<div align="center"><strong>-=the stowaway – aboard the Gamble, Eavesdown Docks – changing position=-</strong></div><br/>The noise aboard the ship continuously changed; creaks and squeals, echoes and sudden hushes. The girl’s bright eyes lifted as she took in what details she'd not previously been able to absorb, hunting the cargo bay for a safer spot to take up, hoping to actually sleep restfully for a few hours. She moved stealthily, craning only a portion of herself at a time to remain as hidden as possible in case someone unexpectedly moved into the bay… like when a male voice called out for help. Having just ducked her head back behind the stack of pallets, she forced herself not to respond. Instinct and curiosity wound her tightly toward exposure, wanting to answer the plea but knowing better. She came first and she had to know what kind of situation she would find herself becoming a part of before she’d ever try to help someone else.<br/><br/>As bodies moved through the bay, their footsteps continued to tell her a little something about where they headed, how quickly they stepped and with what amount of force. She cringed, holding tightly around the drying fruit pit, its contours making indentions in her palm. Once the bay was relatively silent again, she slowly relaxed, reconsidering her purpose on board. Maybe she should go, leave while she had the chance and look for another place to hold up awhile. She had just made up her mind to step off into the darkness of Persephone once more when another body entered her (obviously not so private) space, making her retreat to the stack of pallets again. Holding her breath as the purposeful steps exited the bay, she carefully inhaled once the person was gone. She started a count in her head to 200, just ensuring that there was no quick turnaround by that person to come back aboard before moving.<br/><br/>As she waited, her mind laid out the internal structure of the Dragonfly toward the aft, both floors. She studied the details while logic screamed in her head, ‘get off this ruttin’ rattrap before you<em>bie wu long</em>.’ While her need to protect herself grew more nervous, she calmly went over the specs and layouts, confirming what she already knew about the distances and angles to be found in the corridors of the Gamble. Listening for approaching noises from any angle, she slid forward from behind the pallets, heading further into the ship. Now maybe to some, this didn't seem all that smart, entering further into a ship she meant just moments ago to vacate, but this ship had several things she could use and all within a certain amount of confined space. Food, clothing, maybe a pair of shoes if she were really lucky. Nothing out on the docks was going to help her survive, not without costing her a whole lot more than she wanted to trade.<br/><br/>She knew exactly where the infirmary was because of the route those panicked steps had gone when help had been received. She knew better than to go in that direction and crossed in front of the secured skiff toward the stairs on the port side. Keeping low and smooth in her movements, she still had to hold an arm around her torso to keep from spilling out of her ruined jumpsuit. Maybe she could find clothes somewhere near the washer and dryer area…<em>and food and a place to sleep unmolested while you’re at it, foolish girl. That route takes you right across the corridor-side entryway to the infirmary. They’re all busy paying attention to whoever’s hurt. No one’s going to look up to see me sneaking a shirt as I cross into the restroom… or better yet, an unoccupied passenger dorm.</em>Dorm…<br/><br/>A tall building, not unlike the sleeping coffins stacked one atop another in rows, erected itself in her thoughts. Geometric perfection with short wooden balconies facing the sunshine… she shook her head violently, gritting her teeth not to gasp aloud at the freshly burst headache. Half blinded with the onslaught, she tucked herself into the space between the end escape pod and the arch to the abdomen of the ship. Sweating lightly, she blinked and flicked her gaze around until she could steady her focus. From here, she could climb the stairs upward chancing anyone in the forward galley. She also had the choice of ducking through the arch to dart upstairs emerging at the rear of the galley or try entering the restroom nearest the infirmary – where probably all the ship was waiting to see if the person needing help was getting it.<br/><br/>*****<br/><br/><em>Bie wu long</em>= make a big mistake.<br/>