The Fifth Wave
The city of London was as busy as always; businessmen, workers, and tourists going on with their own pace, barely noticing each other. Fawassa was thankful for that. She wasn't ready to interact with other people. It wasn't like she feared them or anything, the people who visited the Ocean World were generally nice enough; they usually looked at her friends with smiles and amazement. Nevertheless, she never talked with anyone other than the man she was looking for.
"Girl, is everything okay?"
It was one of her friends, Red. She (sea cucumbers didn't really have genders, but most of them had adapted to conforming to human habits, due to prolonged exposure) just turned 3 years old last week, quite an achievement for a sea cucumber, and decided that she wanted to see world before she died.
"I am quite fine, thank you for asking. It's just that...I have no idea where to start."
It was true. It had been only a day since she snuck out from the only home she had known her own life, and what an experience it was. Before, she at least had someone to show her the ropes and to guard her from her own stupidity. There was no such privilege anymore. Fawassa and her friends spent the night cuddling in a dark alley not too far from the oceanarium. The sudden change was too much.
Red let out what was meant to be a sigh, but hormone-communication didn't really allow it.
"Well, I guess we can always start with going to one of those...'museums', I always wanted to see them anyway, or...hey! Where are you going?!"
"Do pardon me, but I've seen a lost boy in the crowd. And now, we can't have that, do we? Little boys, in my humble opinion, are very much..."
"Irresistible, I know. Don't do anything strange or you might get captured by the police! ...not that you wouldn't deserve it."
"Thank you for your concern, but please do not fret over me, for I shall be very careful."
"..."
And with her chest throbbing with excitement, Fawassa approached the crying little boy...
The Fifth Wave end
===
A bit too short?
--
Oh, I am one yet many.