"This is silly," Annie whispered.
Still, she followed Jamie down the tunnel. Dylan was just a few steps ahead. In fact, it was a miracle he hadn't noticed them a long time ago. Their pursuit was not exactly subtle.
Jamie glanced over her shoulder. Her sand-colored hair was up in a ponytail that swung behind her neck.
"You had to know where he was going," she replied. "He wouldn't tell you, so there is no other way. Come on."
Stealthily they moved forward until a street lantern lit their faces. Annie could smell the outside world: hotdogs and exhaust gasses. It made her stomach crawl. Jamie, who had often engaged in little escapades, stuck her head out the tunnel.
Annie's voice sounded thin and shaky:
"Do you see anything?"
Jamie did not answer.
"Jamie?"
Not even a whisper.
Cautiously she pulled herself up and glanced outside. She could feel Jamie's shoulder pressing against hers.
They were in a damp and narrow street. There was Dylan, standing on the other side. He was shoveling his feet and pushed his hands in his pockets. Someone approached him. A woman. She was slim and scarlessly dressed. Annie did not have much life experience, but she did realize that this was a prostitute. Baffled, she watched the woman throw her arms around Dylan's neck. Her wavy, golden hair touched his cheek. He answered her embrace.