Chapter 4: Chapter Four

I woke up to a bright light. The sun was pouring in directly on my face. Not the best way to start a morning but it could definitely be worse. I looked over at the coffee table to see a plate of something that looked like burnt eggs. Well…. She gets points for effort at least, though I’m not sure if that’s edible. There was also a cup beside it, though I didn’t trust that it wasn’t more alcohol. 

I rolled out of bed and grabbed the plate, digging into it with a fork. The inside wasn’t as badly burnt, so it wasn’t too bad. 

Clara walked in. Her short brown hair was still damp as though she’d just gotten out of there shower. She was wearing another undershirt, actively putting on a button-up overtop of it. A real blue-collar worker look to it, though I guess that made sense as that’s more-or-less what she really is. 

“Mornin’” she looked at me. 

“Good morning. Thanks for the breakfast… you’ve been very hospitable. I wish I had something I could give you in return.”

My phone alarm went off. It was time for me to wake up, at least according to the phones internal clock. Clara jumped back in surprise. I took it out of my pocket and turned the alarm off. 

“What the hell is that?”

I chuckled. For once I’m not the once asking what things are. “My phone. Back home it’s a communication device but since it used internet, it’s kinda useless here. Now it just takes pictures.”

“Pictures? Like a camera?”

“Yeah. Like a camera.” I smiled and showed her some of the photos of my home. I’m surprised I didn’t do this yesterday when we were on the topic. 

“If you give me the camera device full of information on your world, I’ll call us even, since I fed you an’ all. I’ll even show you to what direction you need to go to get to the capitol, but after work. Sound like a deal?”

I paused to consider it for a second. I can’t imagine it being even remotely useful here, but it would be nice to not have to replace it when I got home. But giving it to her would be a nice thing to do since she’s helped me, and she’d show me the way I need to go.

“Fine.” I shook her hand and handed her the phone. Her hand was still abnormally warm. She chuckled and started scrolling through the photos. 

I’ve never been one to take many selfies, but I do like to save photos of different places I’ve been to and seen so I can use them for reference on BlockBuilder, a game I play in my free time. I’m a sucker for cool looking buildings. Clara was looking at all of the photos so intently. I could see their reflections in her big blue eye.

Eventually she snapped out of it and slid the phone into her pocket. “Stay here ‘till I get home, then I’ll show you how to get outta here. ‘Kay?”

“Alright. And Clara….. thank you.” I said. I’m sure she has her own reasons for helping me, but still it was such a nice thing for her to do. Besides, parting with my phone won’t be that bad, will it?

A few hours had passed and I was incredibly bored. I had already tidied up around her house as best I could, but I didn’t know where everything went. I also couldn’t for the life of me figure out how her washer or dryer worked. They weren’t even hooked up to any water line or anything! I decided to look to see if there was any kind of map but I didn’t see any. I decided instead to just listen to the radio.

I turned the radio on. It was next to the window, so I decided to look outside. I hadn’t seen a good look of the town up close during the day. Right across the street was the pub from last night. It looked a lot less busy. The neon lights weren’t even on. I could see a street away a bunch of food stalls run by more one-eyed people. Clara had told me that her people prefer the title “Monoeye”, and that calling them a “cyclops” was insulting. I guess there are cyclopses out there too, but they’re unrelated to her people, big and dumb.

It looked like there was some commotion going on down near the food stalls. The otherwise empty street had three individuals in it harassing one of the vendors. Of course. I guess this world had jerks too. Well, someone will take care of it. 

Right?

I mean, there has to be a justice system in this world. Surely there’s a police force of some kind.

But this is the part of the story where I swoop in, hero from another world, and save the day, being praised as some great champion. Right? Isn’t this how Isekai stories go?

But I’m no hero. I’m a business student. Sure I’ve got a little muscle but I’m not built for a fight. Clara practically threw me over the table yesterday.

I looked back out the window. Nobody has come yet. It’s now or never. 

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But it’s not my business. 

But….. gosh dang it. I just have to get involved don’t I?

I walked out the door and ran down the street towards the shop vendors. There, three taller monoeyes were trying to intimidate an older lady into giving them money. Of course they were wearing matching leather jackets.

“Are you guys in some kind of  biker gang or something?” I asked. What was I saying? I shouldn’t be here. 

“What’d you say?” The tallest one turned to me. “Ha! A human, in Mountainside? That’s just rich. You think because you have so much money you can just waltz in and act better than us?” He said, approaching me. Dang it, I forgot the cloak at home. Well, I guess the secrets out. Now I just have to get out of here alive. These guys are much scarier up close.

“I never said I was better than you. I just asked if you were in a biker gang, y’know, w-with the leather jackets.” I said, stuttering slightly.

“Listen, before you piss your pants I’m doing to give you one chance to just walk away. Your legs are shaking and I actually feel sorry for you. So just leave and let us harass this poor old woman in peace.”

It was a shockingly reasonable offer. I turned around, hung my head and started to walk away. I heard them laughing behind me. I deserved it. I gave an old lady false hope that I could save her. I wasn’t dooming her to death or anything, just extortion. It could be worse. Right?

Dang it.

I turned around and ran at them, fist ready to strike. One backhand to the face sent me tumbling to the ground. 

“Are you shitting me? You’re actually wanting to fight? Fine then” the leader walked up to me, picking me up. He threw me at the wall, pinning me to it. This was a stupid idea. This was a very very stupid idea. I blacked out.

I came to. The sun had moved, at least a few hours had passed. “Nathaniel? Hey! Nathaniel?” The voice was fuzzy. Everything hurt. They probably beat on me a little after I blacked out. I looked around. Those guys were on the ground, some of them groaning. I looked in front of me. Clara was in my face. 

“Hey. Hey!” She slapped my face. “Wake up! I told you to stay in the house you dumbass.” She said before hugging me. “What the hell were you thinking?” 

“I don’t know.” I said, defeated. “I just wanted to help”

“Use your brain next time, I thought you said you were a scholar!”

“I’m a student. Different things.”

“Well you’ve just got some bumps and bruises, nothing broken. You’ll be fine.”

“I’m sorry” I said. I jumped the gun and gave her even more problems. 

She helped me walk. I thought we were going to her house but instead we went to the edge of town.  The paved road went off into the distance, farther than I could see. She handed me the cloak and a backpack. 

“I… uhm…. There are some nutrition bars in there…. And an old sheet I don’t need. I don’t know how much help it’ll be. When you get to a fork in the road at the river, it would be safer for you to go right. Unless you wanna play hero again” she chuckled. “There… I held up my end of the deal. And…. Don’t forget to write” she handed me a paper with an address on it. Her eye was welling up with tears.

“Y’know… I’d be honored if you came with me. I know you probably can’t…. But…. It would be nice to not be alone.” I said. 

“I…. I wish I could. I really wish I could. But… my life is here, y’know? So…. I really can’t. But I’ll be praying to the divines for your safety and that…. Maybe you can get home. And if you can’t…. Come back an’ see me, y’hear?” She chuckled and waved. 

I turned and started the journey of a thousand miles with one single step.

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