Hot breeze pierce her vision. The ground underneath her was like a hot stove. Sunlight bore unmercifully with killing intent. The minuscule oasis was the the only relief. It was filled with short shrubs, bristle grass and lengthy palm tree that provide bare some fruits.

She made her way to the pool of lucent water. When splashes of water hit her face a cooling sensation overtook her. The relief also cleared her mind. At least prevented her from exploding.

"Where are we?" Was the only question she managed to squeak out from her unstable state.

"Aledah City."

City?

Waving her head to the side she was faced with a floating trees. Intensely, she looked again and found the same thing.

"Your eyes don't deceive you." She felt his cool shadow.

Fully she couldn't accept the fact of the matter as she stood up, never once taking her eyes off it? It didn't look like a city but a giant garden in a wasteland. She force her eyes away to pursue more pressing matters,

"Where is the train? I need to go back." Facing him she could see he was considerably taller than her.

His skin was fair as the sands blown in the dessert and his face was hard yet youthful. A face made full of mischief. Each flex of his facial muscles would leave a dent on the left side of his cheek.

"If you want to return it best be you forget it. Even if you did, how will you run it back home?"

His eyes gave away much what she subconsciously know. It would be better if she didn't get involve with whatever this is.

"They were after you. I was just bait." She figured as much. Nothing in the situation made sense.

Up till now the source of her misgivings was when she decided to go back to that house, except, she didn't. Or did she?

Pain scrunched her brows and throbbing assaulted her head with that thought.

"Who are you really." It was the same guy.

All the events previously came back. It wasn't a dream.

Heat seeped through her soul. The same heat could still be felt.

"Even back then, it was you they were searching for."

Speechlessness befell the other.

Taking his silence as a yes, she could piece together what was going on. Clearly, he did something unmentionable and now she was in the middle of it all.

"Is there a place I can go?" To get out of the heat was a given. Staying hidden and out of sight was primary.

"The city can hide you for a few days. However, the best place would be to go to Sahra. I have a friend at the port that can take you there."

He started to unravel his scarf, revealing cascading shaggy flaxen hair.

"Here. To hide your face. You won't need your coat. Sell it."

Although startled by gesture she didn't stop him when he tied the wrap around her. Tucking in any loose strands of hair.

"Use this to gain access into the city. I am well known so they will help you."

He showed her one of the clear blue rhombus clips. With a flick of the wrist it turned into a small blade then back to normal. It was attached to the side of her head.

"Do not draw attention to yourself. Blend in." Firm hands grab her shoulder and stern eyes met hers.

"What will you be doing?" Somehow she felt like she already knew the answer to that.

Not a word was said from the man. She respected his silence. It kept her ignorant, which in some cases the best. Her eyes rested on the floating city to her right. It didn't look far but she couldn't tell.

"How long would it take to-" No one was beside. The sandy wind grated her face as she set her eyes far. It was time to go.

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Each step felt like a battle. In front of her a haven that could never be reach. Sweat fell like a waterfall. Her breath hitch from the humidity and her throat grown dry.

Am I being prank?

She could only wish it was the most likely answer.

Is this a show set?

Numerous possibilities for the circumstances tugged her brain left and right. The only logical one was that it was all on film.

Assuming if that the, this is a very big set then.

Looking side to side she tried to spot a camera. Grains of sand was all she found. Either they were really good or she is being led to her own doom. Could she really trust anything that had happen in the past day? Even the guy from before, he could have been apart of it all along. Yes, all part of the world's most elaborate prank.

In her mind she commended them for how real everything felt but she really wanted it to be over.

Her eyes reconnected to the floating prize ahead, then to the vast dunes that was swirled around her.

There was nothing around for miles except for the never-reaching-city.

It was the only place to go.

Maybe the camera crew will jump out and surprise her once in the city.

Setting her mind on the task ahead she puddle through the desert for hours. At times she would collapse to the unforgiving ways of barren land. Yet, the touch of the searing terrain provided motivation to get go on. She didn't want die here.

The sun hung high in the sky before the shadows of the city caress her, pulling her out of a trance. It stood there, unimaginable to her. Its structure grand and ostentatious.

A gate seemed to encircle everything. Large camels horned that carried small tent clatter the gate of the city. The building was like a large multi-tier cake. Palm trees and many plants embellish the tall architecture with each level. Arcs, domes embroidered in all sorts of geometric shapes distinguished the buildings.

What?

The conclusion she extracted only made things worse. Had she had been trafficked to the other side of the world? Where else had she seen something so, something so...familiar. While quietly overthinking it didn't occur to her that crowd had form and she had been pushed in line for entry. By the time her thinking had fade a new one emerged.

Peering in front of her she noticed many giving objects to me in long-wind cloth and leather armor. In one hand they behold a shield and a spear. They stood at both side of the threshold. White turbans shaded their burnt sienna skin from the rays of light.

With each passing moment more and more people gave away heaps of priceless artifacts. It was getting closer and closer to her turn and she never had anything of great value. The sun was raining down on her didn't help with the hotness she was feeling in her coat. It was high time for her to take it off.

All she could do was hold it in her arms while her appointed time grew hair length.

Cold eyes and a stoic voice greeted her at the gate. They wanted to see what she was offering. The same could be said for herself. Shakily she stretched out the hand with the coat.

The taller gatekeeper grabs it and sniff it. He looks to the other for confirmation. They both continue to scrutinize the the article of clothing.

Sweat drip down her neck and all she could hear was her own breathing.

"كما"

Finally, the squeaking of heavy doors alerted her nerves that she had made it. Barely.

In no time at all she gave a small bow of thanks as she made her way into the inner city.

A few meters from the entrance bustling city life invaded her ear drums. All around her people went about their business. Music reverberated in the streets, laughter of children jingled in with the market. Groups of friends chatter joyously and the mothers could be seen dragging their little ones along . Holding them tightly as they would wandered around if she budge an inch. Shouts could be hear all around as merchants tried to sell their goods.

Everywhere she look was alive. It taunted her with aromatic perfumes, savory smell of food and rhythmic music. Beating of drums and clanging of bells was dribble in the noise of the people. As she made her way down flickers of stares caught her. They quickly dial down as the people excepted her as another foreigner.

Another thing she noticed about the place was its abundance of wealth. Necklaces of light, potteries of gold, rugs, fine fabric, gorgeous artwork was strewn everywhere. Not too far ahead two men could be seen arguing about a novel pot laced with rubies containing a set of curved golden handles. The buildings were magnificent. Each gleaming with bold colors and patterns. Beautiful mosaic lanterns of various shapes hanged around the whole place and they seem to glisten. The same could be seen with the marble and quartz pavement.

The grandness of it all made her feel small. Not just the framework but also but the general public. They were all on average much bigger than her, including the women and children. Her height was 5'6, it was wasn't much but compare to the people here she was a midget.

They looked incredibly healthy. Their faces were glowing and buoyant. She spied the richness in their attire. Robes of luster plaited with exquisite designs. Women fashion with manifold ornaments styled intricately. The men were less alluring but radiated vigorous and emanated strength.

Passing through the crowds she tried to stay in the shadows. The cultural shock was huge. She had never traveled anywhere so...so different. Accumulated stress from the day began to take its toll on her. Sensations from the bustling plaza hit her senses and made her a bit woozy. It felt like a beehive with the populace as the worker bees. Individual noise and movement like the buzzing of wings that further the heat. Her eyes couldn't pick up.

A loud trump stopped the very molecular fabrication of shopping center. It froze everyone on the spot and immediately fell to their knees headfirst. After a few seconds she regain her composure and almost lost it to the sight around her. Realizing the predicament she tried to correct herself.

"اللخم" Chorus of the people erupted.

It made her jump slightly but that was just enough for her to trip over her own feet and bumped into something hard.

Damn.

Sharp pain struck her forehead. Drawing her vision up, it came to the face of a gelid guard. In spite of his youthful face, years of sadness was etched upon it. Amber eyes shot her a daring look.