Chapter Eight:

They didn't drive far, just towards the other side of the city. Five parked across from the Meritech building they had been at before with Klaus, when they demanded a file from a man named Lance. The van was a bit out of sight, but not suspicious enough for anyone to grow weary. They sat there for ten minutes in silence until Five reached around and unzipped his bag, pulling out Delores and placing her between them.

"Sorry you were in there for so long, Delores."

Lotus snapped her attention onto the scene unfolding in front of her.

"No, I'm not drunk." He said staring at the mannequin, "I'm working."

She watched carefully, wondering how to dissect the situation. Oh my god, she thought. He's having a conversation with a mannequin.

"Yes it's about the eye thing." He was still staring, "This is the place it was made. Or— will be made. We just have to wait."

He turned and focused his attention on the building. Lotus pursed her lips, wondering how to bring up any conversation at this point. She went to open her mouth to say something when he shifted in his seat, looking back over at Delores.

"Who, Lotus?" He questioned, "She's just a friend."

"Oh!" Lotus laughed, "I thought we were just acquaintances."

He clicked his tongue, looking back out the windshield. "I got you shot. I think that makes us friends."

When Lotus showed no more signs of amusement, he moved his body so he sat oddly on the seat, facing her with a glare. She matched his look, "What? Are you looking for a better reaction?" She asked, a faint smile flickering on her face. "Am I supposed to be honoured that you called me your friend?"

"No."

"Well, good. Though it seems I'm the first." She gave him a quick nod, "You still ain't gettin' one."

"I already did."

Lotus scoffed and wrapped a loose hand around Delores who was propped up between them, "Do you believe this?" She looked down at the mannequin, "I don't know how you stand this kid."

"Hey." He snapped ripping her from her grasp, "Don't touch her."

Lotus watched as he carefully placed her in the back, pushing her out of reach. He then shifted so his back was against the seat again, staring out. She frowned, his moods seemed to change every second. Lotus didn't know how to talk to him, he didn't seem to want to be talked to at all, at least for not to long.

"Are you ok?"

"Excuse me?"

She tucked her legs onto the seat and turned to face him, "You said you were stuck in the future for decades?"

He nodded, slowly meeting her gaze.

"Did anyone ask if you were ok? " she asked, "Or ask how it was?"

"Vanya did."

Lotus pursed her lips, "Do you wanna talk about it?"

He huffed, glaring at her once again. He threw his hands up, landing back in his lap with a thud.

"C'mon. You seem pretty distressed and all. Plus, I think it would help if I knew what the hell is going on. You know, so I don't get shot again?" She poked him, "And I'd also like to know about the eyeball. I mean, it seems pretty important. You carry it around in your pocket, which I feel is quite weird—"

"There's nothing to talk about."

She squinted at him, "Hmm?"

People walked back and fourth in front of the van, all following the sidewalk. Lotus rolled up the window, watching a small child fall onto their knees. A woman came out of nowhere and picked the child right up, holding them tightly against her body. Across the street, a teenager stumbled aimlessly down the street while a homeless man stood on a corner holding a sign up, asking for money and food.

"How bad was it?" Lotus asked still watching the homeless man, "Being all alone for that long?"

Five sighed, she felt the hesitation. "I— I don't even know how to describe it. That feeling right after I realized I couldn't get back, that I screwed everything up."

"How old were you when you got stuck?"

"Thirteen." She broke her gaze from the homeless man and met Five's from the driver seat. "Shit." She mumbled.

"Yah." He laughed, "And upon further discovery, I found my families bodies buried under bricks! The eye was gripped in Luther's hand, I figured the owner of the eye is who causes the end of the world."

"How did you survive?"

"Instinct. Year's passed and I thought I was going crazy, I probably had gone crazy at that point. I was having conversations with myself, seeing people everywhere." He told her, "I couldn't trust myself, not really."

"And the mannequin?"

He sighed, "I don't know. I was going mad, and then I found something that looked like a person. I mean, at first I thought I had come across another dead body, but then I realized it was a mannequin. It looked so real, like... I—"

"You finally had a face to match the voice in your head."

He cocked his head slightly to the side and squinted at her, "Yeah. I guess."

Lotus shook her head, as if shaking away their serious conversation. She looked back to where Delores sat, "Her head is awfully shiny. And her shirt could be changed to something more in style?"

A smile flickered on Five's face, "I don't think it's that bad."

Lotus snorted, "Says the person who has been isolated from humanity for... like ever."

"Yah, yah." He nodded, smile slowly fading. He gripped the eye in his hand as he gaze found the Meritech building once again. "Don't remind me".

She pursed her lips, "Sorry."

"Don't apologize." He told her, "It's nothing you could've stopped."

The van fell back into silence as they both watched the building closely, though Lotus still had no idea what they were exactly looking for, she still made sure she was watching. They sat in silence for around ten minutes until Lotus grew tired of just watching, she crossed her arms and leaned towards Five, "What exactly are we waiting for?"

The boy's only response was holding his hands against his face before his head landed on the horn, making Lotus and few stray pedestrians jump at the loud, abrupt noise.

So much for being sneaky.