[Lupe and Imogen] House Of Dreams Continued

[Imogen]

Imogen tightened her grip around Kristen's shoulders as they grew closer to the escape. She'd been getting more and more anxious as they'd been getting nearer, and now she was finding it a little hard to breath. She forced herself to take a deep breath, not letting herself back out now.

The fourteen-year-old could almost smell the outside... so fresh and clear, unlike the stuffy air down here in the underground. Having been so used to it she hadn't been able to tell before, but now she realised how different the air must be outside...

She could feel it too - a cold breeze was blowing in from the outside, making her shiver a little.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" she turned her head to face him, hoping for some kind of reassurance to comfort her before she took the biggest risk of her life...

[Lupe [Kristen Cominsky]]

Lupe could tell Imogen was scared, he knew how much she wanted to do this but had never been able to. He'd known her the entire time he'd been at the orhanage so he knew most about her.

"Trust me." He smiled lightly at her, cimbing up the escape still carrying her in his arms. He didn't want to scare her, so he stopped just below the actual surface. Slowly he begin creeping them out of it until his feet were above the underground. He waited for her reaction, anything. If she wasn't comfortable he's take her back down, if she was fine he could show her more. He wasn't going to rush things, he just wanted to help her.

[Imogen]

Imogen closed her eyes tight when Lupe began ascending the stairs, holding on as tight as she could as though scared she might fall. She didn't open her eyes until he'd stopped. Slowly, she began looking around herself, observing her surroundings.

It was quite early in the morning, but although the sun wasn't fully up yet the power of the light was enough to make her squint. She lifted a hand to shield her eyes, and continued to glance round. It didn't seem like many people were awake yet - only a few people were out on the streets and they weren't paying any attention to the pair. There was definitely no police around, and the teenager realised that these people probably hated them as much as everyone underground. It wasn't likely they'd get reported...

Subconsciously, Imogen smiled. It felt like a huge weight had lifted off her shoulders, and she couldn't believe she hadn't tried this sooner.

[Lupe [Kristen Cominsky]]

Lupe smiled himself, placing Imogen on her own feet. She looked like she was dealing with it okay so he felt like he could show her more.

Want to look around on my back?" He smiled more, waiting for her answer. He thought it might make it easier, and he'd found out from other trips to the surface with first timers that it was an easier way to escape back to the underground. Luckily there was hardly anyone around, and most of the working-class people knew him now anyway. He'd made friends with people on the surface to give him more leway. If he acted like an idiot like most of the thiefs he'd never be able to come to the surface without being caught.

[Imogen]

For a moment the teenager considered this option. It seemed like an attractive idea, but she wasn't sure...
"I... I think I'll pass, but..." she took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she was about to say, "Could you...put me down, though? I want to, y'know, walk around for myself for a bit."
Imogen wasn't sure why she'd come to this decision, but it was probably her brain subconsciously forcing her into growing a backbone. She'd waited long enough for this, and she wasn't going to let herself down now. For all she knew this could be the only time she'd ever get up her and if she never explored it herself she'd hate herself for it.

[Lupe [Kristen Cominsky]]

Lupe nodded, smiling proudly. Atleast that meant Imogen was finally getting braver about being somewhere other than underground. Letting her down to her feet gently, the red-head took a tiny step back so he wasn't crowding her. He stayed close enough to help her if she got nervous of course, but this was her time to shine and he wasn't going to take it away like some people he knew would.

"The direction is up to you" He smiled, making sure to remind himself of any hotspots to avoid for the police, if they headed towards one of them he'd intervene of course.

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[Imogen]

Imogen nodded, looking around herself and trying to decide on a direction. After a while she decided on walking straight ahead - there wasn't anyone about that she could see, and if they needed to run it would be very hard to get lost on the way back.

After taking a deep breath, she began to walk very slowly, grabbing hold of Lupe's arm as she did so she could pull him with her.

[Lupe [Kristen Cominsky]]

Lupe walked with Imogen, letting her lead them whever she wanted. Usually he had a plan of places to show the kids if they asked, but today it was up to her. This was her first time above ground and he didn't want to scare her or tell her so much that she couldn't ake in.

"How're you feeling?" He asked gently, looking down at her as the walked. They weren't going very fast, but it was a start.

[Imogen]

Continuing to move at a very slow pace, Imogen nodded, "I... I'm okay, I think."

In a way, she was a little disappointed. She'd thought that up here would be amazing, from the way that the guys were always going up here and from how enthusiastic the kids were... but it wasn't. Sure it was WAY better than underground but it was far from special. She was beginning to wonder why she'd even been scared in the first place, as there was nothing even here.

"Is this...as interesting as it gets?"

[Lupe [Kristen Cominsky]]

Lupe looked around as they walked, waiting to hear what Imogen thought. However, when she did speak he laughed a little. Sure it didn't seem that interesting, a lot of the kids found it interesting because it was different. But there were parts that he could show her when she was ready.

"It could get more interesting..." He thought for a moment, looking around once again.

"I could show you some places?"