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3 - Theo Forsaken City

Prompt: Mindless

Theo was almost completely absolutely sure he had already walked around this corner like a million freaking times, and somehow, he still ended up coming back to his small and improvised camp in a small open cave where an old plane had crashed who-knows how long ago. It was a good thing he had decided to carry a bloody big tent over his back all the way up here.

"Ha, suck it up, Alex. Now who's the dumb one now?" He laughed. Sure, he may be a lost, and he had no idea where he was.

But one thing was for sure…

The photos he had gotten in this place were WORTH IT!

After his little strut, the words about him being lost echoed in his head. He was indeed lost and had no idea where he was. Deep inside him he knew those words didn't refer to the mountain alone.

He should be with Alex and Spoons at home, making his way through life. Not being a wannabe of his grandpa chasing his ambitions mindlessly instead of his own.

And where did he got at by doing that? Here. In the middle of an abandoned city.

If only his misery had some company. Although not his sister's, Theo knew if Alex found him like this she would kick his a–

THUMP! The loud sound of something hitting the ground interrupted his self-pity. When he turned around expecting for some kind of stalker to attack him, he actually saw a small long-red-haired girl.

Someone! Fina-wait. Had he gone mad instead by the solitude? Had he lost his mind? When was the last time he saw anyone besides that old lady in the cabin?

Who cares? He didn't!

"Ho there, fellow adventurer!"

"Oh, Hi," The girl murmured in a quiet voice. If it was not because the place was already quiet Theo may not hear what she said.

"What a killer night for a hike! Can't believe this place exist!"

"Not the easiest climb, is it? But I guess that's what I was looking for…"

At least this girl knew what she was here for. Not like him.

"Whoa, that sounds pretty serious. I'm just happy to see another human in such a lonely place. I'm Theo by the way, an adventurer from a far-off land!"

"…" The girl didn't response. Had she lost her mind too here?

"Not much of a talker, are you?"

"Hey sorry. I'm Madeline. Are you here to explore the city?" She got loose and her voice gained a little more of confidence.

"Yeah, I have a thing for abandoned places. I'm something of a photographer myself. But this terrain is pretty trick, are you turning back soon?"

"Nope. I'm heading to the summit! I'm done breaking promises to myself."

If there was a word for that, Theo would say it's…

"Inspiring."

He mindlessly mindlessled to get lost in this mountain while Madeline mindly mindlessled so. Method to madness. Some sort of logic it only made sense to Theo.

Madeline knew what she went to the mountain for. Maybe she could not encapsulate in one word what she was searching for. Maybe there wasn't one. It would be that kind of thing you only know when you find it.

Theo could see the determination in Madeline's eyes through the wariness her expression and body bared…

"Say, you don't look well. More like you miss a piece of your mind."

"Really? How so?"

"Don't know what to call it exactly. You sure don't feel like it?"

That was so? Madeline would have been missing that piece of her mind for so long she could not even begin to guess when she lost it in the first place.

"The only thing I've been feeling in my head other than dread is eyes burning my nape."

"Tell me about it!" Theo laughed a bit. "I can tell you a thing or two about those bad voices. Try roast it! For real! Self-care is roasting that mean voice in your head."

"I guess you are right." Madeline gathered some will to smile at Theo's playfulness. Some of the wariness Theo saw on her at first sight had mitigated. She stayed a little while with Theo, with him chatting a little more about his life and his photography aspirations and how he was heading to an old site at the other side of the city.

Soon enough Madeline felt a lot more ease to breath and lift herself up and so she resumed her journey waving to Theo as she went away where she came from.

"Hey! Tell that voice in your head to get a hobby!" Theo shouted before Madeline disappeared into the snowy and desolated city.