Miss Militia was nice, letting her take my hand in hers. I felt betrayed feeling the muted warmth of her hand, I could feel the cold of the table just fine but the warmth of Miss Militia was dulled. Why couldn't I have anything?
Miss Militia helped me off of the table, still staying at head height she inspected my face, "I'm sure Ar- someone can fix those up for you," she said while patting my shoulder, dull. Another simple distraction. I carefully brought up my free hand to my face, were my claws that sharp? I felt lots of small little grooves over my false face, were my fingers- were these fingers that sharp?
I tried to pull my hand out of Miss Militia's, she let out a little hiss. "I'm sorry!" I quickly squeaked out, I tried to pull my hands close to my chest but Miss Militia held firm. Crouching down so that she was looking up at me she took my other hand.
"Hey, hey, hey! Everythings okay! You doubt you meant it," she held up her hand showing three small cuts with little beads of blood coming out of them, "See?"
"I-I'm didn't mean to. Yeah," I said unable to look at her face, I just looked around the room. It was definitely messier than it had been before my weird third eye started sucking things in, wait- where was it? I couldn't feel it like I did when I was on the table. I shivered at the thought, "C-can we leave?"
Miss Militia finally stood up to her full height, stretching a little, "Yeah let's. I can bring you somewhere more comfortable."
She then turned to the strange man in the clock-covered armor, "Clock," Oh- that made sense, "Next time it unfreezes if it doesn't react you can relax, I'm not sure but I think it was reacting to protect Orianna here." She looked down at me and I presumed she smiled as she said my name. I wanted to smile back but this face didn't move.
Eventually, she let me out of the start room going through what I assumed was a Hextech door based on how it unfolded like a blooming flower to let us through. Miss Militia smiled, "It's cool isn't it?"
"Yeah," I lied, it was okay honestly. But I was told a lot nowhere was quite like Piltover so Miss Militia probably thought it was really cool, but I had seen things like this when I went to see a play with my class.
Miss Militia brought led me down a few hallways, those feet clanking loudly against the metal flooring. She led us outside, we were apparently on some building in the water. She led us to a platform with a lot of big black automobiles, "Do you see that?" She asked pointing towards a city on the shore.
"That's Piltover, right?" I asked looking up at Miss Militia.
"Piltover?" She questioned, "No that's Brockton Bay, we're going to get in one of those vans and make our way there. Do you know what a van is?"
I shook my head no.
Miss Militia pointed at one of the big black and blocky automobile. "That's a van, it-"
"That's not a 'van'," I said pointing at it.
"What?" Miss Militia asked looking a little confused.
"That is an automobile," I explained, "normal ones are pretty looking, this one is ugly."
"Well these are not meant to look pretty," She chuckled, "They're going to bring us to the Brockton Bay."
"What are they meant to be then?"
"Not what they are meant to be, what they are meant to do," she sounded like Mommy talking like that, "They're meant to hold a lot of people and transport them quickly."
I tried to imagine a lot of people fitting in the van, "Like sardines?" I asked, getting another chuckle from Miss Militia.
"No, only around ten to fifteen," She said leading me towards the van, a man in armor that kind of looked like a Piltovan enforcer, but black. Three big symbols were on his chest, a weird axe-looking thing, what I assumed were some kind of clamping or cutting tool and a stylized pickaxe.
"Hey Em-Em," The man said with a smile, "This our special passenger?" He crouched down in front of me sticking out his hand, "My names Ethan, it's nice ta meetcha."
I held my hands close to my body, "I'm Orianna," he just smiled wider taking back his hand.
"It's nice to meet yo-"
"You already said that," I helped.
Mr. Ethan only laughed, "I guess I did, just feels right saying your name at the end of it. And just saying it after someone gives you their name. I guess I repeat stuff a lot!"
"You did it again!" I said pointing one of the sharp fingers at him, which I quickly hid away. I didn't want to hurt Mr. Ethan. He just laughed again, all happy and bubbly, like those at the Zaunite Shrine to Janna.
"How about you and Missy here," He pointed up at Miss Militia.
"Missy?" I echoed looking up at the aforementioned woman.
She chuckled, "Yep that's, me. You can call me that if you like."
"Okay," I answered lamely.
"Anyway, you and Missy here can climb in the back and I'll take you to the Pee-Ar-Tee," Walking over to the boxy automobile he opened it with two big doors, "I know it might look a little scary but I'll be just through that little window, and Missy will be with you the whole way."
I nodded looking up at the woman who again I assumed was smiling down at me, it just felt right to think that she was smiling under the cloth on her face. With her encouragement, I clambered into the boxy automobile, with Miss Missy right behind me helping me up. She helped me sit down, which was hard because of the key in my back. I ended up sitting sideways on the bench.
"Everyone ready?" Mr. Ethan called through the tiny window.
"Yep," Miss Missy answered.
"Okay! Tally ho!" Ethan called, "Ride forth Jimbo!" Suddenly the boxy automobile rumbled to life, rumbled! The few times I saw wealthy houses like the Kirimmans go down the street their automobiles surely didn't rumble. I went to cling to Miss Missy but remembered those sharp fingers and decided to just grab the seat instead.
Miss Missy quickly began to fuss over me, "Hey! It's just the engine starting, nothing to worry abou-"
Suddenly there was a strong rush of wind in the boxy automobile and a sound akin to a clap of thunder. Miss Militia was holding her ears, Mr. Ethan was swearing like a Bligmite, but I was looking at myself and a floating ball covered in a marble-like substance with intricately carved designs and copper trim.
Like me.
Through my now open third eye, I could see Miss Missy diving for my back.
I was face down again. I screamed.
