The morning air carried the faint scent of roasted corn and exhaust fumes. Sofia followed Amaline through the streets, trying to ignore the curious glances they occasionally drew from passers-by.
Amaline, however, seemed oblivious—or perhaps she just didn’t care. Her steps were brisk, her posture upright, as though she were on an important mission.
“Do you always walk this fast?” Sofia asked, slightly out of breath.
Amaline glanced over her shoulder, one brow raised. “Can’t keep up?”
“It’s not a marathon,” Sofia muttered under her breath.
Amaline smirked. “Try harder.”
The market buzzed with life, its chaotic symphony of bartering voices and clattering goods filling the air. Sofia’s senses were bombarded by the vibrant sights and overwhelming smells—piles of brightly coloured fruits, raw fish gleaming on trays, and the occasional waft of something unidentifiably unpleasant.
Amaline halted abruptly in front of a vegetable stall, causing Sofia, distracted by a vendor shouting about two-for-one plantains, to nearly collide with her.
“Watch it,” Amaline said sharply but casually, picking up a bundle of carrots and inspecting them with the intensity of someone appraising fine jewellery.
“Do you think this is fresh?” she asked, holding the carrots out toward Sofia.
Sofia blinked. “It’s… a carrot. How would I know?”
Amaline sighed dramatically, returning the bundle to the stall. “It’s like talking to a toddler.”
She moved to the next stall without waiting for a response.
Sofia groaned, trailing behind her.
At the fruit stand, Amaline handed her a bulging bag without warning. Sofia staggered under its unexpected weight.
“Is this a test of strength?” she grumbled.
“You’ll survive,” Amaline replied, not even sparing her a glance.
“Barely,” Sofia muttered as Amaline disappeared into another stall.
The market crawl stretched on endlessly—or at least, that’s how it felt to Sofia. Just as she thought she’d collapse under the weight of the bags, Amaline declared, “We’re done. Next stop, the bookstore.”
“Do they sell aspirin?” Sofia asked dryly, shifting the bags in her hands.
Amaline cast her a sidelong glance. “If you’re going to whine, stay outside.”
Sofia straightened up immediately. “I’m fine.”
Their path to the bookstore took a detour when they stumbled upon a street performance. Colours and sounds swirled in a chaotic yet mesmerising display. A man juggled flaming torches while a young girl balanced precariously on a tall unicycle. The crowd rippled with awe, and Sofia couldn’t help but grin, her eyes wide with fascination.
“You look like a kid at her first fair,” Amaline remarked with a soft chuckle.
Sofia barely heard her, too captivated by the performance. For a fleeting moment, a prickle of unease brushed her senses. She turned her head instinctively, scanning the crowd.
There was no one. It must be Ulric, she thought, brushing off the feeling.
But Amaline noticed something—or rather, someone. Her gaze swept over the crowd and landed on a boy. His eyes were fixed on Sofia, intense and unwavering, as though he were dissecting her with his stare.
YOU ARE READING
Seven Ways To The Abyss
FantasySofia and elaina, two girls with a secret which must not be told, but when five students find out for themselves. they drag them into their bottomless abyss. And show them a glimpse of the hell they came from.