Chapter 3! Yayz! Not much else to say... Thanks Allie!
Disclaimer: I just realized that I actually own most of this stuff... The only things I don't own are Boots, New York, and the apartment building (including the grate).
I followed the scuttling cockroach down the stairs in front of the apartment. Most people would have just stepped on the insect the second they walked out the door. I just couldn't. Something deep inside me just said no to bug stepping, as it always had. At one point I managed to nearly put my foot over the creepy-crawly, but I stopped. I, possibly the only girl in the world who can't get herself to step on a bug to save her own life, happen to be the one to get kidnapped my roaches. Perfect.
Whatever the cockroach was going to do to me, I had a feeling it would end with a very bruised and battered Boots. Maybe it would bring me to a big cliff in the middle on nowhere and expect me to scale down it. Or maybe it would sacrifice me to the cockroach gods or something of that nature. Oh, why did I do this?
"Wait!" a hoarse familiar voiced called out behind me.
"Zoey…" my voice trailed off when I saw her face. Her skin was tinted red and drenched with sweat, and her expression made it extremely obvious that she really did not want to be there. I wanted to hug her.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm coming with you," she answered. I just gaped at her. That was it. She had officially gone insane from lack of sleep. "Boots, you're my best friend! I'm not going to let you face this alone."
"Fine," I sighed. "Just don't step on the roaches."
Finished, are you, finished? the roach asked.
"Yes, I finished." I could have sworn someone stared at me when I talked to a bug on the sidewalk. I would have too. We started walking, but only made it a few feet before someone else called me.
Wait, princess, wait! a chorus of frantic clicks "shouted" out from the ally next to the building. I peeked in, and there was my suitcase, floating towards me. As it got closer, I realized that it wasn't floating, but sitting on a cloud of scampering bugs. I lifted the bag off of the roaches' backs and smiled.
Needs this, princess, needs this? one from the roach cloud asked.
"Yes, I do need this," I mumbled so only the roaches could hear. "Thanks guys."
The sheet of roaches erupted in cheers if happiness, as if they were overjoyed just to make me happy. No wonder they call me princess.
I fumbled with the suitcase, trying to get it into rolling mode. After a few tries (and a little help from a friend), I managed to get it rolling.
"Boots, what is up with these cockroaches?" she asked me with a hint of concern in her voice.
"Oh, uh, yeah, about that…" I fumbled with my words like I fumbled with my suitcase. "It all started when I showed up at the orphanage…"
You think you've been in a strange situation. But until you try walking through the streets of NYC, following a cockroach to what might be your demise, trying to explain why roaches keep calling you princess to your best friend while hundreds of pedestrians stare at you like you have two heads, you don't even know the meaning of strange.
Zoey could hardly keep up with what I was saying. She kept drifting off, nearly falling asleep on her feet. Every step seemed to take all of her effort. It was a miracle that she could even keep her eyes open.
"Um, Mr. Roach, what's your name?" I asked our guide.
No name, I have, no name, it replied.
"Alright then, where are you taking us?" I questioned. I think a few heads turned in our direction, and Zoey nearly collapsed again and leaned on me for support.
To Regalia, I take you, to Regalia.
I was beginning to wonder where in the world Regalia was when the nameless roach came to an abrupt halt in front of an old apartment building that may have been just as old as the orphanage. The roach turned and went to the entrance.
Come, it clicked, and slid under the door. I looked at Zoey, whose eyes were still blank with exhaustion, and shrugged. At least I could pretend she could pay attention. I pushed open the door and walked in.
Luckily the guy at the front was sound asleep, so we were able to creep in unnoticed. No Name Roach was waiting for us at the stairs.
It was slow going up the stairway. Climbing stairs isn't exactly the easiest thing for a bug. After about five minutes, I had had enough. "Get on my hand," I ordered the roach, putting my hand right next to the insect.
Oh, thank you, Princess, thank you! it exclaimed, scuttling onto my hand. I continued to tiptoe up the stairs, Zoey silently slumping behind me. I put down the bug at the top, who raced under the door to the left labeled "Laundry." I put my ear to the door. All I could hear is the tapping of bug feet. We came in.
After a few minutes of wandering around the dusty room, we finally found it. The roach was rubbing it's feelers against a grate on the wall. Pull it, princess's friend, pull it.
"Why does he want me to push it?" Zoey replied groggily.
"I'll do it," I offered. I yanked the grate out from the wall, sending a shower of paint dust onto the floor. Lifting all those couches to get the dust bunnies at the orphanage really paid off.
Zoey absentmindedly stuck her head into the vent. "Whoa, this is cool! I can't even see the bottom…" her voice trailed off as sleep toke her. Her body sagged, and she slid down the hole.
"No!" I screamed, not caring if anyone heard me. I didn't think I would ever be able to do anything stupider than going with that cockroach. But I did.
I jumped after her.