Esme awoke to see Malik sitting on the bench across from her. His mouth was frowning and his dark skin was cast in shadows despite the bright sunlight streaming in. She thought to pull out the necklace secreted away in her pocket to ask about it. But, Malik’s guarded eyes made her wait.

“My brother?” Esme asked wringing her hands.

“He’s fine, let’s get going.”

“Where?”

“The less questions the better,” He said from the doorway.

“Where’s my brother?”

“He’s fine. Right now we have to get you registered before you can both go back.”

“Registered? Why?” Esme said.

“Eliezer got you into this. Not me. I only volunteered to get you registered because I do not trust him to not give you an entire tour of the city first.”

“Fine.” She said exiting the skiffie. He brought her onto narrow tiled streets. Heat emanated off of them despite their light coloring making Esme smile. She loved the sun. Esme had only glimpsed one mountain underneath an arch before Malik leaded her down tiled steps. Malik said nothing as the entered a strangely lit underground subway system. Walls covered access to the tracks but she could still see the trains rushing past.

“How fast do they go?” She asked. But, she turned to see him waiting impatiently by an open door. She quickly entered the train and the door slid shut behind her.

“Buckle in. They will move faster than you’re probably used to. The ride will only take a few minutes.” He said picking a location on a vertical black screen. A couple of routes appeared in green and the rest turned red. He sighed selecting the quickest one. Esme decided to sit across from him and buckled in. The train was only four seats with a spot for cargo and looked more like an amusement park ride than a subway train. Malik only gripped the handle bars but Esme shifted uncomfortably.

“Ready?” Malik asked.

“Yes,”

He pressed his fingerprint to the screen only for the door to slide open. Two figures, a man and woman, stood outside the door. Esme gaped at the figures before her. The man’s hair shimmered slightly and she realized why the trains were so tall and the seats so wide.

“The southern quarter Malik?” He asked. Malik just nodded but his dark look told her the big man had violated some unsaid societal norm. How did he know his name? But, the big man just ushered in his companion, who sat next to Esme. She wore a flowing dress with glowing embroidered flowers. The woman noticed her stare and glared back at her disdainfully. Esme felt abnormally flustered.

“Heidi,” the big man said. The woman looked away but her look told her she pitied her.

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“If you have something to say say it,” Esme felt the words leave her mouth and was just as shocked as Heidi, who blinked back at her. This made Esme even more upset. It was like if a person saw a deer speak. Esme stood then deciding to abandon Malik. This was not okay but a deep chuckle stopped her. Esme then was even more agitated to see Heidi smiling.

“Where are you going?,” the big man said smiley at her generously.

“Sit down,” Malik said carefully but he looked her up and down. This made her turn to leave but the door slid shut in her face.

“Open the godammned door Malik!” She said spinning on him. She advanced hoping to loom over him. Instead, his tall form made them almost eye to eye. Malik swallowed glancing at the big man. Esme turned to see a stone cold face looming over her. Esme practically felt her soul shrink to the floor.

“She’s not from here,” Malik said. But, the big man grabbed her chin forcing her to look into his dimensional eyes. They were even more striking than Malik’s and Eliezer’s. It was like being sucked into a whirlpool of tumultuous emotions. Esme only faintly heard Malik negotiating to free her with the monster of a man. If it was possible to sift through a mind, she decided that is what it would feel like.

“Esme? She is from the mainland?” The big man said.

“Yes and she wouldn’t know our propriety rules,” Malik said.

“Where is her brother being treated?”

“At the general hospital,”

“Good take her to see him,”

“I will,”

“No now,”

“Of course,” Malik said.

Then, the big man released her and Malik steadied her. She glared back at the man but he just smiled his glowing hair brighter than before.

“She would do well in your school Heidi,” He said sitting down. Malik turned pale if that was possible for his warm brown skin.

Heidi stared at her curiously and said, “She looks like she wouldn’t last a week.”

“You're so certain.”

“You jest?” Heidi said eyeing her. Malik looked genuinely uneasy now and opened the door. Heidi began to advance but Esme backed through the door after Malik.

“We took the wrong train.” Malik said. Then, Malik shut the door on them.

They stared at each other for a moment on the too well lit platform. The subway was far from quiet but Esme only heard the trains whipping past and could only see Malik’s completely vulnerable expression laid bare by the event. He fought hard to keep it hidden away but he was frightened of something. No. He was angry and upset. This lovely tropical city above had an ugly side that Esme never wanted to see. She broke through the silence saying, “He- Heidi?”

He gulped and said, “She may be on the right side but you never want someone like her to look at you that way. Never. She will use you even if it is for the right reason,”

“And the man?”

“Unimportant.” he said leading her to another train.

“And what’s the right side?” She asked quietly. He turned to look at her before saying,

“The right side is the one that protects life. It always has been and always will be. Do you understand?”

“I think so,”

“And never say anything remotely like a swear word. Not even one of those pathetic ones.” He said selecting a route.

“Are we going to the general hospital?” Esme asked seating herself across from him once again.

“And never lie to someone with glowing hair.” He said his head in his hands. Esme laughed quietly but he looked up at her and she stopped.

“How did he know my name?”

“You know what. Please just talk less. The more you talk the worse it gets,” He said rubbing his forehead, “And you can see right? If it glows it means you either need to run or hide behind it.”