Playground

Orei ventured onto the leaf-covered sidewalks and hyper-analyzed everything she saw while her friend led the way towards the town's centre. Her friend constantly checked behind her to make sure that Orei didn't fall behind too much, always making sure that she was atleast 3 meters from her. 

For Orei, the thoughts coursing through her head were that the town hadn't changed a bit since she locked herself up in her house. The neighbors had the same ornaments they always used to have. She remembered everything, from the stone statues of her neighbors to the doghouse where a rapid dog lived. The once barking angry terrier that terrorized her when she was a kid was no longer in that doghouse; it was completely empty.

As Jecca finally made it to the town with Orei, they decided to take a quick break at the park. It was a park that Orei barely had memories of because they had renovated so much. All the swings and slides had been replaced and there were kids she had never seen in her life there.

"You know, this is a detour, if we go through this park we can immediately reach the plaza!"

Orei hesitantly stepped over the playground trying to avoid getting sand into her shoes. But even if she tried her best to balance her feet on the sand, there was always some sand in her shoes. 

She bent over to empty her shoes of the uncomfortable rocks inside but then heard Jecca's voice call out her name as she was walking away from her.

Not wanting to be left behind, Orei stopped trying to empty her shoes and instead pursued her friend. 

Jecca suddenly stopped and yelled out at someone. 

Trying to see what was occurring, Orei jogged up towards her friend and saw how she stared intensely at something.

"Leave him alone, Abby!" Jecca screeched.

Orei turned around the corner of the park and amongst the playing kids were teenagers around the same age as Orei and Jecca. They all surrounded a boy who was sitting on the ground with his kneecaps bleeding. 

"Tch, not you again." 

A girl with long blonde hair, her hair cascaded down from her scalp like a waterfall of gold and had two blue sparkling butterfly clips. She wore rough ripped-up clothing with piercings all over her ears. Stomping her feet she marched towards Jecca being up and personal with her. 

"Leave this matter Jecca. This has nothing to do with you."

With disappointed eyes that drooped down onto the ground, Jecca told her that Maro wouldn't want to see her like this. The moment Abby heard this she turned ballistic, telling Jecca if she wanted a fight that she would get one. 

Abby shoved Jecca with rapid eyes piercing into her soul. 

Jecca immediately stood up and told Abby to just let Leto who was kneeling on the ground watching the altercation. 

Abby's eyes shifted slowly towards Leto who jumped up as he felt her gaze fall upon him.

"Guys, let's send these annoying idiots away."

Her gang of hooligans slowly approached Jecca, they had tattoos, and piercings, some wearing punk clothes. Some of them were cracking their knuckles as their heavy steps neared. Before they reached Jecca Abby's arm flew out, halting their advancement.

"I take it back, I wanna handle this myself."

Orei who had been standing there by the sidelines finally got noticed by Abby.

"Looks like you finally decided to leave that house."

Jecca immediately snapped, telling Abby to leave Orei out of this matter. 

"I say whatever I want, be quiet dimwit."

Her attitude changed from anger to resentment as she stomped even harder towards Orei. 

"What were you doing this entire time? Why didn't you do anything?"

A hand reached in front of my face as Jecca herself decided to step in front of Abby intercepting her from coming any closer to me.

"That's enough."

The sound of rocks grinding at each other was heard when Jecca fell onto the ground after Abby's punch. She rubbed her cheek which swelled up red like an apple.

But instead of approaching me, Abby decided to back away from Orei.

"Boss, why did you back up?"

Her eyebrows curled up and her eyes strained as she stared at Orei. Her mouth contorted and her voice got stern.

"She got a knife..."

Abby backed up into her gang before telling them just to leave. They all got onto their motorbikes and rode away from the park. Leaving a traumatized Leto and a hurt Jecca on the ground.