Steel Ethereal

Ch. 7 The First Day

Rob

There's a clock on my dresser. I don't know how I didn't notice it before, but I see it now, spying it with sleepy eyes. It's fifteen minutes before eight. Sam said the night before that someone would take me.

Maybe it was because I was mentally and physically tired, but it felt as if I'd fallen asleep at the latest part of the night. In fact, it couldn't be past eight or nine, considering how the days were getting shorter. I felt a bit refreshed, but like I had slept for too long.

I dig through the dresser and find a pair of pants, dark brown pants, and dress in them. Outside my sliding door, I clap my shoes together as best I can to get dirt off them. Another front had come in the night before and it was much colder than it had been the night before. I shiver and clasp my arms, hands still holding my dirty sneakers to my chest, and shuffle back inside.

I lace my shoes up and as I stand feel feet that are even more sore than they were the morning before. I stretched, feeling several bones crack and yawn incredibly loudly. I dig through the closet inside and find a single, lonely gray hoodie. It's blank and has no large middle pocket. I still put it on and appreciate its warmth.

There are other aches, some I hadn't take the proper time to assess. There's a bruise on my leg from when that goon had knocked me to my feet. My legs were sore as well, and my shin ached from when I was tripped in the settlement.

Other than that, there is no other pressing issue with my body aside from the fact that I was starving. I was so jarred from my small mental breakdown yesterday and being dead tired I forgot that Sam had mentioned that there was food.

I wash up as best I could before my escort arrived. There is a toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste. Trying to conserve, I use as little as I could to get a lather going. Brushing felt almost ecstatic as bathing the night before. I felt fresh, clean.

I almost step on a landmine of a thought as I fixed my hair. One on how Gina had passed before trimming my hair. She had become so good at it...

But no, I brush the thought away and sit on my bed patiently. The clock now reads at two past eight. My stomach growling being the only few sounds I make.

There's a small timid knock and I assume it to be Sam.

But as I open the door, I see the blur of curly hair as Luciana stands outside my door. Her baby blue sweater is homemade knit and looks comfortable. Her pants and boots appear more casual from the combat boots and cargo pants she wore from the trip the days before.

"Morning," I greet shyly.

"Hi," She says wearily. She doesn't look too well. Bags under her eyes and from her arm exposed by her rolled up sleeve, I see a swelling bruise. What had this girl gotten into since last I'd seen her. Her hair hung freely and threatened to swallow her face, as if at any moment her face could retreat behind the veil.

"Let's get going. I gotta get you breakfast." She says before I can compliment her appearance awkwardly.

"You're the boss."

She smiles and we leave my new found home and exit to the morning beyond. The sun has barely peaked above the left side of the cities' mountain range. It's light brought little warmth, but knowing there would be some coming soon brought a little pep to my step.

The crowd of people in the streets matched that of the marketplace from the night before. but this time the energy was different. There was an aura of urgency.Everyone seemed rushed to be where they needed to be. There were few stragglers and even fewer shop keeps open compared to the night before. The ones that were open sold breakfast or clothes which I was assuming for emergencies.