Homeless by DHM

<"It has to be in there, I just saw her throw it in this morning."

You shrugged, and pulled Dash's little frame out of the dumpster.

Dash stood at attention, watching the entrance to the alleyway for anyone passing by. You dove into the foul smelling heap, digging around for the unmistakable red tinted bag. Spaghetti, cat litter, and a variety of rotten food filled your nose. You couldn't bear that you and Dash were living this way, but after five years, you'd both become accustomed to the lifestyle. It was the comfort in routines. Suddenly your thoughts were interrupted by a twinkle of red plastic in your vision as you dug. Bingo.

<"Hey I found it, here help me out."

Dash wordlessly came to you, and bit the end of your ratty coat sleeve.

 

She arched her back, and began to pull as you scaled your way out of the dumpster, prize in hand. Opening the red bag, you spotted the cord, and pulled it out. The hot plate.

You stuffed the hot plate into your backpack, and proceeded over to your bike. Dash followed behind, and hopped in the back of the torn baby carrier behind the bicycle. The canopy had been ripped off long before you both had acquired it. Dash dug in tight.

<"Alright. Let's get going home."

As you rode through the city, the crisp and bitter January air tore through every hole in both of your coats. Luckily Dash stashed a blanket in the carrier and wrapped herself as you both drove. Your hands were dry and cracked. Lips just as worse for the weather. This east coast city was not kind to those left out in her cold. Eventually you reached your destination outside the abandoned industrial park. You kept vigilant as you entered the remains of the dilapidated train depot with Dash.

 

Living like this had taught you one thing about people who came to places like this. They were either there to stay hidden, or to prey on those who are hidden. Luckily the coast seemed clear, as you both proceeded into the tunnel running under the highway pylon. The L line hadn't run for almost seven years at this point. It was a godsend for you and Dash. You rode to the maintenance point, long since unkempt, and unlocked. You dismounted the bike, and pulled out the blue tarp from your backpack. Dash got out, and began to drag the wooden pallet that was sitting against the concrete tunnel wall towards you. Placing the bike and carriage under the tarp, and the pallet on top of that, the bike and carriage looked like unassuming garbage. Dash and you cautiously made your way into the fluorescently lit maintenance way. After walking a few feet into the room, you knelt down to the ventilation grating. Dash stood behind you. This was always when she was the most nervous. You unscrewed the loose bolts, and flipped the hinged cover on the ventilation shaft.

 

<"Hey Dash, you mind handing me the light?"

Dash walked over, and rummaged the flashlight out of the main pocket. She then handed it to you. Flipping it on, you peered into the shaft, as you began to crawl in. The fit was tight, but you'd both been used to it by now. Dash followed suit, and pulled the vent cover behind herself. After crawling about ten feet, the familiar air of home hit your nose. The abandoned central air vent. Home. Dash swiftly followed in behind you, as you placed the cardboard strip over the vent you'd crawled in through. It helped muffle sound, keep light from getting out, but most importantly, cold from getting in. Dash lit a candle, and snuggled up on your makeshift bed composed of a discarded moldy mattress.

<"Alright babe, let me try this out."

You plugged the hot plate into the metallic outlet on the wall. Surprisingly power had not been disconnected from this abandoned subway line, as it apparently saved the city more money than to manually disconnect the power lines. It was truly a gift. A luxury for people in their predicament. The indicator light was broken, but feeling the air surrounding the plate, you felt the heat.

 

<"YES!!! IT WORKS!!"

You looked around at the pile of your reserves. You saw the orange colored packaging and grinned.

<"Let's have some ramen. Haven't had that in months."

You took your dented pot and a bottle of water you had stashed. Soon the small amount of water was boiling, and the smell of a quadruple serving of Ramen filled the room. You both got your solo cup and spoon, and dug in.

Even you rubbed your stomach in satisfaction.

<"Yeah, we can't go this long again without something hot."

After eating, you both cleaned and licked your utensils as best as you could. You both proceeded to snuggle up in ritual to get ready for sleep. Your ratty blanket kept you both quite warm. Mostly it was each other that kept you warm. You began to drift off to sleep. The feeling of Dash breathing in your arms was enough to lull you to sleep.

<"Good night Dash. I love you."

You both drifted off to sleep.