Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 9

Heidi fell quiet, resisting the urge to snap at Paul. She wished he would hurry up and get this over with.

Paul sighed, leading her out to the giant building.

Heidi continued to follow Paul, squeezing his hand. Despite the fact that she wanted to be left alone, it felt nice that someone cared about someone as worthless as her.

Paul squeezed back gently and gave her a slight smile. When they reached the building, he led her inside.

Inside was...well, building like. Much of the floor was wood and such and there was people scurrying around with whatever tasks they had.

"To the third floor!" Paul declared.

Heidi looked around, nodding absentmindedly. It'd been a long time since she'd been in a building this big, not counting the tower.

Paul soon had her on the third floor, expertly leading her through the maze of hallways and doors.

Heidi kept looking around, feeling rather overwhelmed. This felt too much like before the Storm.

"Alright, we're here," Paul said proudly, standing in the open doorway of a room that could only be described as if a bucket of neon pink paint had kids with hot pink and the babies had vomited all over the room.

Heidi blinked, the color making her eyes burn. "Uh...wow."

"She really likes pink," Paul chuckled, "Hey Knit, got a customer for ya!"

A girl who could literally fit into the old California image of a blonde poked her head up from the other side of the bed. "Hey Paul, long time no see," she answered, "A customer huh?" Knit looked Heidi over. "Your girlfriend?"

"I'm not having this discussion right now," Paul deadpanned. Lauren just smirked.

"You said that when I asked you about Melaney that one time," she countered.

"Yeah, and then she nearly wound up dead," Paul's eye twitched, causing 'Knit to shut up.

"Right, so what do you need?"

"I need Paul to stop dragging me out of th' house," Heidi answered, already feeling about ready to slaughter this girl.

"Better he dragging you out than a gunman with a barrel to you head," Knit winked. Paul just shook his head. "She need a swim suit. And a new set of clothes," Paul said, "What kind of swim suit do you want, Heidi?"

"I like my clothes," Heidi protested defensively, holding onto her poncho. "And I dunno, a swim suit!"

"One piece it is," Paul shook his head, "And I'm getting you a spare set so you can wash those ones. Thought girls liked getting clothes." A sly grin crossed his face.

"You'd be better off getting me chocolates," Heidi responded, scowling as she folded her arms.

"how does icecream sound?" Paul grinned as Knit bounced over to Heidi and started measuring her.

"Close enough," Heidi muttered, shifting uncomfortably when Knit got near her.

Knit quickly too Heidi's measurements in a matter of seconds, simply stretching a string across and around Heidi a few times before nodding and sitting at a desk.

Paul took Heidi's hand again. "Now, we can head to the cafeteria and get some food," he said.

"Fine," Heidi responded reluctantly. She wasn't really ever hungry anymore, she just ate to kill time.

Paul nodded and led Heidi down the the cafeteria, There, Paul got the a place in line, where kids and adults alike were lined up for breakfast.

"But there's something else you should know, Joey." Al replied. "Some of the kids around the factory aren't... right. They look like there in a daze yet keep on working. Some of them start screaming if you touch them."

"If they don't hit you." Josh muttered, rubbing his stomach as if he still had a sore spot.

Kay, either one of them has a controlling Flow, they're put on a special kind of drug, or the Eric guy made a machine to do so. Joey though, thinking about how he'll go about rescuing Erika.

Luke gulped, squeezing Kira's shoulder reassuringly as he limped along with her. He gave Neo a welcoming nod.

Oh great, another person who knew me 'fore I was a burnt and scarred freak.

"Kidnapped? When?" Luke asked. "Hey, by the way. Don't think I'd seen you since... the first week of the tournament?"

"Don't remember," Neo commented before seeing the shoulder grab and grinned.

"What're you grinning for?" Luke asked, suppressing a smile with a very small amount of success.