Asa: Hey. Yeah, I know. It's been a loooong time since I was writing. But that doesn't mean I wasn't here, because I was. Reading, scrolling, clicking, judging. And now, I am back. By the way, that announcement thingy? Yeah… Check the date. April 1st. I pity da fool who believed me. Well… Here ya go.
Chapter 02
I follow Hiro as he leads me through the crowded subway car, looking for a seat. I look at each grim face, grayed by the dull work days common of corporate America. We reach the end, and I see one empty seat, in the very corner of the car.
"Mintli, go ahead and sit." Hiro stands aside to let me pass in the narrow aisle, but I shake my head.
""I would prefer to stand. You can sit." I take a step back.
Hiro shrugs, "Okay, suit yourself." He sits down on the hard plastic seat, which is the color of green pea soup. I warily stand in front of him, and grab onto one of the small rings dangling from the ceiling of the dingy subway car.
The doors close with a hiss of air and a small clatter, and bell-like sound is heard, signaling that the car will depart shortly. I sigh and close my eyes, letting relief wash over me as the reality of life living away from my uncle begins to sink in.
This is a grave mistake.
I feel two scrawny arms snake around my waist, trapping me, and pull me down into a seat. A familiar voice mutters right next to my ear, "Safety first, princess." And a seatbelt snaps around my waist, holding me in place.
I elbow my assailant in his solar plexus, and he grunts in pain. "Hiro!" I shriek-whisper "You perv!"
He chuckles ruefully. "Hey, you can't hate a man for trying." He sighs and rests his chin on my shoulder, slumping over to reach my height. This worsens his already horrible posture.
I shudder, half creeped out by this teenage pedophile, half—dare I say it?—attracted to him.
His warm breath brushes across my face, and I detect a hint of cabbage under the unmistakable smell of a breath mint. Is this guy desperate or what?
I blush slightly, without even meaning to, as I am slowly rocked to sleep by the motion of the subway. I am in a half-asleep state, and my head rests against his chest. "Hiro?" I ask drowsily.
"Hmm..?" he replies, holding onto me tighter.
"Imma go to sleep, kay?" he laughs, and I feel the echo of his joy in his chest.
"Sure thing, princess. Just don't nap too long…" His voice fades as I let sleep overtake me.
I'm blindly walking.
Not running, not afraid anymore. Just walking. It's not peaceful, nor is it menacing. It's just..nothing. I'm not evening walking, just moving forward. No, not even forward. I feel almost like I'm falling, flying, walking, and moving backward at the same time. I'm not even sure if I'm moving. I might normally feel confused, but as of now, I have no opinion.
I do not know where I am moving, nor do I care. The only thing I know, is that this emptiness in endless. Or so I think.
A bell sound rings from somewhere around me, and the emptiness fills with clamor. Muted voices, murmuring half-heard fragments of sentences. A great rattling and clicking noise is, heard, and I am jostled slightly by movement around me. The blackness slowly fades into a dull red.
I groan as I begin to wake up, and turn to face the pillow I have been laying against. I hold onto the fabric tightly, trying to go back to sleep.
Someone, presumably Hiro, lifts me up and cradles me against his chest. I blink open my eyes and peer over his shoulder in time to see the subway car pull away from the concrete stop. I look up at Hiro, who is pushing through the crowd.
"I need to stop doing that." I whisper.
"Doing what, princess?" He responds as he dodges around a man carrying a large box.
"Falling asleep. You would probably rape me or something if you had the chance."
Hiro chuckles. "It's not rape if you yell surprise."
I shudder and struggle away from him, safely landing on my feet. "I think I'll walk now."
He shrugs. "Okay, princess. But hold onto my hand. You might get trampled."
He grabs my hand with his own clammy appendage, and I reluctantly hold onto him. "Why do you call me that, anyway?"
"Call you what? Charming? Beautiful? The love of my life?" He smirks back at me.
I roll my eyes at his terrible flirting attempts. "No, princess."
He blushes "B-baka! Why did you c-call me princess! It's not like I like you or anything…"
"Stop trying to be tsundere! You know what I mean." I roll my eyes at his weirdness.
He shrugs. "I really don't know." His walking speed increases as he practically drags me up the stairs of the subway, and into the heat of Nevada.
Hey! Yeah, I know, short chapter, but oh well. I just wanted to get something up so ya'll know I'm not dead. Yet. Oh well. I might post tomorrow, but I dunno yet. I have a date to the movies! (with my pillow)
Hope ya'll enjoyed, and please leave a review. They make my life complete.
(BTW I'm not southern. Well, kinda, but not anymore. I just like typing with an accent)
