Hunted

Act 9; Good Person Bad Person

Noah sighed heavily as he wandered around the lobby. Zack and the other Heirs bid their farewell almost immediately after what happened, saying they had to talk to some people regarding the incident.

He thought he could hang out with some new people, but Allison excused herself right after Michelle said good bye. Aaron, a rebel guy he was already acquainted with, said he was going to hit a club despite tomorrow being a school day. Simon left without anyone noticing his presence disappear.

And then there was Noah. Alone in a world enclosed in gold wrapping paper and a diamond bow. He wanted out as soon as possible, sure. The problem was that he was lost.

He'd never been in the underground part of Soulhart's Theatre before, and once he was out of the actual auditorium, the place must have added ten new hallways during the show! He'd take one hallway, make a right, then a left and a right and more turns, and he'd somehow end up back in that lobby where people gathered during intermissions.

He groaned inwardly when it happened for the sixth time already.

Then sighed. He knew why he was lost, even though his sense of direction was usually decent. He was nervous and panicking for it. And all because he was alone in a place he didn't like. He could usually handle himself when he was by himself in most situations, but only if he was familiar with the place. He wished he had someone with him, even an acquaintance at least. He hated stuffy places and events like this, and after the chaos that happened earlier, he wasn't surprised that the place was mostly deserted. Aside for a few adults discussing what happened in the corner, he was mostly by himself.

At least no one I know sees me.

He walked to the vending machine, wanting a drink to calm himself, then realized his wallet wasn't one of the things he remembered to bring. He wanted to hit his head as hard as he could on the wall. He sighed again, combing his fingers through his brown hair. Now that he realized it, he didn't like having his hair slicked back. He looked like a stick in the mud.

"Don't have any change?"

He looked back at the small voice that spoke. But no one was behind him.

"Down here you giraffe!"

Noah looked down to see one of the tiniest things he ever saw. It was a cherub wearing a frilly yellow dress, the kind of thing he'd see Mary wearing with her little lamb, but without the cap. He knelt down, studying the small thing with the tangle of blonde hair on her head, her eyes big and annoyed. He tilted his head to the side. "A talking doll?"

"I am not!" She shrilled, her mouth pouting afterward. For a moment, he thought she was angry, but then she didn't hit him or stormed off, so it must have been her normal way of speech. "I was just asking you if you forgot some change. I could give you some. I hate carrying coins."

Oh. One of the adults' kids. "You lost?"

She frowned, her brows furrowing. "Just take my kindness already!"

Well, he actually didn't have any money at all. But no need for the kid to know that. "All right then. I'd like some soda."

She stepped forward, so he stood to give her space, but she was so small she didn't even reach the second level of choices. "How much is it?" She asked, straining her head to try and see.

He scratched his nape. "Um. A dollar and 75 cents?" It was the cheapest brand of soda pop of the choices there. The others were in brands from different countries, in words and letters he couldn't even begin to comprehend.

He was surprised to see the girl glaring up at him. "You think I'm some kind of scrooge?" Why would a kid use that word? Like, from the Christmas movie Scrooge? "Choose something else!" She demanded, then from a pocket in her dress, she took out a wallet that looked heavy with coins. "My dad gave me this saying I have to spend it all tonight! He knows I hate change just as much as he does but he gave it to me anyway! And I'm gonna spend all of it!"