Chapter 16:
Hey gys, sorry I haven't updated in over 2 months. I lost inspiration for this for a little while though my editor, Sowelo, has helped me get back in the swing of things. So be sure to thank her! Again sorry I will be updating more often more though.
"I'm not sure about this," it was now the morning after the radio announcement. Ingrid thought it would be best we stayed out of the public for a while. She even gave me some of her clothes to replace my useless ones. Though I had to fold the pants up at least 7 times and the shirt was several sizes too big. The only thing that I wore that was mine was my undergarments, and the leather jacket I had gotten from Tyson months before.
"You want to stay hidden right?" Ingrid sighed tiredly; I could tell I was starting to get on her nerves. "Then this is something you got to do," she put her hands on her hips and looked at me like a mother would when scolding her child.
"Yeah but I like my hair," we were in front of a small hole-in-the-wall barbershop in a rundown strip mall in Jonestown.
"Their looking for a short girl with your hairstyle, they won't be looking for a small boy with short hair." Ingrid sighed again, pushing me into the barbershop.
"I'm not short," I snapped halfheartedly as she pushed me inside.
"How can I help you today?" An old man, roughly 60, with graying hair and a beard to match, spoke up from behind a cash register.
"Hello, my friend here needs a "new look"," Ingrid made air quotes with her fingers at the last part. The old man's eyes widened though he nodded in understanding. "Think you can manage?"
He looked over at me with a calculating gaze before nodding at Ingrid. "Give me half an hour," he replied.
"Great that gives me some time to get some other stuff," Ingrid smirked triumphantly as she grabbed my shoulders again and pushed me into the barber seat. She turned to leave as the barber got his scissors and razors ready.
"Wait!" I shouted at her desperately, she turned with a slightly annoyed huff. "You're not going to leave me here alone are you?"
"Relax," she rolled her eyes. "I'm just going next door and getting you some clothes. I can't have you wearing my stuff, because well, it's my stuff," she chuckled at her joke and left without another word.
"Any preferences on how you would like it?" The old man asked as he turned on the razor.
"Anything as long as I'm not bald!" I hurriedly replied. He laughed at my worries and began cutting. I watched in stunned silence as my hair fell to ground, though I felt a little lighter. By changing my looks I thought I would be able to run away from everything that had been happening as of late. That by being a new person, it somehow made up for all of the heartache and turmoil I had caused.
Ingrid walked into the clothing store and found the boys section. She roughly picked out several shirts, four pairs of jeans, a pair of plain tennis shoes and binding tape. She grabbed the smallest sizes she could find, hoping that they wouldn't be too big on Alexa. She also grabbed her some boxers, hey if they were dressing her like a boy she needs to commit to the role.
She strides to the cashier, a young teenaged boy around sixteen or seventeen, with brown hair and matching eyes. He was smiling at her, asking about where she was from and such. Ingrid sighed, she wasn't in the mood to flirt but she needed information.
She smiled, flipped her hair and leaned against the counter, making sure her breasts were in full view.
"Nowhere; I'm simply a gypsy, following the wind wherever it takes me."
"What kind of wind brings you to Jonestown?" the boy asked, grinning.
"The wind is a mysterious thing," Ingrid batted her eyes at him and parted her lips ever so slightly, allowing the boy a glance to her full, kissable lips.
She steps back and spins on her heel, propping her elbows on the counter as she played with her hair."So what kind of fun can you have in this small town?"
The boy snorted, "Not much, the only thing here is, is the field. That's where everyone goes to drink and party."
She nodded, brushing her long, curly locks to one side of her body; displaying her slim neck and shoulders. "How can you even get booze? You're what? Sixteen? Seventeen maybe?"
He smiled, "I'm eighteen and I know a guy who makes the best fakes."
Ingrid grinned, now she's got him. "Really? Do you have name for this guy?"
"Yeah but it will cost you."
"How much?"
"I was thinking a number, a date even," he placed a hand over her's, caressing the inside of her wrist.
Ingrid resisted the urge to punch him and slipped a hand up his arm. He shivered under her touch; it was clear who was in control of the situation. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "Give me the address and you have yourself a deal."
He grinned like a fool Ingrid knew he was and wrote down the address. She gave him a fake number, never really having a phone in the first place. She then paid for her items, gathered her clothes and walked out the door.
She smirked in triumphant 'Boys are too easy.'
"Are you done yet?" Ingrid groaned leaning against her seat outside the dressing room. Once Alexa's haircut was finished Ingrid ushered her quickly into a sports emporium down the block. Here Ingrid not only bought Alexa some new snow boots but some other protective gear against the harsh winter chill. With permission from the store manager, Alexa was given permission to change her clothes in the dressing rooms in the back of the store.
"I'm trying!" Alexa's strained voiced snapped back from inside the cubicle. "There isn't a lot of space here.
"I figured with your height there would be more than enough space," Ingrid snickered at hearing a low thump followed by Alexa's pained squeak.
"I told you I would help you bind your chest," She stated matter-of-factly.
"No way!" Alexa screeched in reply, Ingrid snickered almost hearing the blush spread across Alexa's cheeks.
"Come on you've been at it for ten minutes already!" She exclaimed. She stood from her seat and stormed to the door with an annoyed huff. "You don't have much in the chest department so it shouldn't take that long!" A leg shot out from underneath the door connecting hard with Ingrid's shin.
"Don't make fun of flat chested people!" Alexa screeched angrily.
"I'll stop, if you let me help you!"
"No way," Alexa snapped once more. A vein throbbed in Ingrid's head. The pure stubbornness of this girl was getting on her nerves.
Ingrid quickly realized: why was she putting up this girl? Clearly she was more trouble than she was worth. At first she felt guilty from seeing the young girl passed out in the snow bank and decided to do something good, get some good karma and all. But this was going too far. She spent over a hundred dollars on this girl already; another two to three hundred will be needed for her ID and papers.
She thinks she has done well enough.
"You know what, I'm done!" She finally barked back in annoyance. "I got other stuff I need to take care of, so here." She pulled out the piece of paper with the fake-maker's number and a few hundred bills. "This is for your fake, his name is Henry Connors; tell him his buddy Nick sent you." Ingrid dropped the paper and the bills and turned to storm off. Then the dressing room door was thrown open and something latched onto her arm with a deadly grip.
"Please don't go," Alexa's whisper was barely audible, she was dressed merely in her pants she wore this morning and a hastily thrown on shirt. Ingrid was shocked by this request, her eyes losing the look of anger, which in turn was replaced by surprise as well as confusion. "Whenever someone leaves me or I leave them something bad always happens," Alexa's shoulders shook ever so slightly though her grip did not falter. "I know you haven't known me long and have no reason to trust me," Ingrid could feel the smaller girl's tears dripping onto her arm. "But you're the nicest thing that has happened to me in days."
Ingrid merely stood there at a loss for words. This young girl may have been, at one point of her life a normal teenager, going to school, hanging out with friends, and a loving family to return home to. All of the things she, herself had been denied. Watching the small broken girl, Ingrid saw a little of herself in her.
"Alright, what have I said about waterworks?" Ingrid groaned trying to shake off the crying girl. Alexa sniffed loudly still not releasing her grip.
"To stop them?" she replied quietly.
"That's right," Ingrid nodded, seeing she couldn't pry the girl off she dragged them back into the dressing room. "Now if you would kindly release my arm? You are cutting off my circulation and I can't feel my fingers." Alexa quickly shot back into the small seat in the dressing room spouting off apologies a mile a minute only resulting in Ingrid smacking her head in a desperate attempt for her to shut up.
She sighed and bent down to pick up the piece of paper and the wads of money. "Anyway we better hurry it up. Henry won't wait forever," she checked her watch as Alexa rubbed her sore head.
"How'd you find someone to make one that fast?" Alexa whined in pain and curiosity.
"A girl has her ways," Ingrid winked. "Now turn around so I can bind your chest." Alexa complied begrudgingly, turning around in the seat, peeling off the shirt and handed Ingrid the binding tape all the while blushing as bright as Ingrid's hair.
"You never changed in front of girl?" Ingrid chastised her. "Didn't you take gym class in school?"
"No, I was in sports all year round so my school said I didn't need to take gym," Alexa muttered with a pout.
"What sport did you play?"
"Softball."
"Softball? Isn't that the girly version of baseball?" Ingrid jeered.
"It's not girly," Alexa snapped back. "I've played softball ever since I was nine! It takes lots of dedication and work!"
Ingrid rolled her eyes, "Whatever. Besides, with a small chest like this we barely need any tape," she smirked devilishly at the irritated Alexa.
"There are perks to being flat chested!" She defended.
"Such as?" Ingrid chuckled.
"Well, um," Alexa blushed at not having an answer. "I don't know any right now but I'll think of something!" Ingrid laughed victoriously. "Hurry up and get out so I can finish changing," Alexa screeched pushing the older girl unceremoniously out of the dressing room. Ingrid merely roared with laughter not once contemplating on how the small girl managed to push her out of the room.
Once Ingrid regained her composure she took her seat once more in the chair; eventually nodding off while waiting.
The sound of the dressing room door opening awoke her from her nap. "Finally," Ingrid yawned stretching as Alexa looked herself over in the full body mirror. Starring back at Alexa now stood a young boy, looking no older than 15, hair neatly cut and her bangs parted to the left. She was dressed in simple young boys' snow pants and a red long sleeved Henley. She still wore the leather aviator jacket from this morning, though it made her look like a young boy trying to fit into his father's jacket.
"Don't you look adorable," Ingrid teased Alexa, ruffling her hair so one piece stood up straight. Alexa stared at her reflection in shock, which Ingrid took merely as a reaction to her haircut. "Which reminds me," Ingrid snapped her fingers in remembrance. She reached into her pocket and gave Alexa a simple pair of glasses. "Now no one will know it's you," she grinned in victory. "Let's go, the faster we get that ID that sooner we can leave this god awful place." Ingrid turned tail and walked towards the exit of the store.
Sensing she was not being followed she turned back around to see Alexa still staring at her reflection as shaking hands trembled over her hair. "Hurry up we don't have much time," Ingrid called over. This snapped Alexa out of her revere as she quickly turned and jogged to catch up to Ingrid.
Ingrid and I ambled through the town, though our strides were polar opposites. I walked with a slouch huddling into my jacket against the bitter cold; while Ingrid walked with determination and confidence. Her stride never breaking, so much that I had to lightly jog to keep in step.
Even though I had only just met this girl, I couldn't help but trust her; though it may be because I didn't have anyone else. In less than a week my whole world had been ripped out from under me. My friends were gone, my dad was missing, and my home was a battle zone. There wasn't anything left for me.
I shook the thoughts away like an annoying bug; I didn't have time to think about the past. I looked ahead seeing I was slowly falling further behind Ingrid. "Come on, pick up the pace." Ingrid called out a moment later.
Sprinting, I once again fell in step with her. "What's the hurry? This Henry guy isn't going anywhere," I complained lightly and yawning slightly. The sun was slowly setting, turning the sky a rich purple. The area of town we were walking through was mostly deserted, families fleeing to other parts of the country in hopes of finding somewhere the fighting hadn't yet reached. Perhaps they took the chance to seeking refuge in the north. Windows of some houses were broken, by looters or reckless teens I couldn't tell. Though there was a rare house or two that was lit up for the holiday. Instead of being warm and inviting, the doors were locked and the curtains were drawn tight, the light of Christmas tree glowing in the incoming night.
"You need your ID, we need people to believe you're a guy," Ingrid whispered as a shady looking man shuffled by us. Once he passed she continued. "Not some girl, crossdressing."
We loaded into her car and drove across town to a more deserted suburban area. After driving through the maze of streets Ingrid finally pulled to a stop outside one of the many cookie cutter houses. The house was a simple one story townhouse with a porch and a cat lying out on the rail. Ingrid and I climbed out of the car and walked up to the front door. My nerves were wound tighter than a rubber band. I kept looking behind us, looking up and down the quiet street. After knocking on the metal screen door Ingrid took a moment to greet the gray cat and scratched him under his chin. The cat purred and she turned to face the door once it opened slightly, causing me to jump a little, stifling a squeak of surprise.
"I don't want your damn cookies so quit asking!" The door was cracked open, as far as the chain lock I caught sight off, would let it.
"You Henry?" Ingrid rolled her eyes and crossing her arms.
"Yeah, what of it?" The guy, Henry snapped back.
"I was told you could help me with something," her voice held no room for argument. "I'm willing to make it worth your while." The guy behind the door seemed to think for a moment before closing the door, the clicks of many locks being unlocked followed.
The door swung open to reveal a young man, possibly in his early or mid-twenties. His hair was black and shaggy. He seemed to be from an Asian descent with his almond shaped eyes and average height, he was only able to reach Ingrid by her eyes; which also meant he towered over me.
He grinned and his dark eyes roamed over Ingrid's body, "You must be Ingrid; gotta say your name doesn't suit you."
Ingrid smirked slightly, "Better than having a pretty name and an ugly face."
He laughed, "Can't argue with that logic." He gestured for us to walk in and we followed. The house was in major need of repairs, the front hall was narrow the corners of the walls were yellowing with mildew and water damage. The hall split into to the left I guess were the bedrooms, he led us to the right which opened into a large living room and connected kitchen. The room smelled faintly of cigarettes and dust and the carpet was a sickly orange color. The old couch was tearing, the stuffing spilling out. A cheap TV, probably dating back to the early 2000's with a wire antenna, was next to a glass sliding door leading to an overgrown and unkempt backyard.
"So you came for an ID?" The mystery man sat on the couch. Crossing his legs and resting his arm and leaning his head on his palm. I almost laughed at the guy's attempt to look cool and impress Ingrid.
"I came for more than just that," Ingrid spoke in a no nonsense tone. "I need a passport; the boy behind me," she pointed at me, the mystery man raising an eyebrow as if just seeing me for the first time. "Needs the works; ID, passport, a record of his birth and school certificates and a social security number." Ingrid counted the order off on her fingers.
Henry whistled, "That sounds like a tall order, who do you think I am?"
"I think you're more than just some run of the mill counterfeiter." Ingrid smiled menacingly. "You're Henry Connors; real name Lei Chu." His eyes widened and she continued, "You grew up in the city of LA and graduated high school by the age of fourteen. You hacked into a government website in your second year of college just to see if you could. You did, but you got some unwanted attention and left LA. You changed your identity a total of twenty-six times, and have been wandering from place to place, but it has to be some kind of godly luck that we have been able to cross paths with you."
Lei blinked and shook his head, "Well you're certainly more than a pretty face." He chuckled in pity to himself. "Nick really is an idiot, just giving my address to anybody that asks."
"I'm not gonna turn you in or anything, besides the nation's gotta a lot more to deal with than a hacker." Ingrid waved off his worries.
"Hey, I'm the best hacker there is," Lei walked further into the house and down a flight of stairs into a basement.
Ingrid began to follow but I grabbed the sleeve of her coat and pulled her back, "How did you know about all this?"
"I've been traveling around for a while, you learn a few things." Ingrid shrugged. "Lei Chu is a legend; I just didn't know Henry was him, till I saw his face."
"How?" I asked generally confused.
"There are pictures of him, you know people that snap out sightings."
"That's pretty bad, wouldn't the government find him?" I thought out loud.
"That's why he's in a town like this; tell me have you ever heard of Jonestown, Pennsylvania before today?"
"No," though in my defense I never really found the need to leave New York.
"See," she smiled, "the perfect hiding spot."
We walked down stairs and found Lei typing on various computer keyboards for different computer screens. All flickering with, from my knowledge of CSI shows, was databases of each and everyone in the United States. Flat screens hung on the walls, displaying different news networks reporting the raging battles between the parties throughout the country. Police officers are trying to evacuate the citizens into smaller towns but the fighting was quickly spreading.
"Philadelphia has become a battlefield," Lei commented as he typed.
My voice acted on its own, lowering a couple pitches, making me sound like a boy whose voice had yet to break. "Who's winning?"
'You're welcome,' Alfred's voice boasted in my mind. I rolled my eyes though continued to listen to Ingrid.
Ingrid snorted in amusement at my voice and scorned at my question. "Its civil war, no one wins." She was looking at each screen not even glancing my way.
"Couldn't say it better than myself," Lei proclaimed from his seat.
"Why are you still here?" Ingrid turned to him, looking away from the screens. "With your skills you can run off to any country you want."
"He can? But I thought the other countries have shut down their borders." I asked thinking back to what Ingrid had told me the previous night.
"Only to citizens that don't have the proper paperwork and passports," Ingrid responded. "All of the nations are getting their own citizens out of here first leaving we Americans, to find our own way out."
"I happen to make these golden tickets, for the right price of course," Lei grinned.
"You should've have been in the south," Ingrid added with a sigh, "everyone's trying to get into Mexico but no one's got the paperwork. Tables have turned from those years before the isolation, back then everyone risked their lives to come to America. Now we're paying the same price to seek refuge from people we refused all those years ago." She chuckled darkly, "karma's a bitch."
"But people are dying," I exclaimed in shock. "Why do they care about paperwork at a time like this?"
Ingrid sighed, "They don't want the wrong people to cross the border."
"But Canada, dear sweet Canada has allowed anyone to cross, all you need is some form of identification," Lei twirled in his seat. "So that brings back to the matter at hand, why do you need so much done? You guys are trying to get to our neighbors in the north right?"
"We still need to cross a couple states, and you never know who will stop you." Ingrid shrugged.
He nodded, "Smart girl."
Ingrid seemed to tense for a moment and looked down and found the same gray cat from the porch. "Hey little guy, you followed us in?" She knelt down and picked him up, holding him in her arms as she petted the purring feline. I snickered watching the usually strict no nonsense girl melt like butter at the small animal.
"Okay here's the deal, I'll make you both passports, IDs and any certificates you need done for five grand." I think my jaw broke from how fast it fell to the floor in shock
"Five grand are you insane?! With that kind of money, you would be able to create a whole new life for us." Ingrid quickly countered, "Forget it; just give us the ID and passports."
"That will be three grand then."
"Two unless you want me to kick your ass," she glared.
Lei chuckled and wiggled his eyebrows, "kitty got claws, deal."
"Ingrid, are you sure you want to spend all of this money on me?" Lei was busy, working on his computers while me and Ingrid sat on the old ratty couch nearby. We had fresh cups coffee in our hands since Lei said this could last late into the night.
"Don't worry kid-"
"Don't call me kid."
"As of now you're going to be classified as younger than me so get used to it," Ingrid snapped smacking my head lightly. "Anyway don't worry about it. I want to help you, I can't explain it but I guess I see a little of myself in you."
"That better not have been a joke on my height again," I jokingly snapped back and she laughed a little. We sat in silence again the only sound was the clicking of Lei's keyboard.
"You know you never really told me much about you," Ingrid spoke up. "All I really know is your name and that you came from NYC."
"There isn't much to say," I spoke softly my smile fading. "I was adopted by my father after the war; we lived in a small town in Delaware, though I don't remember much. I was in first grade when we moved to New York. I was just your everyday girl going to school and hanging out with friends."
"That doesn't explain why the Expansionists and the Philosophers are looking for you." Ingrid pointed out.
"Your guess is as good as mine," I shrugged. We stayed quiet after that until Lei spoke up again.
"Alright almost done I just need a name and I can take care of the other minor details," he spoke as if he was proud of himself.
I never really thought about it. How I would need a completely new name. After this, Alexa James would be good as dead; I would be someone completely new.
"Tyson Mariano Cunningham," I finally replied. Even after everything Tyson had done I couldn't bring myself to hate him, he was still one of my best friends and he defended me when I needed him most.
I couldn't use Maria's name because I was a boy so I chose a manlier version. Hopefully her kindness and cleverness would rub off on me.
Cunningham was Andre's mother's maiden name. According to her the Cunninghams were known for their bravery in many battles throughout history. I hope with these names I could somehow do my friends justice by living for them, living the life that had been wrongfully taken from them.
"Alrighty, just give me a couple more hours and then you'll be good to go," Lei smirked before going back to his computers. I yawned loudly after sitting there for a few minutes.
"Go to sleep," Ingrid whispered. "This will take a while; I'll wake you up when it's time to leave."
Be sure to review guys I need some fresh feedback.