Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday

Chapter 3: Too Many Questions

By the time Megan and I managed to get out of the base and down the mountain to town, it was almost noon. Thankfully, both Megan and I appeared old enough to be out of school, otherwise we would've had more attention than we wanted.

"I hate wearing these clothes now, they just feel so..."

"Normal?" I offered as Megan searched for the right word.

"Exactly. Never thought I'd see the day I'm more comfortable in a suit of armor than I am in jeans." Megan laughed, and I took the moment to think about our situation. Normally, with two Shulkerbahn's in town, I would insist on us being armed to the teeth if we left the base. But since we are walking around on the streets like normal people, blending in with our normal clothes was a better idea. Although I couldn't call us completely unarmed, considering I was ninety-five percent positive Megan still had the metal wrist plating from her armor on under her sleeves. And well, I could hold my own as well if push came to shove.

"Ok we need to act like we know exactly where we're going and that we belong there." I said, adjusting my sunglasses. Megan twirled her pony-tail around her finger, smiling as we crossed a street.

"Well, I'll just follow you because you do actually know where we're going. But pretending to not be awestruck by the sun and other human beings is going to be hard."

"Haha, very funny." I retorted. "Just know we're going to turn into a small street not too long from now." We walked a bit longer in silence, both of us taking in the surrounding area. This wasn't the town any of us grew up in, we weren't stupid enough to go there unless we really needed to. But there were similarities. I felt a small smile creep across my face as I remembered my home. It was a small suburb a bit away from the mountains. Colorado Springs was the city itself but only in name. It was really a cluster of dozens of little cities and neighborhoods. But up here it was only little mountain-side towns. Too small and independent to attract much attention. X and Kat had actually grown up in such a town here in the Rockies. But not this one specifically. It was Justin, Megan and I that had climbed the mountain together, running from... I shoved the memories out of my mind. I couldn't afford to think about her now. If I humored the memories and they were to glitch here, I might compromise Megan and I.

"You ok?" Megan asked, turning to me with a worried expression on her face. "You went very stiff all of the sudden."

"Just, keeping my head in the game."
"I see..." Darn it, she was worried now. And that was the last thing I needed. I looked up at the shop signs, taking note that we had reached our destination. I turned into the small side-street, an alley really, Megan turning right behind me. I waved my hand, telling her to follow me, as I reached up and pulled myself up and onto the fire escape. Megan appeared next to me after a moment.

"I didn't even see you come up here, you just... poof." I told her, laughing quietly.

"Poof... I like that. I don't have years of training and skills, I poof." Megan said, an edge of sarcasm lining her voice. The window next to us flew open, startling Megan. I had to reach out a hand to steady her so she didn't fall off the platform.

"Well don't stand out there you two, get in here, quickly." A voice called from inside the window. I smiled, leaning over and climbing through the window. I helped Megan through, not that she needed help but, I mean, she didn't refuse my hand. I reached behind her and shut the window carefully, turning around to introduce Megan.

"Megan, this is Mr. Graven, or Todd as he'll insist on you calling him."

"It's nice to meet you Todd." She said, taking a look around the small room.