I quietly stride down the alleyways.
My objective.
Find Jack.
Everyone tells me he's dead, but I know he isn't. I can feel him. He's alive somewhere. Somewhere nearby.
I've asked many people in this small town if they've seen him, yeah it's hard to catch a glimpse of the clever man, but it's worth a shot. There's gotta be at least one person that's seen him.
"Have you seen a tall man, blonde hair, blue eyes? Goes by the name, Jack...?" Aw, hell. How would anybody know an American man that actually spoke to them!? Maybe if they were lucky...? Especially here! Half of them don't even know good English!
The man opens his mouth to speak.
"Wait, does he have white hair? Not blonde, right, miss? He's an older guy?" A young Latina girl with light brown eyes cuts him off. She has few strands of her hair sticking out at the front of her face, while the rest of her dark brown hair is in two braids.
"Well, I haven't seen him in years, so he might have white hair, now." I pause,"Wait, have you seen him?" I light up a little.
"I think so...! Come on, so we can talk!" she smiles and grabs my wrist, dragging me into her very nicely decorated room.
"I like your room," I smile back at her,"what's your name?" I furrow my eyebrows together in curiosity.
"Alihandra." She holds her hand out.
I shake her hand quickly, shit, I can't stall! I've got to find Jack!
"Anyway, you say you've seen my friend?" I start to question.
"What did you say his name was? He... Never told me when I saw him." She asked first in response.
"It's Jack. I'm guessing he didn't speak to you." I answer her question, deciding that she probably needs answers, too.
"Well, he sorta did. He told me he wasn't a hero. But I think he is. He saved my life." She smiles warmly, seeming to be remembering him. She sits down on her bed, crossing her legs.
"Well, you're right. He is a hero, well, he was. But if he saved you, maybe he still is." I sit down on her bed beside her.
"Why are you looking for him? Is he hurt? Did something happen?" She has a slight look of worry on her face.
"Well, not that I know of. All I know is that he's alive." I sigh, trying to reassure her.
"How do you know? Wait, are you one of those heroes?" She grins with amazement.
"Well," I shyly smile,"Yes, I am." I grin back at her.
"Wow, my mama always told me about people like you. I didn't believe her until I met that man." She nods.
I look at her room's entrance, which leads back to the shop that seems to be hers.
"So, do you work here?" I ask.
"Yes. It is my mama's shop. I've always lived here with her." She smiles brightly.
"Well, do you think you can help me find Jack?" I ask in response.
"Well, I don't know if my mama will let me. She always treats me like a baby!" She crosses her arms in slight frustration.
"It's worth asking her to help me, isn't it?" I smile at her with a sigh.
"Are you saying you want me to come with you!?" She exclaims.
"Yes, but you must ask your mother." I laugh softly at her excitement.
"She'll be back any moment! I can't wait!" I laughs and hugs me softly.
I smile, knowing she is going to want to ask a few billion curious questions.
~We talk until her mom gets home~
"Oh, she's here!" she runs back into the shop to see her mom,"Mama! You won't believe this!"
I follow after her,"Hello." I smile warmly and hold out my hand.
"Oh, hello," Alihandra's mom shakes my hand and smiles back,"Who is this?" she asks in curiosity.
"This is my friend!" She responds, I didn't tell her my name.
"Raven." I smile and laugh softly.
"Ah, I see." She nods at me.
"Mama. I want to ask you something." Alihandra looks at her mother.
"What is it?"
"She.. She needs help. Please, Mama, she says that the man who had saved me before is her old friend. She has been trying to find him and she needs my help, too. Let me go with her? I want to help." Alihandra looks into her mom's eyes.
"You're a part of Overwatch, aren't you?" Alihandra's mother looks back at me with slight worry.
"Yes, ma'am. I am." I respond calmly.
"Can you really protect my daughter?" She asks, worried.
"I'll protect her with everything I have." I look back at her sternly.
"Alihandra," She starts,"You can go," Alihandra's face lights up,"But you will not leave this woman's side unless absolutely necessary. Do you understand?".
"Yes, mama!" Alihandra says with sincerity.
Alihandra's mother smiles,"Now go pack up anything you'll need for this journey of yours.".
Alihandra goes to her room happily, and her mother proceeds to look up at me,"Take care of her as well, don't just protect her. Do anything for her." She seemed to tear up a little.
"I will." I stared back at her.
~Alihandra finishes packing and we set off~
Now, another adventure has started for me. Same objective, different experience. Alihandra's mother did give her money, but not much.
"Here, you'll need this." I hold out $210 in the palm of my hand.
"My mama already gave me money, I don't need it." Alihandra smiles.
"Trust me, you will." I take her cute little wallet and place the money securely inside, then put it back into her bag. Yes, she will need the money. She'll need lots of things her mother could not give her. She needs a weapon, she needs armor, and she needs as much protection as possible. I might as well take her to the others, I know they won't like this. Bringing a child on a mission that everyone says is pointless. But they will help me. At least Alihandra will get to meet those heroes her mother had told her ever since she was little girl.
"So where are we going?" Alihandra pulls me away from my wandering thoughts.
"To the base," I smile, "All of the heroes are there. I bet they'll like you, Ali." She grins at the sound of the nickname I gave her.
"Is Jack there?" She furrows her eyebrows.
"No," I sigh, "He left his friends behind to mourn. They all think he's dead. But I know he isn't, and so do you." I smile at her, causing her smile come back with sincere look in her eyes.
"I do know that." She sweetly states.