Chapter Twenty
In the mess Hall, Tyroth sat with Sephie discussing the situation of their new friends.
"I got word from Hugh about what happened topside." Tyroth said "And Cam and Barry have explained their version of the recent events."
"Was it really the Mafia?" Sephie asked worried.
"According to what Cam and Barry said, yes." Tyroth said concerned "They were in attendance at the Tournament and were betting on the fighters."
"That's serious." Sephie said "And from what they believed; it was the Chicago Outfit."
"One of the most famous and feared Mafia gangs in the Windy City." Tyroth growled "We've had a few run ins with them, the 95th Street Gang have worked with them too."
Sephie frowned.
"If the Mafia were responsible, they might go after the family if they find out who the victims were?" she questioned.
"The Mafia have been known to do so." Tyroth said "Yet we have no idea."
Sephie thought for a moment.
"Maybe we should speak to Hugh about it?" she suggested.
Tyroth nodded.
"Best we do," he said taking out his phone before texting their human liasion, "I'll get in touch with him now."
"In the meantime." Sephie said "We'll do all we can to make our new residents feel welcome as well as comfortable."
Back in their new quarters, Jun lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling still contemplating what had happened.
He was still upset at the fact he would never see his family again and he wondered what they would be thinking, as well as wondered if there was a way he could find out.
He looked over at Dahlia who was looking towards the door, she was wearing some blue jeans and a purple tee-shirt that had been provided to her as the clothes she had been wearing earlier were bloodstained and dirty.
Jun meanwhile wore some black shorts and a red vest top.
"You okay babe?" he asked.
"I was just thinking of having a walk around our new home." Dahlia said dreamily.
Jun narrowed his eyes.
"Home?" he asked, "You're already accepting the fact that this is our new home?"
Dahlia sighed and closed her eyes.
"Jun." she said in an exasperated yet calm voice.
"Sorry Dahlia." Jun said looking back at the ceiling "But I can't understand why you're so calm about this and seem to be accepting this big change so quickly!"
"Well, we don't have a choice." Dahlia said, feeling like a broken record "This is our new home whether we like it or not and we're going to need to get used to it."
Jun said nothing.
Dahlia exhaled then looked at the door then back at Jun.
"I'm going to have a look around." She said, "You coming?"
Jun shook his head.
"No..." he said, "I'd rather be alone with my thoughts for a moment."
"Very well." Dahlia said feeling slightly disappointed her boyfriend wasn't going to join her, but she hoped that once he'd had some time to think he would come around.
"I'll be back soon." She said as she walked to the door.
Jun didn't say anything, yet he watched her leave then rolled onto his side before bringing his knees up to his chest as a couple of tears formed in his eyes.
As Dahlia left the room she chewed her lip.
She knew why Jun was still upset, as was she, but she didn't want to just sit in the room feeling sorry for herself.
"If this is going to be our new home." She thought "I might as well have an explore."
She started to walk down the corridor as well as glanced at the doors of the other rooms.
There were some decorations on some of the doors and she guessed that the residents personalised them, which was a good idea, so people didn't accidently walk into a room that wasn't there.
On some of the doors there were Novelty posters or cut outs from magazines or even fun stickers, there was even a couple of notices such as 'Girl Cave', 'Do Not Disturb' 'Keep Out, unless you have Chocolate' 'Or Gamer at Work' on some of them which made her giggle a little as she used to have something like the former when she still lived at home.
Just remembering her home and her mother and stepfather, she felt her heart sink into her stomach, and she wondered if they even knew what had happened, if the news had reached Alaska.
As she continued to walk, Dahlia suddenly bumped into someone coming towards her!
She turned to the individual to apologise yet as she did, she saw large mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and she fell backwards in fright!
As she landed on the ground she tried to scramble away until she looked again and saw that the mouth belonged to a male mutant Shark!
"Hi!" the Shark said in a friendly voice, and Dahlia felt faint as she saw his mouth get smaller as he spoke.
"Oh gosh!" the Shark cried in concern as well as remorse at the fright he had given the newly mutated wolf.
"Did I scare you?" the Shark asked, "I'm sorry, this wasn't how I intended our first meeting to go." He knelt beside Dahlia who slowly got over her fright and looked at him, she opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out.
"What's going on out here?"
Another voice came from a door that opened nearby and a female grey chinchilla with black hair in a straight bob cut, clothed in faded blue jeans and an oversized David Bowie tee-shirt over a spaggetti straped top, and wearing large earphones around her neck came outside.
"Alice!" the Shark said "Sorry, gave the newbie here a fright."
"We got a new arrival?" Alice asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement "Amazing!"
"Only arrived a few hours ago!" Sharky said as he helped Dahlia to her feet, "Found out from Cam and Barry when we returned from patrol!"
"Amazing!" Alice said walking over and holding her hand out "Hey! I'm Alice!"
"Hi..." Dahlia said finding her voice and shaking the chinchilla's hand.
"I'm Sharky!" The Sharky volunteered "Not very original I know, but it's the name I took!" he chuckled.
"How do you do." Dahlia replied.
"And you are?" Alice asked.
"Alexandra..." Dahlia said but then corrected herself "Um...Dahlia." she said.
"Dahlia?" Alice asked "That your new name? Not bad!"
"Dahlia? Like the flower?" Sharky asked.
"Yeah." Dahlia said, "It was a nickname when I was a little girl, Delicate as a Dahlia my mum would say."
"Cute!" Sharky said, "So you're the new one?" he asked "Cool! Yet aren't there two of you?" he asked raising an eyebrow ridge.
"We got two?" Alice asked excitedly.
"That's what we were told." Sharky said.
Dahlia nodded.
"He's still upset about what's happened, he's still in the bedroom we were given." She reported "He wanted some time alone, but I decided to have a look around."
Alice and Sharky looked at each other and nodded.
"We understand." They spoke in unison.
"Most of the newbies find it hard, especially if it was such a big change, almost half the village here arrived in similar situations." Alice said, "Some mutated willingly, but others, lots of others had no choice, it was that or death."
"That's what happened to us." Dahlia sighed.
"We're sorry you had to go through such a huge change." Sharky said sympathetically, "But you'll soon get used to it, we're a nice lot down here!"
Alice nodded then her eyes lit up as she had an idea.
"Would you like a tour of Mutopia?" she suggested "Maybe once you've had a proper look, you might settle in better?"
Dahlia looked at the Shark and Chinchilla then nodded.
"Very well." She said, "Thank you."
"Sweet!" Sharky said rubbing his hands together.
Alice took of her earphones and placed them back in her room before turning back to the wolf and shark.
"Come with us." She said, "It's kind of easy to get lost in the caverns, but you'll soon know your way around her like the back of your hand."
Dahlia gave a chuckle.
"Well, I almost know Gray's Anatomy cover to cover so hopefully I'll do the same here."
"Gray's Anatomy?" Alice asked.
"You a medical professional?" Sharky asked.
"A nurse." Dahlia enlightened them "Well, I was..." she trailed off.
"James will be pleased!" Alice said looking at Sharky.
"Yeah!" the Shark agreed then gave the chinchilla a knowing look to which she winked at him.
"Anyway." Sharky said, "From where we are now, it's the residential quarters, there are at least four floors and there are railed balconies and stairs leading around the place."
"The flyers tend to be the ones on the upper floor." Alice said "Like Tyroth, Bill, Vincent and Chloe to name a few."
Dahlia remembered Tyroth the Dragon, yet she wasn't sure about the others, but she was certain she would get to know everyone soon enough.
Before long they made it back to the main village and Dahlia took a good look at it.
The ceiling was very high, and many crystals adorned the area giving off light and she could see in the middle were the canals with many benches and bridges.
"Wow..." she said, "This is simply amazing."
"I know right?" Alice smiled "Never thought we'd be so lucky to have a place safe and hidden away from the humans."
"And we live down here a very similar life to those of the human's topside." Sharky said, "We have lifestyles and jobs and duties."
"Some more hands on than others." Alice said, "And you'll get to meet them."
"Cam and Barry who I'm certain you met earlier are our scavengers." Sharky explained "They go topside to search for items of use to us, we've managed to fix up old computers, televisions, music centres, you name it."
"Almost half the stuff you see here, from the benches by the canals to the beds in the bedrooms, all were salvaged from topside."
"Wow..." Dahlia breathed.
"I know right?" Sharky grinned then gestured with his head.
"Come on." He said, "Let's get started on the tour!"
"Lead the way!" Dahlia consented yet as she walked with Sharky and Alice into the main village, she thought back to Jun and wondered if he would come out and give the village a chance.
If he was still in the room when she returned, she could report back, but if he left at his own accord, she hoped he could appreciate that they were in a safe place and amongst friendly people, even if they were mutants.
Back in the bedroom, Jun was still laying on the bed.
His mind was full of his family and wondering how they were, and if they had even noticed that something was wrong.
It was starting to drive him crazy, and he wanted to take out his frustrations.
Looking around the room again, he was still tempted to smash everything to pieces, but he knew it would be wrong to do so especially since everyone they had met had been kind to them.
His parents had always taught him to be respectful as well as grateful and he always kept that trait.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, the newly mutated tiger sat up and walked over to the bedroom door, yet he caught sight of himself in the mirror again and he frowned.
"New life..." he muttered "New life, whether we like it or not!" he turned to the door and pulled it open before marching outside, hoping to find somewhere in the caves he could take out his frustrations.
Tyroth and Sephie have decided to find out more from Hugh whether he found out anything topside as well as warn him about the Mafia.
Meanwhile Dahlia's decided to explore the Village, yet Jun's still feeling bitter.