Cloud Association: Pretty Boy Psycho

Field Trip

I fall into a tree as everyone finally stops. My shirt sticks to me, icky with sweat. No breaths left. Made it. Made it. Made it. Gonna die of exhaustion but here I am with everyone else. Unable to stand up though. Sink onto my knees while everyone else groups round Clover. Think I'm gonna vomit.

"You have five hours to see if you can find out any information on the Harlington boy," says Clover.

I want to raise my hand and say, he's here. Would that mean I accomplished a mission?

"Stay in your groups. Do not, I repeat, do not abandon your fellow comrades or lose them in the middle of Lundune. You keep an eye on each other and come back together that is a direct order. Five hours from now. Go."

Charlie, Lee, and Tanya are off in a shot. I need a drink of water before I go anywhere.

Danny steps over to me. "Did you hear any of what Clover said?"

I nod. "Five hours to get information on the Harlington kid. Stick together."

"Right so we best get going."

"Please may I have some water first?"

Danny throws me our pack. "Do what you like."

Everyone's left the area even Clover. They've gone into Lundune seeking me. I hope no one works out who I am. What if someone say for instance Charlie goes snooping in my home district? One of the neighbours might tell him, "oh Alex yeah I know him, blond hair, proper blond not your average dirty shade." Then he'll figure out where I really came from and I'll get dragged home.

"Get up you two," musters Danny.

"We've gotta whole five hours." Geordie sits cross legged on the floor running his hands through fallen leaves. "Besides I couldn't care less about Alex Harlington. He probably got kidnapped by Thunders for a ransom. His parents will get a telegram any day now: Pay up or else we'll mail your precious son's head to ya."

Danny shrugs and slumps down beside us. "Sooo, what's the plan?"

"We tell Clover we went into Lundune and found no leads. No one will find out any information anyway. She's only sent us in there to see if we can work together outside a classroom environment."

"We should show willing." I slide my comb through my hair

"Why?" Geordie glares at me with a real mean look.

I lower my comb. Tuck my hair behind my ears. "I don't want to get kicked out."

"Like I don't wanna do pointless exercises."

I place the water canteen beside Geordie and head for the gates. "We can at least pretend to look." I smile at Danny once I reach the gates; he seems the mellower of the two. "Come on, sitting out here for five hours will be boring."

"As opposed to wandering aimlessly round people with the affliction," says Geordie. "You're on your own."

On my own fair enough. At least I'll be able to say I tried. I take several steps through the gates. Air gets heavy. Is this trying? Without team mates I'm incapable of working as a team. I'd be better off sitting doing nothing with a team rather than doing something without. This alley is as dark and creepy when I first ventured onto it. Now I'm inside Lundune may as well carry on walking my lonely road. Will have to make sure I stir clear of Kensington.

I jump as a body comes up behind me. "You must make an awful thief." Phew it's only Danny. "You're right sitting round in the woods for a whole five hours would be boring."