His name is Don Quichotte

The rain is no longer hammering on our heads, and against all expectations, we didn't have any major incidents on the way.

I say no major incidents because we finally found ourselves among our peers human beings, and contrary to what I thought, it doesn't seem to be a very good thing.

The current dragged us in the neighboring district, getting us closer to the city center. In normal times, it's not a safe place to wander in. But seeing how this world is completely distorted and is a hundred times worse than the original one... there is nothing odd if this part of the city is so gloomy.

Some people were peeking out of their windows while others, sitting in their balconies or on the roofs like hungry birds of prey, watching us navigate on that small canal that has formed between the buildings. I never liked being the center of attention, but here, there is also that tinge of danger in this attention that is given to us that is making my throat going dry. Lucius was as impassible as ever. This guy is unpredictable. I wish I could read minds...

My theory is that he is a theater actor that went too deep in his role and thinks he comes from the Middle Age... True, the name suggests Ancient Rome, but the outfit is not that at all! I've seen Gladiator a couple of times and I can tell he's not dressed the same way at all. But that's not the problem... I hope he doesn't do anything that would bring any more attention to us. I read that one story in Spanish Litterature about a guy that was fond of chivalry stories and immersed himself in the stories he read too much. You can guess the ending...

We need to get out of here as discreetly as possible.

"There are many people here, but I don't think we are welcome," he finally said.

Good, we're on the same wavelength for once. So no useless fightings, no chivalries stuff. We only have to get past this road then...

Then... What I wished to not happen is happening. A man suddenly appears from behind a car jumps on the raft and we're thrown in to the water. Thanks God, the water level is not that high anymore and the current is not too strong. Two other men join him and take the bags that Lucius was somehow able to take along. 

Lucius throws a punch on the man who took the backpack from his shoulders, but the man retaliates. The guy with a huge scar on his cheek is holding Lucius from behind and the fight transforms into a one-way beating.

A man and a woman are standing on the side of the road and are snickering and pointing at Lucius, while I hear some others whistling and shouting to keep going.

And me... I'm here. Watching the man who rescued me getting hurt.

I am terrified.

If I intervene, they will do the same to me. I am not strong enough. I will die if I do.

This is my chance to leave.

I feel like crap.

I can't leave him behind...

I'm a spiteful person...

The man that was holding him drops his head in the water and pushes it down with his foot.

I can't take it anymore.

I pull the man from the collar of his shirt and strike his head with the stick that Lucius used as a paddle. The man who was beating him comes at me with his hands stretch to take my throat, but I point the stick on his abdomen and the man bends double with pain.

He deserves it.

I just defended myself.

I didn't do anything wrong.

I must hit him until he stops.

The woman grasps my arms and digs her nails in my arms. I pull her back from her hair and punch her on the face.

She's an accomplice too. She was going to let the man kill Lucius. She deserves it.

We just wanted to pass without causing trouble, but trouble always finds its way to me.

But they wanted to hurt us for free, even after taking our food. I hate people like them. Like Malcom and his gang. I am tired of being humiliated, and I'm tired of seeing good people getting hurt and bad people having the best outcome.

I'm sick of it.

I want to see them all dead.

They should just disappear from the Earth surface. Violence is bad. But then... How can I stop it?

"STOP IT NOW!"

That's Lucius' voice. The hands that are grasping mine are his.

What was I doing?

The woman is whining. her face is swollen and her nose and lower lip is bleeding.

What did I do?

The man I hit with the stick before is still screaming in pain, and the other one I hit on the head is holding his bleeding front and is wobbling. The man who never engaged in the fight is hiding behind the car.

Lucius is pointing a metal bar against them and pushes me behind him. We slowly walk backward towards the end of the road. The woman calls me monster, someone throws things at us from above. Others simply throw us insults.

It is hard walking when the water reaches your waist, but we reached the end of the road sooner than I thought. We're outside. The bridge is right in front of me.

"Good. We're okay now", Lucius says dropping the metal bar. He pats on my back and asks me if I'm good. I don't anwser and I keep watching the other side of the river.

There is only an abandoned big hospital from the other side and a couple of hangars. We will need to walk for another 15 minutes walk before reaching another residential area again.

The furthest from her, the better.

We don't say anything as we walk. I think he follows me, but I'm not sure where I am going. I just want to leave this place behind me.

I am really tired. My body aches. I want to go back to my room. Will this incessant pounding in my head will ever stop? What a sh*** day.

I'm having enough of all this. I really want it to be just a bad dream and wake up at home. I want to hug mum. I want to hear Eliza complain about the her girlish things. I will never say to her how stupid it is. I'll be more considerate to Gulnar and dad. And I'll hang out with Deema when she asks me, I promise.

Why does the man always regrets things when it's too late.

The low sunrays are stinging my eyes. I know everything it's real. It just hurts too much to admit it. I fell like dying when I think about it...

...

I almost killed someone... Was it really worth it? Why do I feel so bad.

I'm so miserable... I can't even hold my tears anymore...

I wish I could just di...

"Thank you for taking my defence earlier. I mean it. You just need to understand when the fight is over, but that will learn with the time. And, not to vent myself, I'm pretty good when when it comes to street fighting..."

I can't hold it... I shouldn't laugh seeing the circumstances but it's so funny.

"Hey, young man! I haven't eaten properly for two days and we were in their territory, I was at a disadvantage! But I happened to win against a bear hunter once. And he was as large as a centenary oak, the brute. At that moment, I had glimpse of what David felt against Goliath... But that's kind of story that tastes better around a campfire."

I can't stop. I don't know if I'm laughing or crying, but I'm grateful by having this fool by my side.

Now I do remember the name of the novel.

El ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha.

that makes me Sancho Panza then...

Today, we will rewrite the story in a modern setting, or should I say 'apocalyptical' setting?

It doesn't matter either way. He shuffles my hair and take me along him in a half embrace, saying with a joking tone that he'll also teach me how to respect the elders. I push him away, and tell him to stop calling me "son". God, I'm too young to be his son. He's really living in his own world is he?

"Ah, youngsters these day... So where I we going?"

I stop in my track. Right. Where are we going?

Then I suddenly remember. Past the industrial area, there is a neighborhood called Ugley where we could find a place to stay, based on my previous knowledge. Contrary to the what its name could suggest, it's a fancy neighborhood for the middle-class, with short buildings and a lot of shops and neighborhood facilities. There is no guarantee we won't fall into something bizarre, but at least it's better than the place we just left.

He agrees and we proceed in silence. Everything looks so quite compared to my timeline. I didn't like this place, because there was always weird people hanging around. Now it looks abandoned, but the forest and plants make it look better than before. I never new I'd say something like this - I'm not a big fan of nature and landscapes -, but it makes quite a nice picture with the sunset light.

Time flies and we are already in Ugley. Of course, just as the rest of the city, Ugley is empty and half invaded by climbing vines and greenery, although it maintained the charm of Victorian architecture. The sun is now hidden behind the buildings of bricks and darkness is slowly setting. I realise we're short on time...

Yup, no more street lights. We're not in the civilisation anymore...

And nodoby needs to be reminded that staying outside during the night in a world where people throw arrows on fire and big black dogs sleep alone in empty apartments is not safe.

NOT. SAFE. AT. ALL.

Uh, anxiety is rushing back... I really need to learn how to control it. I can't lose my patience and panic every time things don't go the way they should. Lucius keeps following me. Why am I always leading the way?!!! I worked enough as a guide for today. That's not MY world, he could do some efforts and take the lead since he's a grow-up and he can fight bear hunters, shouldn't he? My responsibilities end here.

Right... Maybe he's still thinking that I know where to go... should tell him instead of just thinking it...

Something catches my attention from the corner of my eyes.

I stop, and he doesn't bump into me. He saw it too. It's getting really dark, but THAT is unmistakable.

"I am not enchanted by some demons, am I?" he says.

"I hope not, because I can see it too."

The light of a storefront with a retracted awning is printed on the opposite wall of a narrow alleyway. We insictively turn to each other at the same time. I guess there is no need of voicing our thoughts.

Lights and store = civilisation. Maybe?

We walked toward the shop. I'm so nervous I feel my legs shaking like pudding. this is a make or break. I pray God we didn't get it wrong and these are nice civilised people that use electricity, and maybe even internet if it still exists. I prefer no seeing who's behind the glass and keep hoping. But I have also to be a little careful. What if it's a lure? I take a look for the name of the premise.

'The Thisle's'. That's very Scottish. Maybe a pub? They are known for that... Wait. What would a pub be like in this world? The image of bulky dirty men fighting each other appears in front of me.

Uh-uh. Enough fighting for today. We're still in time to look for something more 'safe'. Maybe they haven't seen us yet. I need to tell Lucius we better be careful. I turn around but he's not behind me.

Oh no, the sound of bells... That dude is already in... We're screwed...

Well, that wouldn't be the first time today...

"Sorry for the bother! My friend can be..."

Okay... So, to sum it up. I had a feeling it was a Scottish premise, and it does look like a bar with a long countertop and a lot of bottles behind exposed on the shelves, tables on the left wall and - of course - a giant Scottish flag hung on said wall.

BUT.

And since I've been here there have been a lot of "but"...

Why is there a woman with a Scottish tartan veil on her head behind the counter, and a little girl sitting next to an old black-skinned man with a walking-stick smiling at us?

Where are the bulky hairy men?

Why am I shocked in the first place?

"Well, look at that! I think we've got two time-travelers today! Welcome to the Thisle's, gentlemen. The only pub in the whole UK that sells every kind of beverage except alcohol."

Right. Lucius' attire... I'm wearing a polo and a pair of jeans so I think she's joking but Lucius really doesn't help clearing things by bowing and calling them "Milady", "Sire" and "Young Lady". He likes to make me feel like I should dig my own grave out of embarassment...

The woman and the man burst out a laugh, and the man makes a sign with his hand to come and sit next to him.

"My name is Eilidth, and this is my daughter Keira," the woman says with a light Scottish accent, while taking a couple of more glasses  and a bottle of red liquid with petals floting in it. "And here is my darling step-father Idriss!" She says as she serves him the strange bottle's content.

"Nice ta meet ya young people! My name's Idriss. Hope you can make yourselves at home. You have a super host here, and one of the best apothecaries in the region. Right Lily?" the man cheerufully took up his glass. Eilidth chuckled and pinched his cheek in between his two fingers.

"Yah. I learned most of it from this old man. I just had a good teacher!"

As I get close, I notice that the man's eyes are white, but he doesn't grope on the table as he takes the drink in his hands.

"What a charming family! And how original! I never happened to meet a Nubian before. Very interesting... It's a pleasure for me too." Lucius is already sitting comfortably on the counter, smiling pleasantly. It's a bit awkward, but it's good to see him happy.

"I said "Time-travelers" because of his outfit, but I guess my intuition was right..."

I wince, not expecting Eilidth to be by my side. The two men started chatting loudly, while the child - Keira if I remember right - is waving around happily trying to catch their attention.

"You alright, son? Wait just a minute. I'll bring something to medicate your wounds, I'll be right back," Eilidth tells me after inspecting my face. It must be swollen on the right side. I wonder how I look like. I should also ask her if she has some soap to clean my glasses. I wonder how they made it so far...

"No problem..." I tell her.

Her silouette has already disappeared behind a door, and my attention wanders around the place.

A frame above the door has four words written in Arabic calligraphy. I know them cause I have seen them back in India, in the family mansion.

It says: "In the name of Allah, the Merciful, The Compassionate."

The atmosphere is nice and warm here. I guess my prayers were heard... Strange. I'm not the type of person to feel comfortable in a new place with people I never met before, but here I'm feeling good. I hope it will last a little longer...