The Wandering Inn

Book 2: Chapter

The inn was dark when the traveler first arrived. No to begin with, she wasnt really a traveler. She was a Runner, which was completely different.

And she wasnt lost. Neither had she decided to visit the inn out of a need for sleep or food or even a burning desire to use the outhouse.

She just needed a place to think.

Ryoka cautiously pushed open the wooden door and paused a moment to let her eyes adjust. The inn was dark. The common room was almost as dark as the shadowed grasslands outside, illuminated only by the lone candle on one of the tables.

It flickered, and made the shadows dance as the doors opening disturbed the solitary flame. Ryoka looked around. There was definitely an ambiance to the room which she was determined to ignore. Just because something looked creepy did not mean it was.

Hello?

Ryoka called cautiously as she stepped into the inn. She was already regretting coming back. She hadnt intended to stay at this place The Wandering Inn. In fact, shed fully committed herself to running through the night rather than have to deal with annoying innkeepers who made comments about her bare feet.

Not fifteen minutes ago Ryoka had been despairing, exhausted, and full of anger and hatred towards nothing and everything. She wouldnt have set foot in this inn even if it were the Taj Mahal.

Well, maybe if it were the Taj Mahal. But this run-down inn was no superstar hotel, and Ryoka had been ready to leave it behind and run on.

That was fifteen minutes ago.

A lot can happen in fifteen minutes. Ryoka glanced down at the iPhone in her hands and turned the screen off before she tucked it in her pocket. It wouldnt do to scare the innkeeper with her phone.

If there was an innkeeper. The candle indicated life, but Ryoka didnt see or hear anyone stirring even after shed called.

Well. To enter or leave? Ryoka hated this kind of dilemma. She hated dealing with people, come to that. But she really, really needed a place to sit and process all of what had happened. And she was tired. They were all dead. She could run, but she couldnt outrun what had happened.

So she stepped into the inn, calling out again.

Is anyone there?

It was the kind of generic question that deserved instant death if she were exploring an abandoned house or looking for monsters. Since she was looking for an innkeeper, it was probably fine.

There was still no answer. Ryoka frowned. Was the innkeeper out? It could be possible, but shed expect a barmaid or someone to stay in the inn. At the very least, theyd lock the doors.

A dark suspicion crossed Ryokas mind and she stopped, looking around the empty room. An empty inn might mean something had emptied it, and recently. Had a monster crept in here? This place was near Liscor, and Liscor had recently been attacked. If a straggler had made its way in here

She had no weapons. Well, nothing that was better than her hands and feet. But she did have magic. One spell, to be exact.

[Light].

Ryoka felt something go out of her as a shimmering orb of white light floated up from one of her hands. It cast the room into sudden, sharp relief as the shadows fled.

She looked around, searching for movement or shapes behind tables or chairs. There was nothing.

The room was empty. Ryokas eyes travelled to the staircase, and then the door behind the bar. She clenched one hand.

Shed never killed anything. Neverexcept maybe a Goblin. But something had attacked Liscor in the four days shed been away. Something.

The undead. Ryoka imagined shambling zombies groaning and munching on brains, but that didnt match with the devastation shed seen walking into the city of Drakes and Gnolls. Entire buildings had been torn apart and the injuries shed seen on those who hadnt received healing were

A sound made Ryoka freeze in place. Something.

A lowgrunting sound. A rasping rumble. Ryokas heart beat faster. It was coming from the kitchen.

She crouched low and moved silently towards the open doorway. She stopped, her ear to one wall, heart pounding. Something was in there. Something big, by the sound of it. But it was also asleep.

Ryoka covered the ball of light with one hand, thinking. Step around the corner, take a look at what it was, and step away. If it came after her, she could be out the door in seconds.

Her hand tightened into a fist. Immediately Ryoka relaxed, keeping her hands loose and ready to punch. She counted to three in her head. Then she swiftly stepped into the kitchen, hands raised.

The room was dark. A thousand things leapt out at Ryoka at once. Cupboards, knives, silver wear, pottery stacked up, a bucket of water, an empty fireplace, and

A girl sleeping on the ground.

Ryoka stopped. A girl lay sprawled on the kitchen floor, tangled in a pile of sheets and a bedroll. She was snoring quite loudly, oblivious to Ryokas presence. She opened her mouth and grunted or perhaps burped. It didnt sound appropriate to her size.

Ryoka lowered her fists. She stared at the sleeping girl for a few seconds. She slapped herself hard on the forehead.

The loud crack of flesh on flesh made the girl on the ground sit bolt upright. Ryoka leapt back as the other girl looked around wildly.

Im up! Knight to F3!

She tried to stand up, tangled in her sheets and tumbled over. She rolled upright. Thats when she saw Ryoka.

Oh!

For a moment the other girl gaped, and then she struggled to get up. Ryoka debated helping for an instant, and then let the other girl get up on her own.

When she was upright, Ryoka found herself looking at a girl close to her own age. She was shortershorter than Ryoka who was talland she had fair skin, hazel eyes and only the slightest orange tint to her light brown hair.

She blinked at Ryoka. Ryoka stared back. The girl opened her mouth, looked around, and then smiled weakly.

Um. Hi?

-

Shed just put her head down for a minute. And thenwell, shed woken up and decided that it would be a better five minutes if she were in bed, so to speak. So Erin had wandered over to her bedroll in the kitchen. It wasnt as if anyone had visited the inn today and Klbkch and the others were busy. Shed sent Toren out to harvest blue fruits, collect water, and generally stay out of her hair, so what was the harm in taking a thirty minute nap?

But somehow, Erins small one hour nap had ended up with her waking in near dusk with a terribly foggy head, stiff joints and a girl standing over her.

Erin stared. She had a guest. A tall guest. A female guest.

The person whod woken her up was tall. She had dark hair, brown eyesshe looked Asian. But she was also tall, which was unusual. And she had a floating magic orb of light on one hand but Erin could only handle so much excitement at one time.

She had a terrible, terrible urge to say konnichiwa to the girl, but fought it off with difficulty. Her second impulse was to say ni hao or maybe anyoung haseyo, but she was pretty sure shed mess up the pronunciation of all three greetings.

Erin could say hello in most languages, although that was pretty much the extent of her linguistic skill. She could say checkmate and check in almost every language, though. It came from many games against foreign players online and in person. She also knew a lot of bad words as a result, although she had no real idea what they meant. Usually she just knew enough to duck before the table got flipped.

But there was something incredibly Asian about the tall girls features, and it was even more pronounced by the fact that hers was the first non-European, non-furred or non-scaled face Erin had seen in this world.

Um, hi.

Speaking foreign languages to people hadnt worked out well with Ceria, so it probably wouldnt work here. Erin waved weakly at the other girl as she stepped back.

Mm.

Was that a hello or just a grunt? The other girl stared around the dark kitchen as Erin scrambled for more words beyond leave me alone Im trying to sleep. Right. She was awake and she hada customer.

Erin had been a waitress for all of two weeks back when shed had a part time job for the summer. That was about all of her job experience aside from working in chess tournaments as a referee. And that wasnt work that waschess.

But she had a definite feeling that falling asleep on the job wasnt acceptable behavior. Even if she did own the inn.

Hi.

She tried again, and the other girl stared at her. Erin put her best smile on her face and waved at her guest.

Sorry about that. Um. I was asleep. Can I help you?

Is this an inn?

What? Oh. Yes! Yes, this is an inn!

Erin waved around the room airily, trying to gloss over the fact that half the inn was still damaged from the battle with the undead two days ago. The other girl stared at Erin.

And yourethe innkeeper?

The innkeeper smiled nervously.

Yes? I mean, yes. Can Ido you want something to eat? A place to sleep?

Something to eat.

Sure, sure! This way.

This chapter upload first at NovelUsb.Com

Erin led the other girl back into the inns main room. The girl took a seat while Erin stood and fidgeted. After a moment the girl looked up.

Do you have a menu?

Menu?

Erin blinked at the tall girl a few times. Then she panicked again. Menu. Right. Shed never really finished

Um, its right there.

She pointed and winced as her guest looked at the menu with all three items.

Pasta w/sausage and onions 3 cp. per plate.

Blue juice 2 cp. per glass.

Acid flies 1 s. per plate

Acid flies?

Theyre um, real flies. I drained the acid from them, but uh

Whats blue juice?

Its very sweet! Its like orangeI mean, its like an orange except more blueberry. Sweeter. Its a nice drink!

Erin wondered whether she should mention there was more food shed learned to cook. She could make soup! Random soup was what she called it, because she mainly just tossed ingredients in a pot and trusted to her [Basic Cooking] skill. It usually came up edible.

I can uh, I can make bacon and eggs. Oror ham. Weve got ham and salad if you want it

Pasta is fine. Ill have that and a cup of bluejuice.

Okay, sure!

Erin smiled. The other girl did not return the smile.

Ill um, Ill get it.

She had plenty of blue juice but not a lot of cups. Erin had tossed most of her cups and heavy objects at the undead. She finally found a good one and washed it out before filling it with juice.

The girl was still sitting at the table. She glanced up at Erin but said not a word as Erin put cup and silverware in front of her. Erin tried another smile, but the other girls face could have been carved from ice. She decided to go for broke and introduced herself.

Im Erin, by the way. Erin Solstice.

Mm.

Erin waited, but the other girls name did not seem to be forthcoming. She stared down at the table, not even touching her drink. The other girl stared at the wood grain, but she seemed to be a thousand miles away.

She was very quiet. Erin hoped that wasnt because she was planning to murder her with one of the forks.

-

The world is shit. All things and everything in it are utter crap. But of course craps not a good enough word, is it? Death and despair rule everything. Thats how its always been and thats how it will be.

Some days are like this. Ive felt it before. Black depression. Anger. Its easy to say the words, but to live it?

Every time I forget. Every time. I forget how twisted this damned world is and I relax. And then it gets me. It would be easier if I didnt hope. If I just

Um. Is the juice okay? I have water if you want it. Boiled.

I look up. The girls hovering over me again. Erin? Shes annoying. It would be easy to just toss the juice in her face and kick her until she stops talking.

A thin red line. I think thats the only thing that separates me from madness some days. And some day, perhaps, it will disappear and Ill lose it. Its already broken once. I hurt my friends. And now theyre dead.

Not my fault. Of course. They went into the ruins. It was their fault, and guilt is only part of the grieving process. I know that. I probably couldnt have done anything. They were dead days before I was even close to Liscor. Its just that it hurts. More than anything Ive felt in years.

I

Wish Id been with them.

Um? Hello?

I look up. Oh. Right. She asked me a question about my drink.

Its fine. Thank you.

Its not the innkeeper Im mad at. I just cant deal with her or anyone at the moment. How could I? The Horns of Hammerad. Gerial. Ceria. Calruz. Sostrom.

Theyre all dead. I never even got to say goodbye.

Mercifully, the innkeeper retreats. Shes odd. A young girl out far from the city like this? Well, not too far but still. How does she survive? Do I even care?

Im trying to think of something, anything, but the faces of the dead keep haunting me. I try not to let them, but I cant help but wonder and regret. If Id been with them, would I have spotted a trap? Would I have been able to run for help? If Id been there, if I hadnt run off. If I hadnt been such a stupid idiot and picked a fight

Without thinking I take a gulp from the cup in front of me and nearly choke. Sweet! Its sweet and pulpy, and tastes

It actually tastes good. Not like the alcoholic crap I have to drink in each tavern. It tastes like orange juice mixed with a blueberry shake mixed with high fructose corn syrup. All the good things that I love to hate.

It tastes a bit like home.

Just a bit. But I take another gulp and the sweetness is good. Its not like the ice cream I had with Magnolia. Its just plain old juice, and its good to have.

Another cup?

I nearly jump out of my skin. That girl is pretty damn silent. Butwhat the hell?

Sure. How much for a pitcher?

She blinks at me. Does she not even price her drinks? Well damn.

I open my runners pack and fish around. Ive still got several gold coins and when I hold one up her eyes go wide.

Um

Just take whatever I eat out of that. Ill have a pitcher of blue juice.

Blue juice? Pitcher? Coming right up.

Hah. That did it. Money walks and talks and solves every problem. Even annoying innkeepers. Well, she might try to gouge me but what the hell. I dont need money. What good would it do me?

The blue juice arrives in a satisfyingly full ceramic pitcher. Enough to drown me or have me peeing all night, but you know what? I dont care. I fill up my cup and drink while the innkeeper girl goes off to do something which involves a lot of banging about and quiet swearing in the kitchen.

I rub at my face. A sweet drink. It shouldnt help, but it does. Immensely. Ive been living off of water and dry rations for the lastit must be eight days. Not exactly fun, but Ive had worse.

But this makes things a little better. A little. And it restarts my brain a bit, takes me off the spiral of guilt. The Horns of Hammerad can wait. It hurts, but theyre gone. However terrible it might be, theres something that takes priority even over that.

The call. What in the name of non-existent deities far and wide was that? I

Everything has changed. I feel it. This world is different now, and the stakes have suddenly gotten a lot higher than my single life. Someone has walked into the small sandcastle of my understanding of the world and given it a damn good kick.

There are more people than just me in this world. From my world, I mean. There are more interdimensional travelers, more people from Earth*.

*Assuming people dont call this place Earth, obviously. Stop belaboring the point. I know what I mean.

That chat. Aa messenger chat with magic? How is that possible?

Magic. Duh. Focus! Think. Try to think of what happened.

Well, its a good thing I used to read Youtube comments or I wouldnt have been able to transform myself into an egotistical thirteen year-old with delusions of grammar. [batman] was a good foil, but I probably gave myself away there at the end. No matter; it had to be done.

First things first. In that conversation, a few important elements stood out. And above all the rest?

Kent Scott. Whoever that person was, he wasnt from our world. He wasfishing for information. First and last names. No one else seemed to get that, but thanks to Teriarch I know that he was trying to use a [Scrying] spell.

And he got three names. Or was it two? In any case, thats really bad. Can he teleport right over there? Is that even a spell? But if he knows the names, theres nowhere in the world those people can hide, right?

Who is he? He was using Kent Scott as his name, which means he either tortured or killed the real Kent Scott. But how much does he know in that case? Enough to be hunting the rest of us down? Could he have figured out our locations from the magical chat? And if so

Oh hey, just wanted to let you know the pasta will be done in around ten minutes.

The innkeeper pops her head out of the kitchen. Damn it. Who cares? But my stomach rumbles. Traitorous body. I nod at her. Shes exactly the kind of person I dont really like hanging around. Just a bit too friendly and bubbly and clearly not that focused.

Okay, okay. What was I thinking about? Kent Scott. One part of the puzzle. What else? Oh yeah. Summoned heroes? People with a [Hero] class which hasnt been heard of in centuries? Thats odd. Could we all have been summoned as aa byproduct of that spell? Accidental side effects?

If so, it would explain why I appeared out of nowhere like that. But that guy was a Level 26 [Knight]. Is that fast leveling? It seems so, considering Calruz was only around Level 22. So one guy whos been here for a month or two already leveled past a Minotaur whos been fighting all his life?

Damn. Is that cheating or what? But how

Do you want meat and onions on your pasta? Or something else? Ill change the recipe if you want.

Who cares whatjust answer her.

Thats fine. Thank you.

I am trying to think. Ignore the stupid innkeeper. Think. Theres also the fact that most of the people in the chat were American, but people from all over the world were taken. One Australian, one person from England.

But almost all spoke English. Does that mean mostly English-speaking nations were affected? Oror does it mean primarily Americans were affected? If this was a spell, did it only hit a certain radius? If I could call the chat back on my iPhone Id know more, but going only off of memory

Oops. Forgot to put the spoon out.

Spoon? SPOON? Who the fuck eats pasta with a spoon? Italian cuisine survived for hundreds of years without a damn spoon.

Calm down. Shes just trying to be helpful. Im probably just making her nervous. I should smile.

My lips twitch. No go. Okay, okay. Justwhat does it all mean? Here I am, with the first sign of how I got here but already theres a serious threat. I have to anticipate whats coming next. Do I warn someone? Who? Magnolia might be just as bad. But Wistramthats where [BlackMage] is. I think thats the isle of mages. Could they help? Will he call again, or would he consider that to be too risky?

Andoh my god shes coming back.

-

The blank look Erin got when entered the common room was somehow worse than the stare of the Antinium. They at least had the excuse of being bugs. Her guest was justcreepy. And silent.

When she told the girl she was making a fire, she just got what sounded like a sigh. The tall girl went back to staring at the table and drinking blue juice and Erin put a log in the fireplace and tried to make it light.

Erin got the fire going after two attempts, all the while trying to ignore the eyes on the back of her head. It was an uncomfortable, prickly sensation, being watched.

The other girl looked down when Erin turned around. But she had been watching, Erin was sure. She was just so silent. And unfriendly. Would it kill her to talk a bit?

Well, who said a guest had to be nice? If she didnt want to talk, Erin could just serve her food and wait for her to leave.

But there was something that drew her to the other girl. She was a guest. The first human guestwell, the first human guest shed had that wasnt a group of adventurers or Pisces. And Erin was a bit lonely. She hadnt talked to a human, another human, for a long while.

So she stood up, walked over, and took a seat. The other girl glanced up. It was a flat look, but Erin ignored it.

So. Howre you?

Glance up, glance down. After a moment, the girl looked up again.

Im fine.

You know, we never got to really chat. My name is Erin. Whats yours?

This time the other girl had to answer oror Erin would leave her alone, she guessed. But although her guest made a face, she eventually answered.

Ryoka. Im a Runner.

Erin seized on that sentence gratefully.

Oh! A Runner! I get most of my food and stuff delivered by a Runner. He comes every day from the city. Thats like your job, right?

Ryokas left eye twitched.

No. Thats a Street Runner.

Oh?

Im a City Runner.

Ah.

Erin didnt know what to say to that. She was vaguely aware there was a difference from what Krshia had told her but no more than that. And the conversations flow was ebbing.

Thats cool. So I guess you travel around a lot?

Some.

Erin grinned weakly. Perhaps it was time to cut her losses and get the pasta. But she had to make one last attempt.

You know, when I saw the glowing light orb I thought you were an adventurer of some kind.

Im not. I just know magic.

Oh, okay. I, uh, I knew some adventurers, too.

Did you?

The other girls tone was subzero. And not just frosty, more like Antarctic.

Yeah, but they died. A few days ago, actually.

Erin swallowed the lump in her throat. She didnt see how the other girl looked up at that.

Who did you know?

Oh, just a group of them. They were nice people, but they got killed when

Who?

Erin looked up. Ryokas eyes were fixed on her, intent. For the first time, Erin thought the other girl was looking at her, really looking at her.

Who?

The Horns of Hammerad.

-

I dont believe in destiny. Or if I did, Id spend all of my time rebelling against it. And I dont believe in talking to people either, as a rule.

But this

So I called him bull guy after that. Bull guy, Mr. Cow, Captain Uddersalthough I dont think he really got that last one.

You didnt do that.

The girl sitting across from me, Erin Solstice, smiles and laughs.

Okay, I didnt call him all those names. Just bull guy. But it made him really mad. You could practically see the steam coming out of his ears!

I shouldnt, but I laugh. Calruz is dead, and its wrong to make fun of him. But this

This is about what he was. What he did. And Erin telling me the stories is somehow special. Precious.

A lot can happen in fifteen minutes. You can find you have more in common with someone than you think, for instance. Fifteen minutes. Enough time to eat three plates of pasta, drink blue juice, chat

And learn that the Horns of Hammerad stayed in this inn the night before they died. Enough time to hear their last moments from the innkeeper whod served them meals.

Im glad I came here. Im glad I changed my mind and decided to stay. Because against my expectations, Im feeling better. A belly full of hot food does that, and the conversation

Well, its actually fun.

You really called him that? Bull guy?

Yes! What, dont you believe me? Ceria started calling him that too until he threw his drink at her.

I laugh again. I cant help it. Ive been listening to tales of the Horns of Hammerad, but somehow Erin also managed to get the story of how I met them out of me. Its so odd. But I want to talk about them.

So you met them while you were delivering healing potions, right? That sounds pretty dangerous.

It was, incredibly. Dodging spells from a Lich is probably one of the dumbest things Ive ever done, and theres a long list. I shrug.

It was risky, but its part of the job.

None of the Runners around here do stuff like that. They just deliver stuff in the city and to my inn. But I guess thats a City Runner for you, huh?

Yeah.

I want to keep talking about the Horns of Hammerad. But Erins leaning over the table, eyes alight with curiosity.

Whats it like, being a Runner? Do you get sore feet from running around all the time? And how much does it pay? Do you see a lot of interesting stuff?

Well, heres the part I dont like about talking to people. I open my mouth to give her a bland response. What should I say? Running is hard, but fun? It can be rewarding, but you just have to put the hours in? Some bland, useless reply like that so I can change the subject back to the others.

But I stop. I hesitate. Do I have to say that? Its a stupid line that wont mean anything. I hate that kind of conversation. So why should I say it?

Running. Is it fun? Sometimes. Running is fun, but being a Runner isnt. The petty rivalries, my shattered leg, and the way Runners seem to be more cowardly than adventurersits hard to just gloss over that.

So why not tell her? What was it Louis C.K. said in one of his monologues? Screw the ordinary conversation, the meaningless chatter. Lets just have a real talk.

Whats the worst that can happen? I lose my friends? I dont have any. Its awkward? Weve already had enough awkwardness to fill two swimming pools.

Its not me. I dont chat with people. I dont talk. But today

Today is different.

So I begin to speak. Erin blinks as I begin talking about running, frankly, and without sparing the details.

You had your leg shattered? By a moving

She glances down at my leg. You cant even see the scars. Thats magic for you.

And you went to the High Passes? Wheres that?

Its the other gateway to the southern part of the continent. Havent you heard of it?

I uh, dont know much about the local geography. Or politics. Oranything.

Huh. Sounds a bit like me. I keep talking. Somehow, shes pulling the words out of me.

You fought a Silver-ranked Adventurer? Barehanded? No way.

When did I say that? My face is getting hot. She probably thinks Im bragging butErin leans over the table, eyes sparkling.

Thats socool. Tell me another story!

I blink. Shes so interested. Its just life to me. And depressing, at that. I remember what happened afterwards, my mistakes. How can I feel proud of that? But then, why not explain that bit?

I try, but Erin shakes her head. Her smile flickers and she looks me dead in the eye.

Thats not bad. I mean, its not good, but Ive done worse. Way worse. Igot a friend killed.

How?

For once, I want to know. Erin pauses, and sighs. She grabs the cup she brought and drinks long and deep. Somehow, weve run out of blue juice and theres several empty plates in front of both of us.

Its a long story. It starts withwell, I guess it starts with Goblins.

Goblins?

Goblins. And theres acid flies, you know, the one of the menu? And talking bug men andokay, do you believe in Dragons? Krshiashes a Gnollshe says they dont exist, but I saw one, I swear.

Erin begins to talk. Its a confusing story, but I listen, asking the right questions. Not just the right questions. The questions I want to know, the little details. Its not a boring conversation. Its not trite dialogue. Its real. Its engaging.

She knew The Horns of Hammerad before they died. She was there. And shes not just a boring person. Shes someone.

Itsodd. Her story is bothering me. Erin Solstice. Is sheits an odd story. But Im too tired to think straight. Ive been running all day and Im tired. But her story calls to me. Theres something about Erin. Ill think about it later.

Have you ever seen a Gnoll? Theyre like giant hyenas that get really angry. And they sniff you. A lot. Have you ever heard one of them sneeze? So weird.

I listen. And Im smiling. It hurts because Im out of practice.

But Im smiling.

I wish I could stay.

-

I should go.

Ryoka said it reluctantly, but it had to be said. Erin glanced up from her table and the pile of dirty dishes and glanced outside. It was night. Midnight or later, and the sky was as close to pitch-black as it ever came.

What? Why? I can make up a bed for you. Ive got a bunch ofwell, every room upstairs is open. And it wouldnt cost too much. If you want

No.

The other girl said it flatly, and then tried to modulate her tone.

No. Im sorry. Thank you, but theres something I have to do.

In the middle of the night?

I need to start running. Ive got something that cant wait and itll take me a day and a half to get where Im going.

Erins face fell. And shed been getting on so well with Ryoka, too.

If youre sure. But its a long road and you look tired. What would one night matter?

Ryoka wavered, clearly torn. But eventually she shook her head.

Ive got toI need to go back. North. To Celum. Theres someonesomeone I have to talk to. Something I have to do, now.

If youre sure

Im sure. Sorry.

Erin sighed. But she put a smile back on her face.

Well, okay. But if you ever want a meal or if youre in the area

Ryoka paused, and then she smiled awkwardly.

Ill be back. But I have to go now.

She pulled something out of her pocket and glanced at it.

Huh. Good enough for a few hours.

Erin blinked as two red ear buds appeared and Ryoka popped them into her ears. She raised her voice as Ryoka turned.

Oh, hey. Is that an iPhone?

Mm.

Ryoka flicked through a few screens on her phone and then froze. Erin continued on, oblivious.

Im not an iPhone person. I got an Android well, my parents got it for me. I wouldnt have minded an iPhoneI just use it to play chess and call friends, mostly. But

The other girl was staring at her. Erin broke off awkwardly.

What? Is it something on my face?

Then she stopped. Erins eyes widened as her ears caught up to what her mouth was saying. She stared at Ryoka.

Oh my god.