AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ana
With Ethan sorted, I manage to convince Ax to let me go get a better feel for the town on my own while looking for Sammi. I could tell he didn’t like that, but I logically pointed out I was much more familiar with small towns like this and could find out more without the giant glaring asshole following me around.
He left me to my own devices pretty quickly after that, agreeing to meet me back at the tavern later. Things have been a bit tense between us, and a bit of time to wander on my own is welcome.
Sighing to myself, I stroll around the town which I’ve discovered was once called Tekir. A few people look at me as I pass, but I can tell they are relatively used to visitors otherwise the attention would be much more. Even the rainbow bruising on my face doesn’t seem to attract much notice. I’m wearing baggy clothes, but my hair has gotten longer the past weeks and I haven’t wrapped my chest in a while, except for the bits on my ribs, so it’s pretty clear I’m a woman, albeit a dirty and ill-dressed one.
Making my way through the market I look for the right type of person. I have no money and nothing but my own charm and intelligence to get me information today, but honestly, it’s what I was always used to. I feel more like my old self than I have in a long time, and I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.
“Some dates for you, missus?” a voice says from somewhere beside me and turn to see a young boy who couldn’t be more than ten or so. A basket hands from his neck with dates and various nuts and other treats.
“I don’t have any money, I’m afraid,” I tell him with a small smile and the boy's face twists up comically and he begins to walk away while I consider what little I have on me. “But I might have something to trade, but not for dates.”
I pull out the small army knife I liberated from one of the guards. It’s not fantastic quality, but I know such things aren’t made anymore and by default, that makes them valuable. The boy immediately perks up and comes back over to me.
“Good,” I praise, “Now, what can you tell me about Tekir?”
An hour later and less one small blade I leave the boy—Omer, as I discovered—with significantly more knowledge than I had prior. A smile tugs at my lips as I make my way back to the tavern, and I hope Ax, before I go finish my search for Sammi.
When I walk into the darkened room my eyes immediately narrow in on Brutus sitting in one corner. A quick glance doesn’t reveal Ax and I feel a pang of annoyance but quickly try to suppress it.
“Where’ve you been?” Luis asks as I approach.
“Just finding out a bit more about this place,” I comment vaguely, “Where’s Ax?”
“Went to see if he could find any more of us. Last group still hasn’t arrived.”
I nod at this and wonder if they ran into The Watch too. From what Omer tells me, this one specific group stays usually within a few days of here and are infamous to the locals. Though the boy wouldn’t tell me much about them, it was easy to pick up that the New Order Militia, AKA The Watch, are not welcome here. I’ve been to some cities that are much more “in” and always knew to move on quickly from there. Any town that can willingly accept the rules imposed by such men are not places I want to be.
A young man comes up and asks if I want anything to drink and I shake my head, though my stomach growls loudly in protest. I wait for him to leave before turning to Luis, keeping my voice low.
“Have we gotten any money yet?”
He shakes his head. “No, we managed to make a few trades to get some nights here but that’s it. Papi went with Ax to see if he could do a bit of hunting or something while they look for the others.”
“And has anyone seen Sammi yet?”
Again, Luis shakes his head.
“Fuck,” I mutter. “Okay, I’ll be back in a bit. Tell Ax if he comes back.”
“You want I come with you, Ana?” Brutus asks and I smile at him.
“No, I’ll be fine. Wait here for me and see if you can figure out how to get us some dinner.”
Brutus smiles back and nods and with that, I head back out into the street. This time I have a general direction thanks to Omer. Fewer people watch me this time and I credit not looking lost. It was early on in my travels I discovered that street children, in general, were excellent guides and gossips. They see much and are often overlooked.
Rounding a corner, I step onto a street I would have known without being told. It's daytime, but maybe half a dozen girls wander without apparent purpose other than to look good. A few glance my way, but largely they ignore me. They range in age, the youngest couldn't be older than fourteen or so. I swallow deeply, following her with my eyes.
Taking a breath, I keep walking and try not to look until I get to the end of the row of buildings. The door is closed and there's a sign in Turkish I can't read. I push through the door and am greeted by a scent that makes me instantly nauseated. It's sex and liquor with some kind of heavy incense. I barely make it back into the street before heaving. A sound of disgust to my left barely registers.
My mind swirls as I take a deep breath and the nausea slowly fades. The door opens behind me and I hear a click of heeled footsteps.
"You'd better clean that up then try the side door," the woman says to me, very matter of factly. "I'll meet you there."
She puts down a bucket of water and walks off in a whirl of perfumed skirts. Frowning, I look down to the bucket before shrugging and tossing it over the bit of vomit I managed to expel. My abs hurt as I bend to swish the last of it away, wondering where that came from out of nowhere.
As promised, the woman is waiting at a side door for me with a rolled cigarette dangling in her fingers. She looks to be older than me, though I know with a city lifestyle it's possible I'm wrong. Her clothes speak of low-class privilege and I wonder if she runs the place or answers to a pimp of her own.
