Chapter 1 - The Two Brothers
“Archi” a feminine voice lightly called out.
Into a workshop walked a young woman. No older than 18, signs of maturity had begun to sprout on her features. She had light ginger hair, smooth pale skin along with freckles dotting her nose. Her eyes were a rich hazel, seeming deeper than they actually were. Her chin was sharp and rounded off in the front. If a random passerby were to see her the word “pretty” would pop in their mind.
With no response she continued to walk through the shop. It was neat, unordinarily. And oddly clean for the area. The workshop was between the outer city and the slums, cheap but infested with all sorts of foul things. Yet there was not mold or mildew. Even dust seemed to keep a low presence.
Abigail, the girl, knew the reason why. Who else but Archi kept such a clean workplace, unlike his brother.
She continued through the room until she reached a door in the back left. Opening the door she saw her mark. Archi had welding goggles on as he was lost in some machination of his. Abigail leaned against the doorframe as she watched him work. He moved slowly and carefully making sure to weld the pieces exactly how he wanted them.
Abigail would have liked to stay and watch but she was on a timetable. She raised her hand and lightly rasped on the doorframe.
Arch finished the piece he was on and then turned around. A slight smile brushing his face as he did so. He was well rounded, also 18, around 6 foot, with lean muscle under his work clothes. He had a lightly tanned face with black hair neatly trimmed. His eyes were black like coal and his nose and chin were nicely proportioned being sharp yet smooth in the right way. If a random passerby were to see him they would think “handsome” followed by “neat”.
“Abigail, what brings you by?” he pleasantly said.
“O’Leary had some leftover Galumpkis he wanted to get rid of. So I thought you and Gale would like a snack.” She said holding up a paper bag.
Archi kept his smile but a slight, almost imperceptible, look of annoyance crossed his face.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“You didn’t have to come all the way over here.” Archi approached and took the bag.
“It's no problem, got the day off anyway, and I know you're stressing over the competition.” Abigail listed off the reasons on her fingers while she shook her head.
“Well thanks.” A sudden thought crossed his mind. “You’re going to Gale’s next right?”
“Yeah… why?” Abi said, tilting her head.
Archi strode over to the side of his workshop, placed the bag down, and opened a drawer. He pulled out an 8-shot revolver.
He walked back over to Abigail and held the barrel of the gun, giving it to her. “You never know what could happen over there.”
Abigail looked down at the gun and back at Archi with a raised brow “seriously?”.
“Please, for your own safety” He smiled back, putting the gun further in her direction.
Sigh “fine”. She then raised a finger at him “but if I get into trouble it's on you” and snatched the gun, making sure the safety was on and tucking it into her belt underneath her shirt.
Abigail turned to leave “I'll tell Gale you said hi”
Archi turned to continue his work “If he’s still alive that is”
Abigail snorted as she walked out of the shop.
The shop was on the corner of a T intersection. The shop was like a beacon in the surroundings. Its clean walls were a nice sight compared to the other dirty, old, and decaying brick buildings around it. Despite the gloomy atwere street vendors, clothes lines, and people lively chatting. Such was the outer city, enough comfort to be happy but not enough to be worry free.
Abigail turned and walked down the street. The surroundings slowly got more and more dreary as she entered the slums. There were no beggars here, cause who would give them anything?
She stopped at a lone wooden barn. Despite its large space the surrounding unfortunate kept a wide berth from it. The building wasn't what kept them back but who was in it. She entered to a loud rattle and banging noise.
Unlike Archi’s well kept shop, this place was in shambles. Scrap and tools were strewn about the place. Half done projects were everywhere seemingly forgotten or put off.
Abigail shookher head with a chuckle and yelled out “Gale, I got something for you”.
The noise stopped suddenly and a man popped up from a pile of pieces sending stuff flying in all directions.
Gale snapped his head in her direction and had a wide smile.
“Abi” he shouted as he approached quickly. Running through the piles of trash he kicked through all the projects to reach the girl.
Gale was a carbon copy of his brother but he had rough marks over his face, an unkempt appearance, and long hair tied in a bun. If a random passerby were to see him they would think “poor thing” immediately followed by “he’s fucking crazy”.
Abigail wasn't put off by his appearance however, he was like this since they were kids. Also he probably just pulled a couple all nighters.
“What'd ya bring me” he asked with a smile. Less held back then his brother, but a bit of madness in it.
“Galumpki” she held up the bag. “O’Leary was getting rid of them.”
“Ooh you're the best” he said, snatching the bag and instantly digging in regardless of the dirt on his fingers.
Looking at the catastrophe behind him “Sooo any of that important?”
“Nope! They were just spur of the moment ideas.” He said nodding to himself.
“Well alright, I gotta get going.” She turned to leave. “By the way good luck tomorrow.”
Gale got a huge grin on his face “Thanks!”
Just as Abigail was about to leave she smirked, remembering “Oh by the way Gale says hi”
Pffftt “Yeah right.”