Formidable Standing

Charlotte didn't blame Lucia since she likely had an aversion to people touching her after the work that Lucia had to do. The disgust builds up over time until it overruns and becomes something that becomes intangible. Charlotte put out a hand to Lucia who was starting to curl in on herself.

"It's okay, Lucia. Our apologies extend to you," Charlotte whispered.

Lucia did a double take. "Excuse me?"

Charlotte lifted her hands knowing right then in there that she had said the wrong words. The hurt in Lucia's eyes was the cherry on top that made Charlotte immediately feel regret for the fact that Lucia was beginning to let down her walls only for her to put them back up again. "I'm sorry for assuming."

Lucia did know exactly what Charlotte was putting out, and she wasn't going to take any of it. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "It's not like that. I'm not weak-minded."

Charlotte dipped her head again in apology. "That is not the case."

Vincent slid a glance over to them. "We are getting close. Can we not do this here?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes at him with a deep breath. "Where is it?"

"We need to cross into the next street for a little shortcut there," Vincent responded.

"Do you know all the streets in the middle ring as well?" Charlotte asked him.

Vincent lifted a shoulder. "I know enough."

"You know streets like the back of your hand," Charlotte smiled. "We should truly hurry. Our enemy isn't only vigilantes. It's also time."

They entered another brick alcove with many windows open above them with small voices ringing out signaling that everyone was slowly but surely beginning to wake up. The laundry lines still were hanging there, but there were no clothes out it seemed which was likely due to the fact that there was a chance for rain last night.

Despite most complexes having dryers for laundry, there were too many people in a building that it was easier to hang clothing and whatnot all outside to dry instead. Charlotte did in fact live out in the lower to middle class suburbs, so the houses out there were on smaller properties, but Charlotte thought that her house was very quaint.

With that thought, she remembered what she had lost, and her mind strayed over to the fact that her parents were still somewhere that was likely near to where she was right now. What was separating them seemed to Vincent who was holding all the keys to where she wanted and needed to be.

Vincent stopped at a side of a building that didn't have an entrance at all. It was literally a flat wall, and Charlotte sighed as she leaned her back against the brick wall to see whatever magic Vincent was planning on working since he practically had all the answers shoved up underneath his sleeve that was in the works.

Lucia stood next to her, and Charlotte looked over at her to carefully watch her face. Lucia didn't seem angry or anything in that matter, and Charlotte decided to bring it up since Vincent was only standing and staring at the wonderful and amazingly bland bricks that definitely were in need of restoration some time soon.

"Are we good?" Charlotte asked. "I know that you went into that with your free will, but you're allowed to feel a certain way about it too."

Lucia lifted a shoulder. "It's fine. I'm strong enough to gather myself up after every single time. It was the life that many had to lead. I included. What was the norm doesn't have any power to bring any aversion to it. Should it ever get to that point? What can I say... It's not my time to change the status quo. It's only the life that I had seen reflected in front of my eyes."

Charlotte sighed. "All I pray for is your happiness in whatever that you touch. You certainly deserve it as do the others that you had left behind. I'll leave it at that."

"Could we get a roll on this?" Stone asked from a little bit away.

Vincent started to spread his fingers out on the wall, and Charlotte snickered. "What are you doing now genius?"

He didn't answer and started to feel up the wall in silence. She didn't know if the lady from before gave him instructions, but he seemed to know what to do. He didn't even waste time scoping out the area, but Stone had taken up that duty by going over to the street nearby to the road but sticking in the shadows for some camouflage.

Stone was stationed in a way that would keep them safe for the moment as they tried to figure out the door, but it would seem that Charlotte and Lucia were going to be no help whatsoever. They needed to hurry though or else they would be rushing and would only cause more trouble for Sonya who was helping them out.