Hydra Heart

Chapter Eight

ACT II

Chapter 8: Follow the Vein

The KCD agent across from them immediately drew his gun and pointed it. Then, he stopped before pulling the trigger.

"Apologies, citizens. Mistook you for some classified threats to Alogos. Carry on." Unbothered by the terrified stares of the other passengers on the train, he put his gun away and went back to tapping away at a Port. His poorly kept blonde mustache was stained with donut powder and bacon grease.

THIS STOP: 71-C. NEXT STOP, 70-C

"Guess this is as close as we're gonna get to Demeton. We'll have to walk the rest of the way," Tenra said.

They departed the train and got a safe distance from the crowd at the station. The whole building was illuminated with neon blue lights. The magnetic shuttles brought in a new set of passengers every seventy-nine seconds.

Vesta was still tense from the encounter. "Not to sound dumb, but how did that KCD agent not recognize us? Surely we have a profile with them. I thought we were in for a fight."

"Yeah, it's my Kit." Shay said, before putting in some headphones. She offered no other explanation.

Molly filled in, "Shay's Kit is called Curtains. She can pick one person at a time and have them see an altered reality. If you ever look in a mirror and think, 'I actually look alright today!' chances are she's got you under her spell."

"Oh. That is very powerful." Vesta observed.

"Runs in the family!" Tenra boasted. "Now, it's about a twenty minute walk to The Tavern, where we'll be staying. Apparently it's some old word that means hotel. I know the owner there, and she's more than willing to help us out."

Shay frowned at his words. Her headphones must have just been in to make her look cool, since she could hear just fine.

--

Vesta could process the beauty of Demeton. Most of her life had taken place within twenty miles of Nidus, which was on the exact opposite side of the "Best Places to Live in Cremsillian" ranking.

Demeton was unprecedented. A pristine river rushed through the center of town, pumping water like a heart pumps blood. Beds of golden wheat stretched far away, colorfully brought to life by the reds and oranges of the setting sun behind them.

The buildings each had a garden or two and were lined with thinner solar panels than Vesta had ever seen in Nidus. To her left, Molly was seen beaming. Vesta released a breath, too, and felt lighter.

Is this clean air? It's like I can feel the oxygen touching every one of my blood cells. Even the sun seems brighter.

Vesta wandered towards the river, ignoring the remarks from the people around her. Some of the Demeton citizens were around now, talking to Molly, Tenra, and Shay. Vesta was being called by the river.

She reached into the water. The cool liquid brushed smoothly past her hand, relaxing her, compelling her. She lifted her hands out, cupped, holding a pool of clear H2O.

"You know, you'll have to purify that yourself. You can't just drink!" said an older man, who Vesta had not noticed before. He chuckled with that too-friendly hospitality that Demetonites were rumored to have.

Vesta stood up and looked at him. The man was wearing a white, sleeveless shirt and some tan pants.

"What brings you to Demeton?" He asked.

She squinted at him. "Just passing through. What do you want?"

"Just wondering if you had a minute." He answered. "I could take you to see some of our town. I've lived here all my life, done my time in the force and all. How's that sound?"