Goal of the day: 1036 words. Written: 1098.
The man took a breath or sighed quietly behind me.
- I'll explain later. But when the door opens, you will come with me, he confirmed seriously.
"What?"
But my thoughts were distracted by the tram trying to stop again. He stopped in front of some kind of furnished, shadowy square with people and some kind of sculpture in the middle. Then the door opened again and this time almost everyone inside poured out.
The man behind me grabbed my elbow just moments later and tugged as he passed.
"Let's go," he said.
The crowd behind me pushed me forward, so being stuck in the doorway must have been strange. I took a few steps and stepped out onto the cobblestone base of the square.
The man who beckoned me didn't turn around, but slowly walked away. He was dressed in a neat black suit and had a hedgehog haircut. The man waved at me without turning around.
"Er..."
The stone mumbled something again from the shoebox.
"Damn..."
I looked around as I followed the man who was walking slowly and apparently waiting for me. There was nothing suspicious and I didn't see anything. Neither the guards nor the people watching me. So I threw my backpack off my shoulder and unzipped it and pulled out all the blackened Stone.
"Damn it, you bastard, is it that pretty!?" - he mumbled, - So I'm your friend, and you took it and shoved it into that backpack. It smells like some kind of horse fart and tuna at the same time! Phew! And stop you-
- Sha! - I shouted to him, grabbing his bandaged hand.
The stone suddenly fell silent in between words as I shook it in my hand.
- And where are we? - Naoki asked in a much calmer and interested voice as he changed the record.
"I'll tell you later, Joe," I calmly told him as I continued walking and following the man who was still walking far across the square, bypassing the standing people and not even turning around but waving at me.
- Naoki Goro Tishi... - soon Akmuo started pouring on the speed talker in his usual solemn manner, but I didn't listen to him anymore and, trying to avoid the regimental girls walking across the road, I looked ahead.
"How does he even know we're after him?" …Or, that is, I follow him?”
I zipped up the empty backpack and slung it over my shoulders again. Now no one was pressing them anymore and somehow it even became much easier and more pleasant, without feeling pain in the back or shoulders. You can live.
- How did you end up right next to the city station, in the center? Lost? The Stone asked in a half-sarcastic, half-surprised voice, now changing color again and returning to its usual red-green mix colors.
"City station?"
I looked behind me. Beyond the now-empty tram line, several more tracks with platforms could be seen, and behind them stood a giant dozen-story white brick and glass building with the inscription "Big City Station" in the middle.
"A. That explains it. His. ...And this is who is blocking the sun here in the square and casting this huge shadow on everything."
- Ah... Long story, - I continued, turning forward again and looking for the man's head or hand. So when I saw him further on - he didn't slow down - I quickened my pace, trying to catch up with him and not lose sight of him.
"Wait, why am I even going after him?"
"Are you following something?" Naoki asked with devilish precision and insight.
"I'm following..." I muttered, thinking why I was doing this and trying not to lose sight of the man.
A man stopped at the front door of a building, still with his back to me. Then he waved his hand for me to come closer, and walking down the steps, he opened the thick door of the building and entered. As the door closed, I could see the yellow-lit interior and part of the man's face in profile. I just didn't see the details.
I stopped a dozen paces before the door. I looked where the man was walking. On the first floor of the building, the "Gentlemen's Club of Crossed Wands" was displayed flashing in blue and pink, and behind heavy red curtains inside, tables and people could be seen through the windows.
“Crossed wands… What kind of wizarding club is this? Maybe… Er, whatever her name is, she mentioned magic…”
"You know him, you bastard?" - asked Akmuo, warming my palm.
I looked at the palm with the Stone. I didn't even think it could change its temperature and keep warm. Or I never noticed it before…
"Um," I rubbed my neck with my free hand and ran my fingers through my hair. These were not tangled, - No. Before I pulled you, um, out of the backpack, he told me to get out…
And I fell silent, realizing the stupidity of my actions.
“Why did I even get out? He didn't even look at me and I would have been free to run away..."
But I didn't want to run and somehow I didn't do it. I still don't understand why. I could, but I didn't.
– …You got out because he simply TOLD you to get out? - Akmuos blinked in surprise after a pause. He seemed to have cooled down.
- I... - I continued, - ...Ah...
I looked around at the people walking around. At one end of the square, a blond guy with long hair was playing the guitar and singing balalaikas. The crowd was spitting on it.
“Why do I feel so ashamed? I don't understand."
"Kutvëla, please don't put me in your backpack again," said Akmuo seriously. It would appear that he really did not want to return to her.
"Okay..." I said with my eyes closed. I seriously began to feel ashamed because I was running away from some people who wanted to kill me, and I asked some man who didn't even show his face. And walked away without looking back and just waving to some goddamn Crossed Wands club.
"Well, well, everything will be fine," the Stone murmured soothingly, it glowed more red and I felt warmth in my palm again.
I smiled, looked up again and looked around. No one seems to have paid attention to my Stone. Or that I'm talking to the Stone in my hand.
"But what to do now…?"
I looked back through the windows of the Crossed Wands and into the large wooden door. Then I gripped the Stone tighter in my hand. I pulled the backpack down a bit so it wouldn't get in the way and adjusted the hood of the sweater.
"I'm going," I said to Akmeni. Then I added to make sure:
"You're going to help me, aren't you?"
The stone flashed pink.
"If you give blood, of course," he replied sarcastically.
“Oh yes, blood. Shit.”
I gritted my teeth. He didn't want to give it to Akmeni yet. But if it wasn't for him, I don't know if I would have freed myself from Gabriela's grip. And he might be needed in this obscure club...
"Only if you have to fight, okay?" - I consulted with Akmeni.
Naoki laughed.
- Of course, only then. You trust me a lot, don't you? - the hint of sarcasm still hasn't disappeared from his voice.
"Yes, I don't trust it," I answered him quite seriously, looking around.
I had absolutely no reason to trust this Stone. Who is he? Who is THAT? Too thing? Man? My mountain of questions kept growing, and I didn't understand more and more about him... And at all, is he a weapon? What kind of weapon is this - I could understand a sword, a club, a shield, a rifle or an automatic cannon... But this? Spinning Stone with a string?
"I have to magnetize it all. But now there is no time... And if, besides that man, who is watching me..."
Gritting my teeth, trying not to raise my hood too high, I took a few steps closer to the group of people standing and chatting and looked around at the buildings. People didn't say anything to me as they were all focused and staring at something like a map or a newspaper held in their hands.
There were no people in the windows or on the walls to watch me. All around, various small birds perched on the ledges of the walls.
– Well… Hmm. Of course, - Joe answered sadly after a pause.
- Hey! - scared, I suddenly rushed to say to Akmeni, - But I trust you in the fight! I don't know how you do it, but you do!
The stone gave a horsey laugh and I smiled too.