(TATB) Ch 4: The Face Beyond The Glass, Skylars Arrival!

(SKYLAR)

I walked down the street, my mind wandering like it always did when there were too many things to juggle. Today's lecture had really stuck with me—the 100 Year War, the Five Warriors—it all felt like something out of a storybook, too incredible to be real.

"Lilliputians... what amazing people," I muttered under my breath, and I meant it. I just wished more Brobs could see them the way I did.

Here was a civilization that had actually managed to push us back, to pose a real threat a hundred years ago. They deserved more than to be seen as just a snack or some form of entertainment. We'd taken so much from them—didn't we owe them something in return?

As I was lost in thought, my pocket buzzed. I pulled out my phone and couldn't help but grin when I saw the notification. "Finally!" I blurted out, louder than I meant to, earning a few curious glances from people walking by.

But I didn't care. With a newfound spring in my step, I started down the sidewalk, my mind now focused on one thing. Today was the day my goals and dreams would start to take shape. After all, I'd just gotten paid.

***

(VICTOR)

I sat cross-legged, eyes closed, focusing on my breathing—a simple drill I used to calm my mind and find some peace. Lately, that peace seemed harder to come by. In and out, I breathed deeply, my muscles loosening with each exhale. This was what it meant to be in the zone, to be in tune with yourself...

"Victor!"

"Shit..." I muttered as a familiar voice cut through my meditation. I opened my eyes to see Sydney running toward me, his father Gabriel trailing behind, clutching a small piece of bread.

I glanced beyond the glass at the old giant. He'd been feeding us more often lately, which usually meant one thing.

"Victor, we were able to get some food this time," Sydney said, handing me a piece of bread.

I took it with a nod. "That's great."

"We'll go back and try to get more before those thugs grab the rest," Gabriel said, already munching on his share.

I noticed Gabriel looked a bit better than before. I'd been slipping them as much food as I could, and it seemed to be making a difference.

"I wouldn't..." A voice cut in from behind—a voice that carried a weight of caution.

I turned to see Meara, her short black hair framing a face that seemed incapable of smiling. She wore the same torn rags as the rest of us. "Meara," I said with a smirk, eyeing the small group that always seemed to stick close to her. "And company," I added, acknowledging Conner, Nate, and Holly with a wave.

Meara gave a small nod, her gaze locking onto Sydney and Gabriel. "More and more people are joining the thugs. It's making food retrieval all the more dangerous."

Her words were heavy, and they sank in fast. She always had a way of making things seem grimmer than they already were. Seriously, did this woman ever smile?

I couldn't help but feel a bit irritated. Why were all these people gathering around me? Yeah, I'd helped each of them at some point, but that didn't mean I enjoyed being surrounded. I was a loner at heart, and crowds weren't my thing.

"Well damn, I guess we're just out of luck," Gabriel said, resting a hand on Sydney's shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess we are," I echoed, crossing my arms

Once again, I closed my eyes, trying to find some semblance of calm amidst the chaos. But that peace was short-lived. The tank began to shake violently, knocking people off their feet and causing even those of us sitting to grab hold of the smooth ground beneath us.

I opened my eyes, arms still crossed, feeling my mood sour even more. "He's coming..."

Sydney and the others exchanged glances, then followed my gaze toward the massive glass wall, or more precisely, toward what stood on the other side of it.

There he was—our captor. His wrinkled, ancient face filled most of our view, every detail of his leathery skin etched into our minds. But soon, that unsettling image was replaced by another. With footsteps that sent faint tremors through the glass box, the old man stepped aside, revealing another figure—a younger face, a woman's face.

As I looked up at her, I couldn't tell you what expression I wore. Probably the same one everyone else had—shock, disbelief, and something else. It wasn't her size that left me stunned; we were used to giants by now. No, it was her beauty, a beauty so striking that it left me muttering a single word under my breath.

"Wow."

***

(SKYLAR)

This is the place, I thought as I stood outside a wide alleyway, facing a closed steel door. I glanced down at my phone to confirm the address. "Finally," I whispered to myself, a small smile creeping onto my face. It had taken me at least half a year to find a Lilliputian seller, searching every corner of the dark web. The crackdown on Lilliputian distribution had made this almost impossible; it's been against the law for more than two years now. But here I was, standing right in front of what I'd been searching for.

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The sound echoed in the alleyway, and I waited, my heart pounding in my chest. A few minutes passed before I heard the heavy lock shift, and the door slowly creaked open. An old man with grey hair appeared, his eyes sharp as they looked me up and down.

"Uh, hi," I said, feeling a little awkward now that I was face-to-face with him. "I'm here to buy a few Lilliputians."

The old man's gaze lingered on me for a moment. "I assume you have what's needed then?" he asked, his voice low and rough.

I dug into my pocket, pulling out a small wad of cash. I held it out to him, trying not to let my impatience show. "I can pay," I said, adding a bit of attitude to my voice.

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Come in."

I stepped through the door, my eyes adjusting to the dimly lit area. The space was wide and dark, with only three lights from above casting shadows on the walls. The old man led me to a black shelf lined with glass containers. At first glance, they seemed empty, but I knew better. I leaned closer to the glass, squinting to see inside.

And then I saw them—tiny dots scattered across the white floor. There were so many that I couldn't count them all.

"Oh my god," I whispered, a smile spreading across my face. "Lilliputians."