Day on the Town

You’re not sure where to go from here. This world isn’t your own, the only places you’ve seen are the Millers’ house and the dog park. Maybe getting out of town? Hunting, gathering, farming on your own in the countryside?

Freckles tugs on your arm, pointing at a building. The red and yellow, you see the odd Japanese McDonald’s-esque logo. You can hear her stomach grumble and it looks like she’s drooling at the thought. You want to help her, but how can you order without talking? Can’t hurt to check it out, though.

The place is packed. Freckles keeps close to you. You could try and just snatch food from the people eating in. A worker calls out an order number setting in on the counter. You could just take one of those. Then you see it, a kiosk for ordering, perfect no theft, no talking. You and Freckles grab a booth, and go through Nicole’s purse and Lucas’s wallet counting the cash you have on hand. It doesn’t look like any money you’ve seen before, but at this point that seems to be expected.

The two of you order probably way too much food, but you aren’t about to deny a starving girl food. You sit in silence waiting for your order. You smile and nod when the worker brings out your food. The two of you grab the bags and leave the crowded restaurant.

You find a secluded park bench, Freckles immediately starts digging in the bag, ravenously gorging herself on the fries. You look all around making sure that nobody is around, before talking. “What’s next?” you ask.

She shrugs, unwrapping a burger. “We could get out of the city,” you say, another shrug. “Do you know if hotels will have kiosks like in there?”

She shakes her head. Her instincts still tell her not to talk. “So what’s your real name?” you ask trying to get her talking. She cocks her head, ketchup smeared across her cheek. “I assume it’s not actually Freckles. My name’s Ralph.”

She finished chewing, “Lacey.”

“So, Lacey. What do you think we should do next? Do you know anywhere we can go?”

She frowns, “I… there’s no where to go. They’ll find us, I just wanted food and hope that Lucas doesn’t get me from the pound.”

Your stomach sinks realizing that she didn’t believe in the escape. You shake your head, “We’re going to get away. We’ll find somewhere to hide.” You both freeze when a woman crosses into your view. You weren’t exactly being quiet. “Maybe we should move along.” Lacey follows along, continuing to eat from the bag.

She points, “Dogcatchers.” You see a pair of people getting out of a van with wire loop poles. “Thanks for today,” she says wrapping her arms around you. She’s giving up without a chase. It’s honestly feeling a little hopeless. You hold her tight, but then you see something odd.

In the middle of the park, there is a glowing white doorway. A blinking exit side floating in the air above it. It feels out of place even in this world where nothing seems to be quite right. Whatever it is, it’s got to be better than the dogcatchers.

You break the hug grabbing Lacey’s hand and pulling her along with you. “Stop if we fight they might hurt us.”

“Do you see that?” you ask.

She stutters, “Wh-what is that?” You’re glad she can see it too. You were worried it might just be you going crazy.

The pair of you run at it, looking over your shoulder the dogcatchers are now running towards you. They’re catching up, you’re starting to worry about if you’ll make it. Then an evil thought crosses your mind. You hate that you even thought it, but you could throw Lacey under the bus, buy you enough time to make it through. Could you really do that to her? Maybe it’d be better to run interference for her instead. The door gets closer, as do the dogcatchers. Can the both of you make it?