MIME (book one of MIME)

Chapter Twenty Six

Cry Baby ran in, instantly taking cover behind a white, two-story building.
She was now between the east wall and the white building.
It had to be the conference building, Cry Baby remembered the whole area of DEMA.
Her heart was racing at a nonhuman speed.
Or at least that's what it felt like.
The hole in her chest only seemed to open wider.
She was going to explode with anxiety.
She was on the verge of crying and breaking down but she couldn't.
That's giving up and Cry Baby would not give up.

Cry Baby walked with her back pressed against the wall, coming up to a door.
A sign was above it.
It said:

CONFERENCE ROOM

She was right.

Her shaky hand tightened on the doorknob, she twisted it lightly and it opened easily.
It was very dark inside, the windows were shut and curtains that were black hung over them.
It smelt like burning wood.
To Cry Baby's left was a staircase that was collapsed into the ground.
Dust was everywhere, she was inhaling it, making her cough.
There were three circular tables in the room, none of them had chairs.

Cry Baby turned her back and walked out of the room.
No one seemed to be in there.
She needed to figure out where the dorms were.
That's where everyone stayed.
All of the "prisoners".
Feeling super nauseous, Cry Baby ran behind a bunch of white buildings.
She spotted a dead Bishop between two buildings.
She didn't dare get any closer to them, fearing they were maybe faking being dead.

Many screams came around her.
Some very far away and some very close.
Cry Baby gulped, looking down the alley where the Bishop was.
On the other side she saw people running around, military men and citizens of DEMA.
They were rescuing other people.
The stress lessened on Cry Baby.
People were escaping.

"Hey, what're you doing? Let's get you out of here!"
A voice Cry Baby didn't recognize shouted at her from behind.
She jumped up, turning around instantly.
Some of her messy hair got caught in her mouth.
Her eyes couldn't handle what she had seen.
She reached out to touch the person in front of her.
Their hand grabbed hers.
Half of their face was covered by a bandana.
But she could see who it was.
A Bandito.
She looked them up and down, concentrating on everything they were wearing.
Yellow tape wrapped around their left knee, tape was on their chest, creating an X shape over their heart.
They had their hood on but under that was a black beanie.
It wasn't just a Bandito.

"Josh!"
Cry Baby said very loudly.
Then Josh realized who he was talking to.
He dropped her hand and ran into her body, almost making her fall, giving her the tightest hug he'd ever given someone.
"Cry Baby..."
He mumbled, shocked and very surprised.
He was curious about how he hadn't recognized her at first with her colored hair.
He pulled down his yellow bandana from his face.
"You're alive, you're okay."
Cry Baby felt relieved.
Her little arms would not let go of him.
She didn't even realize that she was crying.
This wasn't the typical Josh, though.
Cry Baby felt his arms leave her body; she pulled out of the hug.
He no longer had that dark redness around his eyes.

"I'm so glad I found you. I can't believe you're still alive."
Josh said.
There were tears piling up in his eyes.
The hole in Cry Baby's chest seemed to get smaller.
It no longer ached as much.
But there was still pain there.
"You're a Bandito... I can't believe that..."
Cry Baby backed away, trying to take everything in.
"There's a story behind it... Let's hide you, though."
Josh started walking but noticed Cry Baby wasn't following.
"Josh, I'm helping. I'm getting people out of here."
Cry Baby's palms got wet.
"That's not safe. You can't get hurt."
Josh walked back to her.