The Capital

Journey Through the Sands

Hours passed, and it became clear that this journey would be long—possibly stretching over days or even weeks before we reached the next town. The endless desert stretched out before us, an ocean of sand under the vast sky. There was something strangely beautiful about it, the way the dunes rolled and shimmered in the sunlight, creating patterns that seemed almost hypnotic.

As I was lost in my thoughts, the guy from yesterday poked me on the shoulder, pulling me back to reality. "You hungry?" he asked, holding out some food. It seemed like he was working for the transport company, handing out meals to passengers.

I shook my head and politely declined. "I already packed some," I said, pulling out the lunch the couple had given me.

He looked me up and down, a smirk playing on his lips. "Doesn't look like enough," he remarked, his tone teasing.

I knew I looked different from the people here—maybe too skinny by their standards—but I didn’t care. "It’s enough for me," I replied firmly.

He chuckled but didn’t press the issue. Instead, he popped on his headphones and fiddled with an old CD player, a relic that seemed almost out of place, yet perfectly fitting in this retro-futuristic world. I caught myself wondering what he was listening to but quickly brushed the thought aside, reminding myself that he was likely a thief, just like the boy from before. Rolling my eyes, I turned my gaze back to the window, preferring the view of the endless desert over any interaction with him.

Suddenly, the vehicle shook violently, and I heard shouts from the other passengers. I whipped my head around to see strange, massive creatures emerging from the sand—sandworms, as they called them. The guy beside me leaned in, still with that infuriating smirk. "Don’t worry, it’s just sandworms. They’re harmless unless you get too close."

How could he joke about something like that? But as I looked around, I noticed the mixed reactions from the other passengers—some were clearly scared, while others seemed oddly calm, as if this was just another day for them. The protectors quickly sprang into action, tossing what looked like electrical grenades into the sand. One of the protectors shouted, "BOOM!" as the grenade exploded, causing the worm to burst apart beneath the surface. They fist-bumped each other, as if this was nothing more than routine.

I tried to mask my panic, but inside, I was rattled. I couldn’t sleep that night, every creak and groan of the vehicle keeping me on edge. I clutched my bag tightly, afraid that it might disappear if I let my guard down. Eventually, exhaustion won out, and I dozed off just as the sun began to rise.

When I awoke, the other passengers were already up and talking. The guy from yesterday was back, poking me awake with a mischievous grin. "Lunch?" he offered, holding out a sandwich and some water.

I hesitated, but then my stomach growled, betraying me. I accepted the food, giving him a small smile. "Thanks."

He grinned wider. "There you go. You sure you don’t have more in that bag of yours?" he teased.

I grinned back, feeling a bit more relaxed. "Nope, that’s all I’ve got." But my smile faded slightly as he settled down next to me, clearly not planning to leave anytime soon. I tried to edge away, closer to the corner of the seat, still holding my bag close.

He noticed, of course, and his grin took on a more knowing edge. "You don’t trust people much, do you?"

I looked at him, deciding to be honest. "Not after someone stole my compass the other day."

His smirk widened, clearly recognizing my reference. He said nothing, just put on his headphones again and started playing his CD.

Hours passed, and he still hadn’t moved. It was starting to get on my nerves. I was the only passenger traveling alone, and just because I didn’t have a group didn’t mean I wanted company. I glanced over at him, seeing that mischievous smile still lingering as he looked out the window. My curiosity finally got the better of me.