For the first time in quite a while, I appreciated the overly-populated area that was Ridgeton; the excess structures, from big to minute, that had graduated into a cluster many years before I was born.

   Ranging from fast food restaurants, convenience stores, clubs, hospitals, bars, motels, coffee shops, ancient books and music stores was the genetic makeup of where I was from.

   And of course, the people. It was obvious that a large fraction of the insufferable number of people in the Classic Suburbs resided in Ridgeton.

   As the bus drove through the district, the expression was that of a stranger glancing around the first time, similar to those actual strangers who I didn't actually think would follow me when I asked them to.

   I'd be lying if I said I knew why I didn't ditch Rav, Camila and Dorian when I got the chance, because believe me, I thought about it. Hell, I was thinking about it right now.

   But my mind had already done the unsolicited task of coming up with multiple ideas in relation to their living situation. One exceptionally good one at that.

"Guys, guys." It took some seconds for them to direct their stares through the window to me. "So I was thinking, although you can't check into one of the hotels around where you live or in the city, there are certain secluded motels on the outskirts of Ridgeton and other neighbouring areas. They still accept cash so if you have any spare change or cards on you, maybe you could withdraw some money to check in undetected or something. You do an anonymous withdrawal. These motel establishments aren't usually expensive... I think. You'll get to stay there for a while until, well, I don't really know."

"That sounds great, Beth." The tiny smile that came with Rav's response surfaced a glimmer of hope. "Thank you."

"I think we should wait a while though." Camila cleared her throat before proceeding. "But that's not a bad idea."

"She's right," Dorian added.

   I nodded, about to turn back to the window until I noticed them still staring.

"What?"

"We can't stay in the bus all day now, can we?" Rav asked. "And you know this place more than any of us." Maybe we could do something somewhere I don't know."

"Yeah." Camila nodded. "How about your place?"

   It'll take more than one shared traumatic experience to welcome them to my home with open arms. But where else could they be until they checked into a motel? As much as I knew the ins and outs of Ridgeton, it didn't mean I hung out in all those places.

   I suppressed an incoming groan at the idea that chose to pop in my head the minute the bus pulled to a stop.

"Actually, I... I know a place."

***

"Beth!...and friends?" Mr. Shin's focus immediately shifted to the people trailing behind me as I walked up to his counter.

"Hello, Mr. Shin." I avoided making contact with his bewildered eyes. "These are my... Dorian, Aarav and Camila. They're classmates of mine."

   His quiet 'hello' was accompanied with a small smile.

"Wait, it's barely nine am." Mr. Shin gestured to his watch with a scrunched face. "Why aren't you in school?"

"I—I mean we, we—" For someone who had been lying for a while now, I just had to accept that lying wasn't in the cards for me. Not even the amateur kind.

"I think Beth is still finding it hard to comprehend the impromptu mid-term break of Zavlon Academia that began yesterday." Camila looked over to me with a chuckle. "We all are. That's actually what we were just discussing right before we walked into your store."

   What?!

   Mr Shin raised a hesitant brow in my direction before taking the hand Camila had held out into his. I breathed out a relieved sigh when the formal introductions moved on to Rav and Dorian on a less suspicious note.

   Rav's talkative nature immediately began manifesting. Oh no. I was ready to shoot Mr. Shin an apologetic glance but was shocked to see that he was actually into whatever Rav was rambling on about.

   Well, that checks out the 'old man with nothing in common' box of the list of people Rav could infect with his charisma.

   Not me being depressed by my crappy personality at all.

   After pretending to be listening to what was being said for a few more minutes, I decided to browse through the nearest comic book section while the rest carried on talking.

"Hey," Camila greeted while walking toward me.

   Great. I was dreading this.

   I didn't raise my head from the shelf I had my eye on just yet. I'd realised she hadn't been into the conversation either but didn't think she'd actually leave. To join me, nonetheless.

   How did things go back to normal with someone who had screamed insults at you in a psychotic trance minutes ago?

"Hey." It wasn't as easy as I had thought to pretend to be engrossed in the comic books.

   Seconds passed before I finally decided to respond. I looked up to meet full-on eye contact. Well, this wasn't unnerving at all.

"Beth," she gnawed at her bottom lip before saying, "I'm sorry for my outburst earlier. What I said to you was cruel and totally undeserving. That was wrong of me and I hope you understand that I'm really sorry."

"It's okay," I responded. "What happened in the bunker got to us in different ways. All I ask is, why don't we just forget our whole thing at Zavlon? I know you hate my guts but can try to make it work? For now at least."

"You're right." She nodded. "Considering our situation, it won't be smart to hate each other. Besides, what happened in the bunker is, if not anything, proof that we make a pretty great team."

   I smiled, recalling how we had been the ones whose combined strengths had knocked down the door to escape.

"You're right."

   This—kind of— truce was enough for now.

"So, you into books?" I asked.

   I was going to play it safe and refrain from diving straight into comics. Experience had taught me that that was the ultimate repellent to anyone who wasn't Talise.

   Or Dorian. Almost forgot.

   Camila folded her arms as she peered at the shelf I'd been going through. "Not many people know this, I'm a sucker for a good mystery-thriller novel."

"Cool. Comics are more my thing."

   Rav was unsuccessful in hiding his smirk while he and Dorian came our way. I almost didn't blame him, though. Whoever had the guts to bet on this moment between Cami and me would have taken a nearly impossible gamble.

"Mr. Shin said you should take us to the coffee shop out back, on him? I don't know," Rav informed me with a shrug.

"Oh yeah, it's just over here." I ventured towards the door adjoining both shops.

"Does Mr. Shin own it too?" Camila questioned.

"A part of it. The other owner is never around though."

   I was instantly driven to Tali and I's usual spot in the U-shaped corner booth. It had always been way too large for two and we'd shared one side all the time anyway.

"This is nice," Dorian remarked, taking the seat opposite mine.

   After a server took our orders, the table slipped into a silence that lasted even after steaming cups of tea and coffee were placed before us a few minutes later.

"Guys," The warmth from my cup didn't do a great job of consuming the coldness draped across my fingertips as I asked, "What are we going to do?"

   Downcast eyes gave me the answer I was dreading. The misery around was just what mine needed to be triggered. My shoulders eventually matched their slumped ones.

"How do we know they haven't discovered the lab already?" Cami's chin rested at the edge of the table at the centre.

"I can't believe we thought it'll actually work." Dorian scoffed. "Cause two silly drones were going to give us all the answers we needed."

"I just," Rav's eyes were glistening. "I don't think there's anything to do. We can only wait."

   I wished that stupid chip had never saved me in the first place. Being brainwashed from the get go seemed better than having an agonising wait. I wondered how it was going to happen. When.

   Looking around the shop at the customers spread out in various tables, everything felt different. The smiles, scowls, frowns, laughs each person held was just a painful reminder that ignorance really was bliss. I couldn't help but picture the day all those diverse expressions would be replaced with stoic, dilated-eyed ones.

   The solace my head took in my cupped hands was insignificant. The buildup of emotions in me didn't want to be suppressed. My eyes remained defiant though, constantly trying to blink away the pooling liquid within them.

"Beth?!" I heard a voice from afar say.

   I looked up.

A/N: This is depressing 🥲.

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