Gen Four- Chapter Seventeen

Cinnamon bounced and skipped as we walked along, which brought a big stupid grin to my own face as well. We all clung to what made us happiest to deal with the extra stresses in our life. However, I couldn't fathom how she continued to get such overflowing joy at going to the spa after all these years. Cinnamon and Tulip forever went multiple times a week. How it hadn't become absolutely monotonous, who could say? I ran my fingers over the freshly blossomed flowers on my left while letting her ramble on about what kind of package she wanted. Perhaps to her the spa was her coffee. Something that made her function and left her grumpy when not taken advantage of.

     "Mmm! The air smells so good today. Fresh and clean!" Ruby, walking in front, gushed, stretching her arms high into the sky.

    "That's true. I'm sure it's the flowers nearby, but it's like we've stepped into an endless field of heaven," Cinnamon imagined gleefully.

She and Ruby glanced at me. I shrugged with a light smile.

     "It's alright."

Ruby clicked her tongue and put her hand on her hip.

     "Just 'alright'?"

    "It still smells like city to me. There's nowhere here that beats the serenity of where I grew up," I explained.

     "You've never talked much of where you grew up," Cinnamon noted. "Is it nearby? What was it like?"

     "I don't believe it's too far. Perhaps an hour, an hour and a half. I─"

     "You're not sure where your hometown is?" Ruby raised a brow.
    "I don't have a hometown. Grandpa, Dad, and I lived in near isolation. We had a house settled amongst the hills and forests. I met the adults Grandpa and Dad worked with, and I had a private tutor. Other than that, I was left to my own devices most of the time. There was this river I played in. The crisp scent of water, the spice of the trees, the dampness of the ground, the sweetness of the flowers─ it was idyllic. That's why Aspen Harbor will forever been tinted with the ick of car exhaust and garbage to me."
     "The situation might not have been perfect, but the place sounds like it," Cinnamon said.
    "I miss the stars the most. There wasn't any pollution, so you had the whole heavens out and bearing its soul for you each night. Imagine it as someone dumping that silver glitter you were obsessed with for a time onto an eternal canvas of the deep black, the richest purple, Cinnamon."
     "I want to go see!"
    "If it's only an hour and a half drive, I wonder if your place is that area up north. It's like a nature conservatory or something, but I've heard it's pretty closed off. Maybe you lived on the fringes of it."
     "That seems reasonable."

I fiddled with my ribbons. Only now with this conversation and Ruby's words did I think of how easy it would be to pull up a map on the internet to see if I could catch a glimpse of anything familiar from the pictures satellites took.

But that was a matter for another time. I did not want to think of how little effort it might take to actually know how to get home if I wanted. I, least of all, did not care to imagine what because of the Scarlet Dawn office or the house once taken over by the police. It was perhaps thankful that us turning to corner to reveal the spa Cinnamon chose for our destination today got my mind stuck on another matter. I hadn't realized when Pieter brought us here, and I hadn't realized until that second the location of our destination─ the spa and the apartment building Pieter wished to live in were right next to each other. Last night after I untangled myself from Pieter's lips I subtly hinted more approval at his idea of looking into making 'Cinnamon Holiday' legal. His eyes lit up like rays of sunlight streaming between storm clouds. My chest had buzzed with both relief and worry. The best way of describing it was standing at the edge of a dock above an endless expanse of bottomless water with nothing else solid to stand upon. Pieter was down in the water urging me it would all be fine. I trusted him, but I also knew should I move from the dock I would never be able to climb back on it again.

So, the fact that Cinnamon, Ruby, and I walked into the spa to get treatment to soothe our worries away was a nice benefit.

We came out with glowing skin, relaxed shoulders, and lazy smiles. Little snacks came with the package, but our stomachs growled demanding to be content as the rest of our bodies were. Ruby wished to stop at a nearby food truck. I pulled us into a nice restaurant where they had boxed salads available to pick up and go. No sense in shoving greasy food and undoing the cleansing when a healthy option was right nearby.

     "That felt wonderful! I haven't been to the spa in years," Ruby remarked.

We'd found our way to a peacefully nook. It boated a large fountain with comfy enough seats and a massive decorative nature piece bursting with newly bloomed flowers. The air lightened and brushed sweeter than before, but I still preferred the atmosphere of home.

     "I've gone once before," Ruby continued. "It was my sister's freshman of high school, and Mom was fussing over her first homecoming like it was her senior prom. Mom booked her and Garnet the most expensive package the night before. Garnet convinced her to add me in there too. Since the spa was having a deal where a three party or more reservation tacked on extra things for free, she agreed. We had a great time. I even managed to sneak into the hot tub for a few minutes."
     "That does sound like a wonderful time," Cinnamon said.
     "I eagerly counted the days until this past fall when I became a freshman. The stupid idea got into my brain that Mom would be just as excited for me as she was for my sister. However, she kept forgetting homecoming would be soon no matter how much I reminded her and Dad. I had to ask Garnet to have her tell them the information, because that's the lone way it stuck in their brains. Needless to say, I didn't get the spa trip." Ruby smoothed her skirt as she talked, and fidgeted when silence was her response. "Sorry. We're trying to have fun and relax. I don't need to be bringing down the mood with pointless stories."

I shook my head, and Cinnamon spoke up.

     "No need to feel that way. It's probably safe to say at home your family didn't make it feel like your words were worth anything. We're not like that. We're here to listen whenever you need someone to listen, even if it takes a while. Look what happened with Cinnamon. She's been here years, and this is the first time I've gotten to know some pretty basic details about her home."
     "I suppose. If you don't mind..." Ruby mumbled, uncertain about the amount of real support coming her way.
     "We don't mind. I've been curious, actually. You've told us how your parents treated you compared to your sister, but you haven't said much about your relationship with your sister. Did you get along? Do you hate her?" I wondered, prompting out more.
     "I don't...hate her. It's just that for how smart she is otherwise, Garnet's so oblivious to how I've been treated. She genuinely can't see how different they act, and whenever I complain or ask for help she's quick to excuse them. I know it's not her job or responsibility to fix the situation, but...I just want her to be on my side for once. Other than that, she's a good sister."
     "Did you think about running away to her first than running away completely? She started college in the fall, right?" Cinnamon wondered.
     "It wouldn't have been enough for me to run to her for the weekend. I would have just been treated like a toddler throwing a tantrum. No. I knew I had to get away entirely for the three of them to see this wasn't some small issue." Ruby smoothed her skirt again, embarrassed and guiltier than before. "I feel I have to apologize. For you guys, there's no other option. This is what you've have, and that's it. For me, I...plan to go home someday. Probably by the end of the year. Maybe a bit longer. Once I've had enough time to want to return, when enough time has passed for my family to indeed see this was an issue of their making. My parents care for me. I've seen hints of it plenty of time. They simply need this wake-up."
     "Hmm, I don't mind that either. My years here have shown me lots of various people with varying situations. Our lives aren't meant to be a competition of who has it worse. If you feel running away was necessary, we'll believe that. If you want to go home, we'll support that. The warehouse is intended to be a safe spot for whoever needs it," I explained.

Ruby stared at me for a moment and then smiled. It comforted me more than I could imagine, for that was the first real smile of hers ever thrown my way.

     "What about you, Cinnamon?" she asked. "I'm probably pulling up topic you've heard many times, Cinny, but I haven't heard the full story. Your Dad and Grandpa are in jail, and there was something about there being no option to go with other family. Is it that there's no family, or did they not want you?"
    "More...of the second." My mouth went dry. "Dad and Grandpa fed me lies growing up. Dad was especially manipulative. He couldn't feel anything, but he acted like he did. All my life I grew up thinking he loved me, but he saw me as a tool to use for whatever purposes he wished. Grandpa snitched when he couldn't stand the guilt anymore. I do have other family, my mom's family, but..." I shook my head again. "Dad had arranged for my aunt and uncle to be killed. My grandmother survived the attack he ordered on her too but was immobilized as a result. He kidnapped my mom, forced her to have me, killed my─"

Instinctive silent caught my near mistake. About to give away the existence of my dead twin, the emotions lunging and begging to lock the attention of the listening ears before me were dragged back into line as I took a deep breath.

     "He killed my mom, and then buried her in the backyard while telling me she'd donated her body for study as she wanted due to her wanting to be a doctor. So, it's not that my mom's family rejected me, but I left because, honestly, what was I to them? A stranger none of them had met, and a reminder of the great pains they'd been dealt."
    "...I didn't know most of that. Like about your mom. I knew she had died, but to have it be that way," Ruby mumbled. "You didn't give your family a try though? Maybe things might have been rough for a bit, but it's not like you were to blame for anything. They could have wanted you. They might want you."

Ruby glanced at Cinnamon for support. Cinnamon just shrugged. While I didn't doubt that she did share that similar opinion to Ruby, for she'd offered as much the previous afternoon, she knew it was a subject I didn't want pushed.

    "It's one of those things you know. Like how you knew your only choice was to leave home," I spoke before I lost control of the conversation. "But, yeah, that's my piece. I suppose we should give you your turn, Cinny."
     "My turn?"
    "What you feel about your uncle is obvious. What do you feel about your parents though? Do you ever think of contacting them now or in the future? That sort of thing."
    "My uncle can burn in hell. That's all I'll ever think of him. I guess in a way my parents remind me of your sister, Ruby. They were willingly blinding themselves to what was happening, and they made excuses left and right. It's not that they didn't love me, but they allowed me to be abused through their ignorance. I hate them too. I don't want to forgive them. I hope they've been living miserably, will live miserably with my absence. That probably makes you a much better person than I am though."
     "No," Ruby argued gently. "The situations are different. I was hurt, yes, but from my perspective I don't feel my pain can compare to yours. I'm just sorry you had to go through that. And you through yours, Cinnamon. And me through mine."
    "But life works in funny way. Now we're all together, and we've had this moment where we can understand each other," I said.
     "We let it get too depressing though, didn't we? I say we get back to the fun!" Cinnamon cheered.
     "Agreed. Let's go to the beach!" Ruby jumped to her feet.

I was okay with going to the beach at first. Then I heard the discussion of the plans the two in front of me were making. They didn't just want to go to the normal beach. They wanted to go the the quiet beach. The one all the way down south at the end of Aspen Harbor's limits. Cinnamon paid for a taxi, fair enough, but even with driving it took us almost twenty minutes to get there. Things didn't get better when we arrived.

     "So, Teach, what will be doing on Monday for class?" Ruby pondered as I sat down to make a sand pile.
     "I hope it's sex ed," Cinnamon smirked.
     "I said once I finish up what I have planned, then─"
     "You should go ahead and get it over with. We'll stop bugging you afterwards," she teased.
     "I am not messing up my lesson plans to suit your juvenile giggles."
    "You know what I think it is?" Ruby smirked. "I think Cinnamon is avoiding it because she knows we'll try to prod too much into her and Pieter's sex life."
     "Wha─?" I sputtered. "That'd be a boring discussion, considering we don't have one."
     "Hmm? Realllly?"
     "Really."
     "That's perfect all the same though." Cinnamon matched Ruby's smirk and pulled her in cozy-like. "You should wait a few weeks. That way you can study, by making sure you and Pieter get some first-hand experience. The only real way to learn is by doing it yourself."
     "You are ridiculous." I gave the pair a look, but part of me forced down a laugh. "Honestly, I don't get it. Maybe it's because everything was explained to me young without worrying about pointless taboos, but why get so caught up on, ooo, a boob? Ooo, a penis."

Cinnamon and Ruby instantly erupted into a fit of giggles.

     "See? That." I motioned to them. "It's merely another subject like math or history to me."
     "You're the odd one out then," Ruby said.
     "I'll be odd then. I'm still not changing my lessons."

Likely because of that conversation, the situation changed into something else that was more problematic for me. Cinnamon and Ruby were content to walk around and chat for a while as I worked on my sand pile, heaving more and more onto it until it was a sturdily impressive mount. However, Ruby began whining.

     "I want to go swimming." She cast her head to the sky and shuffle walked like a zombie.
     "We can swim tomorrow. We don't have suits or towels or anything," I said.
     "But it's supposed to rain tomorrow!"
     "I'm on your side, Ruby. I want to go swimming too. Who says we need suits? The sun can dry us plenty when we're done as well," Cinnamon swelled with enthusiasm.
     "You better not be saying you two should skinny dip."
     "No, I'm saying we three should strip," Cinnamon winked. "We've got underwear don't we?"
     "You can't wear your underwear to go swimming."
     "Why not? It covers the same amount as a bikini. Besides the different fabrics, the only other difference is that bikinis are intended to be seen and underwear is not. If we intend or don't care if people see us, then, yeah, we're basically in swimwear. This place is deserted too. People don't come here. They go to the easy to access beaches. Then, on the off chance people do come, if they see us, what will they think we're wearing?"
     "Bikinis," Ruby smiled wide.
     "Yup. And when we're done, like I said, the sun will dry us off in no time."
     "Have fun," I rejected.
     "You're so rigid sometimes," Cinnamon smiled.

She and Ruby proceeded to strip before my eyes. We lived in close quarters and shared rooms. Obviously, I didn't care about seeing them in their underwear. No, I stood there watching them fool around in the shallow water keeping watch for anyone who might decided to make the long trek here as well. Unfortunately, Cinnamon and Ruby were relentless.

     "Cinnamon!" Cinnamon laughed at me in loving exasperation. "We're runaways! We ignore the rules and forge our own path! We're also teenagers! Rebel a little for once!"
     "Join us! Join us!" Ruby started chanting.
     "Join us! Join us!" Cinnamon mimicked.

They started splashing me. The sun blazed this day as it hadn't yet so far this year, and the touch of that cool water upon my skin beginning to ache taunted my defenses. I meekly glanced around. This spot of beach was rather small and bland. It was off a side road filled with pot holes. Most of the beach was hidden from that road by rows of tall grass. The beach season was only getting going, so even at the normal spots few people were there. Cinnamon splashed me again, noticing the slow change.

     "Don't say anything," I demanded as I undid my little jacket.
     "We won't," Ruby beamed.

To their credit, neither of them gave me a single moment of grief or teasing. I slipped out of my top layer of clothes and into the water.

     "Gah! It's freezing!" I shivered, though I submerged myself further.
     "But does it feel good?" Cinnamon asked knowingly.
     "Yeah," I admitted.
     "There you go."

We stayed at the beach for an hour and a half. I forgot about the fact I was in my underwear, I swam until my lungs burst, Cinnamon and Ruby proved even more ridiculous teaming up to make a sand pile to put mine to shame, and then we lay there on the comforting sand not minding it getting in our hair as we chatted. Ruby told us about what high school was like, and I revealed what I could about Mr. Mint. My companions were more concerned over how hot my private tutor had been than the exact situation of his hiring.

     "But, c'mon. You gotta give me some number on the scale."
    "Cinny, is the water stuck in your ears?" I rolled my eyes. "I thought of him as someone like an uncle. How attractive he was is not something I care to think about."
     "It doesn't matter if you're attracted to a person or not. You can objectively see a person and compare them to the guidelines of what society deems good-looking or not. For example, I don't think of you in any sort of physically appealing way. It's no problem for me to rate you a seven though."
     "Seven?"
     "Hey, that's pretty good. Not something to be insulted over."
     "I'm not insulted. More surprised."
     "Think you'd be lower?" Cinnamon guessed, chuckling.
     "I feel average."
     "You're better than average. Ruby's got us both beat, sadly, at least by a little something."
     "I'd say by more than a little," I laughed.

We glanced her way, but she'd drawn more and more out of the conversation.

     "You feeling okay?" I asked. Her face seemed paler.
     "I'm good. I think I'm simply getting tired."
     "I feel ya. It's about time we headed back anyway."

However, Cinnamon did not want to let go of our previous conversation. She offered to pay for another taxi should I tell her how objectively hot Mr. Mint was. I rolled my eyes and reminded her taking a taxi to the warehouse was impossible. We bantered back and forth only moving slightly in any sort of manner down the sidewalk to start our return. We should have paid more attention. Ruby certainly caught it when she abruptly bolted to the nearest trash bin. She stuck her head far in there regardless of the mounds of garbage tickling her chin to make sure the bile flying out landed nice and clean inside. She hacked and heaved as we rushed over.

     "I don't think you're good," Cinnamon said, rubbing her back.
    "My period must be starting. It usually comes on strong with painful cramps, but it's rare that it gets this bad that the pain makes me nauseous," Ruby mumbled, gagging. "Sorry."
    "It's fine. I have a quarter. Why don't you pop into the restroom here, get something from the dispenser, and then we'll head back straight away?" I suggested.

Ruby nodded and numbly took my coin.

Cinnamon hailed a taxi, and we got a ride for as far as we could go without asking the driver to take us to a suspiciously abandoned warehouse. Ruby put on a brave face, but she downed some pain medicine, spent a long time in the port-a-potty, and curled up in bed wearing an intense pout. I felt her pain. Having a period while homeless and having limited access to running water made the event much more of an ordeal. While I asked her if she needed anything, she ushered me off merely needing some peace and quiet. I sat outside for a while picking sand out of my hair before choosing to do something useful with the rest of my day.

     "Oh. Hey, Lark," I greeted as Larkspur approached me at the bookshelf.
     "What are you doing?"
     "I want to get some more books to use in class and for everyone to have to read or study from. I'm seeing what I have so I can know what to look for at the library."
     "You're going to steal from the library?" he frowned.
    "No, no. I put together a list of the topics I'm looking for, sometimes specific books. I go to the library to see what I can find and give the books a browse to see if it is what I want. Then I go to the bookstores or ask Leo or Coral to order what I want online."
     "Ohhhh. That's smart. I'm glad you're the teacher."
     "Why, thank you. I've got the list almost done. Do you want to come with the library with me?"
     "Sure. I'm bored, and Fennel doesn't want to play."
     "We'll leave in ten minutes then."

We left sooner than ten minutes, for I underestimated Larkspur's enthusiasm. He followed me around waiting for me to be ready to leave. So, I gathered my list, a bit of extra money, and freshened up with some deodorant and a wet cloth for my face to get us out the door in five. I could understand why the trip dangled above one's head alluringly. The library made one feel normal. You could just go and read or use the computer, be a face in the crowd. It's how it'd become for me since I'd grown and no longer feared the librarians calling me out.

     "What kind of stuff do you like to read?" I asked Larkspur. I sat with him at first to make sure he got settled and wouldn't cause problems.
     "Stories with strong guys who are cool."
     "Strong guys who are cool?"
     "Like knights, or superheroes, or treasure hunters. I want to be like them."
     "I see. Those stories sound fun," I smiled.

It made sense as well. As a little boy who had little power, tossing himself into a world where he could imagine being the best proved naturally appealing.

     "If you find any books you'd really like, let me know. I'll add them to my list of books to buy."
     "Really?" Larkspur asked, eyes widening.
     "Really. Just don't go overboard with it."
     "Got it," he promised.

Larkspur browsed a few books before finding a series starring a space-faring knight. With him being instantly hooked, I went to go my own way. Decent luck struck as I discovered most of the specific books I wanted were at the library for me to test, and I easily found a good collection on all levels for the topics I wanted covered. The last thing to do then was check prices on the internet. I'd memorized most of the price ranges for the used bookstores I shopped at. I did check those first to support the community and whatnot, but sometimes I simply couldn't get a copy without going online. I assumed I'd have a nice time browsing using the quiet computer room. No talking was allowed in here, and any music had to be completely muffled by headphones. Heavy breathing and the smacking of lips instantly meeting my ears when I walked in narrowed my brows. A simple peek around the corner gave me the explanation. The room was empty save for a pair of teens my age. They were going it at. The girl ran her hands through the guy's hair as he buried his face into her chest and ran a hand under her skirt.

     "Uh, excuse me?" I gave them a look.

They stopped and immediately sent glares my way.

     "What?" the girl scoffed arrogantly.
     "We're in a library. If you want to learn about baby-making, there's plenty of books on the subject. You don't need trial and error."
     "Piss off, jealous bitch. You're just upset you're not my girl right now," the boy chided, hugging her seductively.

He didn't like me laughing loud at that and walking away.

And I walked away to find a librarian. Had the two not come off as rude as they had, I would have walked away minding my own business. However, I went to the third floor to use a computer instead after allowing the staff to know what I knew about the two. My seat by the window permitted an excellent view of the two teens shouting and throwing a fit as they were escorted out of the building. That was that.

I spent as much time needing scouring the internet for the best links to purchase the books for cheapest. Larkspur rushed up during the middle of this wondering if I would lend him money for a crepe. The treat apparently came into mention in his book, who knows how in a story of a space knight, and there was a truck a few blocks north that sold them. I couldn't deny him. Off he scampered clutching those dollars like they were made of gold. Several minutes later, I groaned and hurriedly gathered my things. There was more searching to be done, but I wanted a crepe too!

Leaving the library, the chill in the air caught me off guard. The sun still burned bright. The wind blew warm. However, it was if a bubble of distant frost followed my steps. It was easy enough to ignore...until a sensation I hadn't felt in years reappeared. The chill intensified, invisible hands fell upon my shoulders to pull back, and a voice brushed against my ear.

     "Careful..."

It whispered so softly I wondered if it wasn't a piece of my own imagination. But...of course, it had to be. I turned and searched all over. No one was there. Nerves bubbling in my gut that hadn't been there, I cautiously resumed walking.

Teen feet in front of me was a corner. A corner that could only be the reason for why my paranoia had set the warning bells off. Hiding behind the subway entrance was none other than the two angels I encountered before. The guy caught me by the shoulder and one of my braids to drag, drag me further down the wall and out of sight before I couldn't understand or react to what was happening. Unfortunately, when I thought I yanked hard enough to shake free it was only because the asshole let go to claw at my face. He'd likely be going for a full punch, but my stumbling caused him to miss. He nearly fell down on top of me as my foot smacked into the building's border and dropped me to my butt.

     "You got us kicked out!" he yelled.
     "You got yourselves kicked out. You were the ones getting hot and heavy in a library, and then you think you can be assholes without consequences?" I scoffed, holding my palm against my injured cheek. A few drips of thick wetness tickled my skin.
     "And you think you can be a snitch without consequences?" The boy towered over me more.
     "This is too good," the girl giggled. She held her phone, clearly recording the situation.
     "Back off," I demanded.

My voice came out stronger than I felt. I regretted letting myself get soft and comfortable. I should have learned after that situation with Gravel to always have one of my sharpened sticks with me.

     "No." The boy smirked devilishly.

Though fright and fear slammed my ribs, this was hardly my first time being afraid. We weren't that hidden from the street. Screaming should be enough of a deterrent. My hand sneakily testing the ground also snagged a prize by way of a rock. The boy took a step closer. I kicked his leg, throwing him off balance just enough for me to chuck the rock at his forehead. He cried out, stumbled back, and I bolted.

The streets and their weaving alleys remained as clear to me as if I had a map in my hand. I zig-zagged chosen the strangest and most obscure routes to get to what should have been a straight walk to my destination. Thankfully, Larkspur was still there, licking cream cheese off his lips.

     "Cinnamon, can I get another one?" He asked hopefully. "They're having a buy one get one half off, so they said if I got a second it would be half off even if bought separately. I want an orange marmalade one. They just have to have a few more oranges sliced."
     "Sorry, but one is enough. We also need to head back."
     "But I wanted to go back to the library." His shoulders dropped.
     "It's urgent."
     "But─"
     "Lark."
     "...Okay," he grumbled.

Frustratingly, he slumped and shuffled behind me not caring that I got further and further ahead. Part of me wished to leave him to walk back, or perhaps I should have sent him somewhere else with a bribe. I worried, however, of those two assholes still having been able to follow. If they caught even a single glimpse of Larkspur and me together, they might be so low as to go after him instead. It was safer to stick together and take as many of my secret routes as possible even as Larkspur gave me funny looks and constantly drove me crazy with his questions of what we were doing. The boy didn't have any sense about what was going on until we reached the quiet streets nearing the warehouse. I'd felt rather confident while in the city. Each glance over my shoulder showed me no sign of the two knowing our location. I walked more at ease until from nowhere my chest exploded with flames of fright. That chill returned to counter it, leaving me burning from the inside as I froze from the outside. Tentatively, I sent another glance back. No one was in sight. The feeling didn't go away though.

     "Lark? I need you to run back for me," I said.
     "Hmm?"
     "I need you to run on ahead."
     "What?" He tilted his head. "Why?"

I forced back a sigh. I shifted for another glance. Still nothing. Larkspur finally took a good look at my face though.

    "What happened to your cheek? It looks like you scraped it against something," he said with a concerned frown.
     "I can take care of it later. I need you to listen to me carefully though. I'm going to take a quick walk this way. I need you to run along ahead. Got it? Run along ahead."
     "Oh." His expression stiffened, and that was when those gears began turning. "Got it. I'll see you in a bit."

He began his jog, and I relaxed a bit more.

It did little good. Now I turned around completely. The fringes of the city were in sight, but the quiet roads dominated the area. There were a few trees and such, but nowhere proper to hide behind. How in the world could someone be hiding back towards the city where I had this intense fear, or how could someone be darting from sparse tree to tree and not be caught in all my glances? Someone following made little sense. As I thought again about wanting a stick, I thought about Gravel. His actions had left a heavy mark on me. Thankfully, I hadn't had to go through anything like it since. This all could just be the scars of that gentle trauma wriggling to the forefront. He had hurt me. Someone else had just hurt me. Perhaps I merely needed time to calm down and let my imagination get back under control. Yes, my fear was taking hold too greatly.

With that in mind, I took a deep breath, decided I'd circle around to the warehouse just make sure no one followed, and started down the sidewalk once more.