CHAPTER I: NORTHERN PEAK
Charles
It was nearly winter. I looked out of the window of the cab I was riding in. I could see street sweepers gathering the fallen leaves on one spot.
"Here we are," the cab driver was saying. "Northern Peak."
"Thanks!" I said with a grin, opening the door and stopping halfway when the driver spoke once more.
"Hold it kid," he looked at me in the rare view mirror, "You're forgetting something," he rubbed his thumb and forefinger together.
"Oh yeah," I handed him the payment. "Sorry" I got out of the cab quickly and stared ahead. A large ark bearing the name of the town was standing few meters away. I grasped the straps of my knapsack, adjusted my bonnet and headed for the Northern Peak, my next assignment.
It was the market that greeted me. Stalls of fruits, vegetables, snacks, meat, furniture and other stuff were standing side by side. I was turning my head, looking for an inn or any establishment that I could live in for my stay.
"Oop, sorry." A blonde girl with slender figure carrying bags of goods was standing in front of me.
"No, it's me who should be sorry," I said smiling. I picked up the shoe that I knocked out from her hand and handed it to her which she put back on where it came from with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"A traveler, are you not?" she asked, looking at me.
"Yeah," I said. "I am looking for an inn actually. I've just arrived." I showed her the back pack I was carrying.
"I think I know where to put you," she smiled, leading me to walk out of the market. "I'm Kate by the way." She offered a hand.
I looked at it, not sure if I had to kiss it or just shake it. But since I was not looking forward to a slap-in-the-face, I finally shook her hand. "Charles. I could help you with your things, you know." And I carried some of her things for her.
We walked until we were out of the market's noisy ambiance. Kate talked about her town. I was curious about the houses and the infrastructures. She said that their community wanted to create a unique town, so they tried to preserve what they had. They build a wall around this place and make it look like a heaven for a person who wants to live in past era.
"Don't worry," she was telling me. "Modernization had already reached Northern Peak so gadgets and appliances are being used here. Signal is very accessible." She laughed.
I shook my head in amazement, smiling. I have never been into this kind of place before. In my previews travels, I always encounter technology, civilization, tall buildings, polluted streets and noisy traffic jams. This town, Northern Peak is located on countryside. I consider this as a break.
Kate led me into a place where "Midnight Tavern" was engraved into a shiny piece of wood, hanging just by its door. Judging by the name, I thought it was a place where huge, bearded men are hanging out, where a great brutal fight could start at any time, a place for outlaws and all sorts of sinners. Well, let me pop out that bubble image for you. This place is a place where you could bring your family, friends or special someone for a date. I think the "tavern" is the place's surname, not an actual label. Just like the pizza house named Pizza Hut. The place is nowhere near as a "hut", just like this "tavern" is not an actual "tavern".
Kate sat by the bar, gesturing me to do the same. I followed. I put my bag down by my foot and sat on the stool next to her.
"My stepsister owns this," Kate leaned in to say in lower voice. "She's around here somewhere."
Kate looked away, watching the customers idly. I, on the other hand, studied the stuff beyond the counter. Different beverages were visible on the shelves. Different sizes of glasses, bartending instruments, and a coffee maker. A huge mural of chess pieces was painted behind the shelves.
"Hello there," a lively voice said. A girl was entering a counter, looking at Kate and me. She had a long brown hair (curly or just untidy, I was not so certain) and a smile that streams and softens her piercing eyes.
"Anna!" Kate said, smiling. "This is Charles. I met him at the market. Charles, this is Anna, my stepsister."
"You two are getting along very well for stepsisters," I said, shaking Anna's hand.
"At first, it's hard establishing good relationship with your new sibling," she glanced up on Kate, smiling, as she picked up a glass and started wiping it with a clean towel. Why do bartenders kept on doing that? Is that some kind of a hobby you learn when you regularly stand behind this counter? "Especially when she's naturally good with everything than you. But then we formed a bond when she helped me with my stuff."
"Not with everything," Kate said, half embarrassed. "Besides house-keeping, I'm only good in dancing."
"So you're a dancer!" I exclaimed. "Why haven't you mentioned it before?"
Kate frowned and said in a matter-of-fact kind of voice, "Hello, Charles, we've only met for like, an hour ago."
"Oh right," I laughed sheepishly. They both followed.
"Anyway," Anna said, putting the glass aside. "What brings you here? You want to get drunk at this time of day or what?"
"Charles is actually looking for an inn," Kate answered. Anna was now doing another thing. Her back was turned against us. "He's a traveler, see and he's just arrived here."
Anna turned, giving her sister a tea. Kate took a small sip and looked at her sister expectantly. "For now, I don't have any room to offer but my own room," Anna said after a minute of silence. Kate frowned. I shot my eyebrows up. "Of course I'm not going to do that. Where would I sleep?"
Just then, as if on cue, a tall, handsome boy who wore blue checkered shirt which sleeves were pulled up to his elbow came and put a key on top of the counter. "I'm checking out," he said in his deep voice.
"Ok sir," Anna said smiling.
He could still be in school; a college student maybe, or a senior in high school. His brown hair was brushed up neatly, an indication that he's from a wealthy family.
The boy glanced up with his cold gray eyes as if he felt that I was studying him closely. He straightened up and opened his mouth to say something to me. But Anna came on time. "Here's your credit card sir, and of course, you identification card," she said, grinning. "Thank you and come again."
The boy snatched up his belongings from the table and left.
"He's rude," Kate noted. Yep. He's definitely a rich kid and maybe from an influential family too.
Anna pushed the key toward me. "I guess we just had a vacant room," she smiled. I smiled in response and took the key.
"What's your favorite drink, Charles?" Kate asked taking another sip from her tea.
"Lemonade," I answered. "Why? What's this? Getting to know each other?"
Kate laughed. Anna turned her back against us again. "So, you're a traveler. I guess you're pretty rich."
"No, actually not," I answered. I remembered my family. We're not that rich. We just had enough. We can afford to buy things that we need and we want.
"So what brings you to Northern Peak, Charles?" Anna said, handing me lemonade.
"Do I have to pay for it?" I asked.
"You could, if you want to," she had her right hand on her hip and her left hand supporting her weight. I creased my brow and looked at Kate who shook her head saying that it was a treat.
"Thanks," I said and tried the lemonade. It was refreshing.
"Going back, I need to make sure if you can pay for your room. Business is business, buddy. How long will you stay anyway?"
"Oh," I exclaimed. I actually didn't have an idea how long will I stay. "Hmmm I think as long as I finished what I'm supposed to do here."
"And that is?"
"Well, I will enroll in the university here." I hadn't make up for a complete alibi to tell people. But there was a relief inside my head knowing that I have the power to convince others to just nod in whatever fact that will come out of my mouth.
"Isn't it a little bit late for you? I mean, the semester has already started."
"I could catch up with things easily."
"Not a bragger, I see," Anna said in a mock distaste and smiled at Kate who was chuckling. "You already have you key, Kate could show you your room. You could drop your belongings there, come back down and finish your drink. And Kate, you don't want to be staying long. Mother will get furious again." There was a note of warning and sadness in Anna's voice. A wish that she could do something to take away Kate's suffering.