Eli watched the city skyline slowly come into view from his train window. Even from afar, it looked enormous.
"Been awhile since you've been here," Oboros commented from the seat across Eli's.
"Yeah it's been forever! Let's get something to eat once we arrive! Oh, some kabobs sound really good. Can we please get some kabobs? What do you think Obi? Can we? Pleeasse?!!" Trish was practically bouncing around the cabin as she spoke.
As she was about to make another round around the small room, she was stopped suddenly as a single hand grabbed her by the scruff of her neck, holding her still in the air like a mother cat would with it's own feisty child. "Down girl, we'll get some food once we're there. Until then, you need to sit there calmly," Lori calmly stated as she set the cat-girl down next to her.
Nodding quickly, Trish was nearly vibrating in her seat as she tried to contain her excitement.
Eli smiled at Trish, who gave him a wide smile in return. Lori went back to reading her book in silence as Oboros continued to wipe down his already pristine blade.
While Eli did usually enjoy Trish's antics, it was nice to have a little silence before they arrived to the large, bustling city.
As they got closer, Eli looked towards the roads going in and out of the city. There were a multitude of people coming and going from the city. Some on horseback, others in carriages, some on foot, and even a few on varying types of flying beasts.
"What is that?" Eli asked himself as he tried to take a closer look.
"Ah, I've heard of those. It's called an 'Automobile'," Orboros replied as he too looked at the few steel vehicles traveling by. "I've heard they're far more common in the human kingdoms. I guess it's no surprise they would start to make their way here."
"Interesting," Eli said quietly. He wondered how much the different nations were from the one he called home. Though, he would have that answer soon enough.
***
Stepping off of the train and onto the platform, Eli and his group were met with a cacophony of sounds and smells. Including a sea of people before them all rushing to their next destination.
"Things are a bit chaotic here," Oboros commented. "Let's go get food!" Trish shouted, not failing to capture a few raised brows from around her.
"Alright, follow me," Lori sighed. She was the tallest in the group, standing nearly eight foot all, giving her a better advantage of seeing what's past the wall of people.
As the group walked, Eli could see a few members of different races mixed into the crowd. Beast kin took up a majority of the group that didn't belong to any of the demonic races, though Eli did see a couple groups of humans amongst the crowds.
Each time he'd cross paths with a group of humans, he felt like he would receive odd stares from at least one or two members. Each time he would simply put his head down until they passed by. He always hated being stared at by others.
Soon the group finally made it to the first of many districts that had shops and food stands. An innumerable amount of aroma's filled Eli's nose, causing his stomach to growl.
"Kabob time!" Trish excitedly yelled as she rushed the many food stalls, desperately searching for her beloved kebabs. Lori giggled while Oboros commented, "We should put a bell around her neck so we don't lose her."
Eli's two companions started following after Trish, quickly gaining ground on the feline woman. Eli started walking forward as well, making sure to not lose sight of them, though with Lori's height it wouldn't be too much a problem.
As they moved forward, Oboros and Lori parted for a stranger standing still amongst the crowd. As Eli came closer, ready to move to the side as well, he froze when the stranger spoke. "Little Eli." The figure standing just a few feet ahead of him spoke in a terrifyingly familiar voice.
Despite the sun being high up in the sky, the mans body was covered in shadows, only showing a silhouette. It was apparent the being was wearing a hat, as it covered where it's eyes should have been. Though the smallest part of the strangers' rotten teeth could be seen.
Eli's chest was rapidly rising and falling, his body frozen, unwilling to move despite his senses screaming at him to do so. People around kept shouting, passing by, and going about their day, completely ignoring the duo.
Behind the figure, Eli could see Lori's back, still moving further away from where he was.
"Ah come on Eli. Aren't ya gonna say hi to me? It's been so long since I've seen ya." The figure's smile grew as it slowly spread its arms. "Not even a hug? Ah, that's right. You never really were a big hugger."
Eli's mind was racing as his entire body felt like it was covered in flames.
The figure put down its arms and slowly walked right up to Eli stoping just inches away. With the figure directly in front of him now, the smell of rotten flesh filled Eli's nostrils. Its disgusting mouth was fully in view, along with those eyes. Those terrible, violent and hate filled black eyes stared down at Eli.
Lifting its hand, the thing tapped on Eli's eyepatch. "I see you're trying to hide a piece of us. Of you. You're lucky it can't be taken, otherwise I'd have left your corpse amongst the rest."
Eli only stared at the one person he hoped to have never met again. Had it been another one of them, he was sure his reaction would have been different. But what this thing did to him, what it did to those stuck in that fucking pit with him, made his entire being freeze.
"I'm not here for you though. I've got other things I must do. I just felt your presence earlier and couldn't help but drop by for a visit. Don't worry, you've still got some time left to pretend like your life is yours." A scowl was apparent on the things face as it began to walk past Eli, leaving with "I hope you have a fucking shitty day."