Whisper

Part 8 - It's complicated

The memories of the nightmare the night before flooded into Robin's mind, she woke with a start and looked around frantically. She was still in the same old bland room Blaine had left her in after carrying her back. A shiver ran down her spine and Robin felt the acid in her mouth that came with the memory of the poor man. Robin shook her head and stood up, she checked all the walls but there were no windows.

why are there no windows? She asked Strach.

"I suppose it's because this place is meant to be hidden from prying eyes." Strach said in a lazy drawl. Robin raised an eyebrow but didn't question him and opened the door. The corridor was buzzing with activity and chatter. Robin had to take a minute to understand what had happened. "You left this place at night when most of these people were asleep. I'm guessing this is an ordinary day for these people." Strach spoke up without her needing to ask the question. Robin watched as people rushed past her door, a group of boys were bouncing off one another, some girls were chattering as they walked into a room. Robin frowned and then closed the door, she turned to face her room again and saw a pad of paper and a pen. She picked them up and wrote a scruffy message.

Thank you for the jacket and letting me stay. But I need to find him. Sorry.

Robin.

She folded the jacket and left it on the bed with note on top before leaving the room. She kept close to the walls while the corridor kept her hidden from curious eyes. She froze when she heard a girl call out.

"Hey Blaine! What are you up to?" She asked in a sweet voice, Robin looked up and saw a girl with strawberry blonde hair and big red lips in a short summery dress. Robin looked closer and realised with a shock that her eyes were larger than normal eyes and her ears weren't like her ears. They were pointed and large. Robin tried to not look at them but they just kept catching her eye. Then Blaine came into view and Robin dashed out of his line of sight. A big man was carrying a television with another guy so she could see what was happening but they wouldn't see her.

"Hello Elfie. I'm just checking up on the girl." He said in his smooth gentle voice.

"Why? She's just a girl. Nothing important. A human." Elfie replied in a mocking tone making Robin grit her teeth.

"In case you have forgotten Elfie. I am also a mere human." Blaine said with an edge to his voice. Robin heard a door open and moved out of the way to let a tall girl in shorts and a vest walk past. Robin looked back and saw Blaine walking into her room. Time to go. She thought to herself and was swallowed up by the bustle of the corridor. She headed back down the corridor as she did the night before and was soon in the hall that led to the outside world. Robin checked for anybody who may recognise her and then walked as calmly as she could to the front door. She smiled to herself as she turned the handle, then frowned giving the handle a jerk but it wouldn't allow the door to open.

"Urm, are you okay there?" A voice she didn't recognise asked her. Robin turned and saw the girl she had moved out of the way for.

"I can't open the door." She said dumbly.

"Oh. Here let me help you, it's difficult for new people to open." She said kindly and Robin watched as the girl grabbed the handle and touched something just above the lock after a few seconds the door unclicked and she opened the door.

"Oh. Urm, thanks." Robin mumbled and kept her eyes down.

"My name's merridah." The girl smiled expecting Robin to give hers.

"Don't tell her your name." Strach whispered.

"I would tell you mine but I don't know my name." Robin partially lied and the girl looked blankly at her, Robin chewed her lip and then her heat jumped. There was a flicker of realisation in the girls eyes, Robin started to walk out of the door. "It was nice to meet you." Robin said and then she was outside and the girl took a step before the door closed in her face. Robin ran, she ran as fast as she could down the street to the sign post and turned left.