Jack Of All Trades ✓ | steampunk, dragons, trickery

Chapter 5.2: Eli Thinks She Knows

Jack wished he had thought through more what to do after running away. He never anticipated he would have to. Everything was in place and there were no loose ends.

None, if Norman had actually died. He was standing inside Proctomoor Station in Amsgeld with weapons and money in a bag. Usually, he always had an idea.

Like a ghost, he returns to haunt me. Jack sighed. He knew he couldn't stay here. People would recognize him. But more so devastating to him now was that he would never get that life he imagined. Julie was lucky. She was free from his threats. He wasn't lucky.

Can't go anywhere.

Dragon's Wood? He nearly jumped at the thought voice of Serena.

This is no time for adventuring.

He pondered on the idea a moment. But maybe it was. He picked up his bags and was about to leave to get a train to anywhere, when he saw Eli in pants running towards him. She had a knapsack with her, and a small telescope attached to her waist.

"Hey!" She waved to him. He lifted his arm and stopped himself, wiping the smile from his face. He didn't need her. Why was he so relieved? But she didn't know what happened. Could he use that to his advantage somehow?

Breathing heavily, she slowed to a walk. "I heard what happened. We need to—"

"Sure." He shrugged. "Where are you off to?"

She furrowed her brows and crossed her arms. "You don't seem concerned. Police are after that Norman Fellows guy and you," she whispered.

"They're not after me," he scoffed. "What happened there was a bandit came and—"

"I saw the whole thing," She leaned in, "Knave Diamondo," she whispered.

He bristled and stepped back. "Go away." He wanted her out of his life. She was just keen on making this all an adventure. Jack was keen on not ending up in jail, thank you very much.

She grabbed his hand. "Come with me. You have nothing to lose."

It was her left hand.

"I have plenty to lose! A life!" He hissed. "I made this life and I'm going to be branded a criminal to have it all taken away—"

His Royal Patheticness has to just stop and trust me.

"Really? Why should I trust you?"

She blinked at him. "What? You—oh left, right," She let her hand go, "Because I think there's more to you than meets the eye."

There was more to him alright. Was this her sixth sense? Did she actually see something else behind the eyes of a killer? Jack let himself be tugged along at her pace, until he snatched his hand away and followed. She was right. He had nothing to lose.

Especially now I've already lost it. Damned Norman can rot in hell.

They hurried and bought tickets for the next train toward Belvinshire. It would be an overnight ride. Jack was feeling some déjà vu from all those days in the past, before he became a renowned man of Hobbersmead. He did a lot of running around then, too. Never settling in one place for too long before they caught onto his name.

"Police!" Eli hissed. "Get down!"

Policemen were standing around at the platform. They stopped man with golden hair and then turned him away. Another man was spotted, and a photograph was put next to his face. He was dismissed.

"Dungs and apples," he swore. "We can't get on the train without—hey!" He called as she yanked his arm. They ran to the other tracks going to opposite direction. There was a gunshot. People shouted. Jack turned and saw redhead Norman gunning people down like the maniac he always was when it came to guns.