Just from the alley, they could see all types of stuff happening
A wagon slowly passed
A mother and child walked by, holding hands
So far everyone looked-
Clean.
Below the sewer manhole
Two nasty-looking teens climbed up into the dark alley
They looked out at everything happening beyond the alley
"One problem after the other, eh?" Thomas said sarcastically
Autumn nodded
"Don't worry, I'll just steal someone's clothes" Thomas replied forcing a grin
"And their shower?" Autumn asked jokingly
"Definitely!" Thomas cracked his knuckles
He looked out at the busy street
"Sure doesn't look like a mad woman runs this place" he said
The people all looked kind of robust, though
But that could be normal...in a city-like environment
"Well, don't you two look like shit" A voice appeared from behind
The two flinched and turned
There was an old man sitting in the corner, hugging himself
"You know how bad it is hearing that from a homeless guy?"
The two still remained silent
"Uh..." Autumn was speechless
"Oh my god! Y'all came from the sewer" The old man began cracking up
He began laughing loudly
Slowly getting more uncontrolled
"Hahaha! shit people!!" The man rolled over twice while laughing
Thomas and Autumn could only exchange glances
"Coo coo," Thomas muttered to her
The two then started walking deeper into the alley
"W-wait," the man called, forcing himself to stop laughing
He stood up and walked over
The little light seeping through the alley revealed his lengthy figure
His hair was grey, but he was bald in the middle
His clothes were long and definitely old
He also only had a few teeth left
"I always knew I'd help someone living in the sewer"
Thomas sighed, shutting his eyes as he turned
"We do not live in the sewer"
The old man didn't care and continued rambling, laughing as he spoke
"Anyway, the name's Justin!" He grinned
"Justin? What the fuck?" Thomas asked
He raised an eyebrow
"Your name is Justin? In like the 18s?" he asked
Autumn frowned
"I was expecting something like Bartholomew." Thomas continued
"It doesn't matter," Autumn muttered
The old man seemed speechless
"Seem someone's been on more shrooms than me," he said, studying Thomas
"Shrooms?! Did they even call it that?" Thomas shouted
"It doesn't matter!" Autumn finally stepped in
"You said you could help us, right?" She asked the old man
"Oh? I did?" Justin asked
Autumn looked away, stepping back
Suddenly Thomas lifted him by the collar
He slammed him into the wall
He stared deep into the man's face
"Thomas!" Autumn called
"Have you ever been deep fried, alive?"
His right hand ignited
He slowly brought it closer to the man's face
"Please no... I'm too young to die," The man whimpered
"Thomas!!" Autumn shouted
Thomas released him, watching as the man caught his breath
"Sorry... " Thomas muttered before walking away
...
"Wait," the old man called
Thomas clenched his fist
"I can help" The old man said
Suddenly Thomas sighed deeply
He then turned
"Yo, Justin-"
"Wait!" Autumn stopped Thomas
She remained silent and looked at the hesitant old man
He glanced at Thomas a few times before looking at Autumn
"I can get you clothes," The man forced his near toothless grin
Thomas folded his arms
"No, like actually," The man reassured
"Follow me!" The man ran past them
The two then started running behind him
Thomas gave Autumn a certain look
"Let's just where this goes" Autumn said
The two then ran faster, catching up to the old man
He turned a few more corners
His eyes widened when he saw them right beside him
"Wow, you guys are quick!" He shouted, coming to a halt
There was a giant wall at the end of the alley
The old man took a step back
He scaled the wall quickly
He exhaled loudly at the top of the wall
He jumps over to the other side
Thomas and Autumn exchanged glances
They both nodded
Thomas took a step back
He ran and boosted himself with flames
Scorching the wall as he rose higher
The flames could only let him rise so far
He began to fall
Landing on his belly
He was started spitting grass out of his mouth
Thomas stood up, looking around
There was a mansion just ahead
And a big empty yard
Up on the second-floor balcony
Justin motioned for Thomas
When Thomas finally climbed to the second floor
He rolled over on his back panting
"Shhh" Justin whispered
Thomas stood up
Justin unlocked the second floor door
Revealing a nice room
"Hehhe," Justin chuckled " The walter's shouldn't have made their house near the alley."
Thomas panted, stepping into the room
"Better yet, how do u climb walls like this"
Justin looked at him with a knowing grin
The room had a sweet scent almost like cherry perfume
All the furniture, the clock on the wall, the mirror to the side
Were all neatly placed
Even the carpet was placed with care
Justin ran towards a drawer
"Taadaa!!" Justin shouted
Thomas stepped towards the clothes folded neatly in the drawers
"Whoa, Justin.." Thomas smirked picking up a few
His smirk faded
The shirts he picked up were two times his size
Thomas looked at Justin
"Yeah..fat bastards aren't they?" Justin asked
"They washroom is right there," he motioned to the side "I'll see if I find some baby outfits."
Thomas walked towards the closed doors
Justin looked around
He went towards another drawer, searching.
But suddenly he heard a knock
He looked up
In the dark outside the window
Someone floated
Hair blowing in the wind, staring deep into his soul
"Oh!?" Justin jumped.
But then he realized
It's just Autumn.
Justin unlocked the window immediately
She came in without saying a word
...
"So no one stopped to wait for Autumn, huh?" She asked
Justin chuckled nervously
Before leading her to a bathroom
Then he spent the rest of the time sneaking around looking for baby clothes
Thomas came out first
Thomas wore a loose white linen shirt and short pants, with his stockings covering part of them
He stepped around in leather boots, trying to adjust his fit
"These pants stop at my knees," Thomas whined
"Thats how pants work," Justin answered while helping Autumn adjust in her dress.
Thomas started fussing with his boots
Justin was in front of him, still fixing Autumn's dress
Soon Justin moved
Thomas looked at her briefly, then looked away
But his eyes wandered back towards her
Eyes wide, mouth agape
Autumn's navy dress fell neatly to her ankles, its embroidered sleeves catching the warm glow from the nearby lamp.
A short velvet cape rested over her shoulders, fastened with a polished silver clasp.
Fresh leather boots peeked out beneath the hem as she took a careful step across the carpet.
"Well, you look rich" Thomas muttered
Before they could answer, a chariot was heard
The horses neighed with grace
Immediately, you could hear a group of noisy people entering the mansion
Justin gave them a knowing look
He then dived through the open window
Autumn and Thomas followed, through the window they dived
They watched as Justin scaled the wall leading to the alley
They followed
After a while, Justin stopped
"Well, well, well" Justin grinned " Definitely not buying from charlie again"
"Really strong effects," he muttered to himself
"I'm surprised they've never caught you" Autumn said
"Oh that? Pfft." Justin waved, turning his back
Thomas looked at Autumn
A look she knew very well
The joking stopped
Chattering and laughing could be heard from the street
...
"Y'all good?" Justin turned
"One more thing...Justin," Autumn said
"Sure," he forced a wide toothless grin
"You sure seem to know a lot of stuff," Thomas continued
"You know anything about...I don't know, a mad woman?" Thomas asked
"Mad woman?"
"Yeah, one who possible knows how to manipulate people... of sorts" Autumn finished
"Huh? What are yo-"
Justin's grin faded
"The royals..." he muttered
He looked up at the two
"Yeah, thats right!" Thomas answered hastily " Why are they-"
"No." Justin's voice was sharp
He took a step back
"I-I can't, not with this." He shook his head
"No one fucks with the royals" he added while backing away
Finally he stopped
"Listen, whatever you guys saw them do...turn a blind eye"
Justin then knocked the alley wall twice
A circular hole opened up below him
He fell quickly
The ground closed immediately
As if nothing happened
For a brief while, they all forgot how dreadfully dark this city was
But now the feeling was back
Chariots and wagons passed, people were busy
Thomas remembered the guy fused with the statue
A couple just walked by giggling
It was as if they were unaware of whats happening.
The two stood there in silence.
"Autumn..." Thomas turned, looking at her
"I think we should find Leo fast"
End