🔥Chapter 5: Red Flags Don't Work On Color Blind Idiots.🔥

         PETRICHOR accompanied a slight drizzle that stained the gritty ground as the specs led me to a train station. Frustration set in right away when I realized my lack of knowledge of how the kiosk worked kicked in. A man in a navy conductor's uniform with ram-like horns noticed my blatant struggle and came to my aid.

"May I assist you, ma'am?" asked the man with a gentle smile, removing his hat to reveal small, green horns.

"Yeah." I pointed at the kiosk. "How does this damn thing work? I need to get myself a ticket."

A soft laugh bubbled out from him. "Ma'am, you don't need a ticket or money to get on the train. It's all paid by the government."

"Then why the heck are the kiosks for then?" I asked out of frustration and partial embarrassment. My behavior surprised me because my usual reaction would be to shrug it off and move on. However, my emotions seemed more elevated than normal; and I didn't know why.

All I knew was that I had been very edgy ever since I had arrived in the Underworld. So, that question came out more aggressive than I'd want.

"It's to help you pick the right train, ma'am." He answered so calmly my blood went from boiling to a gentle simmer.

A little warm in the cheeks, I apologized, "Sorry, sir. I didn't mean to raise my voice at you."

"All is well, young lady. Where are you headed? I see you have a package there." He gestured to my black box. "So, maybe I can help."

I looked at the parcel snug by my hip and said, "Someplace called Ashlin City in Desidia. You've heard about it?"

"Oh, my," responded the conductor with a very concerned expression. "Are you sure that's your destination?"

"Yeah," I assured him with a questioning eye. "Is there a problem?"

He gulped. "Depends."

"What does that mean?" I squinted.

"How do I phrase this nicely?" He heaved a long sigh. "I wouldn't advise your kind to go there."

"Your kind?" I was astonished by his words. "What do you mean exactly by my kind?" He was starting to piss me off.

His eyes darted from side to side before he came near my ear and whispered, "Aren't you a demi-demon? Those are extremely rare here. You don't want to find yourself trouble there."

My eyes widened. "H-how do you know I'm a — ?"

His fingers pinched my lips shut as he shushed me, "Shhh, child. Your life is already a miracle, so don't say such things so loudly. Understand?"

I nodded, and then he removed his fingers, crossed his arms, and clarified, "Although it's been long, I've only seen one of you before, but the scent is hard to erase."

My eyes widened in horror. "S-scent? I have a smell here?"

"That's right." He nodded with a pointed finger. "On this job, I've met many different beings; each has a particular aura or aroma. For your kind, it is unique, almost sweet and sour."

That was when it struck me. My eyes narrowed. "What happened to the other one?"

"He went to Ashlin City, and that's as much as I can say. I should be on my way." His eyes averted from one side to the other again as if he feared someone eavesdropping on our conversation.

He turned his back on me and started walking away when I grabbed his sleeve. "Wait! Why shouldn't I venture to this city?"

Turning to face me, he seemed hesitant at first but after another quick sigh, he continued, "No one should go to that damn city. That's a very dangerous area around here."

I tasted the enticing word. "Dangerous?"

"Yes, very much so. It's infamously known as Desidia's Black City."

"Black city?" My brow twitched out of curiosity as I released him. "Why's that?"

"It's the hub for the kingdom's black market; even law enforcement fears treading there. Most who go there never come back, well, in one piece. It's like all other Black Cities in the other six kingdoms."

This information to any sane being would be terrifying. However, that wasn't the case for me. From a tender age, I was never much of a scaredy-cat when adventuring into restricted or prohibited areas. In fact, I was notorious for it and usually wound up in deep trouble with my parents and those involved. It's hard to explain, but I craved danger at times, and, especially coming to the Underworld, my urges had suddenly doubled ... and I didn't know why.

I propped my hands on my hips and scoffed, "I'll be fine. Nothing is scarier than my grandpa having a bitchfest." Now, that was a real nightmare.

Defeated, the conductor informed me what train to take before wishing me the best. However, with each word, his eyes bore a deep uneasiness that prickled my nerves a little. I ignored it and made my way to my designated train. Hopping on the chunk of metal, the whole scene hit me hard.

It was empty.

The whole train was completely vacant to the point I could hear myself breathe. A tad uncomfortable, I sat close to an exit and waited for the loud ping that signaled the doors were shutting.

I vaguely remember how, as they closed, the human part of me wanted to run for it. If only my dumb self had listened to that last instinctual call of survival, then maybe I wouldn't be fighting for my throat soon.

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About an hour had passed, and I could feel the energy in my body build up. At first, upon arrival to the Underworld, it had been bearable but an hour in, there was a burning sensation in my chest. It was as though someone had set fire to my lungs.

My jaws clenched; heat seared through my veins like a stream of lava at a rapid, pulsating speed. My gold-pitch-black scales began to replace my brown skin as the intensity painted my big brown eyes a menacing red. My head started throbbing with so much force I felt like I was about to puke. I caught my reflection by the opposing window and two screw-like horns piercing through my skull to the outside world.

I was changing. Fast. However, this time -- like the very first time I ever turned -- I struggled to control it.

Not here, not now, I scolded myself. What is going on? Why is this happening?

Worry kicked in, and my hands shook like crazy as my chest tightened to the point I was gasping for air. My body was entering a panic attack, a vital step before absolute destruction.

Fuck, no! Not here! Not now!

The last thing I needed was to explode this carriage. Doing my best to calm down, I thought of what Dad had told me:

"Think of something calm and peaceful."

So, I closed my eyes and reminisced on my favorite day when Dad took me ghost hunting at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. It was my first time in Africa, and my father had surprised me with a birthday gift to visit the widest falls in the world.

To say the place was elegantly scenic was an understatement. The very same day, he took me on our first safari ride, where I saw various animals of the savanna in their natural habitat. The Zimbabwean trip was a courtesy trip to celebrate the roots of my mother's side of the family. So, this was a taste of my culture — well, the other half of my culture.

Still, it was fun and beautiful, just like my father's heart.

I missed that. I missed us.

I miss you, Dad.

Instantaneously, the scorching pain pacified. I was finding my peace – my center of tranquility. It took a few minutes, but I reverted to my human form. Good thing no one was around. I couldn't reveal my true self to anyone by the intel I had gathered during my journey thus far.

With a breath of relief, I patted my chest. "Jesus, that was a close call."

The last time I failed to control my powers, the fire brigade had to hose our whole house down. According to Gramps, that was just a fraction of my abilities, and that notion, alone, terrified me.

I was trying not to mull over it too much when the speaker dinged, and an announcement echoed in the empty metal can.

"Welcome to Ashlin City. Thank you for riding with us. We wish you a pleasant stay."

Fraught, I found the nearest window and peered outside.

Dense with concrete, neon lights lit up Ashlin City like a spark to an Olympic Torch. However, despite the illumination, darkness swarmed the city like a plague, exuding a sinister atmosphere. The sun never touched there and it was evident through the dead foliage and flora.

Hovercrafts and multiple aerial vehicles flew by like flies to a rotting plant; heavy traffic was abundant in a cloud of thick smog. Rundown skyscrapers that, seemly, stretched forever, were drenched in advertisements of all kinds – mainly brothels and bars. Skyscraper to skyscraper, several bridges crisscrossed, giving pathways for pedestrians to cross. Shorter, heavily graffitied buildings accompanied by washing lines and electric wires hung so low that they almost touched the ground. It was as if the gods were crying because of the city's dismay as the rain poured from furious red clouds. My ride came to a stop.

The city's aura was the opposite of the previous cities I had crossed. Everything appeared dilapidated, neglected, and murky.

The pixelated neon light from the specs returned and lit a path for me to take. Hesitant, I finally gave in and followed it.

Creatures of all kinds roamed the streets: some had heads of reptiles, others possessed horns of differing sizes, and a few, with nothing at all, bore more humanoid features. The stench of pollution burned my lungs and forced me to break out into a harsh, throat-scratching cough from time to time. It didn't help I had asthma.

Lights flickered in a spasmodic fashion as I walked past what I perceived to be a bunch of bars. Half-naked, skimpy women with devilish horns hissed at me as I strolled through. I, obviously, wasn't their prime prey for the night. Men as large as elephants eyed me seductively, but I paid no attention to them; my interest was nonexistent.

Naturally, I avoided the alleys because I wasn't in the mood to get killed. I stuck to the paths with overhead lights and bright neon advertisements until I reached a derelict building. The pathway light disappeared, and a lime-green 'YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR DESTINATION' notification popped up.

Removing my specs, I looked about for a good three minutes, then dropped the package by what I guessed was the entrance and left. With the freshly painted dead body outline left by a forensic team as the doormat glaring at my face, there was no way in hell I was going to knock on that door.

However, just as I turned away, a hand grabbed my neck and pulled me back. A sharp, cold object pressed against the skin of my throat, and before I could react, a deep and threatening voice pierced the nighttime air.

"If you dare move, you die, and we wouldn't want that now. Isn't that right, my pretty toy?"

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