City of Steam



The first thing I heard, and what woke me up, was what I thought to be multiple screams. Jolting up out of Vincent's arms from the horrifying mysterious sounds, I was greeted by a blast of hot steam to the face and a disapproving grunt. The grunt was from Vincent, who was rigid all over, probably from the same sound I heard.

"Where in Gods name are we?! And what is with all this steam everywhere?" I asked, assuming he would know.

All I saw was a fierce look on his face as he glared at an old rusted and grimy sign that said in bold gold and black letters; WELCOME TO IRIDS, STEAM PIONEERS. I knew that look. It was a look he had when he felt I was in danger but there was nothing he could do.

"We need to move, to find a way out of here." He said with venom in every word.

"Why? What's wrong? Vincent what's going on?" Questions filled my head faster than I could sort them out. Then I realized that he must know this place to have such a sure sign of danger. "Vincent, where are we?"

He stared at me with those garden green eyes that were usually sharp but also kind. Now they were full of a fury and a surge of anger that scared me  but I would not let my fear show. I stood up and looked around determined to find my own answers. There was a loud grinding of gears behind us. What was there both horrified and amazed me with its beauty.

A large door made out of old glass was covered in dirt and oil, showed years of neglecting. Behind the glass was a long twisting hall that was filled with gears, mechanisms, springs, pulleys, and other objects that looked like bizarre keys. All were moving in an intricate dance, never once crashing into one another. I wonder what it was used for, I thought, then realized it was some kind of door that led to this old dirty ally full of steel scraps, various sizes and heights of old copper pipes scattered all over the place with steam coming out of them.

I noticed we has been lying on a ruined blanket in the middle of the ally, also that there were no doors or windows on either of the walls beside us. There was so much humidity from the pipes' steam that it added to the already hot air  which made me assume it was late spring early summer here. Vincent was still on the ground with an angry twisted look on his face as he glared at the old sign. I figured we were where the sign said, 'In Irids'. But I still had no clue how we got here.

"What's the last thing you remember Joan?" Vincent asked in a surprisingly gentle voice, the kind therapists use to talk to their patients. "Do you remember yesterday? Last week? What is your last memory?"

I thought for a second. I knew my face drained of all color because his did too. The last thing I remembered was having a picnic in the park last winter with him in the snow. Trying to recall any other recent memory made my head hurt.

"No, I can't remember. The last thing that I do remember is having that picnic in the park last winter." I said in a monotone voice.

"Same here, but I don't remember this " trailing off, he reached into his pocket and showed me what looked to be a rose without thorns or leaves. A closer look showed it was a thin dagger-like object.

"Where did you-"

"HEY!" Grounded Vincent as a showdown appeared, took the rose dagger object and fled.

Vincent stared to run after it. He had a long thin frame, like an Olympic runner would; and went sprinting after the shadow. I absently thought he would make a good Olympic runner because he, too, liked like a shadow.

"Wait, Vincent!" I shouted in the most threatening tone, but it was no use. He was already around the corner of the ally, out of my sight. Before I could even more two steps, he returned after thirty seconds, after quickly getting the shadow into a strong head lock. Again, before I could more, Vincent had the shadowy figure sitting on the ground. With its hood off, we both stared at a girl about our age, around eighteen. She looked lovely despite wearing tattered 1920's clothing of something a mechanic would wear. She had on an old buttons down shirt with sleeves rolled, a black and brown vest, with a small tool belt around her hips. As well as lots of hidden pockets where she probably stored numerous tools.

All I had done so far was stand in one spot, while Vincent went off chasing down this girl. I wanted answers, so I jogged over to them.

I was only a few steps away from Vincent but for some reason, it looked like the ground was coming up. Suddenly, I felt a familiar strong arm around my waist. That's when I realized that something was wrong with my leg, because it felt like someone was putting a hot iron rod in it. I let out an ear-shattering scream of pain.

"Its ok, it's ok, everything will be alright, I'm right here Joan." Vincent's voice felt like ice on a hot day  but that didn't help the pain.

His jaw was locked and his eyes were extremely serous. I knew I was seriously hurt now because of the look he gave me, full of worry, anger, and protection. Trying not to cry, I let out painful whimpers.

"You, girly. Who are you and where can we get help for her?" Ice filled his voice, he was scary calm, the kind of calm before a large storm on its way.

"My brother, Kale can help her." She spat, "and never call me girly, my name's Clementine." She returned his ice stare with a wave of heated anger.

"Then take us to him, we won't start and trouble if you don't." He was clearly referring to the stolen rose dagger.

My knees stared to buckle and my vision blurred, everything looked like it blended together. I felt weightless for a moment as Vincent swung me up into his strong arms. It made me smile being so high up  he was 6 foot 2 inches, while I was 5 foot 6 inches. Vincent kissed my head and said something softly, but I couldn't understand it. Then everything faded around me, the lost thing I saw was Vincent worried face.



As I laid on some kind of cold surface there were loud shouts, Clementine's and Vincent's voice along with someone new. I couldn't figure out what they were saying except a few word's that's chilled my bones; "She's dying We must Don't touch her!...If that's the only way: was all I could make out.



Finally, I woke up. It felt like my eyes had been sewn shut, after getting them open I saw I was in what looked like a bedroom. A small window with iron around it, a desk, and chair next to the bed was all made out of metals. Something moved in the chair. It was Vincent! A rush of warmth and comfort shot though me.

"And sleeping beauty is awake." He said before kissing my forehead, and looked at me with those big blue eyes. "Please warn me next me next time you are about to face plant the ground" he said with softness and humor in his voice.

"Fine, but I thought you'd like to be the hero" I said sarcastically.

"Joan, Clementine and her brother Kale know what happened to us- they think." Sternness filled his Voice, "long story short, we need to escape this city before they find us. And we'll use an airship."

"Ok. What's an airship and who are they?!" I yelled.

"You'll see what it is, and they are 'They'. It's their name, mysterious I know" he scoffed. "Right now we need you up so Clementine can take you with her to get the last part of the ship" he looked angry now.

"I have so many question right now but fine." I retorted. He knew I hated his vagueness, but be ignored it.

Getting out of bed was the scariest thing in the world because I could see my leg and I wanted to scream. It was half gone- the calf of my leg and foot was done, replaced by a rod, gears, and springs. "What the hell Vincent?!" I screamed at him.

He looked grim, as if he was ashamed of himself, "it was the only thing we could do, and you were dying."

"My leg is gone! Gone!!" I was crying now, in shock.

He sat next to me on the bed and took me into his arms, resting my head agent his chest as he petted my hair softly. I kept on crying, I couldn't stop. My leg was gone I couldn't belive it! I wanted it back, any way, I didn't want to look it. Gears spun as I moved my foot in a circle  how did this thing even work?! "My leg is gone " I repeated softly.

"I know I designed it." He said flatly.

"What?" I gasped in disbelief.

"Turns out I'm a superb engineer both with airships, as well as biology. There was something in your leg that was causing the rest of your body to fail. It was the only way to keep you alive I couldn't lose you Joan." He sounded like he was going to cry.

Gently standing up, I felt no pain at all with this new limb. Wordlessly we left the room, headed to the airship. Outside the building was this massive zeppelin-like air craft. Big enough for four people and supplies. Clementine was putting something on the front side that was glowing  then it started to shake and hum, like a loud fan.

"I thought you were going to take her to get that!" Vincent said.

"Ya, I was, but I changed my mind." She glared at him, "look at her Vincent! She's in no condition to fight a bunch of Them. Right now just get her on the airship, we're leaving."

"Where?!" I yelled, still shocked with the new leg, "where are we going?"

"To Ilimol." Said a boy, "It will be safe there for now."

This must be Clementine's Brother, Kale  actually more like her twin. Both had jet black hair, tall and lanky builds, and both with grim all over them. Vincent had the same amount of dirt and grim on him, they must have all built this while I was dying and recovering.

"Let's go Joan; I'll explain everything on the way." Vincent said gently, and then kissed me.

"Fine," I said bitterly, although happy about the kiss.

"All aboard the S.S. Forest" said Clementine with a chime.

Everyone got on. Kale and Clementine sat in the pilot seat, while Vincent and I sat together in the back. Vincent started to explain everything to me as we sailed up and over the sunrise.