Aberdeen City, 16 years ago
Little Ansel heaved out a deep breath as they finally got out of the small tunnel.
It took him a while to get his bearings, and was only brought back when he felt something warm and equally dirty on his gunk-covered hand.
It was a little hand, covered with black-green stuff that looked so mushy and disgusting.
Still, he did not pull back his hand.
In fact, if he hadn't been so scared before he'd also realize that the hand she covered his mouth with was this very hand.
Little Althea, nicknamed Little Monkey, didn't seem to notice her handprint on the other boy's face.
She just pulled the boy and gestured for them to go. "Let's go!" She told him, her little voice a bit milkier due to all the whispering.
Ansel looked at her small hand on his, and nodded blankly.
"So, kid, where do you live?" She asked as they moved, looking down on him from time to time.
