Taking Tribeca

chapter three

The sun was barely beginning to peak over the sea as Poppy and I walked to the dock where we would set off on our journey across the ocean. I’m pretty sure you could taste the anxiousness in the air. I could tell Poppy was nervous, because she was hugging Stitch to her chest like the bear was her lifeline, while squeezing my hand at the same time. What would you expect though? She’s only 7 years old, and she just lost her parents and brothers, and is now going on a dangerous trip to a foreign land. There’s no way we could’ve left her alone anyways.

"Aspen?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think they’re okay?"

I knew she was talking about our family, and honestly I wasn’t sure. No one knows what really happens to people once they’re taken. Of course, we know the basics, they are experimented on, brainwashed, tortured, and in the women’s cases, eventually killed. But is that really something I wanna tell my little sister is happening to her parents and brothers? And do I even want to think about that happening? Nope. 

"Poppy, I think they are fine right now, and we’re gonna make sure they stay fine, because we’re gonna rescue everyone before anything bad happens." So obviously, I gave her a good answer.

"Are we gonna be okay, though?" She questioned.

"We’re gonna be fine, too. Nothings gonna happen to you. I’ll keep us safe, and so will Talia. Just think of this as a quick little superhero mission, like out of those stories Dad tells you, where everyone’s happy in the end, except the bad guys, okay? You can even choose what superhero you wanna be, got it pops?" 

She laughs at her nickname, as I ruffle her curly, brown hair.

"I’m  gonna be Princess Poppy, a crime-fighting girl that can kick super-butt, and is just a princess in disguise. Oh!, and you can be my sidekick Captain Aspen, you’re not as good at fighting as me though, because you’re only the sidekick!" She sticks her tongue out at me.

What an imagination she has. I look up from the gravelly ground, and see that we are nearing the Dock, where there are three figures waiting. 

"Whatever, kiddo. We’ll see who kicks the most butt." 

                                                               ☀ ☀ ☀

As we got closer to the figures on the dock, Poppy began to move closer to me until she saw that one of them was Talia, and she ran towards her. Good to know who she likes best. I sent Talia a smile, then looked beside her to see Orion, who I remembered from the previous night giving me a smile, which I returned, and a guy that looked to be a little older than me, but was really tall. He had black hair that appeared to go in all different directions, but managed to look neat at the same time, and bright green eyes, that for some reason looked like they were judging me. I’m guessing this is the person who’s going on the ship with us, whatever his name is.

"So, this is where you guys are gonna be for about the next 5 days." Talia said, breaking the silence. 

"Where are we gonna sleep?" Poppy asked before anyone could say anything.

"Oh, you’ll all be sharing a room, and each room has three beds, so two of you can share a bed. That’ll probably be you and Aspen, Poppy." Talia stated, causing me to groan and Poppy to roll her eyes.

Even though we’re really close, It doesn’t really make anyone happy to have to share a bed with your sister, while everyone else gets their own bed. Atleast it’s Poppy, though.

"Like I said, you guys are gonna make camp at the abandoned store, a couple blocks down from the Port once you reach Tribeca. Under no circumstances, do you leave that store, the next group of four will be meeting you there after another five days, and another five after that is when I’ll arrive there, with my group." Talia looked so serious it was actually kind of scary. 

"Also try not to look suspicious on the ship, because it is filled with guards, and maybe even Lazarians, and they will arrest you if they find out why you are on that ship in the first place. So just blend. Got it?"

"Yes your highness." the black haired boy said sarcastically. This made Talia turn to give him a glare. Apparently she isn’t too fond of him.

"Oh my bad, I forgot to introduce you guys! This is Griffin, sadly also my brother, and Griffin, this is Poppy, if you didn’t guess, and that’s Aspen." Orion pointed out, gesturing to Poppy and I.

I nodded my head in acknowledgment, while Poppy gave a small wave.

"There will be plenty of time for ya’ll to get to know each other later, but right now you might wanna hurry up and get on the ship and find your room, because it sets sail in about an hour." Talia said. She then bent down and gave Poppy a tight hug, whispering something in her ear, to which Poppy smiled brightly and nodded her head. Next, she walked up to me and we shared a hug. "See ya over there Aspen, stay safe." 

"I will." I replied. 

Talia then said a quick goodbye to Orion and Griffin, and was off walking back the way we had come.

I turned my head to face the others. “Let’s get this party started.” Poppy grabbed my hand once again and we all set forth onto the large ship, that had been swaying slightly beside us.

There’s no turning back now.