Just as she began to leave, already in a running position, Hippie Girl grabbed her shoulder. Her hand gripped tight enough to cause some pain but not too much.
“Not saying something would happen to you, but if it does, I can keep your stuff, right?” Hippie Girl asked.
“Even if I had stuff, it’d be a no,” Jioni replied, shaking Hippie Girl’s hand off her shoulder. “Ok, maybe it’s a maybe.”
“You know I’m joking. Just come back in one piece.”
“That’s the plan.” Jioni waved.
Jioni couldn’t help but wonder how a simple trade for a flannel shirt turned into a death mission: She shook off the dread and focused on the positives of scoring some good items. She tied the ugly flannel around her waist and put her new flashlight and nunchucks in her satchel. She then left the area and sprinted toward the abandoned apartment building.
