The Capital

Facing Fears and Finding Strength

New passengers boarded, and the cycle began anew. As the vehicle rumbled to life again and we continued our journey, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a much longer adventure. But for now, I settled back in my seat, preparing for whatever lay ahead.

As usual, I was lost in my thoughts, staring out at the endless desert when Cal interrupted me again. "Why didn’t you buy something in the last town?" he asked, leaning casually against the seat.

I shrugged, not really in the mood for conversation. "Maybe I will at the next town," I replied, even though I knew I wasn’t planning on it.

He smirked, seeing through my words. I sighed, feeling my patience wearing thin. "Please, go annoy someone else. There seem to be plenty of others to bother."

He grinned wider. "But you’re alone," he pointed out. "And from what I’ve heard, most women don’t like being alone."

Of course, he had to say that. I rolled my eyes, but his words stung more than I cared to admit. He sensed it, his smirk deepening, but instead of pushing further, he just laughed it off.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender before sauntering off to join the others. I watched him go, feeling a strange mix of irritation and something else I couldn’t quite place.

Suddenly, the vehicle lurched to a halt as a massive wave of sandworms erupted from the ground. The protectors sprang into action, but this time, the sheer number of creatures forced the vehicle to stop. As usual, the other passengers had mixed reactions—some were visibly terrified, while others seemed to take it in stride. I tried to keep my fear in check, gripping the edge of my seat tightly, but the thought of being eaten alive by those monstrous creatures made my heart race.

Cal, ever the joker, couldn’t resist making light of the situation. "Hey, anyone up for some worm stew? We’ve got enough for a feast!" he called out, laughing as the protectors threw their grenades.

"Or maybe we can start a new business—‘Cal’s Crunchy Worm Snacks,’" he quipped, earning a few chuckles from the protectors. "Guaranteed to put some meat on your bones!"

But then, he noticed me, sitting rigid and trying to suppress my fear. His mischievous grin faded as he realized how scared I was. Without a word, he hurried over to me, his expression shifting to one of genuine concern.

"Hey, it’s going to be alright," he said softly, kneeling beside me. He quickly took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. "Here, this will keep you safe."

I didn’t know how to respond. I wasn’t used to someone like him showing such a sincere side. So instead of saying anything, I just closed my eyes, trying to convince myself that everything would be fine.

The battle outside raged on, and I could hear the protectors shouting orders, their voices blending with the distant explosions of the grenades. I kept my eyes closed, focusing on the weight of the jacket on my shoulders and Cal’s reassuring words.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the noise died down, signaling the end of the fight. I opened my eyes to see the protectors tending to each other, some of them clearly worse for wear. Cal was helping where he could, but one of the protectors let out a pained scream as another tried to fix him up.

"Don’t be such a little girl," one of them teased, though his voice was tinged with concern. "It’s just a cramp!"

But something about the way the injured protector was moving seemed wrong to me. Without thinking, I shouted, "Stop!" and quickly made my way over to them. The protectors all stared at me, clearly surprised, but they stepped back as I knelt beside the injured man.

My father was a doctor, and he had taught me more than enough to know when something was seriously wrong. I pressed my fingers to the protector’s arm, feeling for the source of the pain. "It’s not just a cramp," I said firmly, finding the spot. "His muscle is twisted. You need to realign it."

I demonstrated the proper technique to the other protector, guiding his hands. The injured protector screamed in pain as his muscle was adjusted, but once it was done, his relief was obvious.

"Just rest your arm," I advised. "Avoid using it too much, and you should be fine."

They looked at me with a mix of respect and curiosity. "How do you know all that?" one of them asked.

"Experience," I answered simply, not wanting to go into details. With that, I turned and headed back to my corner, suddenly aware that I was still wearing Cal’s jacket.

It was warm and comfortable, a small comfort in this strange and dangerous world. But I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking I needed it, so I walked over and handed it back to him.

"Thanks," I said, my voice softer than before.

He smirked, his mischievous nature returning. "Nothing to worry about. Every princess needs a hero, right?"

I groaned inwardly, feeling the warmth of the moment evaporate. "You just ruined the good mood," I muttered, turning on my heel and heading back to my seat.

As I settled in, trying to ignore his words, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of connection. Despite his constant teasing and jokes, Cal had shown a different side—one that was protective and maybe even kind. But I wasn’t ready to lower my guard just yet. For now, I would focus on the journey ahead and the challenges that still lay in wait.