Strangers From Another World 8 A Way Out Part 1

The second floor was empty, and not a soul could be seen, or so it was so at first glance. However, if one kept their eyes peeled and looked closely, one could spot a shadowy figure lurking at the corner of one's sight, perfectly still and hardly moving, almost like an object.

It was only after Gene pointed her out did Alex finally noticed her, a woman so scantily clad that Alex could not look at her directly without blus.h.i.+ng. She had short hair and she was small and slender, easily tucked into the shadowy corner. She sat there, cross legged, wearing a cat like grin as she was being approached.

"Was business so poor that you can't even afford clothes?" said Gene.

"What are you, my mom?" the woman retorted, though her grin did not change. "So, what will it be today, Gene?"

"I think you should have already heard it from the master, but we need a way out of the city, discreetly, and quickly."

"Uh-huh, that'll be thirty sil per person, no bartering."

"I know better than to barter with you," Gene said as he took out a large dangling pouch and handed the whole thing over to the woman.

The woman received the pouch and counted through the contents. "Came prepared have you, Gene?"

"I'm always prepared. So, when can we leave?"

"Right now if you like."

"Good, let's get going then."

The woman got up from her seat and began leaving, Gene follow promptly and signal Alex, who was a little shocked that the deal had been concluded so swiftly, to do the same.

"Wasn't that over with a little too fast?"

"Were you expecting something?"

"I didn't know what I expected really, but I was under the impression that there was more to be done than just handing the money over."

"Everything that needs to be done was already done beforehand. I already knew the price, and I already knew she could be trusted. The whole thing just now was merely a formality."

"I guess it did seem like you knew her."

"That I did. Oh, and she's Tina, by the way."

The woman leading in front of them, being attentive to the conversation behind her, turned back and waved, to which Alex waved back.

"And Tina, this is Alex," Gene said.

"Well met, Alex." Tina replied without turning, concluding the introductions swiftly and efficiently, like the pa.s.sing of a breeze, quick, light, and then gone before anything began. Such was the way of the thieves around these parts.

Arriving down stairs, Tina handed the bag of coins over to the barkeep. "Hold on to these for me, old man."

"Be careful out there," the barkeep replied curtly as he receives the coins.

"Don't need to tell me twice."

From her bag, Tina pulled out a dark cloak, draping it over her scantily clad form and stepped out into the streets, Alex and Gene right behind her.

They moved through the alleyways, sticking mostly to the shadows. The guards were all over the streets, hysterically searching for something, if they were to be spotted now, they would be immediately surrounded.

***

The slums of Atra lie between the northern sectors, where the Strangers' Administration HQ lies, and the western sectors of city. Through the many alleyways that lead to the slums, the three arrived at Western Atra, where the Merchants District lies along with the Merchants' Guild.

Continuing to follow the alleyways, eventually, they arrived at what appears to be a warehouse tucked into the corner of the district. Tina led them towards the back, and upon arriving at the back door, she produced a key from the bag she carries around with her, and unlocked the door.

Upon entering, various stacks of seedy looking crates can be seen, along with carts and carriages and caravans used to transport them. Then, once more, Tina's hand stuck into her bag, pulling out what appears to be a neatly folded dress made of some pricy materials, and then quickly and effortlessly changed right in front of both Alex and Gene. Though, all she really did was wear it over the clothes she was already wearing, if those could be called clothes. Lastly, a hat was pulled out, one that matches the dress and decorated with a fine feather, and Tina promptly puts it on, adjusting it slightly to make the look perfect.

"Alright, you two, I need you to stick yourselves into those crates," Tina said, pointing towards the larger crates sitting on one of the caravans.

"How well does this work?" Gene found the need to ask.

"Well enough, and if we went to a specific gate at a specific time, they'll let us through without too much fussing."

"Another one of your guild's deals with the guards?"

"Exactly, now quit worrying and get on, we don't have all day."

Gene shrugged, he had his misgivings at such a seemingly straightforward method, but he's not the expert here. As for Alex, he already has a hard time getting around, and so rather than to say that he isn't going to be picky, it's more accurate to say that he simply has nothing else to choose. This is the only way out shown to him, and he knew too little to find another way on his own.

***

The promised spot was the southern gate of Atra. Around the short time when the sun was at its zenith, all may pa.s.s un.o.bstructed. That was the agreement between the Thieves' Guild and the Atra City Guards. And so, during that time, the security at the southern gate would be the most lax, or at least, that was how it was supposed to be.

To Tina's surprise, however, the gate was heavily guarded today, with high ranking officials watching over each and every process. It would seem, today is the day of a surprise inspection.

Cold sweat rolled down Tina's forehead. Of all days, today would be the day it happens. Now she must make a choice, to move onwards, or fall back. If she chooses to press forward, it's most likely that she would be caught. On the other hand, if she were to suddenly turn back now that she had arrived so close to the gate, she would surely be suspected.

If only I realized it sooner, she told herself, now I can't even turn back without the risk of being told to pullover. And with the gate so heavily guarded, I doubt the contingency plan would work either. We'd be surrounded before we have the chance to run.

Guards are everywhere, not just around the gates but also on the sides of the streets, watching each and every individual that pa.s.sed through the gates and zealously guarding every single opening, including the shadowy alleyways, a thief's best friend.

Soon it would be her turn to be checked, just as soon as the convoy in front of her pa.s.ses through. Tina was running out of time. She can either steel herself for the worst and attempt to pa.s.s through, or make use of her contingency plan and make a mad dash for it. Her palms were sweaty now as her hands tighten on the reigns of the horses pulling the caravan. What will it be, she asked herself, what do I do? No matter what she chooses, she can't see a sure way out of this.

Then, as if the heavens had heard her silent cries of anguish, from the convoy before her, a commotion was started.

"Did something just move?" It began with those words from an inspecting guard, and following that, a thorough inspection began.

Tina took a clear look at the leader of the convoy and she d.a.m.ned her own stupidity. She had been so concerned with trying to figure a way out of this situation that she neglected to look to her surroundings, the first thing she should have done. The leader of the convoy, as it turns out, was a fellow guild member, and she knew from that distressed look of his, that he must be doing the same thing she is.

Tina smiled and blessed her good luck, and with the sole of her boot she tapped on the caravan she is driving three times. That was the signal, and upon hearing it, Gene lit the fuse leading into the crate he's hiding in through a gap, and prepares himself for the worst of the worst.

While the attention of most of the guards were on the convoy, a sudden burst of smoke came from Tina's caravan right behind it, quickly enveloping both Tina's caravan and the convoy.

"Scatter!" Tina yelled. It wasn't the agreed signal with Gene and Alex but the meaning was clear.

Gene and Alex bursts out of their crates only to be chocked and blinded by the thick smoke, and as they both have been hiding in the crates, none of them knew which direction they should be running towards. Then, they felt their hands being grabbed, and from the voice telling them to follow, they rest a.s.sured know it was Tina.

Due to the openness of the street, the smokescreen was quickly thinning and the guards quickly moved in to apprehend everyone remotely involved. Had it been just Tina, Gene, and Alex, they would have been swiftly arrested on the spot. However, there were those from the convoy before them as well, and they too began running like demons out of h.e.l.l in an attempt to make their escape. Whether will they make it or not, Tina does not know, however they did make a decent distraction, enough to let Tina and the other two with her slip through as the guards were focused on the much larger group from the convoy.

***

They moved into a lightly guarded alleyway. The two guards that had not moved from their spot guarded it fiercely but Gene made quick work of them with his staff. From there, they returned to the bar where they started.

"Well, that didn't work," Gene said.

"Yeah, it definitely could have gone better," said Tina. "I could not have imagined that there would be an inspection today of all days. The guild didn't seem to have heard anything about it either. And with that amount of guards, I'd say they were aiming for smugglers pa.s.sing through during that time. Someone must have let their tongue slip about the agreement."

"Looks like some things just don't last. Anyways, I'd like a refund," Gene said, coldly.

"Wait! Just give me a moment!" cried Tina, somewhat panicking. Perhaps it's as Gene had said, business has been going poorly for her. "I- I may know another way."

"May? I paid to get out of the city, Tina, not to gamble."

"In our business, what isn't a gamble?"

Gene thought about it for a moment, looking towards Alex. Between Fittoa Valencia and the City Guards, it's too dangerous for Alex to be in Atra right now.

Gene began questioning himself. What other way is there out of here? Scaling the walls is one way, but if we're not careful, we'll be shot down by the guards, and the wall is a long way up. Alternatively, I could ask... no, not him, not now.

In the end, for Gene, there seems to be only one choice before him.

"Very well then, on the account that we knew each other for a good while now, I suppose I could give you a second shot."

"Alright, that's settled then!" Tina grinned victoriously. "We move out tonight."

"Sure, but before that, how about you tell us your 'other way'?"

"Oh, you'll find out," Tina replied with a playful wink.

"I think I'll take the refund after all."

"Sheesh, fine, I'll tell, I'll tell already. Come back! Stop walking away from me!"

And so, they waited till nightfall at the bar, and once darkness shrouds the city, they began moving once more.

***

End of Chapter 8