The
mall was small, by most American standards. It was a straight shot from one end
to the other, with a fork on the south end. Some of the storefronts were
closed, the shops that had occupied their spaces had gone out of business with
the recent economic downturn. Will paid close attention to it because it was
the first sign his parents had been given that the end of the world was nigh.
He supposed that it could just be another stage of a fluctuating economy, but
there was a part of him that truly wondered if there was something to it.
Not, obviously, if the collapse of
the economy was going to end the world. Will knew that something as small as
the economy couldn’t possibly hope to end the world with its absence. Will was
pretty sure that the world was going to end in flames. Unless he stopped it
somehow. Will thought there was a chance he might actually have to do that. But
it was hard, being told that you’re the hero, when you don’t know what the
villain is.
Will didn’t really know what he’d do
about the economic downturn if he was supposed to. And he was pretty sure that
fires were supposed to be handled by firemen.
Will passed these stores, walking,
wondering about what it was he was going to do. He kept looking for someone he
knew but recognized no one. He passed the fountain, where a couple of college
aged kids were pointing at the ripples in the water. He kept going until he got
to the end and then walked back. There was someone he was missing, he was sure
of it. Someone or something.
He got back to the fountain and
looked at the kids some more. He looked at the water. They looked familiar.
They were all wearing similar clothing.
One of them looked up at him. A girl
in a grey sweatshirt, with gray jeans and gray shoes. Her hair was spiked along
the center and dyed a dark blue just a shade above black. She had a silver nose
ring.
“What?” She asked, “You see
something you want?”
“Yeah,” he said, looking down below
her feet at the briefcase.
“Oh?” She asked, “This?”
“Yup,” he said.
“Why?” She asked.
“I really honestly have no fucking
idea,” he said, “I think some girl just mind controlled me into walking down
here and grabbing that thing. I hope you guys aren’t guarding it or something.
That would make this really really awkward.”
“No,” she said, “It was here when we
got here. Mind controlled, you say?” She was smirking.
“I know I sound stupid,” he said,
“Can I just get that and go on my way.”
“She’s got a spell on you or
something?” She asked, “You want us to break it?”
“You? How would you,” and then he
stopped. It finally clicked, “Oh shit.”
“Oh crap what?” She asked.
“You’re Grays,” he said.
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