Jamal did not sleep well that night. He could tell Ula was upset and didn't want to talk to him, so he respected that decision. He got back in the bed and faced the other way, not looking back at her either. He just kept silent and tried to fall back asleep, but he just couldn't. He wasn't going to blow the place up, but she thought so, plus he had collapsed from exhaustion. Three months wasn't going to work for him, and he wanted to cut some corners. But the damage could be more severe if he did so, and Jamal just gave up on even processing any more ideas with so. He would need sleep for the days ahead and he didn't have time to mope around. It took him an hour or so until he gave into the slumbers.
He was still sleeping after a few more hours later, until Jamal was nudged in the back, getting up again. Looking around, he saw Ula already out of the bed looking around in the dressers, not bothering to look at him still. Sighing lightly where she couldn't hear him doing so, he edged himself out of the bed and made his way towards the back to the bathroom and closed the door behind him, and took a leak. Cleaning himself up, Jamal heard the door open and close ahead of him with a shudder. As long as he didn't talk to Ula and let her cool off, she would be fine. I can keep this going, he said to himself looking at the mirror and opened the door.
Outside Jamal could hear some chatter, and moving close to the window he could see Ula already talking to Brat and Fonda about who knows what. Back to the dressers, he picked out a casual polo shirt and some worn pants for the day ahead. Looking fresh, he took a quick breath and opened the door.
"What's good guys." Jamal confidently announced to the group, as he began to put his arm around Ula.
"You looking clean today, but won't be that way by the time we come back," Brat said impressed.
Jamal smiled at that, as Ula didn't push his arm away. Perhaps things might work out on their own after all. They continued the walk out of the hotel, as they searched for a place to get some grub. But with much of the city still in ruins, at least where they were at, it would be hard to find. As they continued to walk around the area, they noticed a lot of stands around, attempting to sell some food.
"Everyone's trying to make a quick buck these days," Ula commented.
"Got to make ends meet somehow," Jamal added, looking towards a restaurant in semi collapsed building, with people sitting on the broken sidewalk with food in bowls.
He walked towards there, with the rest of them following behind, as he entered the establishment. It wasn't as packed as the outdoors, and there was a sign that said the food was free, but anyone could leave a tip if they liked. Jamal was trying to eat, so he grabbed a free bowl and began to help himself inside.
"We should leave a tip, that would be nice." Brat encouraged, and one of the cooks in the back smiled at him.
Luckily, Ula had brought her wallet again and put some cash in the designated jar. Walking back out, they sat down on the side away from most people, and began to eat the contents in the bowl.
"This stuff is good and all, but we need to get down to business. As we all know, we got to get out, but we haven't found Hops yet. So our options are to find him, and then get out of here, or leave him behind. That's all we have." Jamal told them all.
"Can't be that hard to find him. Then again, he could be dead!" Brat giggled.
"Seriously, how has anything been funny to you lately? What's wrong with you? I know you're just a child, but this isn't natural or anything! Come on!" Jamal yelled in his face, a few onlookers watching.
Brat's face turned glum, and shortly after began to cry.
"This is ridiculous. I'm going to look for him myself since everyone wants to relax in a war!" he said, discarding the bowl on the side, and walking away from them.
How could anyone act like this, especially now? This wasn't the time for games, Jamal furiously thought, as he moved quickly past people still cleaning up from yesterday's attack. In the distance, he could see Saputan officers attempting to boost morale and getting people to join the army, a few interested. There was no point at this rate. Still fuming, he walked past another stand, until he noticed shadows behind him. Turning around, he saw three men approaching him.
"What do you want?" he said, both fists on fire.
"We saw your argument over there, and we just couldn't help but notice that you wanted to get out of here too. We have four tickets to Yerni." one of the men spoke, taking out four slips of paper.
"I can't leave them or my girlfriend behind, so no thanks," he said, backing up.
"Come on, you can start a new life, get a new girl, make new friends, what do you say." another said, beginning to approach him near an alley.
"Stop moving towards me now!" he said, aiming a fireball towards them, eying the woman at the stand, one of the men handing her money, and she turned the other way. You got to be kidding me, he thought, as he began to stumble back.
Trying to intimidate them, he went into his sparking form, but the pain from the night before was returning. This was not good, as he turned around and began to run.
"We just trying to help you," they called towards Jamal, as they were giving chase.
Jamal weaved between alleys like back in Deiram, knocking people out of his way. He turned around another corner, to see one of the men waiting for him. Backing up, he could see the others behind him and tried to propel himself into the sky. The pain was forcing him to take deeper breaths, and he barely grabbed onto the top of the building to his side, as he heaved himself up.
Looking back down, Jamal could see them beginning to climb up with ease, and he was running out of options. Concentrating, he began firing fireballs down towards them, but they moved across to dodge it all. It was no use. Dang, Ula, where are you when I need you the most?
"Hm, looks like you could use some help." a voice said behind him.
Turning around, he saw him. Out of all places, Hops was watching him with eagerness and began to smile.
Walking past him, Hops looked down at the climbing men and shook his head. He began kicking the guardrails protecting one from falling, and sharp bits fell onto the men. With nowhere to avoid it, they began to get scrapped and yelped in pain, forcing them to go down and run away.
"Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" he glared at him, picking him up, "You better tell me where the rest are, cause I don't know about you, but I'm trying to get out of here."