Within the Mission Part Thirty-Six

"You can sleep, if you want to" Cristoph said softly as he leant across to grab his coffee mug from the cup holder. The car was small and sleek, the dash board lit up with blue and yellow buttons and screens.
"I'm sorry…I'm…just not sure if I'm comfortable with that." Kalli crossed her arms to defend herself from the air conditioner's constant attack of cold air. She'd made her choice based on probability; the man had shown that he wasn't interested in killing her so there was a chance that he wouldn't. However, even if he did want to kill her or send her to the mission, it would still be a faster death than lying under the bush. He promised to take her to Hal, when he was a bit better, and Kalli would risk anything to see him once more. The man claimed to have been raised by activists, and that his whole family was against the plight of the Halflings.
"Honestly; I'm surprised that you're still alive." Cristoph shook his head in wonder. "I couldn't visit you until I had an excuse to hire a car to leave the city; you were there for three days. I almost didn't check on you, I was so scared at what I'd find." Kalli just nodded again, she fought the urge to trust this man, who was older than she first thought. He'd ensured that she had water but told her to wait a bit before eating, so as to not surprise her stomach. The silence reigned again. Cristoph seemed uncomfortable with the silence, unlike Hal, and would attempt to revive the conversation every few minutes, all of his attempts failing. Until he found an area that Kalli felt she had to speak about. "What's he like? Hal, I mean."
"He's funny," Kalli spoke quietly as though she were talking of the dead. "He always mismatches his socks. Hal never liked new things, he loved antiques, stuff from the 'old world' but he said he was happy that the 'old world' ended, because it meant that I could exist." She smiled softly at the memory of him spending hours online to try and find an 'old world' coffee maker. 'They used to use real coffee beans Kalli! Can you imagine?'
"Yeah, I could tell he was old-fashioned just by looking at his car; how old is that thing? I didn't think you could buy non-electric cars anymore."
"He said it was going to be recycled, but he asked if he could have it…How is he?"
"Oh." It didn't appear as though Cristoph was ready for this question, he sighed and his wide shoulders rose and fell with it. "He's alive. Not awake though, but I'm sure he'll be fine. When he wakes up, I'll take you to visit him. Until then, you'll be staying at my parents' home with my wife and kids. I've organised a holiday during the kids' school break, so we're staying outside of the city." Cristoph looked over at the girl whose eyes were slowly closing and he stopped talking.
"What's your family like?" Kalli yawned, struggling to keep her eyes open and the conversation going.
"I have two boys, they're great, and they are a bit younger than…" Cristoph had begun, but Kalli had already fallen asleep.


"How could you lose her?!" Sky shook Galen at his response. "How could you lose her, Galen?"  His eyes were wide and he looked between the two of them as though the answer might be there. He tried to grasp an explanation but finally shook his head.
"I…I don't know." He rubbed his eyes, looking tired. "She was asleep and I heard something in the alleyway across from us, I went to check it out and she was gone."
"Did Cassie see where she went?" Aiden looked up at the ceiling, annoyed by it all.
"Cassie hasn't come back yet…" Galen said quietly. Aiden's eyebrows furrowed as he took in these latest words.
"Isn't back yet…Galen! There's no one waiting for Cassie!" He kicked a nearby console in frustration and the two teenagers approaching backed away. "She's going to get back there and no one will be there!" Aiden roared, Sky had sat back down and was trying to think despite the noise. "How angry do ya think she'll be, Galen?!"
"Who cares about Cassie?!" Sky stood and poked Aiden's chest. "Poppy's missing; we need to find her. She's only small, what if she gets lost? What if the humans find her? Aiden, I have her hat; she isn't disguised!" The flashing lights and repetitive music of the arcade was drumming its way into Sky's ears and she had to get out, she had to think straight. She pushed past Aiden and Galen and stormed out of the arcade, nearly knocking over the attendant out front. The air was crisp and Sky took in large lungfuls as she walked.  The twins soon caught up to her, no longer arguing and instead taking purposeful strides alongside her. They turned into the dark alleyway where they had spent their afternoon; Sky threw bins aside and looked through the backpack to check whether food had been taken. A shadow moved and Sky turned to face it, a fierce burning in her blue eyes.
"Did you see where she went?"
"Who would that be, Buttercup?"
"Poppy! Pipsqueak! Popz!" Sky screamed at the blonde girl who remained still with a smile growing on her face.
"Oh." Cassie sighed in a fake disappointment. "I arrive to find I've been abandoned by my dearest friends and when they return it is only for the little girl."
"Did. You. See. Her?" Sky whispered through clenched teeth. Cassie stopped to ponder, she stroked her chin sagely.
"Is she that one about yea high? Brown hair? Cute dimply face? Scawny arms and-"
Sky had turned and was walking down the alleyway, her steps echoing louder than Cassandra's words. Aiden and Galen took a look at the gazelle girl then followed suit.
"Wait!" Cassie called and Sky froze but she didn't turn.
"What?"
"I don't know where Pipsqueak is." The girl admitted and Sky began to move again. "But I can help you find her." Sky finally spun to look at the tall girl who was quickly catching up to them, her blonde curls bouncing with each step.  Sky gave her a doubtful glance.
"Why?"
"Honestly?" Cassie queried as she passed Sky. "To shut you up."
They walked in silence, with their unspoken words filling the air like thick smog. Cassie didn't like Sky, Sky didn't like Cassie. It wasn't a complicated relationship. Aiden had suggested that they split up to search and Sky agreed until she realised who she would be searching with, it was too late by then though. Cassie laughed like someone had just reminded her of a joke.
"So Aiden said tha' ya thought you and Pipsqueak were twins, that true?" Cassie didn't require an answer; Sky's silence was enough. "How stupid can ya get? You may look alike but she's 'alf the size o' ya! Not to mention, if she were the same age as you, she'd be pretty stupid for a whatsit, how old are ye again? Oh right, you don't know!" She stopped walking as she laughed like her sides were going to split. "Wha? No retort? No 'poor me'?" Sky glared into Cassandra's dark eyes.
"You have no idea what it's like in that place. You believe what they tell you or you don't stand a chance. Children there don't understand the outside world; bonds or family relations are just titles. Being called twins didn't make us the same age: it made us equals. We weren't pampered like 'some people'."  
"Pampered?" Cassie's eyebrow shot up. "You think… I've been pampered?"
"I didn't say 'you' but yes. You've had a life that Poppy and I could only dream of. You're free-" Cassie yanked at Sky's arm and twisted it behind her back before slamming her into the alleyway wall.
"Listen up Buttercup" Cassie sang in a short breath. "I killed my grandmother with my own two hands when I was six years old after she tried to do the same to me, after that; I killed my mother. My father took the rap for me and was charged with my crimes. Then a sweet, kindly human took me in, and what a sweetheart he was. Humans are such liars aren't they? Greedy things too. It was thrilling to stab him where it hurt most. Oh and my father?" She laughed. "He died in prison. I tracked down the prisoner who ended his life and returned the favour, of course! I've lived my life by killing others and pretending to be content with the shells of their existence. I've watched as everyone I loved died horribly. I've never been pampered, I've only ever torn at the shreds of happiness, attempting to rebuild something, anything that could make my being worthwhile. Then I found Aiden and Galen." Sky had stopped struggling against the cold wall and the girl's warm hands, she loosed her shoulders and listened. "I took them in and let them grow off of my existence, they became the only thing I cared about more than stealing the lives of those who wronged me. Then you came along." Sky could hear the sneer in her voice, whether there were tears; it was hard to say. "If you ever. EVER. Lead those boys to death then I will come at you with a vengeance, I will bring with me my reapers cloak and your end. It won't be like the others' though, because when you take away my boys I will no longer possess any scrap of humanity or mercy….So yeah" Cassie scoffed with the sarcasm burying her words. "I've had a great life."