Steam Legends ~ A Clockwork City

Chapter I ~ Time to Rebel

Palace Square, City of London, 1887

"Oi! She stole my pocket watch!", one of the many men cried out, alerting the police that were ocasionally dotted amongst the crowd.

"Get her!", the sargant bellowed.

She frantically looked around for a way to escape - if she tried to climb the wall she'd be shot dead, and those damned doors have been sealed tight - but the only solution she saw was a bridge - about thirty metres above the water, leaning over the bustling river Thames.

"I really didn't intend on getting wet today", she muttered to herself, running along the cobblestone walkway.

"Don't let her get away!", instructed one of the police.

She reached the bridge and paused as horror struck, freezing her on the dot. She looked down at the rushing water thinking about all the ways she could die - if being slapped off a steamboat didn't kill her, drowning would.

She scanned the area one last time if there happened to be something she had failed to notice.

The police were getting close, weaving through crowds of people. So having no other choice, she took a deep breath, said her prayers.

"Well, here goes nothing".

And leaped.

"They've gone insane!", one of the police said, "the two'll never make it!", another exclaimed.

"I want my pocket watch!", the poor man who thought was robbed shouted.

So at this point, you're probably wondering: What the hell is going on!? And if you're not, then I applaud you. No, there is not a first book to this that you missed.

Anyway, here is the hero of the story about to get her expensive attire wet - and die, that too. So I think we should clear things out for the reader so they don't have to wonder why our 'hero' just jumped off a bridge. Shall we?
Buckingham Palace, Westminster

"The meal was wonderful mother, but if you shall excuse me, I must go get ready for the unveiling", Elizabeth spoke in a rich posh accent - one she much dispised - as she headed for the giant doors that lead out the dining hall.

"Which dress did you choose?", her mother - Queen Victoria - halted her to a stop.

"The purple one", her highness blurted out.

"Very well, I'll have your dress delivered to your room", she waved her off with a quick hand gesture, the guards at either side of the exit pulling a lever.

The loud clanking of gears and chains grinding together to open the heavy doors echoed through the hall, as they slowly cranked open.

Ah technology she thought to herself, exiting the room.

*

Elizabeth heaved through the doors of her room, her breath being compressed by the corset she was forced into each day.

"Your dress, your highness", a woman in a black tunic and a prestine white apron stood in her room, waiting to attend her.