The Capital

A Month on the Road

Nearly a month had passed since I first embarked on this journey, moving from town to town with Cal and the rest of the crew. The road had been long and often grueling, but I was determined to reach my goal—the Capital. The length of the journey was beginning to wear on me, but I had grown closer to the crew, even if I knew that they were hidden thieves. They had been doing this for a long time, surviving through whatever means necessary. Despite their shady methods, they had kept their promise to drive us safely from town to town.

Tommy, the little pickpocket, had become particularly fond of my stories. He approached me again one day, eyes wide with anticipation, asking for another tale. This time, I decided to tell him a story from the Brothers Grimm—a classic, dark, and full of lessons.

As I began to spin the tale, I noticed not just Tommy but the other children and even the protectors leaning in to listen. The story of *Hansel and Gretel* unfolded, capturing their attention with its twists and turns, the children’s bravery, and the witch’s ultimate downfall. The protectors, who had seen and done so much, were surprisingly engrossed, showing that even in this harsh world, a good story could still capture the imagination.

Later that day, we reached another town, one that had a distinctly dangerous feel to it. Lenny, the driver, took up his microphone as usual. "Welcome to Ironclad," he announced. "This town is known for its machinery—everything from factory parts to heavy weapons. If you need something built or repaired, this is the place. But keep your wits about you—Ironclad’s a tough place, and the folks here don’t take kindly to outsiders. Get what you need, and don’t linger."

I decided to stay on the vehicle this time, sensing that it was better to keep a low profile. The streets of Ironclad were filled with towering machines, clanking and hissing as they worked. The air was thick with the smell of metal and oil, and the people walking around looked as hardened as the machinery they operated.

Cal, ever the annoyance, plopped down beside me. I shifted closer to the corner of my seat, trying to create some distance. He chuckled at my discomfort. "Still not liking me close, huh?"

"It’s a bit too close," I replied, not bothering to hide my irritation.

As the other passengers filed out to explore the town, I caught sight of Tommy, as usual, slipping his nimble fingers into pockets. I sighed, turning to Cal. "Don’t you guys have any other tricks?"

Cal gave me a wry smile. "That’s just how we survive, sweetie."

I rolled my eyes, clearly not agreeing with their methods, but I couldn’t change who they were—or how they lived.

A few minutes later, as the protectors returned with their supplies, Cal turned to me with an uncharacteristically serious expression. "You know," he began, "continuing this journey further isn’t something for ‘girls’ like you."

I chuckled, appreciating the concern behind his words even if I didn’t appreciate the sentiment. "I’m serious," I said firmly. "I’m not changing my mind."

Cal nodded, clearly seeing that I meant what I said. "Alright, then. I just hope you know what you’re getting into."

As Lenny prepared to start the vehicle, a hooded man suddenly appeared, rushing towards us. "Wait for me!" he called out. The protectors paused, letting him aboard without question. The man moved quickly to a seat near the back, keeping his hood pulled low over his face.

As the vehicle rumbled back to life and we drove away from Ironclad, I found myself glancing over at the hooded man. He sat silently, his hands clasped as if in prayer. There was something about him that intrigued me—something that felt out of place.

I noticed that I was now the only other passenger left besides him. As I watched him, something caught my eye. An ID card slipped from beneath his cloak and fell to the floor. I quickly bent down to pick it up, calling out, "Here, you dropped this."

The man snatched the ID card from my hand with surprising speed, his eyes darting to mine for a brief moment before he quickly tucked it away. "Thank you," he mumbled, clearly hoping I hadn’t seen anything.

But I had seen enough. The ID card was old, too old to be from this time. It looked like something from my past—a world that should have been long gone. My mind raced with questions. Was this man like me? Had he somehow come from the past as well? And if so, why was he hiding under that cloak?

I didn’t press him for answers right then, sensing that it wasn’t the right moment. But my curiosity was piqued. If this man truly was from the past, like me, then I needed to know more. There was something about him that felt like a link to the world I had left behind—a world I had thought was lost forever.

As the vehicle continued its journey, I decided to bide my time. The hooded man was clearly hiding something, and I intended to find out what it was—but not yet. For now, I kept my eyes on the road ahead, knowing that the answers I sought were somewhere out there, waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves.