Chapter 4: New Scenere

Juliana jumped off the back of the carriage and looked at the entrance to the city. Small buildings were all over except the one avenue which led to the palace gates. The avenue seemed like one long market place.

"Well, here we are! The city's so lovely," said an old lady from inside the carriage.

The young five year old girl couldn't take her eyes off all the commotion and movement of the place. She had never seen so many people. Never seen people, in fact, before meeting Bakura and later this band of travelers. So many buildings. Everything was just amazing.

The old lady looked over at Juliana and smiled. "Is this where you were going, young one?"

Juliana only nodded without moving her eyes away.

"Always a nice place to start a new life. I can even feel something special here in these old bones. Like magic," the old lady said stepping down.

Magical. That is exactly how it felt. To Juliana, it seemed like something was calling her. Pulling her toward the palace by some invisible force. Whatever it was, she was determined to explore. She began walking into the town.

"You take care of yourself, child. " The lady smiled.

Juliana turned and bowed, thanking the woman. She then returned to walking into the city.

The city looked like your typical major Egyptian city, with the large palace on the other side. It was about noon, so almost everyone was out. Women were shopping with their woven baskets under their arms, children ran up and down the streets playing numerous games, and the men either sold things, kept watch on the streets or shopped for weapons and such. Everyone was busy, and Juliana couldn't have been more amazed. All in all, everyone seemed to be happy. How could this happy city be evil and murderous as Bakura had described?

Juliana looked over at a food stand and saw a small girl just staring at the food. Juliana walked over to the stand and grabbed a loaf of bread, handing it to the girl.

"Ah! Thank you very much!" the girl said smiling. She took the bread.

"Hey! You gonna pay for that!" said the store keeper. The two girls looked up at him. "Well!"

"Please sir...my family is poor and hungry. Please let me take this." frowned the girl.

The keeper looked at Juliana. "You grabbed it, do you have the money to pay for it!"

Juliana looked at the girl, then at the clerk. "No, I do not. This girl needs that food." It was the first time she had never spoken to a human, but she felt she had to say something. Staying silent would only make things worse.

"So you're going to steal it! It is against the law to steal children..." he took out a long, sharp knife.

The little girl looked at the knife, then ran. Juliana stood for a second, then followed her. The store keeper jumped over his displays, waving his knife. "THEIVES! GUARDS! CATCH THEM!"

Soon the two girls had a handful of Egyptian guards running after them. They ran half way down the street when the small girl in front took a sharp turn. Juliana quickly followed and they both hid behind a crate. The guards ran passed and the girls sighed. The little girl looked up at Juliana and smiled. "Thank you very much again. My family finally has something to eat tonight."

Juliana nodded, then stood and began walking. She walked out of the alley and looked around. This was the second time she had done this. Not a good way to begin in a new city at all. She looked left and right and noticed guards walking around, asking questions. Definatly not good. Juliana looked back and saw an old crate and quickly jumped on it to the roof of a building. As much as she disliked the coldness of night, she would have to wait. Guards were now everywhere searching for her, but they could never catch her.

And so she sat until night fell. In the cover of darkness, she explored the city.