I think I’d give just about anything for that.
“We should follow up on this, Rose,” he said. “It might be the key to helping you get control over your powers and your episodes.”
“Or… It might be nothing.” She shook her head. “I don’t really share your optimism here, Malcolm. Especially when we’d have to do so much traveling in the open just to get there.”
Malcolm frowned at her.
“Come on,” he said. “Your family home, Rose. Think about everything you could find there. Pictures, family heirlooms… Maybe even some of your old clothes?”
Rose’s mouth twitched into a small smile.
“Well…” she said. “You certainly know how to make your case.”
“Perfect,” said Malcolm. “I’ll get dressed. We can head out immediately. There’s a bus that goes by my block every hour that we can take to Halter City.”
Rose sighed. She reached her hand across to him on the couch, letting it rub his knee, up his thigh.
“This wasn’t exactly what I was looking forward to tonight, you know,” she whispered.
“It’s still pretty early,” said Malcolm. “They’ll be time for more of that when we get back.”
I just turned down sex, potentially to visit a girl’s family. What has the world come to?
CHAPTER 5
They changed into more respectable clothing and headed outside to catch the bus. Though Rose could usually get away with moving around at night without drawing too much attention, both of them agreed that it was better if she stayed hidden for the bus ride.
And thus, Malcolm appeared to be standing alone at the bus stop. Rose was there, hidden inside his shadow, one of the nifty features of her powers. It became harder for her to stay hidden that way when they were in motion, but it wouldn’t matter once they reached Halter City.
The bus rolled to a slow stop in front of them after about fifteen minutes. The driver was a chubby man with five o clock shadow who paid Malcolm little attention. There were only two other people on the bus, both sitting upfront. Malcolm chose a seat in back.
Rose appeared almost immediately after the bus began rolling again, sitting so that her head was hidden behind the seat in front of them. Malcolm grinned, feeling like he was back in high school, up to something mischievous as he slid down next to her.
“I remembered something else, Malcolm,” she said.
“What?”
“Most guys are a little embarrassed about taking their dates on trips using the bus.” Rose flashed a smile at him.
“So, you’re my date, now?” he asked. “And here I thought we were just having fun…”
Rose flicked him in the shoulder, still smiling.
“You should consider buying a car,” she said. “Just for practical reasons.”
“With what money?”
“Get the Champion Authority to finance it,” said Rose. “They’re loaded.”
Malcolm chuckled.
“As fun as that would be, I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said. “I can use my powers to get wherever I need to, at least when I’m alone.”
“And when you have company?”
“Well, I guess I get to enjoy watching them suffer,” he said. “I don’t mind the bus, personally.”
Rose rolled her eyes and gave an exaggerated sigh. A few more people got on, and then a few more got off. The ride took about an hour and was uneventful. Rose slid back into Malcolm’s shadow as they got off, Malcolm nodded to the dazed driver on the way.
They were in the suburbs of Halter City. Malcolm walked away from the brightly lit bus station somewhat aimlessly, waiting until there were no other late-night pedestrians on the street to stop and let Rose materialize.
“So,” he said. “Where to?”
She chewed her lip, which made her look like a little girl.
“It was… I think, a little to the east of here,” she said. “I don’t know where exactly. I feel like I could find it, but might not be able to describe where it is.”
“Alright,” said Malcolm. “It’s pretty dark out. I doubt anyone is going to notice if you’re out and about. Lead on.”
Rose nodded, and the two set off down the sidewalk. Malcolm had the sudden urge to reach out and hold her hand. He pushed it down.
She’d probably just make a joke at my expense if I did. She can be prickly, sometimes…
“I can almost remember living in this city,” whispered Rose. “It’s like… having a word on the tip of your tongue. I can remember walking this way before, but I can’t remember why, or where.”
“See? This was a good idea.” Malcolm gave in to the temptation and took her hand into his. “More will come back to you once you get to your old house. You’ll see.”
Rose looked down at their clasped hands, and then back up at him. She looked like she was holding back laughter, but Malcolm didn’t let go.
They stayed like that as Rose found her way. Malcolm enjoyed walking with her, so much so that it made the trip out to Halter City feel worth it, even if they didn’t find anything. He was considering suggesting that they find a park bench to sit on for a while when Rose came to a stop in front of a side street.
“Down this way,” she said. “It’s… the big house. On the cul-de-sac at the end.”
“You remember?”
“I think so…” Rose frowned at him, and Malcolm felt her hand tense against his. He gave it an encouraging squeeze as the two started walking with purpose.
They’d stumbled into a rundown section of the suburbs, and though Rose’s house was big, it was in a similarly destitute state. The house’s paint was chipped, and the lawn was horribly overgrown, but there were lights on inside, which gave Malcolm a little bit of hope.
“Alright,” said Rose. “I’ll be in your shadow. I guess just… knock on the door? Maybe ask whoever answers if they know about me?”
“This is your childhood home, Rose,” said Malcolm. “I mean, doesn’t it make sense for you to be a part of this, too?”
“It was your idea to come out here, Malcolm,” said Rose. “And I’m a spryte, remember? It’s not a good idea for me to reveal myself in the light without knowing how someone is going to react.”
She has a point…
“Alright,” said Malcolm. He felt Rose’s hand slip from his as she disappeared into the shadow. “Here we go…”
He walked up the porch stairs and came to a stop in front of the door, considering what he was going to say. Malcolm cleared his throat, gave the door a few solid knocks, and then waited.
The door opened a crack, and someone peered out. Malcolm frowned, wondering if whoever was inside the house was right to be paranoid, given the state of the neighborhood.
“Hi there,” he said. “I’m here on behalf of a friend. I’m wondering if you either are the original owner of this house, or if you’d mind if I-”
The door swung completely open. Someone grabbed Malcolm roughly by the shoulder and pulled him inside, immediately pushing him down to the floor. The cold metal barrel of a gun pushed into the back of his head.
CHAPTER 6
“He a cop?”
“He’s got to be. And a fucking stupid one, too.”
Malcolm sighed. He shifted his head to the side slightly, far enough to get a better view of the room he was in. An old, moldy looking couch was pulled up to a coffee table, which held multiple bags of a wide spectrum of drugs.
Two men sat on the couch, while a few others lay sprawled out on the floor, or leaning against walls. The inside of the house was more disgusting than the neighborhood outside, something Malcolm hadn’t thought possible. Beer bottles and empty pizza boxes littered the floor, and the dirty carpet smelled of ammonia and rot.