Location-Casino-Luke & Misc. Work Camp Refugees
"To freedom!"
Yells of exillaration boomed in the Casino, drowning out the blaring radio and many of the other conversations. Crashes of glass hitting each other as the people sitting at the table toasted each other. Luke raised his shot glass in the air.
A girl with bushy shocking gold hair, stepped on the table, her tattered red leather boots peeling as she jumped on the table.
"To being back home again!" she cried.
Even louder yells and whoops of joy, Luke smiled bemused at the bartender who looked disapproving at the rowdy group, hesitant to step in and tell them to stop. They were probably one of the last groups from the Techno work camp to return home, but they were one of the farthest away. The girl, who was known as Kitty, stepped down the table and sat next to Luke who was looking on at the jubilaion, basking in it.
"So, where are ya goin'" Kitty drawled, draping an arm around Luke's shoulder.
Luke shrugged, a bit uncomfortable with Kitty's forwardness. She had always liked and openly flirted with him, but she made sure that Luke knew that it was just a game to her. Kitty was not going to be anyone's pet, she was her own master. "I'm not sure," he replied in a low voice. "I don't have anywhere to go..."
Liar. Luke frowned inwardly. You have the mall.
"Well," Kitty leaned her head on Luke's shoulder playfully. "Why don't ya follow me and the guys. We're going to start our own tribe!"
Luke raised an eyebrow in surprise. A new tribe, you didn't see that everyday. Kitty would be the leader of course, she would make a good leader. She's brave and she cares about everyone here...maybe it will be a good idea to take her up on her offer...he thought.
"I don't know..." Luke replied slowly. "I still have to..."
"Unfinished business huh?" Kitty inserted. "Oh I see..."
Luke sense a hint of disappointment in her voice. He had never told anyone in the group his story, of how he was once one of the 'bad guys'. They had all probably experienced the rule of the Chosen, and they would hate him if they knew of how close he was to the Guardian.
If they didn't kill him first.
"Sorry Kitty," he sighed.
Kitty punched him in the shoulder. "You shouldn't be sorry!" she insisted. "If I had anywhere else to go, I'd go. But these guys are the only friends I have."
The golden haired girl gestured at the group of people who were busy celebrating their return to the city. A flash of thoughtfulness entered her face but was gone the next instant.
Luke rose out of his seat. He knew that if he didn't go now, he wouldn't go ever again. The mall and the past was waiting for him. He had to face it if he was ever going to move on. "I've got to go,"
Kitty stood up as well and embraced him. "Look, if ya ever need a place to crash," her expression softened. "Find us, you'll always have a place with our tribe."
Luke gave her a grateful look. "Thank you."
Kitty pushed him away from the booth. "Now go!" she yelled. "Ya have people waitin' for ya!"
Luke smiled and then walked out of the Casino and into the streets. He knew where he had to go.
The mall...