Strangers Like Me

                                    

                                          
Chapter Twenty-Seven | Strangers Like Me
Parker was in awe of the place he saw. This place was so strange and yet he knew it was a house. An aroma that smelled sweet and familiar lingered in the air and only got stronger as the four of them approached the structure. 
Parker's mind was completely numb. No part of him felt real. He felt like a helium balloon, floating along and merely existing. Every sense was taking in information, but processing it was another story. 
As they approached, Parker noticed two other small children who were smaller and younger than him outside of the structure. It sounded like the two of them were talking – well, one was talking, and the other was babbling simple phrases. 
It wasn't until they were a few feet away that they instinctively stopped and turned toward the approaching group. The oldest of the two's eyes were wide and he quickly took the younger by the hand and guided her inside. There was some kind of commotion inside and, a few seconds later, two more adults, one man and one woman who looked a little older than the man they walked outside of the structure. Their expressions told Parker everything he needed to know about seeing him with the others. 
They were apprehensive, completely uneasy, and shocked into silence at seeing him. 
Parker's step faltered and he stopped dead in his tracks. He never considered himself a shy person, but too much had happened all at once and was making him retreat into himself. His body trembled as he pulled the cloak given to him by the man further over his shoulders. 
This made the man stop and glance over at Parker. 
"You're alright. It's going to be okay, kid," said the man. The same instinct Parker had experienced all his life that raised when he sensed his mom coming or when he fell from a great distance wasn't giving him any red flags. Usually, the hair would raise on the back of his neck or something inside him would be screaming to run away. 
That was not the case here. 
In fact, there was something homey about what was happening. 
It was familiar. 
Parker swallowed, his throat feeling like sandpaper from getting sick earlier, and followed behind the man. 
The woman ushered the other two teens into the home, giving Kit a harsh stare, before her features softened as she looked back to Parker. The man did the same thing as Finnick and Kit passed, saying something along the lines of, "We'll talk about this later," as Kit crossed the threshold. 
The woman exhaled slowly as though to calm herself down before stepping forward toward Parker. The young teen noticed she had a prosthetic leg, which seemed unfathomable. How could she have a prosthetic leg and not be human? How did she get the supplies for it? It looked 3D printed after all. 
"Parker, sweetie, come on inside. I'm sure you have some questions," said the woman as she turned on her heel and vanished inside the house. The man with her followed shortly behind after giving the man who helped Parker a stern look. 
Parker wasn't sure why, but he got the impression that there was something uneasy and unspoken between the group and the stranger. Regardless, Parker drifted along through the door and into the home. He immediately noticed so many odds and ends that were hung from the walls.
The items ranged from ones he actually used to help build his own space to creative alternatives for everyday items. Things like thumbtacks in the walls for coats and bags and twist ties for hinges on the doors. There was a cork in the corner with a paperclip in the back which made the thing look like a stool or chair and this was just the hallway.