Though they'd gone through the Reformers' 'super-secret' exit -and indeed, through a system of abandoned railway tunnels beyond it- Sam truthfully could not remember the experience. It seemed as though they'd just gotten settled into their seats on the van when she was forced back into the waking world by Daniel's greeting. She waited until the rest had made their exit instead of bothering to fight the flow of bodies. Once her feet hit the pavement, she allowed a discreet stretch of the back and shoulders; being squashed into the corner of a transport van had not helped her comfort level at all.

The city looked normal to her. While the others drew straws, or argued, or whatever method they used to determine who was stuck with whom, Sam marveled at the fact that all these people milled about, hopping from store to store, filling their bags or carts with whatever they could lay hands on, all completely oblivious to the Charlies' affliction. Of course they couldn't know, but the surreal moment of realization made Sam hate them even more than she had during her time with her parents. At least the hospital had made more sense; it didn't bother lying about how it viewed its property, like 'free' society did. She just stood there, glaring from under the rim of her gray hoodie, hoping at least one of them would do something unexpected. But they never did. Sam could almost see the chains around their necks.

Her scowl deepened as Daniel reminded them to stay in a group. For just the briefest of moments, Sam had allowed herself to believe she would have free run of the place. It didn't matter that she had no plan of any kind, or any specific acquisitions in mind. She just wanted to fly free, for the first time since she'd been sent away to the institution. She pondered the possibilities as her sullen gaze briefly touched on each of the Charlies and their chaperones. Who would be her shadow?

[i]"If these people drag me into one of those preppie clothing shops, I am so out."[/i] she decided.

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