C'mon closer to me now
Like we're sharing the same skin
We gotta get out of this jail
We gotta let the future in
"WHERE'S MY SOAP?!" Zandra bawled. "The little rat! He's stolen my soap!"
Amber screwed her face into contempt and disbelief. "Why would the man want your soap?"
Zandra walked further into the café. "It's a Chanel limited edition! It's expensive!"
Amber stood up, opening her arms to try to get the girl to understand. "It's just plain old bath soap, Zandra."
Zandra's anger flashed in her pretty eyes. "It's *not* plain old bath soap. It's special soap! I had it made up especially for me, after a consultation . it was specially made for *my skin*, a delicate mix of chamomile and aloe vera!"
Amber breathed out angrily. Waving her arms around her head, she walked away from Zandra, exasperated. "A delicate mix of chamomile and aloe vera!" she mimicked. "Get some priorities Zandra. Lex asked us to look for stuff that was stolen, important stuff, food and batteries, not soap and make-up. There're plenty of cosmetics in the chemist if you're so desperate."
Zandra fumed behind Amber, her hands tightening into fists. Tears welled in her eyes as she clenched her teeth, but she breathed deeply and loosened up, sitting quietly next to Jack and Dal who had been watching the argument. Dal passed her a bread roll, shrugging consolingly and a tender smile of thanks spread over Zandra's face.
Amber walked into the kitchen and rested a hand on the counter next to Salene. Leaning there she started to talk. "How's it going?"
Salene smiled warily, stirring the giant pot. "Great . it's nearly ready. Have you seen the kids?"
Amber licked her lips, stalling for time to speak. She looked up and then down again, sighing deeply she rubbed her temples with her fingertips. "Thanks Salene. You've been great today . and yesterday. You're a real help."
Salene looked slightly confused. She shrugged. "I'm just . doing what comes naturally." She smiled weakly.
Amber nodded. "But I just wanted you to know that it's appreciated." She sighed again. "Sometimes I wonder why we bother. We haven't got any group spirit, and certainly no work ethic. Everyone's out for themselves."
Salene frowned worriedly and continued stirring the mixture. "It'll all work out Amber." She struggled for consoling words.
Amber shook her head and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Salene. I'm just offloading my problems to you. It's not fair. If anyone's making the effort, it's you."
*****
Trudy rejoined Bray smiling. She felt fresh and new after using the soap Bray had found. She had changed into a baggy khaki shirt with big cream cuffs and a big cream hem. She wore a long, loose, khaki dress which glided on the floor as she walked. Her purple hair now shone under the light, she had parted her hair and braided thin khaki ribbons around sections of her hair. Her make up was refreshed and her skin was clean and white.
"Ready?" Bray asked.
Trudy nodded tiredly. Bray hooked a supportive arm under Trudy's mid-back, using his other hand to grip her hand firmly. Trudy rested her free hand on the top of her bump protectively. She tried not to show the feelings of doubt and fear she was experiencing. "Where is this place then? This safe- haven of yours?"
Bray smiled encouragingly. "Umm, it's a mall, The Phoenix or something, I think."
"O, I know the one you're on about." Trudy interjected. "I used to go there with my mu-" She looked at the floor and sighed. Picking at a nail, she blinked back a tear and looked at Bray brightly. "Yeh, I know it."
"Well, I think we'd better make a move now before the window of opportunity is closed in our faces. They're good people there, but they won't take just anyone in."
*****
The rabble was congregated for the daily feed. Salene had served equal portions for everyone, but as usual, Lex had demanded more. Salene held the ladle worriedly in front of her, above the cooking pots. She bit her lip and looked at the dark, angry man in front of her. Raising a hand to brush her hair behind her ear she moved slightly in a worried motion with her feet. She looked over Lex's shoulder to Amber for support. They had all lined up for their food and Amber was waiting impatiently behind Lex with her plate readied.
"I - I'm not sure ." Salene mumbled. "If you have that much, there won't be any beans left for me or Ryan ."
Lex leaned on the table, blocking Salene's view of Amber and leaning his face close to hers menacingly. "Ryan doesn't want any." He turned to Ryan momentarily. "Do you Ryan?" Lex turned back to Salene without waiting to see Ryan's faltering shrug. "And you women don't need as much."
From behind, Amber's hand gripped Lex's shoulder and spun him back, her face was thunder. "WHAT?" She demanded angrily. "I'm sorry Lex, but we don't accept sexist pigs around here."
Lex opened his arms in protest. "I'm not being sexist." He turned back to Salene. "I'm being practical."
From further behind Amber, Ryan piped up. "Come on, Salene. Hurry up, we're starving and it - it's getting cold."
A flustered Salene decided to grant Lex what he had asked for and go without herself. Lex left to sit down contentedly. Amber's face was angry as she approached Salene. Holding her plate out to be served she whispered to Salene.
"Why did you let him have that?"
Salene tried to avoid eye contact. She frowned worriedly. "I don't know, I don't know! I just . I got mixed up . it's so hard to say no when he's looking at you like that. He doesn't take no for an answer."
Amber took her food with both hands and before she left said, "Well, if you want to be walked over ."
After Ryan and Salene had both got their food, the whole group was assembled around the table, except for Cloe.
"Where's that . Cloe girl?" Zandra asked conversationally.
"She's sleeping." Salene answered, reaching for the salt, "She's so exhausted."
Amber frowned. "Well what about her food?"
Salene ducked her eyes. "I - I'm taking some up for her once we've finished."
Zandra smiled. "That's nice of you. You're a real mother aren't you?"
Salene smiled shyly at the compliment then turned her eyes back to her food.
Whilst they were talking, Amber made a speech about the chores that needed to be done around the mall. She said that everyone should chip in to decorate bedrooms, find food, medical supplies and to clean up the mess that had been left behind by weeks of looting. Jack suggested that he and Dal work out how their resources would last and what they needed to stock up on. The whole group reluctantly decided that this was the best plan of action for the next few days.
*****
Amber crossed the grand 'entrance hall'. Her booted feet clipped as she moved. She raised a hand to her forehead, stroking her eyebrow with her index finger. She struggled to keep a sigh within her tired frame. 'Great time to leave, Bray,' she thought, 'great way to plunge moral into unimaginable depths. Lex was right'.
Amber's thoughts were stopped abruptly as her body was shaken to a halt. Amber looked down. "Dal?"
Dal's brown eyes showed a flash of surprise and then a sweeping wave of anger. His face was accusing and angry. "Amber." He said, staring her in the face, challenging her with his questioning silence. Every moment of his gaze made the Spanish Inquisition seem like a light conversation for Amber, Dal got all the information he needed from her eyes. When she could take no more, she looked away guiltily, trying to break the gaze of her old friend.
When Amber looked back into his face, he still had the same angry look, he hadn't backed off. Dal was the first to speak. "Lex was right."
Amber's face contorted with slight shock as she wandered how he could read her so easily. Her attention was sharpened. He spoke again. His voice was quiet, his tone angry. "Lex was right. *I* was right." His words were punctuated by his dark angry eyes. "Bray was a traitor."
Amber rolled her eyes and turned her face away from him. Dal wasn't going to let this rest. "Great decision, *leader*." He spat, "Well advised by your cronies."
Amber turned a sullen face to Dal. "That wasn't my fault." She was interrupted by a loud tut from Dal. "Ok, maybe it was, but it's not easy. It wasn't an easy decision to make. What was I supposed to do? Throw him out? What kind of leader would I have been then, Dal? What kind of example would I set?
"Who said you were their leader, Amber? Who said you had to take them under your wing? We had a plan, go to the country and . O, you know it all by now." He flapped a hand dismissively and turned to leave, shaking his head.
Amber put a hand on his arm to stop him. "Dal. You're my best friend, I-"
He swung around to face her. His voice became loud and tense, his eyes wider. "Then why didn't you listen to me?! Why are we still here being ripped off?"
Amber shrugged. "I, I . We can't leave Dal."
"Why?" Venom tinged the simple word.
Amber blinked slowly. "They need us, Dal. You can see that."
"Can I? All I can see is a bunch of kids and losers."
"Exactly, Dal. They'd be nothing without a leading force, something to make them stick together, force them to get through this, force them to become something good. We can't keep walking away from problems, Dal. These people are just as lost as us, except we have the power to do something about it. I think we could make them into something."
A slow smile spread over Dal's face. "Our own tribe?"
"Something like that, yeh."
*****
Salene carried the tray down the corridor to the room where they had been sleeping. It didn't look like much, but it was all she'd been able to save from the others. She could hardly blame them. They were starved. She supposed little Cloe wouldn't want too much anyway. Passing the stairs she noticed Lex had lingered a little longer, not going straight to chores like Amber had suggested.
"Got Cloe some breakfast in bed, eh?" Lex asked in his smarmy, sickly sweet croon. "Very nice. Very generous."
Salene tried to smile. Knowing she would have to pass him, she tightened her body and hoped he wouldn't try anything on. She knew people like him. They would always pick on her, on people who were too weak or too shy to stand up and fight back. Lex leaned nonchalantly on the banister, his feet protruding far out into Salene's path. She would have to walk around him. His hands hung loosely from elbow-level and as she walked past he visibly followed her with his whole face.
Salene nodded to him as she passed. The best advice her father had given her about people like Lex was to be polite, be normal, and show them you aren't scared, even if you are. "She's probably starving, poor thing."
Lex got up quickly, making Salene start a little. She tried to hide it but he smirked slightly when he saw her reaction. "Don't worry Sal," he crooned.
'Sal?' Salene thought, 'Since when was I Sal?'
"I'll help you with that, you seem a little jumpy." He moved behind her, walking in the same stride as her. Sliding the tray from her hands before she could protest, he leaned over to whisper into her ear, making her feel even more uncomfortable. "It must be all those Locos and Demon Dogs out there."
Salene didn't alter her stride but her face was struck with nerves. She didn't look at him, only shrugged casually, wishing he would leave her alone, stop tormenting her.
Lex's grin broadened, but the sinister air still prevailed. "Pretty girl like you could get hurt. You need someone to protect you."
Salene cringed even more, every inch of her tensed and ready to react if he tried anything on.
But they reached the door to the bedroom and Lex handed the tray back to Salene. His smile had dropped and he seemed to notice something downstairs.
Salene was confused. He was so interested it was scary one moment, now he seemed bored. "Th-thanks, Lex." She tried to smile at him.
"Yeh, any time Sal." He said, not looking at her, waving non-commitally and wandering off to check out something more interesting.
As Salene watched him go she scolded herself over her feelings now. Why was she disappointed when Lex stopped paying her attention? That name, Sal, a moment ago had seemed special and refreshing . now it was seen at face value. It was a lazy way of saying Salene. Boring old, dependable Salene. Salene shook her head and laughed at herself slightly for thinking that Lex had been trying it on with her, turning swiftly into the bedroom she scanned the room for Cloe's sleepy form.
Like we're sharing the same skin
We gotta get out of this jail
We gotta let the future in
"WHERE'S MY SOAP?!" Zandra bawled. "The little rat! He's stolen my soap!"
Amber screwed her face into contempt and disbelief. "Why would the man want your soap?"
Zandra walked further into the café. "It's a Chanel limited edition! It's expensive!"
Amber stood up, opening her arms to try to get the girl to understand. "It's just plain old bath soap, Zandra."
Zandra's anger flashed in her pretty eyes. "It's *not* plain old bath soap. It's special soap! I had it made up especially for me, after a consultation . it was specially made for *my skin*, a delicate mix of chamomile and aloe vera!"
Amber breathed out angrily. Waving her arms around her head, she walked away from Zandra, exasperated. "A delicate mix of chamomile and aloe vera!" she mimicked. "Get some priorities Zandra. Lex asked us to look for stuff that was stolen, important stuff, food and batteries, not soap and make-up. There're plenty of cosmetics in the chemist if you're so desperate."
Zandra fumed behind Amber, her hands tightening into fists. Tears welled in her eyes as she clenched her teeth, but she breathed deeply and loosened up, sitting quietly next to Jack and Dal who had been watching the argument. Dal passed her a bread roll, shrugging consolingly and a tender smile of thanks spread over Zandra's face.
Amber walked into the kitchen and rested a hand on the counter next to Salene. Leaning there she started to talk. "How's it going?"
Salene smiled warily, stirring the giant pot. "Great . it's nearly ready. Have you seen the kids?"
Amber licked her lips, stalling for time to speak. She looked up and then down again, sighing deeply she rubbed her temples with her fingertips. "Thanks Salene. You've been great today . and yesterday. You're a real help."
Salene looked slightly confused. She shrugged. "I'm just . doing what comes naturally." She smiled weakly.
Amber nodded. "But I just wanted you to know that it's appreciated." She sighed again. "Sometimes I wonder why we bother. We haven't got any group spirit, and certainly no work ethic. Everyone's out for themselves."
Salene frowned worriedly and continued stirring the mixture. "It'll all work out Amber." She struggled for consoling words.
Amber shook her head and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Salene. I'm just offloading my problems to you. It's not fair. If anyone's making the effort, it's you."
*****
Trudy rejoined Bray smiling. She felt fresh and new after using the soap Bray had found. She had changed into a baggy khaki shirt with big cream cuffs and a big cream hem. She wore a long, loose, khaki dress which glided on the floor as she walked. Her purple hair now shone under the light, she had parted her hair and braided thin khaki ribbons around sections of her hair. Her make up was refreshed and her skin was clean and white.
"Ready?" Bray asked.
Trudy nodded tiredly. Bray hooked a supportive arm under Trudy's mid-back, using his other hand to grip her hand firmly. Trudy rested her free hand on the top of her bump protectively. She tried not to show the feelings of doubt and fear she was experiencing. "Where is this place then? This safe- haven of yours?"
Bray smiled encouragingly. "Umm, it's a mall, The Phoenix or something, I think."
"O, I know the one you're on about." Trudy interjected. "I used to go there with my mu-" She looked at the floor and sighed. Picking at a nail, she blinked back a tear and looked at Bray brightly. "Yeh, I know it."
"Well, I think we'd better make a move now before the window of opportunity is closed in our faces. They're good people there, but they won't take just anyone in."
*****
The rabble was congregated for the daily feed. Salene had served equal portions for everyone, but as usual, Lex had demanded more. Salene held the ladle worriedly in front of her, above the cooking pots. She bit her lip and looked at the dark, angry man in front of her. Raising a hand to brush her hair behind her ear she moved slightly in a worried motion with her feet. She looked over Lex's shoulder to Amber for support. They had all lined up for their food and Amber was waiting impatiently behind Lex with her plate readied.
"I - I'm not sure ." Salene mumbled. "If you have that much, there won't be any beans left for me or Ryan ."
Lex leaned on the table, blocking Salene's view of Amber and leaning his face close to hers menacingly. "Ryan doesn't want any." He turned to Ryan momentarily. "Do you Ryan?" Lex turned back to Salene without waiting to see Ryan's faltering shrug. "And you women don't need as much."
From behind, Amber's hand gripped Lex's shoulder and spun him back, her face was thunder. "WHAT?" She demanded angrily. "I'm sorry Lex, but we don't accept sexist pigs around here."
Lex opened his arms in protest. "I'm not being sexist." He turned back to Salene. "I'm being practical."
From further behind Amber, Ryan piped up. "Come on, Salene. Hurry up, we're starving and it - it's getting cold."
A flustered Salene decided to grant Lex what he had asked for and go without herself. Lex left to sit down contentedly. Amber's face was angry as she approached Salene. Holding her plate out to be served she whispered to Salene.
"Why did you let him have that?"
Salene tried to avoid eye contact. She frowned worriedly. "I don't know, I don't know! I just . I got mixed up . it's so hard to say no when he's looking at you like that. He doesn't take no for an answer."
Amber took her food with both hands and before she left said, "Well, if you want to be walked over ."
After Ryan and Salene had both got their food, the whole group was assembled around the table, except for Cloe.
"Where's that . Cloe girl?" Zandra asked conversationally.
"She's sleeping." Salene answered, reaching for the salt, "She's so exhausted."
Amber frowned. "Well what about her food?"
Salene ducked her eyes. "I - I'm taking some up for her once we've finished."
Zandra smiled. "That's nice of you. You're a real mother aren't you?"
Salene smiled shyly at the compliment then turned her eyes back to her food.
Whilst they were talking, Amber made a speech about the chores that needed to be done around the mall. She said that everyone should chip in to decorate bedrooms, find food, medical supplies and to clean up the mess that had been left behind by weeks of looting. Jack suggested that he and Dal work out how their resources would last and what they needed to stock up on. The whole group reluctantly decided that this was the best plan of action for the next few days.
*****
Amber crossed the grand 'entrance hall'. Her booted feet clipped as she moved. She raised a hand to her forehead, stroking her eyebrow with her index finger. She struggled to keep a sigh within her tired frame. 'Great time to leave, Bray,' she thought, 'great way to plunge moral into unimaginable depths. Lex was right'.
Amber's thoughts were stopped abruptly as her body was shaken to a halt. Amber looked down. "Dal?"
Dal's brown eyes showed a flash of surprise and then a sweeping wave of anger. His face was accusing and angry. "Amber." He said, staring her in the face, challenging her with his questioning silence. Every moment of his gaze made the Spanish Inquisition seem like a light conversation for Amber, Dal got all the information he needed from her eyes. When she could take no more, she looked away guiltily, trying to break the gaze of her old friend.
When Amber looked back into his face, he still had the same angry look, he hadn't backed off. Dal was the first to speak. "Lex was right."
Amber's face contorted with slight shock as she wandered how he could read her so easily. Her attention was sharpened. He spoke again. His voice was quiet, his tone angry. "Lex was right. *I* was right." His words were punctuated by his dark angry eyes. "Bray was a traitor."
Amber rolled her eyes and turned her face away from him. Dal wasn't going to let this rest. "Great decision, *leader*." He spat, "Well advised by your cronies."
Amber turned a sullen face to Dal. "That wasn't my fault." She was interrupted by a loud tut from Dal. "Ok, maybe it was, but it's not easy. It wasn't an easy decision to make. What was I supposed to do? Throw him out? What kind of leader would I have been then, Dal? What kind of example would I set?
"Who said you were their leader, Amber? Who said you had to take them under your wing? We had a plan, go to the country and . O, you know it all by now." He flapped a hand dismissively and turned to leave, shaking his head.
Amber put a hand on his arm to stop him. "Dal. You're my best friend, I-"
He swung around to face her. His voice became loud and tense, his eyes wider. "Then why didn't you listen to me?! Why are we still here being ripped off?"
Amber shrugged. "I, I . We can't leave Dal."
"Why?" Venom tinged the simple word.
Amber blinked slowly. "They need us, Dal. You can see that."
"Can I? All I can see is a bunch of kids and losers."
"Exactly, Dal. They'd be nothing without a leading force, something to make them stick together, force them to get through this, force them to become something good. We can't keep walking away from problems, Dal. These people are just as lost as us, except we have the power to do something about it. I think we could make them into something."
A slow smile spread over Dal's face. "Our own tribe?"
"Something like that, yeh."
*****
Salene carried the tray down the corridor to the room where they had been sleeping. It didn't look like much, but it was all she'd been able to save from the others. She could hardly blame them. They were starved. She supposed little Cloe wouldn't want too much anyway. Passing the stairs she noticed Lex had lingered a little longer, not going straight to chores like Amber had suggested.
"Got Cloe some breakfast in bed, eh?" Lex asked in his smarmy, sickly sweet croon. "Very nice. Very generous."
Salene tried to smile. Knowing she would have to pass him, she tightened her body and hoped he wouldn't try anything on. She knew people like him. They would always pick on her, on people who were too weak or too shy to stand up and fight back. Lex leaned nonchalantly on the banister, his feet protruding far out into Salene's path. She would have to walk around him. His hands hung loosely from elbow-level and as she walked past he visibly followed her with his whole face.
Salene nodded to him as she passed. The best advice her father had given her about people like Lex was to be polite, be normal, and show them you aren't scared, even if you are. "She's probably starving, poor thing."
Lex got up quickly, making Salene start a little. She tried to hide it but he smirked slightly when he saw her reaction. "Don't worry Sal," he crooned.
'Sal?' Salene thought, 'Since when was I Sal?'
"I'll help you with that, you seem a little jumpy." He moved behind her, walking in the same stride as her. Sliding the tray from her hands before she could protest, he leaned over to whisper into her ear, making her feel even more uncomfortable. "It must be all those Locos and Demon Dogs out there."
Salene didn't alter her stride but her face was struck with nerves. She didn't look at him, only shrugged casually, wishing he would leave her alone, stop tormenting her.
Lex's grin broadened, but the sinister air still prevailed. "Pretty girl like you could get hurt. You need someone to protect you."
Salene cringed even more, every inch of her tensed and ready to react if he tried anything on.
But they reached the door to the bedroom and Lex handed the tray back to Salene. His smile had dropped and he seemed to notice something downstairs.
Salene was confused. He was so interested it was scary one moment, now he seemed bored. "Th-thanks, Lex." She tried to smile at him.
"Yeh, any time Sal." He said, not looking at her, waving non-commitally and wandering off to check out something more interesting.
As Salene watched him go she scolded herself over her feelings now. Why was she disappointed when Lex stopped paying her attention? That name, Sal, a moment ago had seemed special and refreshing . now it was seen at face value. It was a lazy way of saying Salene. Boring old, dependable Salene. Salene shook her head and laughed at herself slightly for thinking that Lex had been trying it on with her, turning swiftly into the bedroom she scanned the room for Cloe's sleepy form.
