Awakening - The Last Science #1

Chapter 11 - Foreigners - III

  Alden was up and running within minutes of waking up. Energy pulsed through his blood, vibrating like a purring engine demanding to be let loose. He showered and put on a fresh set of clothes, setting aside his mud-spotted and soaked set from the night before along with the sheets he'd been laying on. He'd have to ask Rika about getting those cleaned. Alden felt he'd be spending a much longer time in Rallsburg than he'd originally expected.

  A few minutes later, he was out the door and onto the walkway connecting the apartments. Alden nearly bowled over a mousy girl standing at the railing with blue-and-brown hair, who squeaked indignantly but nonsensically at him. He shouted an apology over his shoulder while he burst through the door into Rika's apartment, eager to get started with the day. A moment too late he considered that she might not appreciate him barging in—as reflected in her expression.

  Rika was standing on the balcony overlooking the drop off into the forest behind the apartments, hanging up her clothes from the previous day to dry on a line. She was clothed, but Alden still felt like he'd stumbled all over her privacy.

  "Dude, knock," Rika snapped. She hung up her shirt, still glaring at him. Her intricate tattoos seemed to glare at him too, between the harsh lettering on her shoulder and the thorny entwined roses on her arm.

  "Sorry," Alden mumbled, his eyes falling to the floor.

  "Whatever. What's up?"

  "I was just wondering if you wanted to do some more before we head out today," Alden said, feeling awkward.

  "If you keep staring at the floor I'm gonna start feeling bad." Rika slid the balcony door closed, eyeing him with an amused look. "As fun as that sounds, I'm thinking we should save our energy for the actual elaborate heist, eh?"

  "What, then?"

  "Breakfast?" Rika said. "Dan's actually has good doughnuts, for a diner. Friend of his bakes them every morning and sells them at the counter." She looked over his shoulder and barked out a "Hey, you!" The girl who Alden had nearly knocked over the front railing made an odd 'hmm' noise. She'd been watching them through the open front door with interest. "You got something to say?"

  The girl cocked her head to one side, looking confused.

  "Why are you just standing there staring?" Rika asked, taking a step toward her. The girl pulled her hood up tight and started walking down the apartment row, disappearing into one of the doors near the end. Rika shrugged. "Bizarre."

  "Maybe you scared her," Alden suggested.

  "Me? What could possibly be scary about moi?" Rika asked.

  "Well you're strong, you've got some huge tattoos, and you look like you're ready for a fight all the time. And you shoot lightning from your eyes."

  "I do not."

  "Ever tried?"

  "Actually—" Rika started but her phone buzzed, interrupting her thought. "It's Viper, wants us to meet at the bar. Says something's up." She looped her bag around her waist tightly. "Let's go."

  "So what do your tattoos mean?" Alden asked while they strolled down the street toward Dan's diner.

  "Ask me again sometime," Rika muttered.

  "The bird is really pretty. And the flowers too..." Alden continued, fishing for a topic. Before he could land something interesting, Rika interrupted his thoughts.