Time doors part 2 - gathering

[seesblind]

The shelters were crowded and dimly lit, the stone stairs that took them down into the London Underground seeming to go on forever. It was a situation the residents of the city were used to, most coming with a bundle of woollen blankets clutched in their arms. This wasn’t anyone’s first night in the shelters, at least, it shouldn’t have been.

Corners were staked out, and harsh words exchanged when someone took more space than was rationed. People broke out cold food and finished their dinners, resigned to what had become all too familiar.

It was hard to sleep on the cold hard floors, with so many bodies pressed together. Few managed it, instead they stood together and listened for the rumbles that meant an exploded bomb not far from here. They prayed though prayer hadn’t done much for so many. Everyone wanted to hear the all clear. They wanted to go back to their homes so they could start to pick up the pieces and begin the cycle anew. They hoped that tonight would be the last night down here, but they were sure that it wouldn’t.

Comments

[seesblind]

The problem with this place is Riddick sticks out like a sore thumb. It's dark enough he can keep his goggles off and his eyes narrowed, but there are other things that set him apart than the shine of his eyes. He does his best to slip into the shadows, harder in the crowd. It's still his best defense.

[little_duck]

"So," Prim asks the huge man, her own tiny frame finding it much easier to pick out nooks and crannies in the shelter, "are you from Darrow too?"

She already knows the answer, and knows that if he is from Darrow, then he isn't from Darrow at all. It's possibly just a stopping point.

To where?

[seesblind]

"As much as you are," he says, knowing who she is only because Fry pointed her out. "Darrow and a couple places before that. Maybe this place is just the next. You're Prim, right?"

[little_duck]

She nods, even finding a smile. Unsurprisingly, she's comforted to have him around. Hanna will protect her, but this man, he should be able to keep Hanna from being harmed.

"Primrose Everdeen," she says, and sticks out her hand.

[seesblind]

“Riddick. Richard Riddick.” He gives both the names for once, something he rarely bothers with. Her hand is small in his, and it reminds him far too much of Jack, the same way Hanna reminds him of Kyra. Same person, but two separate memories, both of them depending on Riddick in a way he wasn’t prepared for. “You been anywhere like this before?”

[little_duck]

"It reminds me of home," she says, thinking mostly of that night they'd fled, of standing in the Capitol for the first time with the bombs going off. "But I didn't do too well there, so maybe this time...."

She shakes her head, withdrawing her hand. "I have to make it back to my sister in Darrow."

[seesblind]

There's no reason for him to get home with Fry here. She's the only person he's responsible for in Darrow. At least, she was before they ended up in this place. Now there's Hanna and apparently Prim. "Yeah? Well, we'll get you back."