The woman you saw at the parking lot.

She was the last to enter the room; four guards entered first. The tall, brooding female was wearing a pair of brown, light, loose trousers with a tight fit around the ankles... and nothing but that unless, of course, one would count for garments the intricate tattoos that adorned her curvaceous body and the tiny metallic rings she had her dark nipples pierced with. You were wrong about her age, though. She was older than her brother; twenty seven or twenty eight years old, you thought. Yet, her age had only polished the diamond that was her beauty.

Her face showed no sign of emotion as she snapped her fingers and let the guards do their work.

The dark skinned woman watched silently as you struggled to break free from the men’s iron grip. They held you pinned to the ground, face down, while two others carried the thrashing and screaming Kay out of the cell. You wanted to talk. You wanted to buy your freedom for medicine and weapons you had in abundance, safely stashed away in the voice-locked Forge, but she was not interested. None of them was.

When Kay’s voice could no longer be heard you’ve finally admitted defeat and given up. Ashamed of your inability to protect your loved one, you burst into tears and no longer resisted as the guards tied your hands behind your back and pulled you up from the floor to a kneeling position.

Then they left, leaving you alone with the woman.

You raise your tear-streaked face to her. You’re still full of disbelief at the fact that, after all what you’ve been through, you were still denied a happy ending to your adventure. It just seemed so... unfair.

The woman in front of you moves closer and cups your chin with her hand. She looks you deep in the eye before speaking in a low, husky voice.

“She is dear to you, is she not?”

You nod and feel another tear run down your cheek. The woman wipes it with her finger; there isn’t a hint of warmth in that gesture.

“I can help you save your friend and escape this place, traveler,” she continues in a half-whisper “if only you help me in return.”

You’re heart fills with hope... and fear. What game is this woman playing? Does she intend to keep her end of the bargain?

“What do you want?” you ask in a whisper.

There doesn’t seem to be many options for you if you are to leave this godforsaken place. You have **** but to trust your dark haired captor.

“My name is Eden.” the woman speaks with a bit more **** in her voice.

“John Doe.”

“Well, John Doe, I am sorry for the way you and your friend have been treated so far. Trust me that it would have been a lot different if I were to lead these people.”

"It seems to me it was you who signaled those men to take Kay. Where did they take her? What are they going to do to her!?" you shout.

"They would have taken her away whether or not I would come. Your little friend is to become a gift for my brother's induction. He is to become the new priest and she - his ****. She will not be harmed; not physically. Not during the ceremony at least."

Dark thoughts fill your mind when you hear Eden's words. What could she mean by that? The dark skinned woman doesn't wait for your questions and continues.

“None of this would be happening if I were chosen to lead the people. Unfortunately, I was born a woman and never will a woman rule this superstitious, cowardly horde. I have more wit and greater ambitions than my naive little brother. My age grants me the right to wield the priest’s staff and yet I am to kneel obediently at my father’s feet while my unworthy sibling takes away what is rightfully mine.”

She is obviously outraged by that fact but not for a moment does she lose her aura of cold, profound composure.

“So you will let me and Kay go if I kill your brother?” you interrupt.

Eden falls silent for an unimaginably long couple of seconds. Her thoughtful gaze makes you look away before you even realize it.

“No, John Doe. Being a woman, I do not have a chance to win the feeble hearts of my people.”

“Then what..?”

“What I ask of you is to take me with you so I can seek a better fortune than what is in store for me here. None of us can steer the iron carts..."

"Cars?" you interrupt.

"Cars... Yes. None of us can steer them nor make them move. None of us can even enter yours but my father will soon have the secrets ripped from you. Promise to take me with you and I will help rescue your friend and escape.”

You think about the offer for a while and nod. You won’t get a better chance than this.

“I am pleased, John Doe.” she says, although the change in her mood is barely noticeable. “I will explain what needs to be done...”