Meanwhile, Ellisa strolls around the station in wonder, looking for the exit after a call with her Captain.
Zar really did it this time but I really hope his punishment is not too harsh. She isn't exactly going to forgive him for throwing her off the train like that but she's definitely not too mad either. She gets to explore the city now! And by exploring, she means leaving the station and going the nearest one, the one where the group will stop at again, to swap her and Zaroshi back. She tried many times to reach out to Zaroshi's Supervisor but his phone is off or something.
He must be busy. Ellisa goes to order a smoothie and on learning the price, she groans and turns back.
Is life in the capital really that expensive? I kind of don't want to stay here anymore.
"Momma! Look at Heli on that TV scween! Isn't she supawr dupawr pwetty!!"
Ellisa's head whips to the screens the little girl passing by points at. Sure enough, it really is her. Hailey Summers, her stage name being Heli.
Ellisa squeals. Damn, I wanna stay here now! Apart from a few world tours since her debut, Hailey mostly stays in the capital and probably goes to the same school Zaroshi will go to.
Ever since she got that Heart transplant, she has been feeling really well. Her body reformed into a completely healthy body over a span of days. And not only her body, but her mindset and overall outlook on life too. It was an ethereal experience, both for her and those around her. And after being persuaded by the doctor who performed the surgery on her, she and Zaroshi decided to attend the Corden Military Academy. Things have been going smoothly since then. That is, until this apprenticeship. She sighs.
Should I just wait here or... ? She glances at the clock. It's already 9 pm, she could get to the next station in approximately 30 minutes, reaching there around 15 minutes later than the train itself.
I don't want to waste their time... besides, the supervisor doesn't HAVE to be there, right? Although still hesitant, she finally leaves the station to grab a taxi after leaving the supervisor a voicemail about where she left to.
She plops her bags in the backside side before making herself comfortable there.
"Where to, miss?"
"The nearest station, where the train left to a few minutes ago."
A driver nods and revves up the engine. Ellisa observes the streets the car is passing through.
A pretty peaceful city, isn't it? Developed too but in the classic sense. When the car turns, it's easier to observe the streets because of the slow speed. Her eyes land on an old beggar in the narrow alley with no streetlights, who's apparently getting intimidated by a group of men who seem to be in their twenties.
"Stop the car, Sir."
The engine stops and Ellisa's gets out. Ready to assess the scene and resolve this situation.
"You dare steal from us, you fucking bitch!?? Want to burn your cardboard house down??", one is raising his hands at the beggar, who's cowering now.
"Hey, hey, what's happening here?", Ellisa gets between the man and the beggar.
"This ain't about you, bitch!", the man growls at her. His friend says, "This old man pickpocketed our buddy a while ago but won't ficking admit it!"
"But I... i didn't do it...", the beggar splutters.
"Liar! Show us all the cash you've got on you, then! I bet our notes are in there!"
Ellisa grins awkwardly, "Alright, that's enough. Just how much money is missing anyway?"
"28 fucking dollars!"
$28?? That's like, twice the cost of that smoothie, it's really not much. Ellisa groans as she takes out her wallet. Guess it was worth not buying that smoothie earlier.
The man shoves her wallet away, "we don't need your pocket change, Cordish bitch! You better fucking leave if you don't want the same beating we're gonna give to this thief!"
The beggar puts his hands together, pleading, "Please don't hurt me! I'm already dying as is!"
"Well, you might as well die sooner than later!" One of the men makes the joke and they all laugh. Ellisa cracks her fists and stretches her legs, "so that's how it is, huh? Should've told me sooner."
She slides down and makes her leg sweep some of them off their feet. One versus five. Or maybe two versus five, if that old man grows a backbone.
"You fucking bitch!", one of the men snarls at her before she punches him straight in the jaw. Another sneaks from behind and before Ellisa can turn, he grabs her shoulder.
"Get a taste of this-"
Twisting sharply, she deflects his grip, dropping low as he lunges forward. Using his momentum against him, she hooks his arm and pulls, sending him stumbling past you. In a heartbeat, she shifts her weight, sweeping her legs out from under him.
He hits the ground hard, the impact echoing in the stillness. Without hesitation, she drops down, her knee pressing into his chest, pinning him in place. Her hands lock around his wrist, forcing his arm against the rough pavement. Her eyes cross the bewildered gazes of the men surrounding her.
"Take him and leave, before this gets any worse than it already has."
Two of the men sprint off in defeat while the other two hold their hands up in alarm. She gets up from the groaning man under her, giving him a light kick as she lets them pick their friend up.
"What a psycho...", one mutters as they pick their friend up.
"What?"
"Nothing, miss." And so they scram off hurriedly. Ellisa turns to the beggar, wiping her hands together.
"So that's that, huh, old man?" She glances back at where taxi was supposed to be. Her bags are proppled on the payment with a paper above it, probably carrying an apology along with her money.
Before she can say anything further, the beggar's other hand darts out from behind his back, a rusty knife glinting in the dim light as it arcs toward her throat. But she is quicker than his expectations, despite having fought several adult men moments ago.
In an instant, her hand shoots up, fingers wrapping tightly around his wrist just inches from her body. The beggar's eyes widen in shock, his momentum halted as if he'd run into a wall. Her grip is firm, unyielding, holding him in place with surprising strength.
Ellisa groans,"It hasn't even been an hour here in the capital and I've already gotten attacked three times in total. Is there really no one getting fazed by my physique? Maybe it's because of I'm a girl or something. Meh," she shrugs, her hold still tight on the beggar, "if I had the time, I'd beat your fucking ass. Better be glad I have a train to catch up to."
Just then, she overhears pedestrians talking outside the alley,
"A cabin? Just flew away like that? So what now? The train is probably in two pieces, right?"
"Yeah, the first seven cabins have already made it to the station but the rest? Not a chance."
Ellisa's heart sinks. The Captain and the rest were on the eighth cabin, weren't they?
What the fuck is happening?