Mark fell asleep within a few minutes. The sky had become slightly golden, and the cool breeze was relaxing. He let himself forget his ordeal and fell into slumber, however brief.
"Wake up, wake up, someone is approaching."
Mark responded sluggishly at first, thinking that he was in his bed, but when he saw the nearly twilight sky, he remembered where he really was. He sprang to his feet quickly, only to be betrayed by the wind that had provided comfort just moments ago as it blew around his bare legs under his skirt. To Mark, it felt very unnatural, and the fact that the air was much colder than before didn't help things. He turned to Alexandria who was scanning the streets below from the edge of roof.
"Who is it?"
"I don't know, it's another strong signal, I can't see the person yet."
She stepped back from the fence and jolted to the other side of the building.
"It's not the same one as before, he went off that way."
She ran back to the previous side.
"I don't think we've been discovered yet. The signal isn't taking a consistent path, its just weaving through the streets."
"What should we.."
She grabbed Mark's arm
"We need to investigate this. We'll go down to street level and follow the signal. As long as we don't draw attention to ourselves, we should be able to appear like normal pedestrians. In case anything happens, just let me talk so we don't end up contradicting each other. Just act like I'm your father and you are my daughter."
"Uh, r-right."
She lead him to the ladder, and they both climbed down the side of the building until they reached the fire escape and entered the alley where Mark first woke up.
"Wait. That way!"
Alexandria tugged Mark to the end of the alley, then let go of his arm.
"Remember, blend in. Stay behind me."
Mark assured he would do so with a nod. The two of them strolled out onto the sidewalk. For a city, it was empty. On a few people were passing by. There were no cars, driving or parked. Alexandria walked toward the end of the block, passing the tall brown building that they had come down from. As only she could sense the signal, Mark was suspicious of everyone he saw. An older woman suddenly crossed the road from the middle of block, looking as if she might come up to Mark and Alexandria. Mark couldn't help but nervously shift his look between Alexandria and the woman, and only became calm when she walked behind them and headed away.
Alexandria tapped Mark's shoulder at the corner, his attention had drifted to someone else. The two of them crossed the street and walked past a few more buildings before coming across a small fountain surrounded by some benches and a few trees. Walking on the stone path through the park was a boy who looked around 15. He seemed lost; his gate was very slow, and he kept turning his head, glancing everywhere.
"That's him."
Mark turned around and leaned on the black fence partially enclosing the fountain area.
"Now what? Are we just going to go ask him if he's sane or another fist happy idiot?"
Alexandria pushed Mark toward a bush and hid with him.
"Only one of us should confront him until we know what he is like. If he becomes hostile, the onlooker will attack him, then we escape. Since you don't know how to use your abilities yet, you are going to have to talk to him. I don't have any ideas on what you should say."
Mark though about it for a moment, then ran off after the boy. Alexandria didn't appreciate his hastiness.
"Wait! What are you going to do?" She whispered.
Mark just waved his hand at her, signaling not to worry and dashed off. From a distance, Alexandria tailed him, already using her mental ability to enhance her awareness. The boy walked straight past the fountain and turned down the adjacent street. It looked like a more secluded area, so Mark made his move.
"Um, excuse me."
The boy just kept going as if he hadn't heard. Mark came up from behind and grabbed his shoulder.
"Hello, sorry to pester you but, I just lost my, uh, contact. Can you help me find it?"
The boy turned around, his face visibly concealing anger. Mark jumped back a little startled.
"Uh, um, I'm really sorry, but, ah, I need to find it! Please?"
The boy only stared at the girl who had approached him, who was now twiddling her thumbs. Then he made a fleeting expression with his eyes.
"Where is your other lens?"
"I, I'm wearing it."
The boy walked past Mark and took a few steps toward the fountain park he had just exited.
"You lost it here?"
"Around here, I just noticed it was missing."
Mark laughed nervously, but the boy made no response. As Mark began to feel more and more awkward, he noticed that the boy had begun to sweat lightly.
"Are you OK?"
He turned around.
"Hmmm? It's nothing, you have a tissue or something?"
Mark dug his hands into his skirt's pockets and turned them inside out.
"Sorry, nothing."
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