The Enclave

13. Cisco

We trudged silently up the stairs to Theo's apartment.

I kept looking around the dark, rickety stairwell. After everything that had happened, I was not quite ready to believe that we weren't being followed. I mean, it wasn't like we were going to be out of danger any time soon, so being paranoid would just be a waste of energy. Still, I knew with my luck, as soon as I even considered relaxing, a troop of guards would burst in and shoot me thirty-seven times.

Okay, so maybe I was being a little bit too paranoid.

I tried my best not to show it, though. Theo already did not take me seriously, even though we'd only known each other for a couple of days. Then again, I hadn't known Mae and Xella for that long too, and they  didn't take me seriously either.

And such was the nature of my relationships with people.

We finally reached the apartment. Good thing, too. I didn't really get winded easily, but even I was tired by the time we got up there. Theo, on the other hand, looked as if he was about to pass out from exhaustion.

Needless to say, this lifted my spirits.

"Okay." Theo managed between breaths. "We're here." He unlocked the rusty door and we all stepped inside.

I was pleasantly surprised. It was a nice apartment, with plump black sofas and a nice carpet. Not at all the rat-infested filth-hole that I'd expected. 

But then it was always best to hope for the worst. Low expectations equals no disappointment.

I probably should have remembered that when Theo took us to that motel. That was definitely something I did not want to relive.

Mae and Xella stopped to examine their surroundings, but having none of such inhibitions, I immediately flopped onto a couch. "Mm..." I said, running my hands over the leather. It sure was nice to be sitting on something other than a car seat. "Squishy."

Theo rolled his eyes at me and joined me on the sofa. " Idiot."
Mae and Xella sat in armchairs facing each other.

We all stared awkwardly for a moment, trying to get our bearings.

"So." Theo was obviously struggling to find something to say. "Fun car ride, huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "So fun it makes me shudder just thinking about it."

He continued as if I hadn't said anything. "But I know you probably have a lot of questions you want answered, so ask away."

"The only question I want answered is 'when are we eating?'" I replied.
                                                                          He gave me a look. "I was hoping for a more serious question."

"That is a serious question." Mae argued.

"Probably the most serious in fact." Xella nodded sagely.

He sighed, resigned. "Fine." He took out a small rectangular thing from his pocket. He tapped it and it lit up. "I guess we'll just order a pizza."

I raised my hand.
"Yes, Cisco?"
"Two more questions."

Now he was annoyed. "You said you only had one question."

"Yeah, well, I must have lied." I continued before he could stop me, "So what are you holding, and what is a pizza?"

He looked around slowly at our confused expressions. "Oh, yeah. You guys don't know...anything, really."

"Wow." Mae said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "And here I thought that you were going to be offensive."