Guldrin’s Gluttony: Family Bound by Speed & Food

The trio moved out of the break room with a practiced ease. Casey led the way, his sharp eyes scanning the sales floor like a predator. Sarah followed closely, keeping her movements calm and unassuming, while Chuck trailed behind, trying to appear casual but failing miserably. The store hummed with its usual chaos, customers oblivious to the drama unfolding beneath the surface.

Casey spotted them first: Guldrin and Shiro, seemingly engrossed in their shopping. The boy was examining a multi-tool with a quiet focus that belied his age, while the girl was testing the controls of a small drone, her face lit with delight. They looked... normal, almost too normal. But Casey's instincts told him otherwise.

From their vantage point near the break room entrance, Casey and Sarah studied the pair without drawing attention to themselves. Neither moved to confront them yet. The boy, Guldrin, had a presence that was hard to explain, calm, deliberate, and entirely out of place in a suburban overpriced budget electronics store. The girl, Shiro, exuded an almost ethereal energy, her enthusiasm tempered by a sharp, observant gaze that flicked to Casey and Sarah for the briefest moment before returning to the drone in her hands.

Guldrin continued to browse, but the multi-tool had captured his interest; the pair of nosy people the furthest from his concern, "It's simple, but it'll work for now," he said in a mumble.

Shiro held up a small drone she'd found. "Think we could mod this into something cool? Like a recon drone?" Shiro was also engrossed in the possibilities, even if everything was so far below her standards. Both Guldrin and Shiro had never stopped paying attention to Casey and Sarah, but seeing they didn't make a move, neither did they, yet.

"Definitely," Guldrin replied. "Recon, distractions, maybe even payload delivery. The options are endless."

Meanwhile, Casey and Sarah stared at each other, their minds calculating their next moves. "They know we're watching," Sarah whispered to Casey, her tone edged with concern.

"No kidding," Casey muttered back, keeping his arms crossed and his posture casual. "The boy's got better situational awareness than most agents I've seen. They're acting natural, but they've clocked us. It is… Frustrating."

Despite the tension, neither Guldrin nor Shiro showed any signs of panic. Instead, they continued their shopping at the same unhurried pace, occasionally exchanging words that were too quiet to overhear. Guldrin's posture remained relaxed, but Sarah could tell his movements were calculated, each step deliberate. It was as if he was leading them into thinking he wasn't concerned, when, in fact, he was completely aware.

From his position, Chuck was less composed. He shifted awkwardly near a display of phone cases, trying to keep an eye on the kids without being obvious. Unfortunately, his efforts resulted in him knocking over a precariously stacked tower of cases, sending them clattering to the floor. Several customers turned to look, and Casey shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel.

"Smooth, Bartowski," Casey growled under his breath.

Meanwhile, Guldrin's lips twitched into the faintest smirk as he bent to inspect a pack of precision screwdrivers. "Looks like someone's having a rough day," he murmured to Shiro, his voice low and even.

Shiro giggled softly, the sound bright but subdued. "Think they're going to do something? Or just keep staring like awkward NPCs?"

"Depends," Guldrin replied, slipping the screwdrivers into his basket. "They're not amateurs, but they're not making a move yet. Maybe they're trying to figure out what we are."

"What are we?" Shiro teased, nudging him with her elbow.

Guldrin glanced at her, his expression briefly softening. "Better," he said simply, though his tone carried an undercurrent of steel. "Haha, your overconfidence is infectious," Shiro laughed adorably as she picked up a few items that she thought would be useful and dragged Guldrin to the prebuilt PCs.

From their vantage point, Casey and Sarah exchanged a glance. The pair's casual banter didn't match the profile of fugitives or operatives under duress. They weren't panicking or trying to make a quick escape. Instead, they seemed perfectly at ease, almost as if they were playing a game. It was unnerving.

"They're just kids," Sarah murmured, though her gut told her it wasn't that simple. "But they're too composed." She felt like these kids were conning them; it seemed too familiar to how she and her father used to act like they were in complete control.

Casey's jaw tightened. "Kids don't act like that. Not unless they've been trained."

At that moment, Guldrin turned slightly, his gaze brushing over Casey and Sarah with calculated nonchalance. It was quick, almost imperceptible, but the intensity in his eyes made Casey's spine stiffen. It wasn't the look of a scared child, it was the look of someone evaluating threats.

"What's up?" Shiro asked, sensing his unease.

"Not sure yet," Guldrin murmured. "But we should wrap this up quickly. They seem jumpy, I think we have overstayed our welcome."

"It's confirmed," Casey muttered. "The boy's dangerous. And the girl's no slouch, either."

"Do we approach?" Sarah asked, her hand instinctively brushing the edge of her concealed weapon.

"Not yet," Casey said. "Let's see what they do. You have never dealt with Goldbloods, but I have… Trust me, if we injured this boy, if he is who we think, his mother will make Beckman look kind." His words made Sarah pause,

Guldrin and Shiro made their way toward the checkout, their basket filled with an odd assortment of items: tools, batteries, wires, and the drone Shiro had been eyeing earlier. As they moved, 

Guldrin kept his pace steady, his peripheral vision tracking every move from the two operatives near the break room. Shiro, meanwhile, hummed a cheerful tune under her breath, her demeanor a perfect counterbalance to Guldrin's quiet intensity.

When they reached the counter, Chuck was back at his station, still flustered from his earlier mishap. He glanced up as they approached, his expression shifting from nervous curiosity to outright panic when his eyes met Guldrin's. The boy's gaze was piercing, far too knowing for someone his age.

They approached the counter, where Chuck was back at his station, trying, and failing, to look casual. He rang up their items, his hands slightly shaky.

"Hey," Chuck said, his voice cracking slightly. "Uh, find everything okay?" They nod and say nothing else.

"That's an interesting mix of stuff," Chuck said, forcing a smile. "School project?"

"Something like that," Guldrin replied, his tone neutral.

Shiro tilted her head, her silvery hair catching the fluorescent light as she studied Chuck with an innocent yet piercing gaze. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Chuck forced a shaky laugh, his nerves barely concealed. "No, no, nothing like that. Just… a long day." He fumbled with their receipt, nearly dropping it as he handed it over. 

His mind raced with everything he'd learned in the last few minutes, struggling to reconcile the seemingly normal kids in front of him with the implications of the Intersect's fragmented warnings.

Both Guldrin and Shiro were oddly enjoying this man's awkward and terrified reactions. It was a welcome event, even if they knew it would lead to something much more troublesome after. Why these three people were interested in them; they had no idea, but that didn't mean they weren't allowed to savor this sadistic pleasure. The zombie world had really done a number on them.

From across the sales floor, Sarah and Casey had positioned themselves strategically. Sarah lingered by a display of digital cameras, her sharp eyes scanning the area, while Casey loomed near the exit like a security guard waiting for a shoplifter. The shift in their demeanor wasn't lost on Guldrin, who, despite his outward calm, was silently assessing the situation.

Their movements weren't subtle. To Guldrin, it was as clear as day. The way they shifted their weight, their eyes darting just a little too deliberately, these weren't just ordinary employees or workers on break.

 'Great,' Guldrin thought, his lips pressing into a thin line. 'We leave the house one time, and now we're on the radar of a scary army guy and a spy? The blonde especially… she's trying too hard to act harmless. Reminds me of Eva when she's pretending to be clueless. I'm not buying it.'

Leaning closer to Shiro, Guldrin whispered, "Time to go."

Shiro didn't hesitate. With a subtle nod, she placed the drone and other purchases back into their bag, her demeanor as lighthearted as ever. Guldrin's gaze darted toward the store's entrance, where Casey stood, arms crossed, projecting an intimidating presence. His every move screamed military precision, and he was perfectly positioned to intercept anyone heading for the exit. 

Sarah, meanwhile, was making her way along a parallel aisle, her sharp eyes tracking them with the focus of a predator zeroing in on prey.

Guldrin's mind worked quickly. 'Direct confrontation's out of the question. Too many variables. We need a diversion, no, a misdirection.' He subtly nudged Shiro, and without needing further instruction, she broke into a carefree smile and looped her arm through his, playing the role of a bubbly, oblivious shopper.

They slowed their pace, wandering toward a nearby display of novelty items with exaggerated enthusiasm. Shiro picked up a brightly colored Rubik's Cube, twisting it with an exaggerated "ooh" and "aah" while Guldrin glanced sidelong at Casey. The man's attention flicked toward Sarah momentarily as she moved into position, giving Guldrin the window he needed.

"Ready to play cat and mouse?" he whispered under his breath.

Shiro's grin widened mischievously. "Always."

Guldrin made a subtle gesture toward a nearby end cap loaded with precariously stacked board games. Shiro immediately understood. With a casual flick of her wrist, she knocked a box of Monopoly off the edge, setting off a chain reaction as boxes tumbled to the floor in a noisy avalanche. The sound echoed through the store, drawing heads, including Casey's, toward the commotion.

"Oops!" Shiro said loudly, crouching to pick up the fallen games, her voice carrying an air of innocent clumsiness. Guldrin knelt beside her, adding to the act as the two worked to restack the boxes. Customers nearby paused to gawk, and even Sarah hesitated, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected chaos.

Casey, however, was not easily distracted. He remained stationed at the entrance, his sharp eyes scanning for movement. Guldrin noticed this and adjusted their plan on the fly. 

Rising from the pile of board games, he took Shiro by the hand and began walking purposefully, not toward the main exit, but toward a side door marked "Employees Only."

"Think it's unlocked?" Shiro whispered, her tone a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

"Doesn't matter," Guldrin replied quietly, his fingers brushing against the lockpick set concealed in his pocket.

They reached the door, which was unlocked, without drawing attention, slipping through with practiced ease. Behind them, Sarah moved closer to the main exit, her focus still on the commotion near the board games, while Casey stood like a sentinel, unaware that his targets were no longer in front of him.

Inside the back hallway, the fluorescent lights buzzed faintly. The space was narrow and lined with storage shelves, stacks of inventory, and carts of unopened stock. Guldrin moved quickly but silently, his steps precise. Shiro trailed behind him, her movements equally graceful.

"They'll figure it out soon," she murmured.

"Not soon enough," Guldrin replied, his tone calm but urgent.

He led them through the maze of back corridors, relying on his sharp memory to navigate. The scent of cardboard and cleaning supplies filled the air as they wound their way toward a side exit that opened onto the alley behind the store. Guldrin pushed open the heavy metal door, the sunlight spilling into the dim hallway as they emerged outside and made their way to the front of the store where they parked.

Their Go-Kart waited nearby, gleaming under the afternoon sun. Shiro's eyes lit up at the sight of it, and she jogged ahead, hopping into the passenger seat with an energy that belied the tension of their escape. Guldrin followed, sliding into the driver's seat and gripping the steering wheel with practiced confidence.

"Hold on," he said With a twist of the ignition, the Go-Kart roared to life, its modified engine growling like a miniature beast. The sound drew the attention of more than a few customers, including Chuck, who had followed them to the entrance, his curiosity overwhelming his caution.

The sound reached Casey's ears instantly. His head snapped toward the side door, and his eyes narrowed. "They slipped past us," he growled, already moving.

Sarah was right behind him, her expression sharp with annoyance. "How? We had every angle covered."

"Not every angle," Casey muttered grimly.

Casey and Sarah burst through the doors just as the Go-Kart jolted forward. "Stop!" Casey bellowed, his voice echoing across the lot. But Guldrin had no intention of sticking around.

The Go-Kart shot forward like a rocket, its small frame weaving through the parking lot with a precision that made it clear this wasn't some run-of-the-mill vehicle. Shiro's laughter rang out, high and bright, as they sped away.

The Go-Kart shot forward like a bolt of lightning, its acceleration so sudden it left a faint trail of burned rubber on the asphalt. Shiro let out a whoop of laughter, her hair whipping in the wind as she clung to the side. "Bye-bye, creepers~!" she called over her shoulder, her voice ringing with gleeful defiance.

Guldrin smirked, his eyes locked on the road ahead. "Let's see them keep up," he muttered, his grip on the steering wheel firm. His feet worked the pedals with precision, weaving the Go-Kart through the maze of parked cars and into the open street beyond.

"Chuck, stay here" Both of them shouted as they ran.

Casey and Sarah weren't about to give up. Casey was already sprinting toward a nearby black SUV, his movements quick and efficient. "Get in!" he barked at Sarah, who didn't waste a second sliding into the passenger seat. The engine roared to life, and Casey floored the gas, the SUV lurching forward in pursuit.

The chase was on.

The streets of Burbank transformed into an impromptu racecourse as Guldrin expertly maneuvered the Go-Kart through traffic. It darted between sedans and minivans with a nimbleness that made the larger SUV look clumsy by comparison. Horns blared, and pedestrians gawked as the tiny vehicle zipped past, its driver and passenger seemingly unfazed by the chaos they were leaving in their wake.

Shiro leaned out slightly, her laughter bubbling over. "They're really trying, huh?" she said, glancing back at the SUV.

"Trying and failing," Guldrin replied, his focus unyielding. He took a sharp turn, the Go-Kart hugging the curve with a smoothness that spoke of countless hours of practice. "This thing's got speed and agility. They won't catch us unless I let them."

Meanwhile, inside the SUV, Casey's knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel. "This is ridiculous," he growled, swerving to avoid a delivery truck. "We're chasing a couple of kids in a glorified toy."

"Not just any kids," Sarah reminded him, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "You saw how they moved in the store. They're trained. This isn't some random joyride."

"Not just any kid," Casey echoed with a nod, his voice sharp. "A Goldblood. If he's had half the training his family's rumored to give their heirs, he's more than just a kid with good instincts." Casey was having flashbacks of his one and only meeting with the younger side of that family.

Back at the Buy More, Chuck stood at the entrance, his jaw slack as he watched the scene unfold. The Go-Kart disappeared around a corner, with Casey's SUV in hot pursuit. Morgan appeared beside him, equally wide-eyed.

"Did I just see a kid outrun Casey in a Go-Kart? What did they do, steal something? Man, I wouldn't want to be them if he catches them." Morgan asked, incredulous.

Chuck nodded slowly, his mind still processing. "Yep. And honestly? It was kind of amazing."

Morgan let out a low whistle. "Man, I wish I had one of those. Do you think they sell them around here somewhere?"

Chuck barely heard him. His eyes remained fixed on the horizon, where Guldrin and Shiro had vanished. Something about the boy and girl lingered in his thoughts, a nagging sense that there was more to them than met the eye. "Those kids," he muttered to himself. "Who are you?"

He hoped this would be the end of this whole event, but nothing was ever that simple; Chuck knew, he would be dragged into something, dangerous, odd, and keyed to his peculiar abilities. His life was going to get even more strange and filled with uncertainty.

(Give me your POWER, Please, and Thank You! Leave reviews and comments, they motivate me to continue.)