Along the Way

Chapter 10

We just entered the town of Amarillo, with one day to spare. Alex and I take this time to relax and take the day off. We didn't think we'd make it in time, but either way we had to make it even if we said no. We weren't bad people, so either way we wanted to remain loyal and not make him feel like a lonely goof in the park for no reason, that just wasn't us.

Alex and I walk into an empty alleyway. We set our bags down close to us as we sit down and lean against a building. We sit in a comfortable silence as we stare in awe at the graffiti that has been drawn and painted on the walls. Though graffiti is a bad thing, I can't help to be mesmerized anytime I see it. In almost every city we've been too, there's been some sort of graffiti, on buildings, benches, sidewalks, and even signs on the sides of the road.

It didn't surprise me when I felt something hit my shoulder with a thump. We powered through these past few days trying to get here and neither one of us has had much sleep.

I run my hands through the hair of the sleeping figure beside me. Her hair was greasy and grimy, much like mine. If I can get this Undergrounds thing to work out, maybe we could stay in a motel for a night.

I refused to fall asleep, knowing that it could put both of us in danger. We don't know this town or it's people, so I don't want to risk us both falling asleep in a random alleyway that we'd stumbled upon. Plus, even if whoever didn't harm us, they'd probably take our stuff, and I didn't want to get into another fight in public. I felt so ashamed I had to do that, but I couldn't afford losing all that money. Alex and I needed that to get food and water to survive, and we worked up a decent amount by this point.

Time was passing quickly as I gaze upon all the little details of each work of art displayed on the buildings. This town had graffiti all over, which sounds bad, but it was a beautiful sight to see. All the creative work that people had draw, all the effort they made not to get caught was worth it, because I'd love to live in a graffitied town like this.

Alex and I continue walking closer to the park. We stayed in the alleyway all night last night and most of the day today, other than us getting food at a cafe nearby. The sun had already set, so I didn't really know the time, but we were headed to the park now so that we wouldn't be late, even if we were hours early.

The park was really small, it was simply a patch of grass with an old wooden swing set and a metal slide attached to the side. A bit further away was a small pavilion with a wooden picnic table placed right in the middle.

This place gave off an eerie atmosphere, and I could tell Alex could feel it too.
My messy black hair dangle over my face as we make our way to the pavilion. Surely we couldn't miss him walking in, the park wasn't that big after all.

My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I was scared, I didn't know what I would say to him. I had chosen my answer last night, but now I'm overthinking everything again. All that come to mind are 'what if this''s or 'what if that''s.

Alex and I sit on the grass outside the pavilion, which has been overtaken by spiders and various other bugs. We wait patiently for said Lenny to arrive.

"Naomi you need some sleep, take a nap before he get's here, please," Alex pleads, voice almost in a whisper, but I can still hear the worry in her normal, but slightly raspy, voice. I felt bad for how her voice sounded, like she hasn't had anything to drink for days, but we constantly drink so we don't get dehydrated, even if we don't get food along with it.

"I can't sleep," I stated, leaning my head on her shoulder, "I'm overthinking all this again, my heart feels like it's going to explode with fear of me making the wrong decision."

I realized that my voice had gotten raspy much like her's.

I continue to lay my head on her shoulder, my eyes drooping, but I'm wide awake. The anticipation is eating me alive.

Almost on cue, she starts running her hand through my hair, much like I did yesterday, and hums the sweet tune that I frequently strum on my uke. I relax a little bit, and smile as I realize she's trying to comfort me and lull me to sleep much like I do with my uke to her.

I managed to fall asleep, but it only felt like seconds later, I was being shaken awake.

"Naomi I think that him," Alex whispered, trying to stay calm, but I could tell she was freaking out just as much as I was earlier. I rubbed my eyes as we both got to our feet.

"I hope so, or this'll be a bit awkward on both ends," I joke, trying to lighten the mood. She chuckles, but I can tell she's still stressed.

"So we meet again," the voice in the distance booms, "but I'm afraid we haven't had a proper introduction yet," he finished as he makes his way over to us. He stops in front of us and hold out his hand to me.

"Larry," he states as we shake hands, soon after moving onto Alex.

"Naomi," I reply, I look over at Alex as she speaks, "Alex."
He nods.

"Take a seat," He motions towards the bench located behind Alex and I.

"If you want to be bit by spiders, sure," Alex mumbles sarcastically.

I scoff and elbow her in the arm.
He laughs and continues to walk over to the table. Alex and I follow suit and take a seat across from him.

"Glad you could make it," He starts, "I believe we have some matters to discuss."

I nod, waiting for him to continue speaking. I'm practically shaking, but I stay as stiff as possible, trying not to show any signs of weakness. My thoughts are racing through my head, in all directions, hitting seemingly every spot in my brain, rattling it. I'm afraid that I won't even be able to answer the simplest of questions.

"I saw your fight in town. How did you manage to take out two grown men when you're just one child?" The same curiosity filled his voice as it did with Alex. I explained to him the same story as Alex, deciding that lying could dangerously affect us in the long run.

He nodded, and continued asking more questions about me as a person, and I would right away ask the same about him. It was sort of an awkward 'getting-to-know each other' conversation, but at least I knew more about this guy I could possibly
be 'working for'.

Apparently, Lenny has trained only some of the best fighters, usually ones that had already been fighting in the Undergrounds previously. He told me I'd be fighting people my size, not age, and that they had a pretty good way of determining who fights who.

He told me about some of the people I could potentially fight, names, age, weight, and experience level.
"So, now, this is the most important question," He started, eyeing me intently, "You in?"