246 9 Atonemen

About a week had pa.s.sed since the incident, Maru however had seemingly moved on from it. While Maru quickly moved on, Rick had his concerns. What if the mans call for retreat was a hoax of some sort? What if he reported back, arranged something else, or had bigger plans? He couldn't be sure.

"Rick?" There was a knock at the door. "It's open Sena." Rick answered. The door opened to reveal Sena with a man behind her. Ricks eyes widened, and his heart raced. It was the man who led the rest of the men during the attempted kidnapping.

"What are you-" Rick stammered. "Is something wrong?" Sena looked at him in confusion. "Sen" Rick began. "Can I talk to you?" Sena looked at the man and back to Rick. "Of course." Rick pulled her to the kitchen. "What are you doing!?" He angrily whispered. "What do you mean?" She frowned. "Isn't he a friend of yours?" Rick quickly turned his head towards the doorway. The man was checking his watch. "What made you think that!?" Rick sighed. "You shouldn't trust people so easily Sena." Sena stared at him in confusion. "So, he's not your friend?" Sena questioned. "Look, let me handle this, you go downstairs." He turned his head once more. "Don't let people you don't know in next time." Sena nodded her head. "I let you live here the day I met you though." She smiled as she walked away.

Rick let out a sigh once more. "Oi." He began. "I don't know why my landlady let you in, but I'm not as nice as her, get out." The man looked up. "Sorry about that." He smiled looking up. "However I needed to talk to you." Rick tapped his foot impatiently. "Well whatever it is it doesn't matter to me." Rick glanced towards his bedroom where Maru was busy watching cartoons. "Look," The man began. "I think we got off on the wrong foot and-" Rick laughed. "Wrong foot?" He continued, "try the fact you tried kidnapping the kid in my care!" The man sighed. "About that," Rick had heard enough. He didn't want to shout Incase Maru heard him, but he was nearing the end of his patience. "Summers," The man continued. "I quit my job the night of the incident." Rick looked up quickly. "I'm here because I wanted to thank you." The man smiled. "It's just like you said," The man continued. "When you asked if I was happy working such a job it hit me." He looked down smiling sadly. "I never once was happy working at the Labs." Rick looked down in silence. It seemed the man was being sincere. "What's your name?" The man looked up at Rick. "My name?" He smiled. "It's Chris Huser." Rick looked up, locking eyes with Chris. "d.a.m.n." He smirked looking back down. "I can tell you're being sincere and I hate it." Chris looked down. "Yep." He twirled his thumb. "Where's my proper thank you?" Chris looked up quickly. "You said you had to thank me d.a.m.nit." He chuckled. The man laughed. "You're really quite a character Summers." He said in amus.e.m.e.nt. "Well," The man began. "Thank you for showing me what a miserable life I was leading." He paused. "Thank you for not easily forgiving me, I know I have to atone for my sins." Rick laughed. Chris looked up confused. "Oi, what's so funny about what I said?" He asked annoyed. "Nothing," Rick kept laughing. "I guess I owe Sena an apology, I'm just like her, forgiving so easily. He smiled. "Guess it cant be helped, I'm also just like you." Chris c.o.c.ked his head. "Whaddya mean?" He questioned. Rick looked at him. "We both have our sins we must atone for." Chris smirked. "d.a.m.n, didn't expect you to get so deep Summers." Rick chuckled. "Cut the Summers bulls.h.i.t will ya?" He glanced quickly at the door again. "I like my friends calling me Rick." Chris laughed. "Guess we'll be atoning together then."