273 looks around confused. He shrugs to himself and starts to head up the ladder.
Harriet follows 273, cautiously.
The pair moves up to the roof with a quick shimmy. Over the trees, they can see city ahead is in a slight depression in the land-they can make out the general layout of Seaside from here...patchwork suburbia, marble and glass city center, a large park, and a sprawling commercial area. No doubt there were, in better days, more tourists residing here than citizens. Far to the west, they can just make out the California beachline, stretching on and on, with what is no doubt a docking area-beach access is in walking distance of the town. And, smaller self service and roadside buildings on some of the side roads.
It's too far away to make out any specifics of these sights. At least without binoculars.
----
"Cuff away, fella, but mind my nails, would you?"
Ebony sighed. This wasn't the first time in her life she'd been kidnapped, but this was still quite exasperating.
The figure from behind you grunts.
"Jus' hol' still, ma'am." Says a soft, Southern inflected voice.
In a few moments, Ebony is placed on the ground and feels a pair of shackles settle on her wrists behind her back...and, then a pair of shackles snap around her ankles, completing a full body restraint. A little bit of chain rattling tells her both sets of cuffs are connected to a single chain between them. To his credit, it's all done gently enough, with no extra attention paid to sexual harassment.
Ebony earned a status effect!Fully Restrained=Ebony's legs and arms are tied up. She can scarcely act or move without great difficulty.
"...Now that's done, we c..."The silence is broken by a sudden pained scream.
Docs voice. The Leader finally seems to show a bit of surprise, though it doesn't last long.
"...Shit! What now...Johnathan, watch her, will you? We'll be back in a moment."They dash into the forest, moving in a combat crouch. Ebony studies the concrete her face is planted in. It's not very exciting. When she raises her head, she notices her guard is paying no attention to her whatsoever, instead looking after the runners.
----
((well at this point I think I can get away with making as much noise as possible ))
Doc gives out a blood-curdling scream. That hurt!
WODEFUYOODOOTHAFA!?
Doc can hear the feet getting closer.
Thank goodness, the Cavalry has arrived!
Unfortunately, it's the enemy Cavalry...two boys come out of the brush in similar garb and arms to the young girl. Doc realizes with a sinking feeling that they are all about the same age. Only the leader-he knows it's the leader by how the girl turns so quickly to him, seeking reassurance, and how he projects an aura of command about him...
"...What happened?""...I...I...I told him not to move! He...tried...had a gun in his hand..." She says, obviously flustered. She sounds on the verge of tears. Doc might feel a bit more sympathetic in any other situation...
The young leader steps forward, embracing the girl, calming her down.
"Just relax. All that matters is that you're ok, Janey. Where's his gun? And, how bad is he hurt...hell, I don't know..."He finally takes a closer look at doc, kneeling down. Up close, he can see the man is no more than a boy, one with a Hell of a weight on his shoulders and a grim determination in his eyes. He notes the wound with a detached look.
"...It doesn't look fatal. You're not bleeding too badly. Just relax, sir..." He says, not sounding very confident in that.
His voice hardens, in what is no doubt a practiced speech.
"...there's neither the time nor the inclination for us to help you. I guess you volunteer as messenger. We know you're in a large group. We counted. They'll be back to help you soon enough, I'm sure. Just stay conscious and listen to me, if you ever want to see your friend again.
We have one of yours. We don't intend to hurt her. No harm will come to her as long as you leave us alone. We forage in the city and forest as well. So, if you see our people, swing wide around. We took one of you here, and we can take you anytime we like. Remember that. I assume you want her back, so listen close-at sunset tomorrow, you're going to make sure there's at least five days worth of food and water in the parking lot of the Big Big Burger up the road. And that's the place where you'll find her, the day afterwards, at sunset. You show us respect for passing through our territory. Don't try to screw us. Don't try to trick us. We have eyes everywhere, and we know these woods in and out. If you don't do exactly as I say...she'll...stay with us"Judging by his last words, Doc has a feeling the plan somewhat falls apart at what happens if you don't do as they say.
In any case, he turns more conversational in his parting volley.
"...I'm sorry my sister shot you, mister. She didn't mean it. She has trouble killing rabbits...I guess your gun just...freaked her out. Scared her. So we can still make this work, right? You'll tell them it was an accident. Won't you?"The other boy goes to retrieve Docs gun from the bushes, and the leader stays crouched, and Doc has to decide what to do.