Chapter 145

  Ellie was correct concerning William’s situation, even if they were yet to be politically correct.

  Kidnapped and fetched like a lost puppy, she thought many Outsider Walkers were like this, either loose, tricked, improper, yet young and like a bunch of strangers. They were aiming at his Walker status, as they should, which was alright and immature at best.

  Hearing where he was coming from, weren’t such apartments worked with multiple architects and many workers? Most required the help of Walkers and precious materials, while landscaping or details were far from being simple.

  No regular person should complain about work opportunities or the fact that such apartments were far out of their grasp. Many were glad for a mere job, as nothing was empty in this space. Living had to be resourceful and trying. However, mistakes and lacking choices happened sometimes, but there weren't useless people. Only useless options and jobs.

  From the Outside, this space was like an alien planet within Ellie's mind.

  In the Federation, some corners were better than others. It was inevitable because of the hierarchy and big populated city adhering to the cohesive nature of strength and Walkers. From jobs and people in various fields and needs, all sorts of valuable matters moved into many other jobs.

  Some companies thought of Walkers as heroes and acted for them like followers and workers, giving them worth, valuables, or support. They built their houses and fed them well. In return, they would get some credits or further opportunities. It was a relatively common idea even Outside, and for a strong Walker to have a lot of backing wasn't without merits. Sometimes, it was even easy and the most they could deserve.

  “Is it… wrong?” William asked since she still gazed at him as if figuring out his purpose in life.

  “What is not wrong? I am wrong, I think, but whatever. You can live wherever you can. I was just curious about it.” Ellie said, still half-frowning at him.

  “I see.”

  Ellie sighed. He didn’t ask her back where she lived, nor did he take her words further, which messed up her whole ideas and heart. Should she spell it to him or what?

  “Let’s get to the upper floor, will you? If you want, I have no trouble shoving you around the Federation in my free time, alright? No buts!” Ellie said, unwilling to give up on her attempt to spend more time with a young Walker like him. He slightly grew up on her, and they weren’t that far from each other’s age, but... what did it even mean?

  For a good while, Ellie couldn't calm down.

  William nodded. Then he walked with unsteady steps up as if he pondered what was the deal with her questions and requests. He was never that keen on girls, since everyone Outside was a hard worker and survivalist, so there was no time for young romances or very deep friendships.

  However, some friendships could blossom, and the one he had with Dann was profound. They met in a sensitive time and place, and to this day, William kept up with the nightmares and everything. Nothing was in vain. Every blood held pain. Every choice moved reasons.

  Bathed in blood, a youth, incredibly pained, stressed, and confused, it was something that few would be able to bear. Loud noises echoed, thuds and lingering pressure followed, and there was something very wrong about his head and hand. It was not good, yet he crawled, restless, insane, and bleeding. He broke and then he wasn't.

  Hope to live came from minds and instincts, so he endured what he could like his Emblem and strange sensations all within him. Getting out of that rubble was dull and numb, but the result happened, and what awaited above was utter devastation and no camp. No people. Nothing.

  Since then, his life had changed and friendships were very different. No hand ever came. No shadow. No room. Dann was there, like a sibling, or a force that let him be on the ground, obscured by a terrible first meeting that was equally as strange as terrifying.

  Reaching the upper floors went quicker because Ellie went ahead and entered a rather special hallway first. There were four upper floors in total, and each was deep and not one bit ordinary.

  Every one of them had their secrets and series of rooms of mazes, and for her, nothing about them was more special than the remains. Ellie was excited and wanted more out of this place than William. It sometimes showed on her face, albeit rarely enough so William couldn’t even grasp it.

  Walking behind her, he entered the hallways and looked down first. There were many floors from the entrance, so the sight was terrific.

  “Quite a good view, isn’t it?” Ellie asked beside him.

  “Yes. I wouldn’t want to jump from here.”

  “Oh, that? Yes. That’s a good idea. Please, don’t do it. There had been... attempts. Suicide is a bad option, truly. Useless, even.”

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  That was unmistakably agreeable. Turning around, William examined the hallway of the first mysterious floor, unsure of what he expected. Walkers had permission to enter them, and it seemed they had some restrictions depending on their Ranks, achievements, or something else. Whatever that was, William was bound to nothing thanks to the card in his pocket.

  The wall stretching on one side was smooth, tall, and all-black. There were quite a few doors in the wall, stretching across the whole hall like a bunch of entrances. The maze wasn't obvious, and the styling was simple and minimalistic.

  William noticed someone on the ground, resting by a wall further back. Napping, hands on chest, fingers crossed, and almost sitting with crossed legs, it was an old man with a cowboy hat on his face. William couldn’t see his face, but it was clear that he was sleeping.

  William recognized him but didn’t want to acknowledge it outright.

  So he asked Ellie, who noticed him as well.

  “Who is he?” William pointed forward, looking at Ellie, who was equally puzzled and confused.

  “He is sleeping beside the main entrance, so he probably waits for someone, or… is he a guard? Oh…that is... odd,” Ellie's guesses were strange and her tone was hesitant. She realized the truth and had no time to speak.

  Walking to the main door, William crouched down to see the face of this old man. He leaned closer and discovered a familiar face.

  “S-sir Kaufman?” He blurted out when the hat moved and profound eyes looked at him next.

  He also noticed that white Emblem in that hand, flowing in endless brightness, strange waves, and uncertain powers.

  As if hearing and hoping for William's cry or eyes, Kaufman gazed at the sudden visitors and blinked twice. He grunted, opened his eyes wide, and then his hat flew up on its own, hovering above him until it fell back on his shocked head.

  Kaufman yelped, jumped in his position, and became as frightened as William himself if not some more. He slept like a baby, so this wake-up call wasn't adequate. Just the fact that he ended up surprised startled both of them, but William was the one who backed away much more, reaching for the railing in a jolt of this meeting.

  Something was right. Who would ever wear a cowboy hat at this place and time, or have the same orb on the opposite side of the palm? Perhaps it was a great assumption, as who else it would be than Kaufman?

  In fright, heat spread, but the pain wasn't there. William grasped the situation, breathed calmly, and grasped the railing behind his back. He tried to remind himself where he was and who was before him. If anything, some politeness and manners were due to some people, while some others needed it more.

  From before or by Ellie, he completely shifted his perspective about this person, who was quite haughty, if what Ellie said was right. That welcoming talk was long enough for him to realize this old man's charm and charismatic words striving for him. Was it curiosity or something else, or was he just playing with a new potential recruit as Ellie suggested?

  Well, he was back, here, and now. Thus some answers had to come. Ellie was further away, also shocked, and took some time to get closer.

  Kaufman kept his posture on the ground even when he shouted in fright. He adjusted his hat, sighed, and took a deep breath as he looked at them. He was embarrassed for sure and wished to drop to the ground.

  “D-don't wake up a resting Walker for godly sake,” Kaufman unapologetically said the same thing William heard not so long ago. Luke was adamant about it for some reason.

  “R-right. Apologies,” William said, clutching the railing as if fearing to fall.

  “H-hello! Greetings, sir Kaufman. It is my utmost pleasure to meet your excellency,” Ellie hurried forward and gave a much greater greeting. It was a rather deep bow, followed by polite words that such a figure in front of this door deserved. She recognized him immediately and even without his awakening.

  Much to her embarrassment, she didn't recognize him as quickly to make a better first impression. After all, she met him very few times and rather read a lot about him. She remembered his portraits and every little legend she could work with.

  A legend... Right.

  “Hm. Yes. Yes. Hello to you as well, kids. It's kind of a shame, but you took a while to come here for some reason. I was almost sleeping my ass off, you see. I thought you would come straight to the upper floors, so I waited for two days like a fool and then one more day had passed. It was nasty. You are nasty, boy. I am hardly getting this sort of sleep at this age, so I don't really mind it, but still... making an old man wait is not nice. Then we have... the situations...” Kaufman talked with sarcasm, a healthy dose of playful truths, and quite a mischievous smile on his face showed his color.

  Sizing William up and down, he did the same with Ellie and figured out a rather interesting and funny situation. He was bothering a young date, right? Too bad he was too old for this shit.

  “Sir Kaufman, your pranks were the least bit appreciated by Burton. Then, we have a separate issue for your daughter. Does Miss Heidi know you are here and back at all? She got so worried and perplexed when she discovered your involvement that she almost... well, I don't know what she could do. I can't imagine it.”

  Kaufman glanced at Ellie and laughed as if he heard a fine joke. He couldn't give a single finger about what his daughter was doing or what Burton even vented on him. They weren't his problem anymore. This was his home and no one will deny him one ounce of wisdom.

  He was a free man and no longer under any organization, rules, or anything. That had been the case for more than a decade already.

  “I could care less about that bastard Burton, but my daughter? Well, I can't believe she decided to name him a freaking dean of my baby, so don't even speak of them.” Then, Kaufman freaked out in anger and agitation, surging out to his feet as if he drifted into empty space. He stood up, and dropped, patting his chest and ensuring his hat wouldn't fly away.

  William looked at him in confusion since it seemed Kaufman was rather familiar with Ellie, while... the floating was another thing altogether. The air was kind of stressed around him, or was it gravity, or... space? Those curtains in that room definitely meant something big back then, yet what was it?

  William wasn't that mindful and what kind of insane powers this Walker could handle, influence, and do. He heard and saw plenty of things Outsdie, and what they could do, create, shape, and develop. They were monsters.

  And this old man was one of the biggest ones of the human race as a whole.

  Everything was gradual, beginning as something small and reasonable, with the eventual possibility of being heaven-defying and out of the human mind. In any case, it could be something nasty, dangerous, or closer to magic than physics, chemistry, or biology. What Walkers were about was within those concepts, but so far advanced and cracked, that they might be the makers of whole new rules.