"This is trash." I shook my head. I kicked the bin and sighed.
There isn't enough old stuff.
I glanced at my bag and hope shone in me.
I have enough old clothes.
"I just need a lamp or a…" A hand appeared from inside the bin, and before I could scream, it grabbed me and pulled me inside.
I shut my eyes and held my breath, waiting for the smell to choke me to death, but it didn't. Instead, I landed on my butt.
"Ow." I held my back and held back a curse. I groaned and pushed myself up. I staggered to my feet and squinted at the neon sign before me.
"Welcome to Trashcity. What the-" The rest of my words were swallowed by the angry yells behind me.
I scurried away from the road to hide from them but they caught up with me.
Oh no. I swallowed.
The crowd sucked me into their midst and didn't even notice I was there.
They muttered different words and were holding torches and stakes.
It was a revolt.
The last time I was in a revolt it was bloody. I wasn't even a part of the fight, I stood on neutral ground but that didn't stop me from being affected.
It was about taxes and because of that people lost a lot, so neutrality was the safest ground for me.
I stared at the ground as we walked. A terrible smell wafted through the air. I made the mistake of breathing in and almost threw up.
Trash. Disgusting trash.
The smell made it all make sense.
The people wore dirty brown shirts and shorts that had been patched multiple times. Their hair was caked with sand and their teeth were brown.
Trashcity. It was all coming together now.
The noise died down a little as we entered Trashcity. I squeezed myself out of their midst and ran to a corner of a building.
From there I saw the city.
"It's trash," I muttered under my breath.
"It sure is, young lad." Someone said beside me. I jerked and looked at the person, it was an old man. He laughed.
"I saw you come with the protesters." He took a whiff of his cigarette and fixed his gaze on me.
"I…we…" I stammered, lost for words. His face cracked into a smile and he flashed his teeth. I fought back a wince when I saw it. It was brown.
"It's okay, son. I'm glad you had enough sense to leave." I nodded and sighed.
"Do you want coffee?" He peeked at me from the side of his eye and winked.
I stood there confused.
Was there something special about their coffee?
"Yes. I'd like a cup." My mouth watered at the thought of drinking a hot cup of coffee. I realized something and shook my head, "It's okay. I don't have any money."
"Money?" The old man cackled. "That thing is useless when it comes to coffee. Come here."
He walked to a nearby tap and I followed. He fished out a mug from the bag he wore on his shoulders and opened the tap.
"Magic." He whispered in awe. Coffee poured out of the tap into the mug. I watched with my eyes wide.
What kind of place is this?
"And if you want water," He turned off the tap and took a sip.
"We brew ours here."
"Brew? You mean you brew water?"
"Yes." His eyes twinkled. I sighed and shook my head. This man was messing with me.
I nodded at him and left. As I walked the beauty of the city began to reveal itself.
It looked like a city existing in the "good old days" my father liked to talk about.
The buildings looked old and sturdy, children played in the streets, and adults stood in groups talking to each other.
It was like a community.
The wind swept a piece of paper off the ground, I took in a handful of air and gagged.
"It still smells terrible. They still look dirty." I sensed someone following me, so I stopped walking.
Conventional wisdom says you should keep walking but I didn't know this place. I was new to the city. So I stopped walking and waited for the person to come to me.
"It's true. You're smart." Someone behind me said. He walked to my side and tapped my shoulder.
"I brought you here to save us."
What?
"Who are-"
"Robin the bow master. I brought you here."
"Umm…okay. Why?" I shifted on my feet and took a step back. His smell was getting to me.
"To save us."
"I'm not interested. This place smells and I have a home of my own."
"I know you're a clean freak but you can't leave." His eyes hardened. He fished out a flier from his bag and shook it in my face.
I took it and staggered in shock.
My face was on it and it had the words: wanted for a crime.
"I need to go home. I can't-"
"Yes, you can." He gripped my shoulder. "I'm the only one that knows the way back. After you save us, if you survive, I'll send you back." He grinned.
Oh, shoot.
All images used are mine, unless it's otherwise stated
