Laney walked the busy streets in a daze.Peoples faces flashed in hazes of colour,light,dark and pastel coloured.Music flared from far away,and barely reached into her rapidly shrunken world.How could such a thing be true.It was worse than all she had seen,and would haunt her,she knew it.She had to find Tobey.He would know what to do.She would find him.

A different individual trooped up the rotting stairs.A tall young man side-stepped a decayed step and surveyed the remaining stairs critically.He pushed up his sleeves and swung himself up the banister to avoid falling through.Looking around the top floor,he rubbed his head puzzedly.
"Helllooo,"His voice was amused,"Laney,if you are in here,you better need rescuing."
Suddenly something leaped out at him.Tobey fell over an unconvieniently placed box.He made a face at the cat that had jumped and it scittered out of the room.Standing up and brushing the dust off his trousers,he was mildly surprised to see a man step in a third floor window.

Laney staggered up the stairs to the flat she shared with her friends.She was at college now but still felt bad about leaving her mom alone at home.Still,her mom had a new boyfriend,so it was probably better she was out of the way to eliminate possible mental scarage.
Laney forced open the door against a sea of litter.Half eaten pizzas lay around the living room,punctuated occasionally by beer cans.Laney gritted her teeth and headed towards the activity she could hear from the kitchen.Her friend Kate stood making the traditional student gourmet-pot noodles.Kate refrained from looking up as she concentrated on shaking out her frustration on the sauce packet.
"Hey Laney,and yes,as you guessed,Emma did have a few friends over,no,she didn't clean up and yes,they have all gone out again."She glanced at Laney and her jaw dropped."What happened Elaine?You look terrible!"
"Thanks"Laney chewed her lip and lied, "I was out with Tobey,we were doing an excavation for my geography class,"
Kate raised an eyebrow."An excavation?"
"It was educational"she snapped."You know tobey and me are just good -"
Emma continued for her,"friends,and have been for years.I've heard.Bought the t-shirt,but still,when are you going to grab the donkey by the tail,so to speak,and go for it."
Laney dismissed it with a wave."I need a shower."she walked away.
Kate just shook her head knowingly.
Laney popped her head back."have you seen Tobey?"

Tobey stood, scratching his head bemusedly, in the centre of the hall.
The bearded man grinned toothlessly at him."See isn't it wonderful!"
"Yeah"tobey said dubiously,"wonderful."
"my names Fudd,I want you to meet some friends of mine."
Tobey shook his head,"No wait.I have to find a friend of mine."
Fudd nodded encouragingly,"Sure,Let my people help.Tell me what he looks like."
"Its a she"
"oh" his expression changed dramatically,"a girl you say."
Tobey disproving of his expression was doubtful."Weeelll...Shes about up to my shoulder,blonde hair,blue eyes,pretty,em she'd be wearing a blue ribbed top."
Fudd nodded,"Oh yeah,saw 'er all right.Stood out like a soaw thumb she did.Thought she was a tourist."He spoke louder,"I didn't see 'er leave though."
Tobey strode towards the door,"well lets find her then,and get out of here before I start dressing like a native."
Fudd paused,letting a grin fester on his face, before walking after him.

Laney ambled to the coffee shop with more of a bounce than earlier.She sighed.A shower always made her feel better.It was late,but this particular cafe stayed open all hours to cater for the student-types that hung out there.She saw the usual "gang" clustered around a table chatting and laughing.A few looked up.She saw Emma sitting on the lap of her latest male conquest.She smiled broadly at her."Hello Laney.Where have you been?"
Folding her arms Laney stood at the table head awkwardly."I've been around."She scanned the faces anxiously."Have you seen Tobey?"
Dave, while making room for her close to him said,"He went looking for you.But I'm available now." He grinned cheekily.
By then Laney had run out the door and was dissapearing up the street.A surprised waiter got off the floor and picked up the spilled tray.
Dave looked around puzzedly,"What'd I do?"he whined.
The others burst out laughing.

Laney wore her long coat again,and this time came prepared.She wore black and had her hair in a loose bun.She had her pockets filled with mars bars- but she hoped she wouldn't have to use them.
She had searched the surrounding streets which she and Tobey called the "Haunts" but to no avail.Reluctantly she arrived at the window.She passed a group of wired students who shoved her out of the way.
Two youths were peering out the window."Where'd he go?"the female said scowling.Shrugging the male told her," hes probably gone back for more ash."
"Screw him then."the girl said and flounced out.
The man looked at Laney."If you see him tell him he owes me my share"he said and left.
Laney looked nervously at the plank.It was pitch black now,but at least she had brought a torch.She climbed over with the torch in her mouth.When she reached the other side,after the Trap focused with a gloop,she noticed something on the ground.A man was lying face down in the mud far below the window.He was motionless and already the rats were congregating around him.Laney turned away and jumped down.
She was ignored this time owing to her attire.She looked around for Tobey in the hall,but there was no sign of him.She took out a mars bar from her pocket,but replaced it with shaking fingers at the sight of an empty blanket.The parents were napping.Biting the inside of her lip,Laney stepped outside.