Blackout Part 2

“I’m Serena,” she told him, handing it over.

“Vas.” He replied, slipping back on his boot. Vas's fingers felt stiff and he tied it. “So … where … is here?” He asked looking at the sunglasses.

“I don’t think the alley has a name,” Serena shrugged, “But it’s behind Jesmond Street.”

Vas gave her a blank look. “What …. City?” He hedged.

Serena raised an eyebrow. “The Sprawl? Are you lost or somethin?”

“Yes.” Vas said with a nod. “Follow up question … What's the Sprawl?”

Serena scoffed. “Right. A Jagg that doesn’t know the sprawl? You raid it all the time.”

“Told you I ain’t a Jagg.” Vas reminded putting ont he sunglasses she scrunching his nose as it settled.

“You were gonna shoot me for a boot. That sounds like a Jagg to me.” She accused, picking up her backpack.

“Not a boot. My boot. That you took off my foot. Stole. The boot you stole.” Vas said curtly looking around. Feeling like he was missing something.

Serena looked around too, not sure what they were looking for. “Still kind of a Jagg MO.” she told him. “An’ I didn’t steal it. You were dead.”

“Clearly I wasn't, otherwise I would still be on the ground … probably bootless. Hence why you almost got shot.” Vas said with a snort.

“So what are you, if you’re not a Jagg?” She asked, slinging the pack over her shoulders.

Vas opened his mouth. Closed it and opened it again. “I … uh …” He started the word fumbling. He patted his chest. Dog tag. He fished them out. “.... Hellhound?”

Serena took a surprised step back with a small, sharp gasp.”Bullshit,” she whispered.

Vas looked down at his dog tags. “That's what the tag says.” He said matter of factly.

Serena looked at him with raised eyebrows. “Then what are you doing in the sprawl?” She asked, her voice full of suspicion.

“I … “ He paused. “... don't know? I might be lost.” Vas admitted his surroundings. “I still don't know what the Sprawl is.” He reminded.

“I told you, this is the Sprawl. It’s kinda like a city, I guess. An’ no Hellhound’s come here, not ever. Most people don’t even think they’re real,” she scoffed. “But everyone’s heard of ‘em mostly. They’re hunters, that’s what I heard.”

Vas looked at his tag again. “Uh hu.” He said just nodding along. “Sure. Okay. Doesn't explain why I'm here. Armed.” He patted his vest again and fished around in a pocket. “With grenades.” He said pulling one out of a pocket. “Hmm.” He said inspecting it.

“On account of you’re lost. Didja hit your head or something?” She asked, digging around in her pack for an apple. “Trade ya,” she offered, holding it out. “It’s red even, the best kind of apple.”

Vas seriously considered the trade. But also considered what given a grenade to a kid might do. “Uh. No. I'm not trading a grenade to you …” He paused. “... safety concerns.” He added pocketing it. “Which way is out?” He asked.

Serena shrugged. “I guess it depends on where you want to go.”

“Out … Not here … I dunno … Mexico …” Vas waved a hand in the air futilely trying to grasping where the hell he was supposed to be going.

“You wanna go to Mexico?” She asked, scratching the back of her head.

“Alaska’s cold.” Vas said as if they was a perfect justification.

“It’s also kinda far.” She told him. “Are you just gonna walk?”

“Yes.” He motioned to his boot. “That is what feet and boots are for.”

“You could walk farther without boots weighing you down,” she said, trying to sound convincing.

“That would defeat the point of the boots now wouldn't it.” Vas said dryly.

“Worth a shot,” she told him, offering him the apple. “I can get you out if you want.”

Vas took the apple. “Yea?” He asked skeptical breaking it clean in half and handing back half.

“Yep,” she said, taking the half apple.

“I’m not giving you my boots.” Vas said flatly.

“Unless you’re dead. We made a deal,” she reminded him. “I have dibs.”

“Unless I'm dead.” Vas nodded crunching into his half of the apple.