Chapter Five:

Lotus did in fact remain silent as she followed Five throughout the city. She had no idea where they were going or why he decided to yank her into an alleyway to hide from something. They hid in the shadows, waiting for who knew what.

"What are we hiding from?" She asked eventually sitting on the ground, her back was leaning up against a dumpster. Five ignored her flopping down across from her. Apparently he must've thought they were safe because he suddenly seemed to relax a bit.

"Nobody." He told her watching her, "We're just waiting for dusk."

"And why is that?"

He shrugged his thin shoulders, "I like the dark."

She snorted, "Mm, of course someone like you would say something like that."

He never responded but Lotus grew uncomfortable at his steady gaze seemed to never leave her face. She frowned, "Why is your name Number Five?"

He sighed, "The old man bought seven of the Forty-Three children and I was lucky number five."

Lotus' brows scrunched together, "He just numbered you and your siblings off?"

Five nodded, "Grace— our mom, gave everyone their names but I was gone by then so... I'm still just Five."

The wind had died down but now just an odd chill settled in the air. The ground beneath her was somehow wet now and she shifted uncomfortably, she heard a chuckle from across from her.

"The dumpster is leaking something."

Lotus turned to see a dark coloured liquid drip from behind her, she grimaced and moved so she sat next to Five instead of across from him. This way her back wasn't against anything and nothing mysterious could stain her new shirt.

"Where are we going?" She asked, "Are you going to tell me what exactly I'm helping you with?"

"Saving humanity."

A snort escaped her mouth, a noise she made quite a lot. "Can't you do that with your superhero family?"

"No." He was quick to answer, "I saw their dead bodies when I traveled to the future. Though, I didn't see you which brings a new equation to the table."

"You do realize I was probably dead somewhere else in this city?"

"Regardless you're here now." He told her getting up, "We should go now, the sun will set soon."

Lotus pulled herself up after him, "Can I at least know where we're going right now?"

"We're going to a department store."

"Why?"

He smiled, an actual genuine one. "We're getting Delores."

"Who?"

He glanced at her, smile fading. "Nobody. You don't need to worry about it."

They walked in silence for about two or three blocks, nobody making any conversation as they left the busy part of the city and entered a suburb. The sun had almost set completely and the streets lights all flashed on. Lotus grinned breathing in the nights air, enjoying being outside.

"Tell me about yourself."

Lotus gave Five a weird look, "What?"

He shrugged, "I'm just trying to make conversation."

She nodded slowly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable once again. "I don't know what to tell you."

Five sent her his famous glare, "Family? You actually had a mother, so what was she like?"

"Died when I was a teenager." Lotus shrugged, "Never had a dad. That reason has become shockingly clear from information you and your family have been giving me. There's nothing else, really."

"Where did you go after she died?"

"Lived on the streets. Slept in alleyways, stole food and money whenever I had the chance. It felt like it was only me in the world." She laughed at the last part, "But without the fire and destroyed buildings."

"I'm sorry about your mom."

"I'm sorry you had to live in the future all alone." She looked over at him, his features seeming relaxed as he watched the ground. "I'm sure it was hard."

"I can't even describe it." He met her gaze, "But I know I don't want to go through it again."

Lotus nodded along even though they both knew she had no idea what exactly he was talking about. But she didn't have time for questions as they walked up to an empty, dark department store. She heard the air crackle and the next thing she knew Five was on the inside, he disappeared in the store and came back moments later and unlocked both sets of doors. She walked in and watched as he slipped a flash light from his pocket and clicked it on. Lotus followed as he made a beeline for a display of mannequins. He stopped and shone a light on the one in the middle, a smile spreading on his face.

"Delores."

Lotus watched, biting back a laugh. Five must've heard before the smile slid from his face as he turned to look at her, his scowl back. "What."

"Delores is a mannequin?" She questioned, amusement dancing behind her eyes. "You have a crush on a piece of plastic?"

He glared, turning back to face Delores. "Not a crush." He told her, "We were together for thirty years."

Lotus opened her mouth to say something else when a loud metal clang broke her of her focus, both her and Five found the source of the noise. Two figures stood in the centre of an aisle, both wearing children's masks as they loaded large guns. Her eyes widened as they started shooting, she felt hands grab her arm and yank her into another aisle.

"Shit." He mumbled staring out, gasping as another set of shots rang out and Delores came crashing down, split in the middle. He waited until the store went quiet before rushing out, attempting to dodge bullets as he grabbed the mannequin and threw himself back towards Lotus.

"Who are these people?" She asked, he only shook his head motioning for her to run. They snuck through the aisle of clothing until one of the two masked people turned on them and he zapped away. Lotus cursed under her breath as she ran as fast she could. She heard the gunfire as she threw herself behind a shelf, slowly trying to get herself towards the front doors. She heard another crackle of air and turned to see Five, "C'mon." He told her as he darted out down the middle. Her eyes widened as she watched him disappear again. Lotus closed her eyes and actually prayed, she took a deep breath and ran across the opening as well, sneaking down another aisle before stopping to see Five appear in front of her once again.

"Is it you that they want?" She whispered, he nodded with a scowl on his face.

"I have an idea." She said grabbing ahold of his hand. She closed her eyes, feeling the same sensation go through her before she heard him say, "Brilliant."

He grunted closing his own eyes before peeling them open, a fearful expression on his face. "You can't travel?"

He shook his head, "We need to get out of here. Now."

Lotus jumped up and ran back across the open area, hearing rounds of bullets hit the ground. Five must of been spotted as well because she could hear a woman's voice ask her partner if they were seeing two of the same kid. She rushed and slid on the ground, trying to get back towards the front doors, or any exit, truthfully. Lotus saw Five across from her, sweat trickling down his forehead. He was staring at the the opposite end, she knew he was looking at the damn mannequin. Lotus grunted before making her way towards it, seeing Five appear once again in front of Delores as he nabbed her and threw her across the store, landing behind the store counter.

Five took off running, jumping over a wall of metal. Lotus shook her head but scrambled after him, throwing herself over the same wall. She yelped as something pierced her shoulder.

"Damn it." She groaned feeling Five's appearance disappear, she held her shoulder as she spotted the boy motioning her forward. Five grabbed ahold of her and shoved her behind the check out counter before scrambling back out into the open. He stared down the centre of the store at the two strangers as sirens echoed in the distance. The two strangers looked away briefly and that's when she heard the thump of Five's weight beside her.

"Shit." He mumbled eyes widening as her white shirt clouded with blood. He slumped to the floor, back leaning up against the wall as he stared in front of him. The sirens grew closer and he jumped back up again, peeking to make sure they were gone. "We need to get back to the house."

"Yeah, no shit." She glared at him, "Look what you did."

Five only rolled his eyes, the panicked expression never leaving his face.

"Can you walk?"

"Yes I can walk." She huffed throwing herself up, "It's my shoulder, not my legs. Dumbass."

His eyes widened but he picked up the mannequin they had come to get and stared at her. "You're incredibly snarky when you've been shot."

Lotus opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately decided to shut it. She frowned as she began walking around the desk, "When you're shot next, I'll make sure to check your attitude."

He rushed up next to her, leading the way. They escaped through a set of back doors, both running into the night.

"I don't get shot." He told her, the edge back in his voice. But Lotus only snorted biting back the pain and gave him one good stern look, "Yes you will. Because it will be me holding the damn thing."

He looked at her as if she was joking, but Lotus had never been more serious in her life.