Run Away With Me

Chapter 45: Their Gang.

Jamaica's eyes were dazzling when we got off the bus, shimmering when we entered the woods and almost bulging out of his sockets when I told him we were almost there. How his excitement and face deflated when he finally met up with our 'super cool and heroic' headquarters was almost comical.

We stood in front of the broken building for about five minutes, all of us waiting for Jamaica to snap out of it. I think his imagination ran a bit too wild and thought the HQ would be something along the lines of a infinite meter building made out of impenetrable steel and several tons of awesomeness.

He was wrong.

Nikita, a fellow rogue, looks at us with worry, probably wondering why we are just standing there. I shrug at her and she waves, continuing with her guarding duty. There are several others scattered around the perimeter, on the look-out for any threat, some of which I spotted on the way here.

"Jamaica, we are rogues on the run," Nao says, as if that's going to miraculously help the boy out of his disappointment. He sighs and gives up, walking further into the clearing and crossing through the broken door.

Yaya babbles on and on, on my shoulder, and I'm careful to not have her fall when I crouch to Jamaica's level. I pass a hand through his hair and clear his bangs from his eyes, which are still wide in shock.

"This is going to be our step one, a broken and old building without much value, that doesn't mean that when we're at step hundred, we'll still be here." My words shake him and he nods, blinking rapidly. "Okay?"

"Okay..." he mutters.

"Besides, this place has a lot of friendly people, even kids your own age, it should be fun." He nods again. "Good boy," I praise, standing. I bring Yaya back into my arms, kinda afraid of having her fall, and grab his hand, walking with him to the building.

It is as we left it, rotten and broken. It makes me wonder how the WB still hasn't found us yet, though. This is the perfect hideout for rogues, it should be the first place they ought to search up, but South-Reim is also unnecessarily big.

Plus, Nao has methods that I've learned not to question.

The ceiling doesn't exist and the floor wants to follow its above companion. The wallpapers are torn and burned in some places, nasty stains decorating other parts. It is in no way habitable – it doesn't even have running water! – but Emmyl's gang has the ability to make any place a home.

There are different rugs scattered on the floor, essence and candles placed around to mask the sour stench in this place. The fire place burns, and there are joyous people in a semi circle laughing and eating and drinking, having a good time.

"Good morning!" I greet, smile on my face. It hurts to have to use my face muscles considering I'm totally spent, but I'd rather do this than have these people bury me with questions about my wellbeing. "How are you all?"

They all greet back and as they do so I pass by them successfully, not having been kidnapped into their merry-going. Leave it to Emmyl's gang to still be laughing when we're being hunted.

Heck, leave it to Emmyl's gang to still be laughing when they're all rogues.

It annoys me a tad bit, my wish to be among these people growing, but that's not possible for me.

"Now, go on Jamaica, go have some fun." The boy blinks at me, confusion coloring his face.

"I beg your pardon?" I push him to the side, laughing at his posh accent.

"At the end of this hallway," I point towards the left, "there's the kid's room. They hang out and play games, go socialize."

"You're coming with me, right?" he asks and I frown.