So update num 2 is finished. it might still have a few small errors in it, but I'll fix them eventually.
Aeta and Faelyn ran quickly through the train terminal, pushing their way through crowds and barreling through people with little guilt. Aeta’s backpack bounced up and down with each slam of her sneakers onto the floor as she undermined Faelyn for the reason that they had to run over man, woman, and child.
“I knew that you would lose them. I knew.” Aeta yelled at Faelyn between exasperated pants, her feet slamming into the ground. “I offered to hold on to the tickets, but no.”
“Yes I get it already,” Faelyn replied, “I feel horrible, now will you stop rubbing it in?”
“Not until we’re on the train.” Aeta vaulted over a man’s suitcase, leading her friend toward their train.
A voice suddenly came on through the speakers. "Train from Obiros to Lumen is now leaving." it was barely heard over the crowds in train terminal C. Aeta looked ahead. All that separated them and the train were a couple of lax ticket takers next to those annoying booths with those spinning bars. The train let out a loud WOOOT and a screech echoed through the building as the train began to move.
"We can make it." Aeta and Faelyn said to each other at the same time. Faelyn smirked.
“Hey stop!” One of the ticket vendors noticed the Changelings running towards them. “The train is already leaving; no one’s allowed to go past this point.” Aeta and Faelyn didn’t give him a second look, running right past him and jumping over the turnstiles. By now the train was already moving quickly past them, passengers’ cars moving more swiftly with each passing second. Aeta took Faelyn’s hand and everything turned grey. Faelyn and Aeta looked at each other slyly. Each was surrounded by a light blue outline that separated their colorful bodies from the slow-moving, muted world. Aeta and Faelyn jumped simultaneously onto the train as a gap between two cars moved in front of them lazily. They landed on a metal grate floor over the large metal hook that held the two sections of train together, and the world returned to color.
Doubled over panting, the two girls with their hands on their knees smiled as the train moved on its metal tracks. “Nice job.” Faelyn panted before opening the door to the train car, entering to a narrow space with rows of benches lining the walls. Each outer seat had a window though every rider was currently looking at the two Changelings who got on late. They just waved weakly and took the only empty row of seats there were in the car. Aeta took off her backpack and tossed it onto the floor while Faelyn sat next to the window. The shape-shifter liked to stare outside at the things moving by so fast that they were just a blur.
“Okay give it to me.” Aeta ordered, sitting down as the train began to pick up speed.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Faelyn stated, staring out the window, a faint smile on her lips.
“You know what I mean. The case file, the thing I’ve been bugging you about since yesterday. Remember that? Don’t screw with me. I’ve already had a bad start today.” Aeta put her hand out impatiently. She had asked for the mission’s file, a slip containing the exact details as to what the mission was, last night, but Faelyn had held it hostage.
Faelyn sighed, taking off her backpack. “Spoil sport.” She muttered under her breath. She began rooting through her various items inside the bag, taking numerous folders out and putting them back after examining them for a second or two.
“Do you ever clean out your backpack?” Aeta groaned.
“I like to hold on to old case files, but I always forget to put them away when I get home.” Faelyn muttered as if those were the only things cluttering up her backpack. Aeta had always been the one that organized their old things.
“Clockwork?” Aeta heard. Instinctively she turned her head, accustomed to the name after the years of using it. Of all people it could have been taking that train, sitting in that seat, it had to be Nolan, the boy from school that was always flirting with her. Nolan was sitting a couple of rows back next to the aisle. Aeta groaned. Why oh why does it have to be him? She quickly turned back, hoping he didn’t notice.
“I thought it was you.” Nolan said, walking up to her. Seeing an empty space on the bench next to her, he seized her good nature. “Could I have a seat next to you?”
“Don’t you already have a seat?”
“Next to an elderly woman that keeps leaning on me.”
Aeta really wished she didn’t have a conscience. “Fine.” Aeta said reluctantly. She scooted closer to Faelyn to give him a bit more room.
“Aha!” Faelyn exclaimed, bringing a manila folder out of her backpack that had a big “DO NOT LOSE” sticker on the front that partially covered the Fay queen’s official seal, two oak leaves next to each other with “S” on one and “P” on the other with a circle around the two. She handed it to her, a beaming smile on her face. She then noticed Nolan.
“Oh who would this be?” Faelyn said, talking with a lighter voice than she normally used. Aeta hated it when she changed her vocal cords.
“Nolan. You?” He replied. Aeta tried ignored them, though it was hard when they were talking right through her. She peared the file casually, hoping the human wouldn’t take much of an interest in the Fay business.
“My name is Faelyn. Are you Aeta’s boyfriend?” She asked, giving a schoolgirl giggle. Oh great, now she’s acting like a priss. Aeta thought. She hated girls that acted like breaking a nail was the worst thing that could happen to them. They should try getting sacrificed by people they thought cared about them so that they’d get raised by the Fay. She opened the folder, but only got a glance at the pages before Faelyn began to turn the conversation to specifically embarrass her.
“Aeta? Is that her real name?” Nolan looked at her. “She always went by Clockwork at school.” Aeta’s face started to get red. Faelyn was never going to stop giving her a hard time about her name.
“Clockwork? I’ve always known her as Aeta. Could you explain to us please as to why you decided to use a fake name?” Faelyn asked, directing her question towards the embarrassed Changeling. Aeta tucked her face into the folder, face flushed. “Hello? Anyone home?” Faelyn prodded.
Aeta didn’t respond.
Luckily Nolan felt uncomfortable enough to change the subject. “So how do you know Aeta?”
“Oh, we’ve known each other since we were little kids.” Faelyn said, thinking of a way to embarrass Aeta.
“Yes and I remember the day that I met Faelyn.” Aeta stated, beating Faelyn. “Nobody really wanted to be her friend because she always had her finger up her nose.”
“Don’t you have a file to read?” Faelyn said, changing her voice back to normal. Playtime was over.
“Don’t you have a backpack to organize?”
“Touché.”
“No it’s not touché, because I win. You really need to organize it.”
Faelyn huffed, giving up. “Remind me why I wanted you to come?” Aeta’s smile widened as she shrugged.
Nolan watched all of this, seeing a bond better than sisters. Though they appeared to have next to no respect for each other, the two girls seemed to know each other on a level far better than Nolan’s petty crush could ever get to.
Once again ignoring her companions, Aeta turned back to the file folder. Most of the pages were white with black computer printing on it, which was odd because the last time she had done a mission for the queen, most things were hand written since computers were scarce in her palace, or rather, electricity was. The information was organized a bit odd as well. At the very top it said, in big, black letters; LOCATION: CORDENDEL. Aeta’s mouth dropped.
“Cordendel?” She gasped. “When you said ‘south’ I didn’t know you meant South Pole south.” Cordendel was an old town deep in the southern hemisphere. While that wasn’t exactly impressive alone, Aeta knew that that was over 3000 miles away and on the other side of the Belt, a band of mountains that were the longest in the world. It was difficult to cross at the best of times and would take weeks to go around if they decided to avoid them. Aeta had only gotten a glance at them once, and they were intimidating at a distance. Besides, the Fay down there had there own royalty, meaning that there was little business they had down there anyway.
“I told you we were going south.” Faelyn said, ignoring him.
“Not that south.” Aeta replied.
“Well it’s too late to turn back now.”
“I didn’t say I wanted to turn back, I’m saying that you should’ve warned me.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t bring a heavy jacket or anything.”
“So buy one when we get there.”
“You’re impossible.”
Nolan interrupted. “You guys are going to Cordendel, too?”
“Please don’t tell me you’re going there.” Aeta suddenly stopped fighting with Faelyn.
“Yeah, my uncle and his daughter live there. Why are you guys going?”
“We’ve got classified business down there.” Faelyn said with a smile on her face.
“What do you mean classified? You can tell me we’ll probably be riding the same trains all the way down there. At least until the belt.”
“Sorry. I’ve got orders not to tell anyone I can’t trust.” Faelyn said matter-of-factly. The queen would kill her for saying that, but Faelyn was the type of girl you’d assume would say stupid things often.
Which she did constantly.
“Cut it out both of you!” Aeta said, annoyed. “It’s bad enough that I have to put up with one immature travel partner. I’m not taking a second.”
Before Nolan could protest the front door to the train car opened suddenly and a man entered holding a bag in one hand and a gun in the other. His face was scowling and he looked over everyone briefly.
Great, trouble. Aeta and Faelyn both thought at the same time, though one wasn’t as sarcastic as the other. Another man entered behind him and closed the door. He also carried a gun. This man was adorned with an expensive looking tux and a bushy mustache. He looked like he enjoyed luxuries constantly.
“Okay folks,” The man with the mustache said, “This is a robbery. As you can see, my compatriot here has a bag. I want you to place any valuables you have inside of it when he comes around. Anyone who refuses will be stripped naked and thrown off the train. Anyone who fights will be instantly shot. Under no circumstances are you to talk or stand up. I’d ask if that was clear, but that would require you to respond.” He chuckled to himself as he spoke, amused by his (not so) witty joke. “Feel free to call 911 because we’ll be long gone before this train reaches the station.”
Aeta and Faelyn looked at each other and nodded, each understanding what the other was thinking. As Faelyn slid under the bench, Aeta leaned closer to Nolan and whispered. “Switch places with me.”
The human looked to the Changeling with fear in his eye. When he saw the calm, collected Aeta, obediently looking forward, he felt compelled to do as she asked. She slid her butt off of the bench, keeping her legs bent so she would still look like she was sitting and created enough room for Nolan to squeeze through.
“Don’t move too fast or they’ll notice.” Aeta instructed. Slowly Aeta and Nolan reversed positions. Aeta was now next to the aisle as the man with the bag moved down through it. As he approached Aeta and Nolan, a little kid suddenly darted out from the first row of benches toward the man with the mustache. The whole train suddenly took an intake of breath as the little girl giggled.
“You’re funny.” She said, her head only as tall the man’s waist. The man with the sack turned around and pointed the gun at her, but his buddy waved him on, laughing.
“Well hello there. Who are you?” He asked in a jovial voice.
“I’m Faelyn and I’m going to be five years old tomorrow.” She giggled and jumped up and down. “I’m going to see mommy at the station since daddy and mommy don’t live together now. Is that a real gun?”
“Yes, it is a real gun. You should go and sit down now. It’s dangerous to stand up on a train.”
By now the man with the sack was closing in on Aeta and as he stepped up to her, she suddenly reached out and twisted the man’s wrist, making him let go of the gun in surprise. He cried out before Aeta launched herself off of the bench and rammed the man’s back into the corner of a bench. She threw the groaning man down, throwing up her right leg, reaching back and pulling a hidden dagger out of its ankle-tethered sheath, kicking his gun away as she brought the leg down. She pointed the shining yellow blade at the collapsed man sternly. She somehow did all of this as if it was just one motion.
“Hey!” the mustachioed man yelled, raising his gun. It didn’t get too far before Faelyn’s fist slammed into his jaw, causing his body to jump a good foot in the air before crashing into the door. Faelyn, now in her previous teenage form, yelped and shook her hand. “Ow, ow, ow!” She cried.
“What’s wrong?” Aeta asked, knife pointed at the man’s head. He didn’t look like he was too eager to get up, and whether he actually could was an entirely different topic. The dagger was just for intimidation really. It was made out of Fay metal, meaning that only the Fay could wield it and only the Fay could be harmed by it. This man had no magic scent and had no affiliation with the Fay.
“I think that he had one of those metal plates in his jaw that dentists put in when they do surgery.” Faelyn stopped waving her hand, but looked as if she was the one who had been stricken instead.
“At least pick up his gun.” Aeta suggested, looking towards her. “Faelyn!”
The robber had beaten Faelyn to the punch, picking up his gun weakly while in his dizzied state. With a shaking hand, he brought it level with Faelyn’s head, laughing.
“Nice try girls, but I’ve still got a gun.” He cackled. He pulled the trigger, and in what seemed like an instant, Faelyn fell to the ground, red blood spraying the passengers in the first seat like a splash zone in a water show as the bullet went clean through. Faelyn’s body fell to the floor like a ragdoll as the passengers screamed.
Aeta’s mind blanked out for a second before she realized that the man was now pointing the gun at her own body. She instinctively flinched at the realization at the same moment the trigger was pulled, saving her life as the bullet only nipped her cheek, leaving a thin, red line on her cheek as blood welled to the surface.
Aeta panicked for only a second, knowing that if she couldn’t concentrate, she wouldn’t be able to slow down time to a point where she could safely reach the robber without worry of ending up in a body bag first. She glared at him as he fired one more bullet at her, but everything to Aeta was in grayscale already, moving so slow that Aeta had to keep reminding herself to concentrate. If she didn’t, the bullet would run right through her at full speed.
As the bullet slowly crawled toward her, visibly splitting the air behind it, Aeta moved out of the way and waited for it to pass by before advancing on her foe. Even when she slowed time down, there was little she could do to stop a bullet.
Aeta walked up to the man wielding the gun and quickly took it out of his hands, sighing in relief as she slowly let time flow normally again, beginning to feel the drain of stopping time so drastically. The man reeled in surprise as Aeta seemed to just appear in front of him. He jumped backwards, his back hitting the door.
“Ho-how did you?” He stuttered, bringing his arm up like he still had a gun. Aeta paid him no mind, quickly opening the door behind him, making him fall out into the space between the trains. He jumped up, throwing a clumsy punch at her, which Aeta was ready for, dodging it quickly and kicking his side, likely breaking some of his ribs. He grunted in pain.
“Are you going to give up or am I going to have to throw you off of the train?” Aeta asked, her face blank. As the train sped along at an intense speed, it wouldn’t be too forgiving of a landing if he chose the latter option.
He charged her, but she had been expecting that. To the man, she had moved swiftly as she kicked his feet out from underneath him. He stumbled on the small grate for a moment before falling over the edge. Aeta looked away before he hit the ground. There were many things that she loved about adventure, including the fighting, but her problem always came after the fighting was over. She stayed where she was for only a moment before returning to the inside of the train car, pulling the door shut when she did.
She looked to Faelyn, now sitting up against the wall. She looked up at her and grinned weakly. There was a tiny line of blood on her forehead, that being the only trace that she was ever injured. It was incredibly hard to kill a Changeling that could shapeshift. The best way was to pierce its heart, but a skilled warrior might be able to fight with one long enough that the Changeling exhausted all of its magic and was too weak to heal itself anymore.
Faelyn stood up wobbily, smirking while imagining what the people must be thinking. IT’S A ZOMBIE!!! EVERYONE RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!
“I don’t know how you managed to survive without me.” Aeta sighed, looking over the passengers. Humans are basically incapable of accepting something they don’t believe in, so all the displays of magic would be twisted around in their minds until it became something “logical.”
“Usually I don’t get mugged by train jackers on the first day.” Faelyn tried to joke, failing. “Aeta, you’re bleeding.”
Aeta wiped the blood off of her cheek. “It’s nothing.”
Faelyn moved down the aisle to the man that Aeta had slammed into the back of the chair, eyeing the bag full of loot. “We should probably return that.”
“I can’t believe you.” Aeta said. They were waiting in line to get tickets for their next train. “Who sets off on an adventure without checking the train schedule first?”
“I do.” Faelyn said. “We’ll get there whether I checked it or not. We only have to wait until tomorrow to get on the train anyway.”
“But what if there wasn’t a train going to Lucim at all?”
“Then we’d find a different train and go on a different route.”
Aeta sighed, only have heartedly bickering with Faelyn. She was exhausted after running about the train returning everyone’s stuff.
“Hi Clockwork. Hi Faelyn.” Nolan said, suddenly coming out of the crowd.
“No fair, you can’t cut in line.” Faelyn complained.
Nolan ignored her. “You two are going to Cordendel right?”
“Yeah.” Aeta responded shortly. “I thought we already established that.”
“Do either of you have a driver’s license?” Nolan asked.
“What are you talking about?” Faelyn asked.
“Can either of you even know how to drive a car?” Nolan asked.
“Car?” Aeta thought a moment. “You mean one of those metal things on wheels?”
“Yeah, believe it or not, but instead of trains, people use cars to get around south of the Belt.”
Aeta could’ve slapped herself. How could she have forgotten that? “Do you have a point to make to us?”
Nolan reached into his back pocket and took out his wallet. He opened it and showed them a card with his picture on it. “I know how to drive, and I’m legally able to do it as well.” He put his wallet away. “So if we stick together, we can rent a car and get to Cordendel without much trouble at all.” Nolan smiled to himself. He didn’t want to be alone for the whole trip to Cordendel, and spending time with Aeta would solve that problem nicely. Faelyn seemed a little odd though. And there was also the fact that the two 18 year old girls had just stopped two train robbers by themselves, there was definitely some snooping to do in that matter. He continually found himself staring at the band-aid on Aeta’s cheek.
“Fine, we’ll travel together, but you’re not following us around like a lovesick puppy, got that?” Aeta reluctantly agreed. To her, traveling with Nolan was a risk to his safety. Aeta and Faelyn always seemed to attract trouble, and if the more magical kind got involved there would be questions asked that were not easily answered.
“You know Nolan, you never did tell me if you were her boyfriend.” Faelyn smiled.
“He’s not my boyfriend.” Aeta said coldly.
“Now, now,” Faelyn said, “you don’t have to be embarrassed about dating Nolan.”
“How about you two go and get us a hotel room somewhere while I get the ticket?” Aeta suggested. “Call me when you’ve got it and I’ll meet you there. You know my number, right Faelyn?”
She nodded and grabbed Nolan’s hand, not giving him a choice. “C’mon loverboy, let’s go get us a room.” She laughed, pulling Nolan away. He protested but it went ignored.
“Have fun you two.” Aeta called out, chuckling herself. She pulled out her wallet and looked inside. Besides a few bills, there was little real money inside of it. Instead there were numerous green colored rectangles of paper. Most Fay used the power of suggestion to get by with human life. They used a human’s natural inability to accept things that it can’t understand to make a regular slip of paper into money temporarily using small amounts of magic. Unfortunately it didn’t work on vending machines or similar objects, which is why it was always a good Idea to have a couple of one’s on hand.
Aeta took out a couple of the papers to pay for the three tickets with and put her wallet away. She found herself dearly wanting to take out the case file that she didn’t get the chance to read on the train, but she reminded herself that there were too many people around to do so.
I can’t wait until we get to Cordendel. Aeta thought to herself. Then things won’t be so boring.
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Topic: The Next Chapter, the story (Update 2) (Read 2051 times)