lie to me → s.d.

.18 | one of a kind

The freshly-changed tire on the Jeep's front axel was the only one that seemed to be aired up to safe levels, because now the tail end of the car was sagging slightly as Theodora and Sam sped their way back towards the city. With the passenger review mirror gone, the even-bigger crack in the windshield, and the scratched paint flecked up from when they rolled out, it looked like they could have salvaged parts from the desert and put it together themselves.

Theodora stood from her seat when the building's roofs and spires crawled slowly over the horizon, leaning up to rest her arms across the top of the windshield. The wind blew her dreads back with such a force that nearly brought tears to her eyes.

"Careful," said Sam.

"Always," she said. She fell back into her seat when he jerked the wheel slightly and he gave a bark of a laugh as he steadied the car again. His grin reflected the cold stare she sent his way. Leaning out the passenger side, she extended her arm and relished in the feeling of wind and breeze flowing through her open fingers, imagining perhaps it was the ocean or a sky full of blinding stars she could scoop up and take with her. She was drawn from her little fantasy when the engine gave a loud-pitched whine resembling that of a dog. "I don't think this thing is going to last much longer."

She was correct, as it turned out, because they just barely made it to the edge of civilization before the truck gave a shuddering tremble and announced it had lived a good life, but it was ready to die now. They listened, respectfully, and abandoned it around the back of a cheap hostel. Sidestepping between cramped alleyways containing rusted bikes and crates of cans and plywood, they emerged right into the flow of the crowded main road.

"There's our tower," said Sam over the noise. He pointed up the winding street, past colorful flags hanging over the path and buildings built haphazardly on unsteady foundations, to a pale, ancient-looking column of brick and metal sitting at the tail end. "Let's move before we see some of Nadine's men. I really ain't in the mood for a fight right now."

"What are you in the mood for?" she asked teasingly and knocked her shoulder against his.

He flashed her a devilish grin from the corner of his mouth and suddenly both his pupils and tattoos looked darker, deeper. "Don't ask that question if you're not ready for the answer, honey."

The marketplace was filled building to building with a throng of people, some cooking in wooden stalls with towering flames jumping as they added spices, others spinning fabrics on handmade looms and wheels that spun with methodic tick-tick-ticks. Foreign languages, of which they both only understood a few words, flew back and forth over their heads as people beat rugs from windows and set out laundry on wires stuck in the sky. Vendors hawked their items and cried out what they said were one of a kind deals, things you wouldn't find anywhere else in the world. From racks of clothes and shelves of pottery, to mouth-watering food and jewelry that glinted in the light peeking through the flags and banners flapping up above.

Theodora and Sam paused to allow a mangy cat skitter across the stones at their feet, followed by a couple of children chasing it that squealed in delight as they passed. Something glinting in the corner of her eye caught her attention and she turned as he moved on, too distracted by the sights and smells and sounds to realize she had fallen behind.

Her gaze wandered over the small table set out on woven rugs, upon which sat beaded jewelry set in twine and metal and clay of such intricate designs she couldn't help but stare. She crowded herself in with the few others glancing over the goods, run by a woman with frown lines creased around her mouth and streaks of grey in her hair. Theodora nearly startled when she leaned across the table toward her.