[color=green]"Whatcha mean empty?"[/color]

[color=yellow]"As in, empty. Zilch. Nada. Zero. We have negative fuel. All your fuel are belong to us."[/color]

Southside, and most of South Erie for that matter, was enveloped in a thin sheet of fog. That afternoon's drizzling had subsided, but the air was still cool and wet. The cracks in the sidewalk were packed with dirt that had now turned into mud, draining the last bits of rainwater into the street. There were less clumps of dried leaves on the ground, as Southside had the fewest trees of any district in Erie -- However, what the area lacked in piles of leaves, it made up for in dirty plastic bags.

Clay leaned on a streetlight, with a lit cigarette hanging lamely out of the corner of his mouth. [color=green]"Great. Stuck in southside with you nerds."[/color] The streetlights, as dim as they were, at least provided a comforting orange glow.

[color=eb145f]"Wow. Nerds. Innovating."[/color]

[color=mediumpurple]"He has a way with words, doesn't he?"[/color]

[color=eb145f]"Yes. Very economic."[/color] Kimmy jabbed Zasha's side with her free elbow. [color=eb145f]"Some of us could learn from him."[/color]

[color=mediumpurple]"True enough! You can be a little wordy."[/color] Zasha nods, rubbing his side where Kimmy elbowed him. He could take a punch to the ribs just fine, but he swore the girl had daggers for elbows.

[color=red]"Hey, I know a shortcut to Perry Square, and that's where most of us live."[/color] Josh said, hoping to talk over the group. [color=red]"Shouldn't take us too long to get there, probably a couple of minutes. I mean, unless any of you have the cash to buy some gas, 'cause I'm out."[/color] Josh had been around that part of the city with some friends before, so he knew his way around the area pretty well. To his left, there was a  poorly lit path that would take them right where they needed to go. If he remembered correctly, they'd have to walk for about a mile.

[color=yellow]"This is a terrible idea. You see my feet moving? I am not agreeing to this. This is just happening. We're going to end up in Pennsylvania Chainsaw Massacre, or finding a dead guy, or finding an alien. I don't know."[/color] Keira said, stuffing her hands in her pockets, looking genuinely pissed off about having to go through physical activity.

[color=eb145f]"You know what else was a terrible idea?"[/color] Kimmy chirped, tone all sunshine and God's good will. [color=eb145f]"Not filling your vehicle with gas when the fuel gauge hit the big white 'E'."[/color]

[color=mediumpurple]"Now now, it's barely a walk at all."[/color] Zasha attempted to cheer up Keira, hardly bothered by the idea of the distance. Boxing did often call for a lot of jogging as an exercise, helps keep you in shape and good at moving around. He titled his head to the side after a pause, adding. [color=mediumpurple]"Although really, how do you run out of gas? Did you just get back from a road trip or something?"[/color]

Josh walked at the front of the group, with Zasha by his side. Behind them, Kimmy and Clay spoke in hushed whispers. Keira was in the caboose, because the she knew that the guy leading the charge was always the first to go.

[color=green]"It's just probably a crackhead or something."[/color]

[color=eb145f]"No, we're being followed for sure. Who else would be in this part of town this late except someone following defenseless children?"[/color]

[color=green]"My cousin Smacky lives in southside."[/color]

[color=eb145f]"You can't just say crackhead twice and act like it's a new sugges-- isn't that the one with the jerky-leg necklace?"[/color]

[color=green]"Smacky's... Different."[/color]

[color=eb145f]"...Jerky-leg [i]necklace[/i]."[/color]

[color=yellow]"You two remind me why god doesn't love some of us."[/color]

[color=eb145f]"Because he is dead,"[/color] Kimmy tossed back to Keira with a nod.  [color=eb145f]"Your me-mes killed him."[/color]

[color=yellow]"Did you just call is a 'me-me'? I'm literally pronouncing it for you. How do you even manage to mess that up."[/color]

[color=eb145f]"A poor teacher always blames her studen--"[/color] Josh cut Kimmy off by coming to an abrupt hault in front of her. 

[color=red]"So, if none of you are too scared about the [i]spookiness[/i] of this unfinished construction yard,"[/color] Josh announced with a toothy grin. He gestured toward a fence. Although most of the top was covered in barbed wire, there was a very large gap where it had been pulled down, and was dangling off the edge of the fence. [color=red]"We can cut through it. It would save us a lot of time and trouble. But I should warn you, according to some people, this place is haunted by the ghost of one of its former workers."[/color]



Josh led the group, quickly straddling the fence and scrambling up. One by one, the five teenagers made their up and over the fence, behind him. Clay boosted Kimmy over the edge.

On the other side, Zasha scratched his chin. He cocked a brow at Kimmy. [color=mediumpurple]"Huh."[/color]

Kimmy looked up from unruffling her dress. [color=eb145f]"What?"[/color]

[color=mediumpurple]"Oh, nothing."[/color] Zasha lazily picked a piece of fence-dirt from under his nails. [color=mediumpurple]"I was just thinking that, if I'd of been the one to boost you over the fence, you'd of stepped on my face."[/color]

[color=yellow]"Duh doy."[/color]

[color=red]"Guys,"[/color] Josh called, gesturing toward the construction site in front of them. [color=red]"We should really be getting a move on. Unless you're afraid of the ghosts."[/color]

Clay set his jaw. [color=green]"I ain't afraid 'a no goats."[/color]


[hr]

The construction yard was covered in a thin layer of dust, everywhere it could've possibly settled. Aside from the garden of weeds and dandelions that sprung up in thin patches, the ground was mostly covered in layers of dead leaves accrued over what must've been years, and a small landfill worth of trash. Empty paint cans, plastic bags, and a miriad of cardboard boxes and broken bottles were sprinkled across the ground, covered in grime and decay, strewn with several leaf crusted lawn chairs which had seen more than their fair share of seatings.

Although the site was mostly filled with construction materials, there was one major building -- Or at least, the frame for one. It looked like the school it was designed to look like had been through two major wars. Although walls and most of the frame were put up, half of the roof was missing, and the steel frame of the building was exposed through missing chunks of concrete. Years of rain and snow had weathered the building significantly, and in the night fog it looked more menacing than usual.

Ivy clutched the grimy pillars and unpainted walls, and the ground surrounding the building was covered in layers of dead leaves, garbage, and broken glass. As the group walked, the only sound that could be heard were their footsteps on the ground, and the husks of ageold leaves that clung to the occasional stray shoe lace.

The closer they got to the building, the more an oddly sweet smell pervaded the air. Strident, heady-- something between plastic and fuel.

Kimmy stuck her tongue out at the smell-- raised one of the flannel sleeves tied around her waist to cover her mouth before she had to regret the expression. [color=eb145f]"Why does it smell like Huffer Park... like Smacky's last girlfriend?"[/color]

[color=green]"You leave Smacklemore out of this."[/color] Clay said, spitting the smoldering remains of his cigarette onto the ground. [color=green]"Besides, it's just spraypaint. Probably some kids 'round here before we came."[/color]

[color=mediumpurple]"The fuck kind of name is Smacklemore?"[/color] Zasha mused aloud, in genuine bewilderment.

[color=green]"The fuck kind of a name is Zasha?"[/color] Clay shot back, glaring at him through the fog.



[hr]

There were times where they'd figured that getting a watch would [i]definitely[/i] be a good use of their hard-earned cash... But then of course there was also the nagging thought that [i]gee[/i], they could [i]really[/i] use a new shade of cobalt. With an elongated sigh, Gili took a moment to survey their multi-colored work that seemed as though a good portion was dripping down the side. It had rained today-- of course it had rained, it was just their dumb luck. Half of this had been sprayed [i]just[/i] the other day so it had dried nicely, but it looked like just hoping that working on a wet canvas would be fine, was nothing but a flicker of optimism. 

The other half which had originally depicted the bent barrel of a pistol now dripped a silverish-gray down the side of the drab building. Mumbling a quick curse under their breath Gili threw their hands up in frustration, letting the spray-can they had just been clutching fly from their hands and clatter onto the concrete. They had spent [i]too much[/i] time here already and they hardly even had [i]anything[/i] to show for it... What a waste. Now they were going to have to sneak back home and pray to whatever god sat in the currently dreary sky that their parents were still caught up in whatever sit-com stroked their fancy.

Deciding to call it a night, they reached down to untie their overly large sweatshirt from their waist. Honestly, by now it looked raggedy as hell and they would get the occasional comment about getting it from the nearby thrift store by the more asshole-ish passerbys, but was still one of their favorite bits of clothing. Comfortable, easy to move and paint in, kind of perfect for [i]whatever[/i] it was they were up to. After scooping up the rest of their supplies into a rather gaudy backpack and making sure to stow away the bandanna they used as a makeshift face mask. Hoisting the pack up onto their shoulders, Gili ran a hand through their disheveled hair before prepping to set off back home. 

... [i]Damn[/i] it had gotten dark.

Whistling a somewhat tone-deaf tune, Gili had ignored how easily this place could be construed as [i]creepy[/i]. They had spent so much time in the abandoned construction site that they felt more... At home there. Of course that didn't mean that they wouldn't necessarily have their guard up [i]at night[/i]. 

Gradually, they became aware of the sound of footsteps and paused for a moment to try and squint through the fog. People hanging around [i]here[/i] at this time of night could either be one of two things; cops coming to check out a prime tagging spot [i]or[/i] (even [i]more[/i] unpleasant than option one) it could be a group of murderers come to dispatch their latest kill-of-the-day. Since neither one of those seemed very [i]appealing[/i], Gili took a step backwards and discovered that the night could continue to get even [i]worse[/i].

[hr]

[color=eb145f]"What..."[/color]

Gili lost their footing, hit the ground, and a loud [color=darkturquoise]'[i]fuckshit![/i]'[/color] floated eloquently on the night breeze. They didn't bother moving after that. If they were going to die, they'd rather do it on the ground... At least until the world stopped spinning.

Gili felt something round and metallic bounce harmlessly against their ankle. [color=darkturquoise]"To think, death by..."[/color] Without looking away from the sky above them, they reached over to wrap their fingers around the can and bring it to eye level, [color=darkturquoise]"...Coral Blue #5."[/color]  

[color=eb145f]"...[i]Gili?[/i]"[/color]

[color=green]"Nevermind. Not a hobo."[/color]

[color=eb145f]"I wouldn't go that far."[/color]

Clay led the small search party of three -- Kimmy, Zasha, and himself. He handed Kimmy her mom's phone, which he had been using as a flashlight. [color=green]"Me and Tovarisch over here'll wait outside."[/color] He dropped the pipe he held in his other hand, and trudged towards the doorway.

[color=mediumpurple]"Ha! And people say you're uncultured."[/color] Zasha chuckled, but nodded his agreement to the plan.

[color=eb145f]"And people say chivalry is dead."[/color] Kimmy accepted her mother's borrowed phone from Clay. She turned the light Gili-ward. [color=eb145f]"If I'm not out in a few minute,"[/color] she glanced at Clay under her bangs-- tried to pin her words directly on him, as if a steely glance could communicate [i]no lead pipe vigilantism[/i], [color=eb145f]"call the police."[/color] 

[color=darkturquoise]"Since when were you guys axe-murderers?"[/color] Finally deciding to pick themselves up off of the ground, Gili cast a crooked smirk up at the unexpected group. Really, these were the last bunch of kids they thought they'd be running into in this sort of a place.

[color=eb145f]"There was a class at the learning annex last month,"[/color] Kimmy breezed, rolling the phone-turned-flashlight in her hand. The construction site didn't make her [i]nervous[/i] or anything. Who [i]wasn't[/i] totally psyched to get hobo-murdered? Her hands always... sweated this much. It was a balmy August. [color=eb145f]"We had a coupon for the group rate."[/color]

[color=mediumpurple]"I'd have preferred chainsaws but, alas, they only offered the axe course."[/color] Zasha chimed in.

[color=darkturquoise]"And [i]I[/i] wasn't invited?"[/color] Leaning to one side, Gili turned their gaze on Clay's retreating silhouette and made it a point to not address him. A majority of their interactions fell upon a mutual unspoken pact that unless one of them poked the metaphorically sleeping bear, everyone would be a-okay. 

... Of course, Gili often enjoyed taking a stab at it anyway. [color=darkturquoise]"Well [i]hello to you too[/i] mister teapot."[/color] They had an entire menagerie of nicknames that poked fun at the boy's name-- mister teapot was one of their personal favorites. Another one was 'pot' when they felt the need to be more curt. It was too far to hear, but Clay muttered under his breath at the remark.

[color=darkturquoise]"If it was anyone else, I would almost be offended."[/color] Redirecting their attention back onto Kimmy, they made a move to stand up and dust themself off. 

[color=eb145f]"And if that were coming from anyone else, I'd almost care."[/color] Kimmy folded her arms, knitted her brows. [color=eb145f]"What are you doing here at night? You know it's dangerous. Even putting newly licensed learning annex axe-murderers aside..."[/color] She blinked at the paint-streaked kid in front of her-- tilted her head. Said, slowly: [color=eb145f]"Do your parents even know you're out?"[/color]

For a moment, Gili splayed a hand across their chest in feigned-hurt before cracking into one of their signature grins. They had learned [i]years[/i] ago not to take much of what the girl said seriously-- she was one of those rough around the edges types.

[color=darkturquoise]"Star-gazing. Slapping a bit of color here and there-- Tryin' to make this place a little less [i]boring[/i], you know?"[/color] It wasn't as much of a question as they made it sound, idly scratching some of the dried paint off of their dark shirt. And then Kimmy asked about their parents... just like her to check up on them. Confusing but a little bit endearing.

Gili flashed the mechanic another easy smile. [color=darkturquoise]"[i]A'course[/i] they do! Do you really think [i]my[/i] parents would let me outta the house without knowing where I was?"[/color] They took an uneven step forward, their body swaying to one side before rounding back to wrap their arms around Kimmy's torso in a quick and tight embrace. 

[color=darkturquoise]"So you [i]doooooo caaaare[/i],"[/color] they sung, letting go nearly as fast. Sure, [i]personal space[/i] was a blurry concept for them, but they [i]knew[/i] the repercussions of keeping their hands on Kimmy for too long. [color=darkturquoise]"I [i]may[/i] have stayed out a little longer than intended, but, no harm no foul."[/color]

The mechanic shrugged her arms above her head, pointed elbows practically cresting above her head. [color=eb145f]"[i]Gili--[/i]"[/color] the rest of Kimmy's threat fell away from her mouth, forgotten, when the building shuddered.

[center][h1][sup][i][b]Sch-THMP![/b][/i][/sup][/h1][/center]