Realization hit Joshua like a slap in the face. Holy crap…this guy IS R.A.C! I can't help him! He's the bad guy! Pretending to be really engrossed in hurriedly packing up the food, he thought a bit before responding.
No…I can help him. He's hurt. He's a human, just like I am. I can't just throw him aside now.
Joshua finished packing away all of the food before locking eyes with Blake. His soft, playful eyes were sharpened to attention. "Okay. I know where we can hide out. It's pretty close to here, and it's only a few alleyways away. You think you can walk?"
Gathering up the bag of food–it would be a waste to leave it here after barely eating anything, and besides, they could eat once they were out of sight. He slung it on his arm and helped Blake up with the other. Through some magical feat, Josh was able to pull Blake to his feet. Carefully guiding him by the elbow, Josh lead Blake down a series of alleyways and abandoned stairwells. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna take you anywhere weird. I promise. It's a…a little hide out that I like to visit around here. It's really cool, trust me."
After rounding another corner Joshua lead Blake into a small tunnel which quickly opened into a old, abandoned railway station. "The old railways used to run along the river," Josh explained, gesturing with his head, "These places have been abandoned for years, and rarely anyone comes down here anymore." It was a beautiful sight. The railway station was build into the side of the hill and vines and minor foliage grew out from the top of it, creating almost a short curtain of greenery. Sunlight poured in through the curtain of vines, making colorful patterns of green. Bushes and small trees had grown up around the platform, shielding whoever stood inside from any unwanted attention. If you looked out past the bushes and trees, you could see the river and the old railroad tracks, stretching out for miles in either direction. Josh lead Blake to an old concrete bench and began to lay out the food again.
Sensing Blake's nervousness, Joshua flashed him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about anyone coming down here and finding you. No one besides a couple of homeless guys come down here anyway, and they won't snitch on you. There's a code of silence around these parts: You don't say anything about them, and they won't say anything about you."
Josh slid Blake's bowl of soup back to him along with his utensils. "Take your time eating here. It's alright." Joshua sat down on the other side of the food and began to eat again. The two ate in silence for some time, listening to the birds and the sounds of traffic far above their heads.
