"Could...…" John paused
He looked up at Aria.
The tears had ended, and replaced by them were just sniffles.
"Could you take me somewhere?" John asked
Aria looked down at John.
"Where?" Aria asked
"The capital."
Aria sucked in a breath. Her lips curled into her mouth as if she had sucked on a lemon.
Her face quickly returned to neutral, though.
"I normally don't give out free rides. Those planes cost a lot of fuel to use. But….. Just this once, I'll give you a help you. Free of charge" Aria said
John smiled.
"Thank you."
John stood up and followed Aria. He walked into the plane and Squeezed himself through the door.
Aria assumed her position at the helm of the plane, and John walked back and sat in the back seat.
As the plane began to get ready to take off, something occurred to John.
Won't I be stealing Cassandra's, Rob's and Charles's ride?
A second after he thought that he was in the air.
Well... It's too late now. Why worry?
John hunched over and looked down at ________'s body. A shadow covered his face.
.
…
...
...…
......
The capital. It was a hub of wealth and commerce. From the wealthiest people alive to the poorest dreamers you'll ever meet. Everyone and everything can be found in the capital.
John was going to the capital for that very reason. He wanted the limitless goods that it provided.
But John wasn't looking for the Capitals drugs. Or it's sex. Or it's food. No.
John wanted a grave. But something more than a grave. He wanted a statue. A grand monument to a life sacrificed. The final thank you to a truly kind being.
That's what John wanted.
The plane touched down on a busy runway.
John pulled himself to his feet.
He started to lumber down the aisle of the Plane. But before he could reach the exit, someone blocked him.
Standing in the hallway of the plane was Aria. She held a piece of paper in her hands.
"This is my number. If you ever need someone to reach out to. Call me."
Aria placed the number in John's hands.
John took the slip of paper with a smile on his face.
Kindness. That was the root of her action.
It made the enflamed the spark in John's chest.
"Thank you," John said.
Aria smiled.
Aria shuffled to the side, and John walked down the aisle of the plane. The flight attendants who were in the plane with Aria also moved out of the way.
And like that, John and his dragons left the plane.
John looked down at the slip of paper that Aria had handed him.
I…. I don't have a phone.
It had been destroyed during the bombing of East Aroura.
And the other one that had been given to him had been destroyed during his battle.
John would buy one when he got to the city.
Wait....
The check from the government for his work as a warrior was still at Jean's house. And John hadn't cashed it in yet. And he hadn't had any money before that.
He was flat broke.
Shit.
John needed money. He had to make ________'s an opulent grave. He had to even if it cost him a fortune. Even if it cost his soul. He BHADB to.
But how was he going to do that with no money?
The answer was simple. He needed to make some.
John walked into the airport.
The airport was filled with people. There were people of many creeds that all crowded around it. Based on their tired and sometimes sad faces, John was sure they were all refugees.
"Wait….. That man. He has dragons next to him! He's with them!"
John's eyes darted to the voice.
Standing a few feet away from him was a young boy. He didn't look any older than twelve. His left eye and Right hand were wrapped in bandages. He pointed at John with a scornful look on his face.
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"He's with them."
"He's with them."
"He's with them."
"He's with them."
"He's with them."
"He's with them."
It only took a moment for a guard to hear their words.
The crowd of refugees shuffled to the side as a group of blue-garbed guards marched towards John.
John felt something thumping in his chest. Something he hadn't felt even when in a life or death battle.
Fear…..
~They….. They think I'm some Murderer~
It almost split John's heart in two.
"Sir….. You're coming with us."
Said the man who looked to be the leader of the pack of guards. He had a large frame and wore an off-blue bulletproof vest along with Jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. He had a bushy beard on his face and a stern look in his eyes.
John was strong now. He was strong enough that he could kill everyone in this airport in just moments.
But he was done. This day felt like it had dragged on for months.
"Okay. As long as I get to bring my Dragons with me." John said
The guard paused. He stroked his beard for a moment.
"Only people with certain licenses or qualifications are legally allowed to Harbor dangerous animals." Said the guard.
"I'm a warrior. Does that count?"
The guard paused.
"It should. But we still need to confirm if your telling the truth. I know. Who else would have dragons? But it's procedure unfortunately. We need to check the database. Which could take a bit. We'll just put you in a holding cell overnight. With your dragons of course." The guard said
John nodded.
"I'm okay with that."
The guard escorted John through the halls of the airport. They walked about an hour until they reached the holding cells.
The holding cells were relatively simple. There was a bed, which was just a mattress and a pillow on the floor. And in the corner of the room was a toilet.
"You'll just stay here tonight. We'll speak more with you in the morning." Said the Guard.
John nodded.
"Okay, thank you."
The door of the cell was closed and locked. And then it was just John and his Dragons.
John looked at the mattresses pushed up against the wall. Today had been the best and worst day that he had ever been through.
It made him so tired.
So so tired.
John fell into the mattress.
It almost instantly crumpled under his weight.
And then he was asleep.