Meredith:
We walked through the sewer again, as quiet as how we came in. My mind went racing. I was thinking about everything Mr. Roger said. The fire outbreak at Blisslake: Street 12 was where I had died. I was caught in a trap that wasn't supposed to be mine!
"You alright?" Mason's voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned sharply towards him. He was looking at me, reading my expression.
"I think so." I felt scared. Why did the fire happen at my house? What did my family have to do with this robbery. "I'm just scared." I said. He was silent.
I didn't expect what he said afterwards, "I'm here. You don't have to be scared." He gazed at me.
I looked away, "Thank you." Was the only most polite thing I could say at the moment. Thomas was quiet. He knew nothing about me being Meredith, connected to the robbery through the fire and I didn't think it was necessary to let him know about it.
"We'll go see Roger again." Thomas said. "He's pulling some strings to make you find Grimes." He was walking quietly ahead of us, listening to every whisper between Mason and me.
"Why is Roger so eager to help us?" Mason asked.
"Because you all have the same hatred towards Grimes. He took everything from Roger and robbed both of you of your freedom, security and peace." He climbed up the rungs that led to the entrance of the sewer. We all climbed out. "He's not helping. He's just using you to get rid of Grimes." Mason grunted. "What's your plan, though? Why do you want to meet with Grimes?" Thomas asked, turning towards us and walking backwards.
Mason looked hard at him, his lips pressed tightly together, "It's not for you to know." He said, quite impolitely. I frowned at him, shaking my head.
Thomas chuckled, trying to hide his irritation. "Whatever you say", He bowed mockingly to Mason.
When we got to Mama Rue's house, it was already daybreak. I tiredly slipped past the crooked dining table to our room, trying to think straight after the talk with Mr. Roger.
"We have a lot to do tomorrow." Mason left Thomas' side and followed behind me. "Rest for a while."
I would most definitely have done that even if he hadn't said it. I nodded and jumped straight into bed without taking a shower. This was going to be a long journey.
Mason:
"Wake your sleepy butts up!" Mama Rue barged in, hitting the wall with a wooden laddle. "It's almost noon, you punks! The house is a mess!" Then she left. The rest of what-to-do was up to us; to get up and get to work. Had there actually been a time when the house was totally clean!
Thankfully, there was not much work to do that day so I made up my mind to teach the girl some defense skills. She couldn't be an 'alleged criminal' and not know how to fight. I asked permission from Mama Rue, as the girl always demanded before picking the front lawn as our 'arena'.
"Even if you can't fight, you should learn how to defend yourself." I said. She was standing in front of me, a little farther away dressed in Piper's kind of fit: a tight black leather trouser and a tank top tightly pressed against her skin. I saw Piper...standing right there. The only thing that made a difference between her and Piper was the way her hair was tied in a messy bun with a blue scrunchy holding the bun in place. This was something Piper never did. It was new to me and very...attractive!
"What do I have to do?" She brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"Let's take it this way." I said. "Picture me as a bad guy." She nodded. "I'm about to attack you. What can you do?"
She was quiet for a while, "I could talk you into changing your mind." She shrugged innocently.
I sighed. "No." She was naive; oblivious to the cruelty of this world. "That's doesn't always work. Before you'll even utter a word, they'll shoot your brains out! It's a movie thing. Never heard of it happening in real life before."
"It can." She replied.
"No, it can't." I repositioned myself. "Let's try again. I'm a bad guy about to attack you. What can you do?"
"Alright...I'll put aside the 'convincing-not-to-attack' idea." She said.
"No, not 'put aside'. Cancel it. You should cancel the idea." I cut in sternly.
"Okay." She sighed. "I'll cancel it. I could throw a punch."
"Much better." I was slightly pleased. "But the question is...how?"
"I don't know. You could teach me."
I liked how she was ready to learn.
"Good. I'll teach you." I unbuttoned my shirt and took it off, throwing it to the side. I noticed the girl look away shyly with her cheeks slightly red. She was adorable! "Fist your hands and hit me." I said.
She looked up, "You?"
"Uh-huh."
"But I could hurt you."
"Nevermind that." I chuckled. "It wouldn't be the first time breaking my nose." I stepped closer, "Hit me."
She bit her lower lip and fisted her right hand, and then threw it at my face. The punch didn't even touch the hair on my skin. She covered her face in embarrassment.
"You're too far away. Come closer." She did. "Throw harder. Like you're hitting someone you hate."
She cocked her head, "I don't hate anyone. I like everybody." Wow! It was either she used to be surrounded by the best people or surrounded by pretenders. To me, she was still a little girl; unaware of the monsters the world had out there. She had a lot to learn and see.
"Just...hit me hard. Impress me."
She nodded, and then this time, she threw a fast punch at me. I almost didn't notice it, but tactfully grabbed her fist just in time to protect my face.
"Good." I smiled. Her hand was still in mine. "Great start."
She smiled back. Adorable! "Now hit me but don't let me grab your hand."
She nodded. I let her go and she got her fists ready. She threw another punch but I caught her hand again. To my surprise, she lifted her other hand and hit me, sending me staggering back.
"Gosh!" I gasped, clutching my chin. "I did not see that coming!"
All she did was giggle, feeling pleased with herself.
"You used your left hand?" I frowned.
She nodded, "I'm actually left-handed." she waved her left hand.
"I should have notice that." I groaned. "You are not an expert yet you found a way to trick me." I smirked. "Impressive!"
She shrugged, "I just love to read books. They have everything you should know."
"Yet you don't know about the bad side of the world?" I crossed my arms.
"They only come in stories. I've never encountered them before till I entered this life...when those bad men chased us."
I stared, amused, "Not all bad men look bad. Some hide it in there. They pretend to be good but then crush you when you get closer."
She quietly stared into my eyes. What was she thinking about?
"Don't stress the poor girl too much!" Thomas yelled from the entrance of the door. Our heads turned in unison to look. He leaned sluggishly against the door frame, watching us. How long had he been there?The girl walked away and ran over to him halfway through.
"Don't tell me such a fiesty-looking girl is learning defense skills." He crinkled his brows at her. "I thought you were expert in that kinda stuff."
The girl just laughed it off. They stood and spoke for a while, laughing in between. Why was he always coming in my way? I pretended to be unbothered about the way she laughed at everything he said; after all, he was actually doing us a favour by helping...wasn't he?
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