Chapter Three-Echo
There was a ceiling above him. He couldn't remember there being a ceiling in any alley way. 'Wait a minute, this isn't an ally way, this is a bedroom and I'm lying on a bed. Must explain why it's so comfortable…' Coal heaved himself up. The door was open leading out into the hallway. All the fluid rushed to his head, causing a sudden headache.
He knew that it would go away if he ignored it. He'd had hangovers before. Usually after that taking some of that stuff Clark called "medicine".
He swayed a bit as he stood up and walked out the door and down the hallway. As he neared the door at the end of the hallway, his sensitive ears caught chairs scraping and urgent whispering. Then:
"Coal, you up?"
Craggily, Coal swung into the kitchen. "Who's askin?'" He groaned, dumping himself onto a seat at the table.
Kagu shook her head, pausing from washing dishes to get a glass out of the fridge. "I thought you'd be feeling that way. Turning, she clunked the glass down. "Have a pick me up!"
Coal didn't have enough control over his mind to wonder what it was or why it looked so familiar. He picked up the pink liquid, and downed it. He groaned as warmth flooded through his mouth up to his head; his eyes clouded over. Torina's face materialized, worry on her face.
"Sergeant Coal!" Her voice echoed across his memories. "We don't have much time! You're being followed, by both the Federation and the Crow, an upstart band that General Hoggard is helping. You have to act normal and like you know Kagu. She is your ticket to safety. And, Sergeant, no matter what happens or what you think is happening," Torina gripped his arm, "you will be alright!"
"Torina, they're coming 'round" Kagu's voice slid over to them. Torina turned, worry on her face in her violet eyes…
"What happened last night?" Coal asked as the vision faded.
"We got in a fight. " Kagu remarked, totally unconcerned.
"With who?"
"Somebody in an alley." Kagu shrugged, tossing him a packet of pop-tarts.
Coal caught it easily, mid suddenly clear and headache free.
"Eat all you can." Kagu said opening a closet. "We're going to the mall."
Coal groaned.