Young Writers Society

"I'm not saying you're an idiot," Emily said, "just wondering if you'd ever been on a bike before. It's fine, really, you should have seen the first time I saw a sewing machine. I think it was somewhere in the mid 1900s and my friend got their hands on one from this shop these hunters chased them into, it's long story. Anyway, my hair was shorter than it is now and I STILL got it stuck in the needle. I can't remember if we had to disassemble it or not, either way I had to get a haircut."

She laughed and rolled her eyes, finding a candy bar in one of her pockets and taking a bite.

"It's nothing personal," Nubes said. While Lunis fixated on the sweet-smelling bar in Emily's hand, Nubes kept on stroking Lunis's fur. "He's just a bit embarrassed, is all. I suppose you're at least decent at riding a bike, thanks to a little practice? And I cannot say I'm familiar with a sewing machine either, but I can imagine how uncomfortable that would be."

She laughed, "Yeah, I get my hair caught in stuff all the time, always have, I think. Are you sure you don't want to get up? I don't mean to worry you, but none of use still know where we are or how we got here. What I mean is, we don't know if we're in danger or not."

Letting out another rumble, Lunis stared at the floor. "I don't know. If there's anyone or anything watching, they're not going to take me seriously. I'm not taking me seriously - I look like an idiot."

Emily smiled, "Use it as an advantage then," she said, quietly enough for only those present to hear, "I looked like an idiot when I accidentally broke into that hunters base back in the nineteen twenties, but there were no survivors by the nights end. It's all a matter how willing you are to run with what you have."

"I-" began Lunis, raising a paw. He paused. Hng, that was actually a good point.

"If it helps any," Nubes said, "The first time I tried to kill you, I thought you were an idiot who was remarkably easy to ply with alcohol, but you managed to surprise me regardless.
Had I not underestimated you, you might have been in trouble."

The panther pulled his head up. "That makes me feel so much better," he said, rolling his eyes. He still started to crawl out from under the bike.

"Glad you're feeling better about yourself," Emily laughed, ignoring the sarcasm, "Now, how about we figure out what's going on, yeah?"

She turned to the rows of storefronts and gave them another pass with her eyes. Still nothing. She sighed and walked up the wall.

With a little help from Nubes's outstretched paw, Lunis squeezed his way out of the bike and stood up. The panther immediately turned around, putting the helmet back on his head and lifting the bike up.

"This thing might be useful," Lunis said, before Nubes could respond. The leopard knew that meant I'd like to learn how to ride this thing because I think it looks cool, and I need some excuse so Emily doesn't say I'm carrying around dead weight. Whatever made Lunis happy.

The panther took a step forward, then looked up. "She's walking on the walls," he said.

"She's a vampire - it's what she does," Nubes replied, walking past Lunis. Cupping a paw over his mouth, the leopard called after her, "Are you looking for anything in particular?"

"People," Emily answered, "When in doubt, always look for the people."

She went further up the wall and looked out into the distance, still seeing nothing. She huffed in frustration, "What kind of mall doesn't hire a night staff?" she wondered aloud.

"I'm okay with no people," Lunis said. He walked up to one of the storefronts, set his bike next to the gate, and lifted the gate up. A minute later, he walked back out, a few golden necklaces around his neck. The panther also lugged a small bag over his shoulder; its contents shook and clinked together as he walked.

"I believe that's theft," said Nubes.

Grabbing one of the handlebars and pulling the bike alongside him, Lunis shrugged. "So?" he said. "Every time we get dropped in some weird world, it's always some abandoned place nobody cares about. Even if this one isn't abandoned, I don't think they'll miss some jewelry."

Emily shook her head, "You know most of the stuff they sell in places like this are super cursed, right? Witches hang out around these places a lot, so stuff gets hexed, usually the jewels."

Lunis looked over his shoulder at his bag and grimaced. "I don't know what hexes or curses are, but do you think those would still be around if I took this stuff to a world where curses don't exist?"