Judith-Ann wasn't all that good at driving, but was good enough to not crash… and that's all they needed. The Big City was about forty eight minutes away from where they lived, and Historia had fallen asleep in the back. They finally entered The Big City, and the twins looked out the window in awe, for their father never let them come with him into the city. Judith-Ann had been to The Big City before, for her mother used to visit past customers of the mortuary. Mother was actually a Therapist, and helped others with grieving. Judith-Ann missed her mother, for she was a good mother to them. They drove slowly down the ground road. Most of the cars drove on rails up in the air, for it was quicker then normal travel… but now the roads down here were clear. She drove for a bit until the car ended up sputtering and dying.
"Fu-Rats!" Judith-Ann corrected herself, smacking her hands against the wheel. Historia woke up from hearing her sister being upset, and sniffed.
"D-did we get daddy back yet?" She yawned, rubbing her eyes.
"No, Historia, we haven't yet, the car is broken down!" Vance told her, with Lloyd nodding.
"Boys! You don't have to tell her! She'll get upset!" Judith-Ann scolded them. She got them out of the car, they broke down near a few shops near the street, where older men worked.. Or more so sat and smoked. One man waved Judith-Ann over.
"Say, y'all must be from outside the city, hmm?" The man asked, rocking in a rocking chair and smoking his pipe. Judith-Ann nodded.
"Yes sir, I'm the daughter of the Mortician" She said, nodding to him. She didn't know what he wanted, so she stayed on high alert. Vance and Lloyd were getting Historia out of the car, and were watching closely. Historia was starting to get grumpy again, and had her little hands on her little hips.
"Hurry up" She said, tapping her little foot on the ground. Judith-Ann gave her a little glare, trying to shush her.
"She seems to be quite the impatient one, hmm?" The old man chuckled. Judith-Ann nodded.
"So, what are you young ones doing all alone out here? And driving nonetheless?" The old man asked, taking another hit of his pipe.
"Our father was taken, a Rich man took him away… do you know who or where he is?" Judith-Ann asked the old man.
"Ah, you mean that one starting that game? Took one of us earlier…" the old man said with sadness in his voice, and the others around him just nodded and muttered.
"Where is he?" She asked, getting slightly hopeful.
"Why, he lives in the tallest tower… right above us" the old man pointed up, and all four siblings looked up at it. It was huge, around 200 feet up in the air.
"Now how do we get up in there?!" Vance asked, looking bewildered. Lloyd just let out a low whistle. The old man just chuckled and smiled, getting up.
"Follow me, children, i'll show you a way in" He said, grabbing a cane and leading them into the store. The four siblings looked at each other and ultimately decided to follow the man into the store. The store was full of little nooks and goodies, and smelled of various spices. Vance and Lloyd looked and tried to touch everything, wanting some of it. Historia just looked, being curious, like any nine year old. Judith-Ann had to stop the1 boys from touching anything, and picked up Historia to follow the old man faster. The old man showed them an old curtain, which when pulled back revealed a vent to the side of the tower. Judith-Ann gawked at it, and got a shimmer of hope in her eyes. A hope that maybe, just maybe, they could actually get their father back.
"This vent is shaped like a staircase, all the way to where that man is." The old man spoke, holding back the curtain.
"So.. we can use this? To get in?" Judith-Ann said looking hopeful. The old man nodded, and motioned for them to enter.
"Good luck, young ones" He said, as the four siblings entered to get back their father.