His wayward drifting through the streets of the dilapidated cityscape had him making some keen observations about his new environment. The first was the lingering smell of copper that hung near the grates to the sewers. The grates themselves were coated in a thick copper gel and the sounds of chittering could be heard in between the faint rush of water. The second came from an observation of the people of this place. A number of the cityfolk openly carried weaponry and other oddities; some with poorly assembled spears and daggers to others wielding chainsaws and brutish spiked gloves to the truly strange grafted weaponry on the backs and ribs of the people. They carried with them a manic hunger in their eyes, a crazed yearning to survive in these squalid conditions. The third, and likely of most importance were the side eyed glances he was getting from pedestrians. From the disheveled to the well to do (by these standards anyway), there were pedestrians gawking at him, staring him in the eyes or from behind. If he was committing a social taboo, especially among the eclectic cast he had seen already roaming the streets, he was oblivious as to what.
“Gurgle...” His stomach let out a hungering growl. He was famished, moreso with the recent exertion of strength and stamina just moments ago. Just off the corner of the road was what looked to be a sandwich shop. It’s clientele looked to be the professional sort, with coats and suits worn as well as weapons of varying calibers holstered and set to one's side. There was a door with a proper entrance into the establishment, as well as a window counter that a number of patrons were using to quickly acquire their meals, pay, and walk off. Even from his current position came the pleasant wafting of fresh bread and cooked meat.
“Gurgle…….” His stomach cried out once more.
“Could you give me a number 1 please? Extra mayo, and don’t skimp on the meat!” called out a brutish looking bald man with a colorful tattoo sleeve on his right arm. The ink seemed to glimmer like fish scales when caught at different angles by the scattering sun rays in the cloud soaked sky. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin, setting it down on the window counter as his food was served.
“Please, come again.” The shop owner said in a monotone, quickly attending to the needs of the other customers within the establishment. He reached into his jacket pocket again and felt the cool metal coin in the palm of his hand. Pulling it out, it looked similar to the coin the other patron had used, so he should be okay for-
“Hey, Foreigner!” He was pushed to the side by a toothy adolescent. “If you’ve got a coin to play around with, why don’t you give me some?” Accompanying the toothy adolescent was another, taller adolescent with bloodshot eyes and a mask covering their mouth. Blood still clung to the tips of their metal, claw-like fingers. “Oh, I see you’ve become acquainted with my partner, Clips. Say hi Clips.” The bloody adolescent merely waved their hand. “Clips and I are hard working boys and we need some coin to buy food. You look like a big spender there, carrying a coin like that around these parts. Now, we can have a grand ol’ time heading to my favorite ramen shop, or I’m gonna have to tell Clips we need to make friends elsewhere.”
The toothy adolescent let the last of his statement hang. None of the other pedestrians walking by were paying this event any attention, their eyes glazed over as they mindlessly headed to their next destination.
“How much is this worth?” the Foreigner asked the toothy adolescent. The adolescent replied with a howl.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“You’re carrying around that much coin on you and you don’t even know how much it’s worth? What, did you find it lying around on the floor or something? Stop playing around and make your move.” Clips was beginning to grind their metallic fingers into one another like one would do to sharpen a knife. The toothy adolescent merely stared intently at the Foreigner’s response.
“I think I’m going to head to that shop over there.” The Foreigner pointed to the sandwich shop and started walking away.
“Tsk.” The toothy adolescent clicked his tongue and shook his head in disappointment. “So be it. We will see each other again soon.” His final comment was made with a minor flourish. The Foreigner could have sworn he saw something but it might have just been a trick of the light. The two of them watched the Foreigner head towards the sandwich shop. They stood idly by on the other side of the road.
The inside of the sandwich shop was small, with a couple of stools and a bar counter to one side and a few chairs with small square tables to the other. The Foreigner walked up to the counter.
“What can I get you?” The shopkeeper asked, unenthused.
“I would like a number 1 please, extra mayo.” The Foreigner stated, placing his highly valued coin on the counter.
“Make that 4, please!” A shrill voice called out beneath him. The shopkeeper took the coin and through some peculiar sleight of hand, conjured smaller coins on the table.
“Wha-wai-” The Foreigner was caught unawares, his attention drawn to the tugging at his jacket sleeve.
“This is the least you can do in paying me to get you out of here in one piece.” Getting a proper look now, the person taking advantage of him was a little girl wearing a hood over her head and an oversized coat that trailed just to her ankles.
“What do you mean ‘Get you out of here in one piece’?” He asked.
“Exactly what I mean, Foreigner. You’ve got the attention of Clips and Maw out there.” He turned over to look at the road where they once were and there was no sign of them.
“They don’t look like they’re around.” Foreigner replied, paying careful attention to the counter when his food would be set down.
“Oh, they’re out there. Those fuckers are mean dudes. Maw likes to ask “favors” but that’s how Maw gets you. Something in his words or in his being, I don’t know, but they’re ridiculously good at tracking people. They even give me a hard time.” There was a small pomp and chest popping in that final statement, like a child being proud of a growth spurt or being a half year older than their friend. The Foreigner turned to acquire his meal and the mysterious girl was already at the counter, acquiring the tray and moving the sandwiches he had bought into a bag underneath her coat. He didn’t entirely believe her story, but there wasn’t any reason for her to lie. Especially considering she’d already made off with her goods.
“If you’re helping me out, and thats even if they’re outside there right now, how can I trust in a little girl to assist in my escape? Didn’t you say they’re really good at tracking people?” He asked. She smiled widely.
“I mean they’re great, sure,” She took a bite of her sandwich and shrugged, “Lucky for you, I’ve given these guys the run around before. Just follow my lead and you should be fine.”