"We're attracting a lot of attention." DTH Karyn said as the group stood on the busy pavement outside the mall. She pointed at prisoner Jon. "Especially, him." Prisoner Jon looked down at the few scraps of clothing he was wearing. "He doesn't even have shoes."
"What does it matter?" Zoe asked. "It's not like we'll be here long."
"If we intend to use the mall's facilities, then unwanted attention will inevitably lead to unwanted interaction, which will lead to complications." DTH Jon said. Zoe stared at him. He sighed. "Some jobs worth security guard may feel like targeting the group of teenagers who are dressed weird." He clarified.
"True, I suppose." Zoe agreed. Karyn had an idea.
"Wait a minute. There's a thrift store near the entrance, we could get some clothes there." She said. Jon nodded.
"An excellent suggestion. We could get shoes, a shirt and shorts for poor Jon here. The rest of us can get coats or something similar to disguise the fact we are wearing pyjamas." He said. He turned to Karyn. "We'll need some money."
"Ah that might be a problem." She said looking a little embarrassed. "The backpack with the money and the interdimensional phone is still in Zoe's bedroom." DTH Jon stared at her. "I wasn't sure what we were getting into, I thought it would be safer leaving it there." Jon turned to the group.
"Does anyone have any money?" He asked.
Zoe knelt down and put her fingers in her sock. "This is my emergency cab money." She said as she pulled out a few notes. "Athena is dressed, surely she'd have some." Athena shook her head.
"I didn't exactly have time to run upstairs and grab my purse when the entire basement was collapsing around us." She said sarcastically.
"I guess Zoe's money is all we have. We shall have to be frugal." DTH Jon said.
Ten minutes later and with most of Zoe's money gone, the group walked out the thrift shop in slightly less unusual clothing. "You still staying a girl then?" Zoe asked DTH Jon. His pyjamas were now covered by a long pink coat.
"It would have cost us more money for a complete men's outfit. Besides it would look strange to see two of me walking around." He said pointing at Prisoner Jon.
"I agree about the outfit but twins exist, you know. I definitely think you are enjoying being a woman." She said, teasing him again. DTH Jon didn't want to admit she had a point, he wouldn't say he was enjoying it so far but he was certainly getting used to it.
"You are starting to sound like my Zoe now. Just let it go, will you?" DTH Jon told her angrily.
"People are still looking at us." Karyn said. The rest of the group looked round. "Maybe we should split up." DTH Jon nodded.
"I suggest I go with Jon. Karyn you go with Athena." DTH Jon said.
"What about me?" Zoe asked.
"Well if you promise not to make any more remarks about me being a woman then you can come with us."
"Why can't I go with the other group?"
"I can't imagine you'd want to hang about with Athena. I'm surprised you two haven't killed each other yet."
"Oh trust me, I'm tempted." Zoe said barely keeping her anger in check.
"Exactly, which is why you should stay apart from her."
"Suits me." Athena said. Karyn turned to her. She moved in closer to Athena.
"Just remember, if you don't want to get stuck in some random dimension, you need us. In case you get any clever ideas about trying to use the stone, you should be aware, the stone here will only work for people from this this dimension." Karyn warned her.
"Don't give me a hard time. I don't even know where it is." Athena said.
"Okay," said DTH Jon, "we'll meet up in the food court in an hour."
The Karyn native to this dimension was annoyed and confused. She'd had to wait in a massive queue as the bathrooms were getting cleaned. When she finally got back to the arcade there was no sign of Jon. She had asked Mr. Cooper if he had seen him and he pointed her towards an old machine at the back of the arcade. All she had found was the magic stone lying on the ground next to it. She thought Jon had been very careless leaving it there.
She was about to make a wish to locate him, when she saw him in the distance. He walked past the entrance to the arcade with his sister Zoe and another girl Karyn didn't recognise. She slipped the stone into her purse and ran after them.
