The desert around us resembled nothing less than a warzone. The land was striped with deep ravines of burnt sand. It was nothing less than a miracle that the coffee shop was still somewhat intact—that is discounting the missing front door and counter, of course. The prisoners… they weren’t so lucky. All of them, including the cart and camels, were completely disintegrated to ash and blown away in the storm in a tragic case of collateral damage.
In fact, the only thing left from the group that wasn't burned away, was the prison guard’s colorful poncho and beige colored shorts. I was surprised to find them right outside the entrance, since they were nearly buried beneath all the dust, but I figured I should put them to good use.
I lifted up the poncho allowing the grains of sand to trickle off, and tossed it between my hands.
I presented them to Shua like a pristine birthday gift. The clothes were caked in debris and far too big for him, but still usable. “Here, you can wear this.”
Shua recoiled, “Are you serious?”
“Mhmmm.”
“You want me to wear a fucking poncho?”
“First of all, watch your fucking mouth. Second of all, this is a huge upgrade compared to what you’re wearing now, don’t you think?”
Shua’s eyes softened, “But… I’ll look stupid wearing that.”
“Yeah, well right now you look… homeless. So which is it gonna be?”
He lightly shook his head in protest before snatching the clothes from my hands, “Alright… understood.”
I brushed by him as he threw on the dust-covered clothes, stepping over the splintered wood and broken glass inside the coffee shop. Funnily enough, bubbly pop music was still playing lightly through the speakers—indifferent to the disaster that surrounded it. I stepped through the broken counter and went to the staircase leading down to the basement, then stopped for a moment to look back at Shua. He lagged behind me a bit, looking around at the broken furniture and machines in his oddly-colored poncho. The thing fit him like a blanket—the ends nearly dragging across the floor. I turned away before he caught me smiling.
“So… the passageway is somewhere down here?”
“Correct, in the room at the end of the hall.”
My eyes studied the dark hall before shifting back to the cash register at the counter. I jogged over to it, using my blade to pry it open. After a few tugs, the shelf slid out, displaying small piles of sorted dollar bills.
“They use dollar bills in New Egypt?”
“They do.”
“Then we can probably use this. Better than going in broke.”
I gathered the money in my hand and flipped through each bill. The spoils totaled $132 and some change. I folded them and slipped them into my pocket.
“Alright, let's go.”
The staircase descended to a pitch black hallway. As we climbed further down, the darkness shrouded the steps until not even a vague outline could be distinguished. After fumbling through the dark, we finally reached the bottom. At the end of the hallway was a room with an open door which acted as the only source of light within the shadows. A warm yellow light seeped from the opening.
Shua shuffled past me and continued down, turning into the doorway where he immediately exhibited a sour face.
“Something wrong?”
I peeked into the room, and was met with the same reaction. The man who had been hanging around the coffee shop for the past several hours was standing on top of a throw rug on the far side of the room. The rug was situated right in front of a door with an intricately embellished symbol resembling the Great Sphinx. The bookcase right beside the door had been knocked over, scattering multiple novels across the ground.
“I never thought I’d see the day…” the man said tearfully.
I stepped forward, “What are you doing here?”
“It’s been years that I’ve come to this shop. I’ve begged every slave trader, every errand boy… anyone and everyone who’s passed through this checkpoint. I’ve begged them to bring me back home. Back to New Egypt…” the man turned to me, his eyes wet and glossy. “Brave travelers. Due to your efforts, I’ve been able to get closer than I’ve ever been to my home. I beg you, please allow me to pass through with you!”
Stolen novel; please report.
I shot Shua a puzzled glance, then focused on the man again, “Pass through? The door’s already right there. Is it locked or something?”
Shua went forward and touched the door’s symbol, “Behind this door is a warpway to the capital. The door can be opened by force if needed, but if we do so without authorization, the sheriff of New Egypt will be alerted immediately. He’ll send deputies to investigate the checkpoint on the other side.”
“So you’re saying there’s gonna be a welcoming party? How fun…” I said, shaking my head.
Shua looked back at the man, “It’ll be an uphill battle from the moment we step through to New Egypt. We’ll instantly be deemed as armed and dangerous outlaws. I understand you wish to see your home, but we’re hardly the party you’ll want to accompany. Perhaps you can ask the next traveling merchant who passes through to bring you back as a guest—”
“I’m already an outlaw…” the man said quickly. Shua rocked back in surprise. “I was kicked out of the capital years ago. Taken from my loved ones. Deemed an enemy to the pharaoh. I camp behind this building for weeks on end, only returning to Eslovia when I must find work to pay for food. I’ve traveled this desert for years, and for years I’ve been denied the opportunity to see my home. My son, my wife…”
“I understand this means a great deal to you,” Shua said, his voice softened. “I too am looking to be reunited with my family. But you are aware that bringing you with us will only impede our mission to see the pharaoh. Unless you can fight, your presence is only a liability.”
The old man’s mouth twitched as he scrunched his eyebrows, “See the pharaoh…? Nobody is allowed to even enter the Marble Pyramid unless the sheriff permits it.”
“I am aware,” Shua responded. “I do not expect it to be easy.”
Confusion flickered across the man’s features, he took a shaky, weary breath, “I may be able to be of assistance.”
Shua and I stared as the man continued, “If you enter New Egypt as is, you’ll become enemies on the pharaoh. You’ll have every post in the city looking out for you, and the sheriff will never permit your entrance to the Hyperrail.”
“The Hyperrail?” I said, “what the hell is that?”
“It’s the only train that leads to the Marble Pyramid,” Shua responded. “It’s usually reserved for wealthy patrons who want to take tours of the pyramid or anyone invited on special request.”
The old man interlaced his fingers, “I take it you’ve never been to the capital, young man?”
“Err… No.”
“Well, the boy’s right!” the man said, breathily. “Tickets are only dispersed from the sheriff’s office and can cost upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars. But I know the sheriff very well, and you both have shown your exceptional combat abilities. So I may be able to convince him to give you access in exchange for some services.”
I scrunched my eyebrows, “You know the sheriff but you’re still not allowed to enter the capital?”
The man’s expression strained, “Yes, it… well… It's a long story.”
“I imagine…” I shifted over to Shua, “Instead of the Hyperrail, what’s the only other option?”
He shrugged, “New Egypt is a rather large city, and the pyramid is more than a hundred miles away…”
I sighed, “Alright, as long as you hold to your word, you can come. I’m Daymond and that’s Shua.”
The man balled his hands together, raising them above his head, “Thank you! My name is Abdul. I promise you, I will do all I can!”
Shua nodded, “Just stay behind us, we’ll fight off the reinforcements once we reach the checkpoint.”
The man straightened before lifting his palms as if he believed we may jump at him, “Forgive me, but I must ask that you reconsider! If you wish to meet with the sheriff on good terms, you must not fight his deputies.”
“You can’t be serious,” Shua countered. “They’ll kill us on sight!”
The man’s eyes clouded, “...If we surrender and show we mean no harm… they may take us back to the central station.”
“ ‘May’ being the keyword, “ I said flatly.
The man’s jaw trembled as he pursed his lips, “No reward comes without a bit of risk. If they wish to execute us, then we must fight. But until then, we must show we are peaceful and beg for their mercy, that is the best and only way.”
Shua glanced toward me, I rubbed my forehead, “Alright… we won’t attack. I’ll kick open the door.”
Shua shot out his hand, “It’s sealed with magic. That won’t be enough force, allow me.”
He recited his words and fired off a large ball of orange energy at the symbol. The door exploded into pieces and a fierce windstorm ripped through the room—sucking furniture and books into the doorway like a blackhole. Instantly, I was whipped off my feet and flung through the door into a swirling gray void. The space around me warped and twisted, stretching and contracting as I flew through the vortex. I yelled, accelerating faster through the void as my body spun and streaks of light flashed across my eyes. In the distance another door materialized, rapidly growing closer as I hurtled towards it.
“Oh shit!”
I braced for impact and hammered against the wood blowing the door off its hinges and tumbling into a dark storage room. I rolled over and lowered my throbbing arms, squirming as I willed myself to a seated position.
“The hell was that?!” I croaked.
Just then I heard the screams of Abdul and Shua. Shua popped out the door, yelping as his shoulder collided square with my jaw and my body slid across the floor.
“AUGHH!”
My hands slapped against my mouth as I writhed.
“Damnnn!” I said painfully.
Abdul followed, slamming against a rack lined with vegetables and buns.
Shua scuffled to his knees, placing his hand on my shoulder, “Sorry, Daymond!”
“Fuck off, Shua!” I murmured through my fingers.
Abdul placed his hand against his heart, trying to catch his breath, “This is it… New Egypt. Finally—”
His eyes sparkled briefly before turning serious, he pulled himself up, “We must go, it won’t take them long. We’ll want to be where others can see us.”
I weakly sat up again and massaged my jaw before spitting out a little blood.
Shua slid his hand from my shoulder and rose, “Right.”
As they headed up the stairs, I heaved myself up and scrambled after them.