S a l e t é I I

XIX - Épaules - Dix

Their detour had taken them to the section of perimeter wall that featured the gap along its top, and Monet's reasoning was indeed confirmed as she led the girls over to that very same damaged segment.

"Oh! We're filling the factory bunch in before we go?" Uliana asked, everything clicking for her now too as Monet handed her the backpack she'd been wearing, allowing her an easier time scaling the wall.

"I'm going to ask Alex if he will accompany us. I think it's best that we all stay informed, and that he makes his own judgements." The older girl explained, preparing for a brief second before she jumped up, grasping the damaged portion. 

"It's been ages since we've gone anywhere as a bigger group! We can look for stuff together after everything's sorted, it'll be way better if there's a load of us." Uliana exclaimed, planning ahead, that earlier eagerness of hers becoming a quiet intensity by now.

"Stay focused. We're going to see what this Raphaël fellow is all about." Monet told her, looking down at her as she accepted their backpacks in turn, a single glance enough to instil the focus she'd desired, the girl on the receiving end quickly straightening up.

Monet helped Uliana up before she, in turn, assisted Cassia with scaling the wall as well. She was sure that she would have been able to do it herself, with a little bit of effort and some good legwork, but turning down help would have merely been foolish.

"Wait here. I'll try and be quick."

Monet continued on her way, jumping down from the stack of leftover factory gear that was propped up on the other side as she made her way to the door they most frequently used, leaving the two younger girls sat atop the fixture. Cassia did her best to sit neatly, whereas Uliana simply straddled it.

Whilst they waited, the girls tried to see if they could spot anyone at the factory windows, particularly Gunner, something that they didn't have any success with. Either he was watching from a vantage point out of their sight, or he was simply good at his job. 

Cassia anticipated the latter. 

"I'm serious, though." Uliana began, addressing Cassia without any qualms now that Monet was absent. 

"We really should poke around if we're heading out that way as a proper gang. It'd be stupid not to." 

"Mmh, maybe you're right."

"I know I am. It's not like it'd be dangerous, if we've got the boys with us."

The road running along the wall they were now waiting atop was much quieter than the rest of the old street, something that surprised Cassia due to the vast number of messages that were still scribbled along its length. She'd spotted a few that she recognised as being there during their previous visit, but there had also been many that were clearly new. 

Looking for reading glasses, waiting at New Moon

Copper wanted, all offers taken seriously 

Meds at the junkyard today, back entrance, traders are armed

Thank you to the nice man who helped me with my bags yesterday, love from Lucy x

Need company? Visit the fourth house on the left, dock road - biscuits included

Every now and then, someone would walk by, usually on their way back to the more subdued paths that led into the depths of the housing district, and practically all of these strangers took the time to at least glance at the wall of notes.

Maybe the one she'd left was still there? Perhaps it had even gotten some more recognition? It was a small thing, but it was still nice to think about.