Shadz Dragz

                                    Riley,
            Working at the lab on the new vaccine. Your father won’t be home till very late.
                   Don’t know when we’ll be home because of the luncheon. There’s food in the fridge.
                                                                        Take care.        Riley
                                                                                    Love, Mom

“No, they won’t care.” she said, tone sad once again. “Ok, I’ll be in the lobby waiting for ya.” Abbey waved as she headed toward the elevator. Riley grabbed a small bag her parents bought her and put three days worth of clothes in it. She didn’t know how long she be at her self-claimed “second home”. Though it was usually three to four days. Finally grabbing a picture of her brother, she closed the bag and started to leave. Riley set the bag down, going back to her mom’s note she grabbed a piece of paper and frantically scribbled on it.

                                          Mom,
            Went to Abbey’s, don’t when I’ll be back. Probably on Tuesday at the least.
                                Don’t worry about school, we go to the same one.                   
                                                                                Love, Riley

The elevator ride was slow. The music bland, and the guy who managed it wasn’t there today so she didn’t have anyone to talk to. Leaning against the wall, she counted the buttons on the panel. One, two, three *ding*, the elevator had gone down another floor. Four, five, six, seven *ding*, another floor. Eight, nine, ten, eleven *ding*, why did it constantly interrupt her? Bored, she sat down. “I should have taken the stairs. At least until I got tired.” she said to herself. The music stopped in the elevator as a weather report came on.

“We interrupt this program to bring you this weather report. A severe thunderstorm warning has been posted for the following areas...”

Riley stopped listening, soon she’d be in the lobby. Suddenly the elevator stopped and the light dimmed. The weather report had been cut short by three dings from the elevator. Riley stood up and pushed the call button on the panel. “Yes?” came a female voice. “Hi Miss. Maybelle, do you know why the elevator stopped?”

“Yes, the city has had a power surge and our generator only covers major parts of the building.”

“So I’m stuck in here until the power comes back on?”

“Yes, sorry.”

The following pause at the other end wasn’t very encouraging as Riley looked for a way out. “I knew I should have taken the stairs.” she thought to herself. “Riley?” came Miss. Maybelle’s voice again. “Yeah?”
“If you look carefully there should be an emergency hatch at the top. Do you see it?”

“Yeah.”

“Push it open and you should be in the elevator shaft.”

“Ok.”

“If you look to the right of the elevator there should be a ladder.”

“Alright.”

“If you climb either way you will come to a rim about two feet wide. The computer says you’re in the hotel part of the building, so you shouldn’t have to worry about walking in on somebody. On the front side of the elevator shaft, once you’re on a platform, there should be a red button, push it and the doors will open.” Miss. Maybelle stopped. Riley grabbed her bag and pushed the call button. “Thanks.” She said.
    Pushing open the hatch, the roar of the rain seemed louder as it echoed of the metal walls. As she jumped to the top of the elevator she faintly heard a ‘your welcome’ come from the panel. To the right she found the ladder and grabbed the outside bars. They were cold and felt a bit wet. Sliding down a bit she stopped and stepped onto a platform. The number on it read ‘five’. She’d have to go down four flights of stairs before she came to the escalators. Stepping carefully she worked her way to the door. Pressing the red button the doors opened a whopping one foot. Squeezing through, she stepped into the hall. Looking around, she found the stairs at the other end. Opening the door, the smell of chlorine filled the hall.
    Skipping steps she finally made it to the second floor. The escalators were stopped. Dropping her bag on the space between them, she slid it down. Sliding down behind it she reached the lobby. Abbey was over at the desk chatting with someone when she noticed Riley. “Hey! Took ya long enough.” she teased. “I could have taken longer.” Riley replied. “I tried to call a cab but their service is limited right now and they said it would take an hour for them to get here. Are you okay with a bus?” Abbey asked. “Sure.”
    Approaching the revolving doors, Abbey looked at a bus schedule. “The next bus for the stop down the street should be arriving in about...three minutes.” she said, looking at her watch. The girls went through the doors and into the heavy rain. They ran down the street to the stop and waited in the small shelter there. It was cold and damp but it kept them out of the rain. Especially since cars were on the road and no one cared about the big puddles. “When do you think this rain will let up?” Abbey asked. Riley didn’t answer. She was concentrating on a man who seemed to be hurrying to nowhere. “What do you think he wants?” she asked. “Who?” Abbey looked in the direction Riley was. “I think he just wants out of the rain.” she said. “Oh no, I’m sure he loves looking confused in a cold rain. Who doesn’t?” Riley replied sarcastically. Abbey leaned out of the shelter a bit. “Sir?” she yelled. “Sir? Are you looking for shelter?” the man stopped and looked in the direction of the girls. “Yes, Thank you!” He said, hurrying over to the bus stop.
    Once inside he sat down on the bench. “Where are you from?” Abbey asked, instantly getting into a chatty, social mood. “Um, I travel.” he said simply, and loudly to be heard over the now heavier rain. “Oh, so where have you been?” Abbey asked. “To a lot of places.” the man chuckled. “Oh, I’m Abbey.” she said extending her hand. “Mardallen, but everybody calls me M’len.” he replied, shaking her hand. He turned to Riley, “M’len.” he repeated. “Riley.” she responded, shaking his hand. “So, what are you girls doing out in the rain?” he asked. “Riley’s coming to my place.” Abbey said. “Matter of fact, our bus is late.” she said, looking at her watch. “Are you sure that watch still works?” Riley yelled. By now the rain had gotten heavy enough that it came down as a thick fog. “Yup. I’ve had it five years at it’s never lead me wrong!” Abbey said proudly. Then, as if on cue, the bus arrived...
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Hatching:

"Huh? What?" Riley said, her tone drowsy as she woke.