inched closer to the man, weapon raised. He turned to pick up his notebook, but paused half pivot when he saw the red headed girl sneaking up on him.

"Hello," the man said in a sweet, calm voice, at least that's what he was aiming for. Cypher slowly stood up with an eyebrow raised and her weapon outstretched.

"Who are you and how did you get here?" Her words tumbled out of her mouth as her eyes went from the man's smiling face to his plant. He slowly raised his hands in a mild show of surrender.

"My ship crashed a bit away, and I was hoping I'd find some form of civilization here. Sadly, there's just you," his smile never faltered, even as he spoke.

"You didn't answer my first question."

"What's your name?"

"How about you answer my question."

"My lips are sealed until you tell me you aren't working for Eutopia," he lowered his hands and his lips turned into a straight line as he said this, he clearly didn't like Eutopia.

"Are you a fugitive?"

"Are you?" Cypher was starting to get annoyed by this man not answering her questions, but she couldn't expect everyone to be eager to tell her everything she asked, after all, she had her own secrets. Cypher lowered her lightning rod and sighed.

"I guess there's no getting you to answer my questions unless I answer yours first. My name's Cypher," she held out her hand for him to shake.

"I'm known as Light, it's a pleasure," Light didn't shake her hand but instead picked up his flower pot.