Picking up the Pieces

The atmosphere on the walk to the scrapyard was stifling.

I had to keep the view of the character I was portraying as a girl who got kicked out. Anything I say might give away just how little I know about the world. Mistakes add up and who knows what kind of threat I would face if I was found out.

Vess and Keht were walking close enough to whisper to each other but from what I could tell they weren't.

"Let's split up once we get past the red car."

"What's that?"

"One of the landmarks in the scrapyard there's a general agreement not to touch certain landmarks the red car is one of them. There's hardly any value in the rusted metal that makes up the car so people leave it as a landmark." Vess explained.

"Most are pointless as long as you only search at day but they can help you find your way back at night."

He used a tone that made it clear that I definitely shouldn't be out here at night.

"Wasn't planning on it."

After walking for a few minutes I saw a mini Van that looked like a model from the time period my memories were from. It was rusty and gutted and rust had spread all over the main body.

"Bye."

"adjyos"

Based on their expressions but they have other slang for things. I'll need to start using more slang if I hope to not stick out or I'll be painfully easy to notice. Meeting them was a somewhat lucky break.

They both took a right, they probably didn't want to be anywhere near me so I went left.

As I climbed over the huge piles of scrap and garbage. I saw almost nothing of value and I wonder more and more if coming here was the right thing to do.

Usually, there's something useful in scrap yards from what I know but if you think about it a society that needs all the resources it can get won't let most metals go to waste and will try to find ways to reuse it. Not to mention the countless people who comb through this place daily.

After looking for another 15 minutes I found what looked like a discarded lighter. The fluid was drained but I might be able to use the flint for something. Not a high chance though because it seems like most wood is gone there are pieces here and there so I can probably make something but It's not like I need a fire in the first place.

I stepped over the shell of a gutted electric lawnmower the wheels, blade, and handle were taken off but the plastic that made up the structure was still intact there could be something inside.. I looked around my surroundings for something to pry with. There was a broken piece of plastic that seems like it was leftover from a CRT tv.

I went back over to the lawnmower and I discovered that I probably didn't need a prying tool in the first place. the plastic wasn't destroyed but the seams and pieces that held it all together were pretty much already so far gone that it would be no problem opening it.

Inside there was the motor and gears connecting to where the shaft for the blade used to be. I grabbed it out of the lawnmower and continued meandering through the scrapyard.

The sun was about an hour away from setting so I probably should head back soon. I might have light but who knows what kind of people might come out at night.

After walking another 10 minutes I found a couple of pieces of a broken mirror and a single clothespin, not totally useful but if I ever found a way to repair my face I would probably need them.

That's when I found 'it' Made out of rubbery silicone and latex substance and a color that matched my 'skin' tone it was pretty damaged but the rod was covered in grime and mostly intact.

Moving on from that I started to head back. Although carrying around a phallic object is horribly inconvenient. I don't have much of a choice seeing as how I was limited by time. So I headed back placing it into one of the inside pockets of the coat I was wearing.

It only took 20 minutes to get back to the red minivan because I wasn't looking around for stuff. I then turned right which was the way we entered from.

Leaving there was a much different atmosphere from when I entered. The people that were there buying stuff were storing away their things and packing up. I quickly walked down the road. I was looking for a space where I could repair my face and if I had enough material, my leg. I found I sort of dead-end alley that had a couple of little huts made of sheet metal that had people inside. I found a space between one of them and sat down ready to at least sew some pieces onto my face and later I could melt them to make my skin look more natural.

The first thing I did was hold up a mirror to examine how I should go about fixing my face.

Pulling the hood of the coat down my face didn't look great. There were bets of silicone gel hanging down and large chunks missing.

I used a piece of glass to cut string free from one of the pockets on the jacket

I had nothing to measure with so I approximated by cutting a piece slightly bigger than I needed and shaving slices off and sewing the parts gradually back together.

It took what was probably hours to get the shape anywhere near right and stitch it up after that I just sat there not tired at all waiting until morning