Sean was the one who brought the map to Rain, and with him came one more warning from Alice: “If you are unable to return before nightfall, find a place without broken windows or doors and lock yourself in. No matter what you hear, do not open them. No matter what you hear. I’ll only wait until seven.”
It was a cryptic message, but Rain understood it at once. Basically, the Wraiths had the power of deception.
Rain smiled. One, because his prior decision to avoid overtly derelict buildings now turned out to be a choice that would save his life. And secondly, because Alice really was a kind person.
He’d stubbornly decided to head to his home despite her continuous warnings, so taking the time to remind him of another important point that would determine his survival on the journey he was about to embark on was not something that was required of her.
Of course, Rain had never believed Alice’s claim of not caring about others, but now he was sure. It was all just an act. And this realization of his made him even more curious as to what her background was than he’d been at first; why she was the way she was, trying to push herself away from others, and, ultimately, if she had any family of hers.
In all honesty, his first request of wanting to know about her had not been as a form of curiosity, it had all just been because he wanted to be able to chat with a human just like him. Now, though, it was different. He wanted to bond with her. And Sean.
Thinking about the boy brought his playful giggles into Rain’s ears.
He looked up from the paper marking the route to his home which he’d drawn out from the actual map Alice had sent his way.
This action of his wasn’t because he didn’t trust his Photographic Memory as he’d claimed to some moments ago, it was just as some sort of precaution emanating from his desire to factor unpredictability into any and everything. This was also because taking the map with himself wasn’t an option.
In all honesty, he could, but it would put a dent on the trust he was trying to build between himself and Alice, despite how she’d claimed not returning the map was no big deal.
There was also the option of seeking out his own map now that J was awake, but he did not have the time for all that. Nightfall was fast approaching.
“Sean,” Rain called as he rolled up the actual map.
The chestnut haired boy had been engaged in a game of ‘catch’ with J, but he immediately abandoned that and ran towards Rain. J followed as well, briskly, as though she was out of breath.
Rain had decided to wake his Jaguar up since he would soon be taking a risky journey to his home. He could not just leave while his Companion was sleeping; that was why even though it had been a hassle, he had done all he could to wake J up, and it was undoubtedly a lot.
What a weird Jaguar she was. But a fascinating one regardless.
“Sean here!” The boy, who Rain had confirmed to be twelve years old, saluted while panting. He seemed to have really enjoyed his plays with J. After all, the baseball he’d found was still tightly clutched in his left hand, showing that he would like to carry on if possible.
This was the reason Sean had requested to be the one to bring the map. Rain figured that out as soon as the boy had asked Alice before they’d left; and if he had been able to see it, then Alice had undoubtedly seen it too. Her letting him come alone was as a sign of her choosing to consider Rain and J as her future allies.
“You’re quite energetic, aren’t you?” Rain applauded and Sean grinned. “Thank you for the pencil and paper once again; the map too.”
Before Alice and Sean had left the snacks and chips aisle, Rain had asked two more questions, one was if they could help with a pencil and paper so he could draw out the section of the map he needed. While the second…
“Here you go.” As Sean was about to receive the map and pencil, Rain pulled his hand back, startling the boy for a brief second. “Now listen here, Lieutenant Sean Gallagher.” Sean had his grin return. “This is a top secret mission with importance. You’re to return from this aisle to the utilities aisle with our little kitty here. And when you get there pass this information to Ma’am Alice…” Rain could feel his Companion’s gaze piercing into him from his side, in a manner that if turned into words they would be: “what is he talking about?” but he acted oblivious. “If I do not return before the expected leaving time, kindly take my Companion into your care and give her a good life filled with meat at the GEF. Do you understand?”
…The second question he had asked Alice was if the GEF also had Beast Companions like his.
Rain noticed that Alice had not really been surprised at his and J’s bonding, which meant that she’d already seen quite a few of something similar. And she confirmed that by answering ‘yes’ to his question, even though it had taken a few seconds of seeming deliberation.
He was also sure she knew why he had asked, so the mission he was now handing over to Sean would not come as a shock when it was delivered.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“What?” Rain asked Sean as he noticed the boy’s hesitance to take back the map and pencil he had brought.
“Do you really have to go?” Sean was staring at the floor, his eyebrows drawn together.
“Yes,” Rain answered bluntly. Sean looked up with a pinched expression.
“B-But with what Alice said it sounds really dangerous. You may die.”
May, huh? Thanks for not making it ‘will’...
Rain sighed. “Come closer, I want to let you in on a secret.” Sean blinked rapidly and leaned in. “The truth is… I’m actually stronger than Alice,” Rain whispered and Sean gasped, a dazed look on his face. Rain nodded with a smile, then widened it into a grin. “Alice was cool, right, when she sliced and diced those Coyotes? Well, I’m cooler. I’ve killed Coyotes too. I’ll be fine.” He was not lying. The smile on Rain’s face vanished then. “So, you have to trust me, huh? If you don't, who will?”
He meant those words. They’d only known each other for a few hours, but the boy was truly the only human he’d bonded with to a considerable degree at present.
Sean wasn’t convinced, that much was well printed on his face, but he took the map and pencil regardless. “Alright.” He nodded, his mien morose.
Now… Rain turned his neck around slowly, almost as though he was a broken toy. Can you stop, please?
J was no longer at a considerable distance away from him, she was now nothing farther than a finger’s length.
Her breath was horrible, but that wasn’t why Rain’s face rumpled in mitigated fright. It was because of the rage burning in her eyes and the visibility of her fangs as the growls she had been pouring out for almost a minute now ransacked the atmosphere.
Honestly, if not for the Plexus not bringing forth an animosity message, Rain would have considered the possibility of her ripping him apart. And rightfully so. This hadn’t been their deal. She’d made her choice back at the hospital, so why was he trying to push her onto another human she didn’t care about?
Rain understood whatever anger she was feeling, so he hoped she would understand him as well. He was not the best person for her to travel with at the end of the day. He was weak, couldn’t provide her food, and, most of all, his goal was not a linear one; in other words, it was a bit too rough around the edges.
With Alice, J would have a strong Companion that could protect her, and a definite destination where there was an abundance of meat and animals similar to her.
What could be better than that?
Rain raised his hands, putting them in between J and himself, as he forced a nervous smile. “Now. Now. It’s not like I’m saying this is what will happen, you know? I’m definitely planning on returning before the departure time. It’s just in case there’s any unprecedented outcome.” His words were true. He was not planning on dying, although he was not sure if he would be able to make it back in time.
Alice had estimated like an hour ago that it was already about four p.m., give or take to be exact. Seven p.m. towards eight p.m. was the time the fog and its Wraiths arrived, which meant he had about like an hour or less to go to his home and return.
Granted, he estimated his journey to his home to be about a twenty minutes walk, but that was if nothing happened. Still, even if nothing occurred on his way there, no guarantee existed that on his way back, or even at his home, nothing would ensue.
Factoring all this, he was most likely not going to be back in the mall until morning; Alice seemed to have guessed that too, hence her message of only waiting till seven in the morning. And there was also no way he was going to bring J on such a dangerous mission after all he’d been told.
He had to take precautions for his absence.
Rain exhaled and sat up straight, peering right into J’s eyes with a gaze of determination filling his own hazel eyes. His Companion shrank back instinctively, her growl simmering down as a result. Rain gently stretched his arms forward, took hold of her cheeks, and placed his forehead on hers.
“I’ll be back for you. For sure. All you have to do is just wait for me. Here or at the GEF.”
There was a soft purr from the large cat and a tender smile from Rain.
###
The drizzling rain of the long subdued storm soaked him completely, but he was not one bit sad. After all, in exchange for wet clothes he’d avoided every single beast of both the land and sky during his jog all the way here.
It was not like the storm was still as bad as it had been at the start, its lightning and the thunder rumbles that came after it vanished to God knows where, but still, the beasts were yet to leave their shelters. Maybe they loved the warmth, or maybe they hated the rain, whatever the case, Rain was relieved.
As for his journey home, it just came to an end. He had not even needed to use his drawn map.
Before him was a sign that read: ‘21 Ravelston Dykes.’ And beyond the sign was a desolate estate overrun by decay, uncontrolled thick and tangled shrubs and trees, and a white colored house on the verge of total collapse.
It looked like it had once been an expensive and exotic place to behold—solidifying Rain’s previous notion that he might have hailed from a rich family—but now it was all just so gloomy, dark and empty.
Rain was smiling at first, but not anymore. It felt as though he was looking at himself.
Well, if that’s the case then that means there must be something inside that will spark my memories back to life… He found a lifeline of hope within the sudden emptiness that shrouded his heart. All in all, this is good. I did not spend up to twenty minutes on the road; if things keep going the way they are now, then I’ll most likely be able to make it back before nightfall. Yes. This is good.
At that, he ventured forward onto the weed infested driveway of broken bricks. It was a winding ramp that led upwards, and walking on it through the constant backward pull or push of the wind, as well as the strain on the muscles of his legs, made it a rather excruciating journey than the one he took to come here.
But that was not enough to stop him from moving forward. And the more he did, the more a wider view of his home came into his sight. Until… he caught a glimpse of a silhouette in the distance that froze him still.
As if waiting for that moment, a nostalgic feeling of tension and suspense swarmed Rain’s body as the Plexus arrived without his calling, bearing a message he was not one bit fascinated to see.
[Side Plot]
A Chimera Anaconda has appeared, and it holds animosity towards you. Survive.
Chimera? What in the world is it now?!