Princess of AMBER

Chapter 32

Hey! Got some time today to write something. I just want to get quicker to good parts of story....

Anyway..... Merry Christmas to everyone and enjoy the chapter! Kyra is getting tougher..... slowly.... :)

Kyra's POV.

        I entered the city of Besca. It was very industrial looking place, filled with factories and mines. General population was bellow wealthy, most of them appeared to be workers from establishments around. Only few people were dressed in more better looking clothing. I need to find a way to get some food and place to spend the night. No domes are protecting this city and I can imagine the drop of temperature at night. No way I am going to sleep on a street. 

         I was quite scared of staying here at all. Everywhere I looked, I was faced with dangerously looking people. All of them looked toughly rough and untrustworthy. I decide to spend as little time here, as possible. Then I am leaving. Where? I don't know yet. Just somewhere far away from here. 

       I notice a poster on a wall. The same as seen in Amber - WANTED. A shiver runs down my spine. I take a look around and quickly smash the device, destroying the picture with it. Did somebody see it? I am aware of how my look does nothing to hide my appearance. Something has to be done. I pull my light scarf higher up on my face, not that I will stand out that way too much. Some people has the similar looking outfits.

I continue my walk through the dirty, sand filled streets. 

"Hey baby! You are not from Besca, right?" a young girl's voice makes my head snap other way. 

      She wears some dirty brown working clothing, her black/white hair tied up in to messy ponytail, little bit greasy. She looks like a rebel and I have a feeling, she is not going to be friendly towards me. 

     I stare at her, as she comes closer to me, a smirk playing on her face. I do not reply, hoping she will leave me alone. At this moment, I do not want to engage with anybody, until I feel little bit safer.

"You look like a rich girl.... fine skin, your hair silky, clothing not too bad either. And your pockets full with money, right?" 

      She came so close to my face, that I could feel a stench of mechanic oil coming from her dirty outfit. She stared in my eyes threateningly, but in some way failed to fully intimidate me. She was a foot shorter than me, as I was watching her form from above, though her attitude was braver than her height.

"Money? What money?"

"Don't play dumb. I said 'money'. You know.... something you can touch and buy the things and such." she said to me, like I was completely stupid.

Did she talked about physical money? I have never used one and never hold one either.... Everywhere I went, I used my account and digital way of paying for things. 

"I .... do not have one...." I started to feel nervous. I had a clear understanding, that she wanted to get it from me. To rob me. I was in trouble. 

"How? Tell me, how do you pay for these and these....?" She pointed at my clothing and grabbed my loose wavy hair.  

Then she pulled them hard and my scalp burned in pain. I let out a yelp and tried to pry her hands away from me: "Let go of me!" 

"I will let you go, I promise. Only give me your money first." she hissed at me.

"No!" I said firmly and pushed her away from me, but she did not let go of my hair.

     I was not scared anymore of her, but more annoyed. She was younger than me, smaller and weaker. Not able to hold my frustration in anymore, I pushed her hard against the dark brick wall, behind her. One time, than another, holding on to her jacket strongly. I managed in that way to release her hold on my hair. Adrenaline was rushing through my body and my breath was heavier than minutes ago. I let go of her, in hopes, that she will leave me alone, but no. She rubbed her hurting shoulders and landed a slap on my cheek. It hurt. And it made me angry, seeing that this young girl could hurt me so bad. 

"What was that?" I snapped. I pushed her hard against the wall another time and punched her in a face with my fist. "Do you think, that you could beat me, fighting like a little girl?" I growled at her angrily. 

    A quiet moan came from her bruised cheek. I dropped her against the ground with all my force, her head hitting the hard path underneath. She passed out. Did I kill her? No.... I did not use enough force to do it. Did I? My heart was racing like mad and adrenaline was still flowing through my blood. I looked at her still form and noticed a glasses hanged on her belt, which I had missed to see before. I picked them up. They were wide, made in one piece. A little bit rusty metal framed the upper part of it. It looked modern, but at the same time quite industrial too. The glass were cracked on left bottom part. I will take them. It will help me to hide my features.
She wanted money..... where do I have it from? Idiot... 

    A totally crazy idea came to my mind. Does she have any? She is still unconscious. I slide my hand in to one of her pockets and pull out few metal coins. I take no time to count them, the only thought occupying my mind, is to get away from here. I hope nobody saw this.

     I walk around few corners, my heart is still racing, my breathing heavier, than at the fight. I could not believe, I beat up that girl. I never imagined, that I would be able to do such thing. Is it how my life is going to be out in here? Will I have to fight to survive? The thought really scares me. I take a stop and press my back against the cold brick wall. Taking few deep breaths, I am trying to calm myself. Tears well up in my eyes and I let out few quiet sobs. I never imagined I will be made to do such things. I did beat her, I stole from her and what if I killed her too? Oh my..... god.....

       After some time spent alone in an alley, I decided to find a place to spend my night.
I notice a small inn across the street and make my mind to take a look there. I just hope that money I got will be enough for them. 

     Walking in, I notice a bar, the room is darkly lit and not much decoration is accenting the place. It is very plain. Some walls are rusty green, though the building outside is covered in bricks. This could be another factory building, if not for a bar situated in the far end of a room. Not many people are here too. Good for me. I drop off myself at the bar. A young gentleman is serving drinks to others, but his body is turned around other way and I am denied the view of his face. He turns and I see a face of a robot. He wears a nice looking white/black uniform, consisting of white shirt and black, silky west. The formal clothing reminds me so much of Bryce.
My eyes move up.  His hair is short and well combed, some parts of his face is separated in panels - a ridges of them going over his face. And a slightly curved up smile at his right corner of lips. It is there and for last couple of minutes have not disappeared. It gives me impression, that he might be damaged at that part. But I might be wrong. 

He gives me a small sense of security. The feeling is so odd. Before I was terribly afraid of robots, but now, I fear a contact with humans more, than with machines. How my world have turned around.....

I order a glass of water and sit at the bar, resting from my constant walking through streets. Glasses I stole are still on my face and I do not worry of people recognizing me.

Two young boys come up and take a seat on each side of me. I tense a little bit.  

What do they want?