The Vampire's Apprentice

Norville slowly turned to Kitty, his eyes darting back to the red shirts several times. He tried to say something, but it just came out as a strangled whimper.
 
She gently set her hand on his cheek, her fingers warm from having slept on them. Kitty nudged her head in the opposite direction of the rack. "That way." She told him.
 
"Right," Kitty smiled ever so slightly and relocated her palm from his cheek to his hand, just to be certain he followed.
 
Norville clung to her hand and followed her, his breath occasionally catching in his throat. He was on the edge of breaking down, but Kitty was holding him together.
 
Hopefully what they had already retrieved could hold him over for a day or two. She didn't want to spend much more time in this place, sensing an invisible timer.
 
Norville managed to pull himself together as more people came into view, but he didn't let go of Kitty's hand, the basket hanging off his cast holding one pair of pants, two long sleeve shirts, and one tee-shirt as well as a few other essentials. It would work, though there wasn't much.
 
Kitty didn't release his hand, either, not wanting to lose him. So, one-handed, she opted to message Clancy—something she'd never actually had to do before. The message was simple; they were waiting inside the entrance to Walmart when he was ready.

Tucking her phone back into her pocket, she looked to Norville. "You alright?" Kitty asked gently.
 
"Yeah, of course. I may need my hand back for that, though...." Kitty answered cautiously. "You can have it again when we're done, OK?"
 
"Mhm," She nodded, glad to have her hand back. Checking out was nothing new and, with the few items there were, over with relatively quickly.
 
Norville stayed close, but at least now he wasn't whimpering. He focused on the bags to carry and seemed to breathe much more easily once outside.

Clancy waited in the car parked just in front of the doors with the engine running.
 
"Did you find everything okay?" Clancy asked as Norville settled into the seat behind him. He noted the youth seemed even more fragile now than before and gave Kitty a questioning glance.
 
Later, Kitty mouthed, making sure Norville did not see, then nodded. "We did. Should be good for a few days, at the least."
 
"Excellent. We can make do until we find a more permanent living situation." Clancy put the car in drive and guided it back onto the road.
The motel he'd found was subdued and not at all flashy, but clean and well kept. Their room was on the ground floor only two doors from the emergency exit. Sam was already inside the room waiting while exploring the small bathroom and two queen sized beds.
 
Kitty was happy to see Sam again, rubbing the dog on the head when she got the chance. "Norville, will you be alright with Sam for a minute?" She asked. "I have something else to get from the car." Which, as her suitcase was already tucked beside one of the beds, was intentionally a lie, and she hoped Clancy would notice it. Funny way of manipulating the ability but, hey, if it worked. "You should get changed in the meantime."
 
"Okay," Norville mumbled. He sat on the edge of one of the beds and stared at the floor. Sam walked over and shoved his head up against him. Norville leaned over and wrapped his arms wordlessly around the dog.

"Let me walk you out," Clancy said. "Parking lots are dangerous." He fetched the car and the room keys before going to the door and opening it for Kitty.
 
Even though she had suggested it, Kitty didn't feel particularly good about leaving Norville alone. It felt funny to put her trust in a dog.... At least Sam was a good dog.

The girl stopped to speak with Clancy only when she had reached the car and no sooner.
 
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