After following the twists and turns of crumbling suburban roads for a time, the group finally arrived at a rather non-distinct and unimpressive house. A mailbox still stood out front, its flag up and flap hanging on by one hinge. Ancient bits of weathered mail remained shoved in the back of the box. The yard was overgrown – vines and grass entwined with rusty ornaments and broken toys. The house itself was rotting away, and shattered glass from the windows glinted in the sun. The doorway was covered by a ragged cloth, obviously an improvisation since the original destruction. An old tree scraped against the rooftop as the breeze moved through its branches.
It was in front of this house that Deygo stopped. He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, remembering this place. It had been his childhood home. In fact, he had left to go off to school just the day before Origin occurred. He had fought with his parents that day, arguing that he needed his own place, his own life. He insisted that they were smothering him and he wanted out. Of course, his parents felt otherwise. They had wanted him to go to the university in Oraton, so he could remain at home and help care for his younger siblings, Deyvion and Chizira. He had left that day amidst the chaos of harsh words, heartfelt tears, and desperate pleas. He regretted it all now. If only he had stayed… then maybe they’d still be alive, or at least, he would not be alive without them.
Mars and RK watched Deygo as his face went from remorse, to anger, and finally to sorrow. A tear rolled down his cheek and he wiped it hastily away, but not before his two traveling companions had seen it. For once, they were both respectfully silent and appropriately somber, though they weren’t sure why. Mars slowly approached Deygo, stopping a pace or two from him.
“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” he whispered in a voice that anyone could tell he was barely keeping steady.
Mars stepped the rest of the way over to him now and placed her hand on his arm. “It’s okay,” she said, trying to comfort him. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s okay.”
Deygo opened his eyes to look at her, then gave her a bitter smile, but quickly looked down again pulling his arm away and wiping his tears angrily from his face. He tried to regain some of his previously calm and collected composure. “It’s nothing,” he said just a little too harshly for it to really be nothing. He then turned around and set RK gently on the ground, releasing her from the bubble. “We’re staying here tonight,” he said as he turned and strode up to the door. “And don’t touch anything.” He glared meaningfully at RK. She gulped and nodded her head.
“Y-yes, Sir,” she said. “Don’t want no more bubble-o-doom, no sir!”
Deygo smirked slightly before he entered the house. Mars and RK exchanged worried looks before they heard Deygo shout from inside. “Well, c’mon you two! You don’t want to be standing around out there once it gets dark!” RK raised an eyebrow, silently asking Mars wot that was supposed to mean. Mars shrugged. A sharp clatter from down the street broke the silence, startling the two women and sending them scurrying inside.
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