Walking Past Tinted Windows

....

The four of you arrive at the bus shelter. Keiko and Amelia strike up a conversation on the bench and were chatting away. They got along pretty well you'd say, even though they're both from different groups in school and are completely different types of people.

"Hey, a word?" You say as you take your school bag from Sarah and pull her aside behind the bus shelter. The frosted glass like surface and the large holographic screens keep your conversation somewhat private. Sarah looks up at you and smiles brightly.

"Hehe~ Hullo boss! Whadaya need!? Ohh?~ perhaps an order yah!?~" Sarah says as you reach into your bag and pull out a big wad of cash. Her eyes bulges out at the sight of it.

"Here, I forgot to pay you for last night and the extra 400 is for carrying my bag earlier." You say and quickly hand it over to her. Without hesitation she takes it and quickly pockets the money. Her head swivels around to her sides trying to see if anyone is in the vicinity.

"O-Oh my gosh, thank you." With stars in her eyes she looks up at you in awe.

"Well, spend it well I guess." You say knowing that most of it is going to her and her sister's medication.

"Yessir boss!!!" Sarah says and stands up straight like a soldier in line ready for duty.

"Alright. Go on." You point with your chin and Sarah quickly rejoins the other two. There is a happy hop in her steps.

With a sigh you look over to the kids playground, just a casual scan of the area....huh, that's weird. Was there always a dent there on the swing set bar? Your eyes stare at it weirdly. A dent in the shape of a handprint.

".....odd."

You then spin a little on your feet a little alerted to your surroundings. Looking up and down the street you realize there is a significantly lower amount of cars and people out today. Are you guys just that early? A single black car passes the bus stop and continues on to the stop sign. You follow it with your gaze until it takes a turn and past a few houses down.

"Hey Jun!" Keiko puts a hand onto your shoulder and steps forward from behind you. "Bad news." She says and shows you her phone. On the screen is a news broadcast with the headlines, [BRIDGE LOCKDOWN].

You take the phone from Keiko's hand and look closer. As this happens Amelia and Sarah creep in from your sides. All 4 of you stand there huddled around the phone.

The scene shows a drone's point of view circling the bridge your bus route goes through to get to Sun Academy. A hundred or so men clad in red and white uniforms armed with rifles stand guard at the two ends of the bridge. At the center of it are two land mechs called 'Crawlers' getting their name from the 4 spider like legs they maneuver with. The Sun Corporation 's logo is plastered all over this.

"Well, that's going to be hard getting to school." You comment as the drone changed perspective to another view.

"Why's it on lockdown?" Sarah says as she blinks cluelessly.

"There's a bomb threat in that sector. So they've locked it down." Amelia says looking to her own phone and tapping it quickly trying to find out more information.

"Maaaaaan~ why today? Can't they wait until tomorrow when we don't have school?" Keiko takes her phone from your hand.

"Is school canceled then? Sun Academy is in the next sector over no?" You say looking to Amelia for answers.

"Doesn't say so on the school site." She says scrolling down the page.

"Guess the bus isn't coming then....aaaand that means we have to get to school ourselves." Keiko shrugs.

"That is like....soooo~ annoying." Sarah says and puts a hand onto her hip. "Can't we just like....skip?"

Amelia shakes her head and puts her phone away. "You can skip if you want. But I'm getting to school even if I have to walk. I'm NOT ruining my perfect attendance!" She says and turns away to walk off down the sidewalk.

You look to Keiko and then she shrugs back. "Walking it is then." You say and follow after Amelia. There is no way in hell are you letting her walk alone. The other two simply follow.

"Glad we're early then huh?" Keiko comments as you shake your head.

"It's going to be several hours until we reach the academy."

"Stop talking! I don't want to be late!" Amelia shout as she begins to speed walk.

"Conserve your strength....I don't want to carry you again." You say back to her and only get an annoyed grunt back.

....

About 15 minutes into your walk through the lovely semi-suburban neighborhood you glance towards the street again....a black car passes you. Hands in your pocket you take a deep breath....

"Jun! Piggyback me!" Amelia says walking to you from the front with her hands on her hips.

"Ughh....walk yourself." You make a face at her and she kicks you. "Hurry!"

Keiko of course snickers at you and continues on walking with Sarah. You sigh before lowering yourself and she gets on. A few seconds go on....then she begins to whisper to you.

"....it's that car again."

"....now that you've mentioned it...." You say finally realizing. "Black car, tinted windows right?"

"Yeah." Amelia whispers back and hides her face into your back shoulder. "It's passed several times now and not only that there is a suspicious looking pink and white car that's also been parked on the curb or on driveways nearby.....In about 10 seconds the black car will round the curb up ahead."

10............3, 2, 1....there it is. Like all the other times the car turns and passes you four and continues on.

"Looks like we got stalkers." You say and tighten your grip around Amelia's legs.