Chapter Two

Kaelita

The time had finally come, school. I would sneak away to this Autoburro place and try to pass as a student, as long as I was learning why should I get kicked out? Before heading to the Train Station though I made sure at least to get one extra outfit and some quick breakfast. Then I stopped by the library to buy that one book I found earlier. They said they didn't normally sell things but I was the first to check it out in years and so sold it to me for 50 cents. I was grateful the news hadn't spread as far as the library, surly she wouldn't have given me the book then…at least not cheap.

The book was pretty heavy because of it's thickness but would really be of some use to me in the long run so in my bag it went. "Now to the Train Station," I said to myself. "I should make it if I skip through the woods."

It was funny how familiar I was getting to the greened area; I could walk through blind folded if I had someone else to prove I did it. But no I was on this journey alone I knew if I were to meet someone I would just have to pretend again that I fit in anyway. I frowned at the thought and pressed on. It had been two months now and my physical features seemed to all come in; pointed ears, razor sharp bleach white teeth, and my natural born eyes were the icing on the cake to my vampire appearance, purple eyes with a red rim. I was just about to the clearing when I heard talking in the distant. If my memory served me well it was the same girls from the woods. I was correct. "Are you sure you want to take the train?" The bow girl asked sadly.

"Yes I'm sure I had already paid for the ticket. Besides, you haven't had much practice with two people and it's a long way."The other girl said adjusting her hat.

"Well alright…" The bow girl tried to put on a smile and then I saw the craziest thing, she flew away! She actually hopped on a broom and flew! I managed to utter a wow as her friend waved good-bye and then it was time to act. As the hat girl entered the train I was a short way behind.

"Your ticket?" A brawly man asked sternly. As he turned to look at me he stopped, his face was old and voice rather husky. He looked mean but began to smile at me asking the question again in a different tune. "Your ticket please?" He gently reached out his hand to receive but I looked down sheepishly and frowned.

"I don't have a ticket, but I'm willing to pay I really need to be on this train." The man continued to smile and said it was alright I could pay $60 and be on my merry way. I dug in my bag and paid, well there goes tomorrow's food and shelter. As I progressed down the isles and got further from his site another passenger boarded, seems he only liked me because the guy was a lot meaner to the next person that got on. I ignored it not giving a second though; I needed to find the girl again so I could find a seat near her. It didn't take long before I caught her dazing out at the scenery and finding a seat wasn't difficult since the train was practically empty.

I took a spot four seats down and kept all my senses open. Time passed and I overheard a passenger ask for the stop time. "We should reach our next destination in about two hours Miss. How bout you girl, where's your departure?" I snuck a glance at the door and let out a sigh of relief, he wasn't talking to me. Instead Hat girl turned to the man at the doorway and I ducked so he wouldn't get a chance to see me and blow my cover.

"I'll be here til about the very last stop. Is that a problem?" Her voice sounded vicious, suddenly I was afraid.

"No not at all, you just seemed like you're packed for a long trip is all."

"Well I'm heading to school and it happens to be far so I need a heavy load." The man tipped his hat and apologized. The girl just nodded and adjusted her hat again before turning back tot the window. I wonder what her deal with the hat is. I wear my hoodie to hide my ears but what could she be hiding? Oh well she said we had a long way to go, perhaps I can afford a rest. With that thought I leaned onto the chair and dozed off. As I dreamt I had the strangest dreams. I saw myself living in distant times, probably three hundred years back. It made no sense because I hadn't even read books that far back. The images raced through my mind making it hard to capture anything. However, only once it got to times we covered in history like the medieval times did things start to slow down. I was a servant working for the royal family. But then it got ugly; Salem witch trials. I was being chased out of town by its people with torches and pitchforks. My heart was pounding and I felt out of breath as if I was really running. But before the people caught me I had awaken. "You alright?" It was Hat girl; she was sitting in the seat facing me now.

"Um…yeah." So much for just following her.

"Y sure? You were huffing and squirming, musta had a bad dream."

"…Yeah…" I said lost, why is she being so nice?

"Oh well ok bye." She said getting up. Again with the coldness. I quickly reached for her shirt but remarked by my speed I immediately let go, Hat girl stopped too. "What the heck?!"

"I…I'm sorry." I said softly looking at my hand, was it possible that I developed another trait; speed? I'll have to make sure to be careful; maybe I'll even look this up in the book later.

"Dang right your sorry why'd you pull at me?"

"I wanted to ask about the hat." She froze and gripped the hat.

"It's none of your business." She said walking back to her original seat. I jumped up and ran in front of her. "How'd you get in front of me?" I had forgotten to hold back on the speed when I ran and quickly thought up an excuse to keep my secret safe.

"I'm small, so I easily squeezed in front of you. Now answer my question, why are you so protective of that hat?" The girl got angry and pushed me aside, it was fast but I had caught a glimpse of sadness in her eyes as she left to the next car. I didn't mean to anger her but I couldn't help but be curious and know what was wrong with her. "I can't take a hint can I?" I asked myself smiling and followed her to the next car.

"Can't you take a hint? '..." She spoke slowly as if I was retarded.

"Apparently not since I still want to know about your hat."

"Well I'm not talking." She said bluntly and turned to the window.

"This a long ride," I said smiling, "eventually you will want to talk with someone and I will be the only one here. And I won't talk about anything but your hat." The girl huffed and glued her eyes to the beauty outside.

Timed passed and the girl eventually fell asleep. Now's my chance! I thought excited. Now I was able to take her hat and have a peek. But that isn't right…I weighed the events in the head and decided it was best to restrain; dang conscience. Oh well besides, she hated me enough as it was.

When she woke up later that day she immediately grabbed her head and looked at me. "You didn't take my hat while I was asleep did you?" Her eyes seemed to pry into my very soul.

"I wanted to." I stated bravely, she looked surprised. "But I hoped you would eventually tell me." Her surprised expression turned to frustration.

"So you hoped to butter me up?" I can honestly say I didn't see that response coming. I saw her reasoning after a second though and tried to patch things up.

"I meant that hopefully we could get to know each other better. For instance, hello my name is Renee." Hat girl eyed me up and down before answering.

"I'm Kaelita," she stuck out her hand in greeting, "nice to meet you Renee." I grasped her hand and returned the gesture of kindness.

"So what's Autoburro Academy like?" I had to ask, if she wouldn't talk about herself I wanted to know where we were going. Kaelita looked at me puzzled so I asked again. "Don't you go there?"

"How did you find out?" I played with my thumbs and spoke innocently trying to avoid trouble.

"I heard you and a friend talking, the school sounds glorious."

"Well if you don't go there you can't know about it. This is going to be my first year going so I don't know much anyway."

"Oh," I looked down in disappointment. I was so close to getting somewhere. "How do I apply?" Kaelita looked puzzled again and finally said I most likely wouldn't be accepted. "Well why not?" Kaelita was about to give a reason why when we heard someone come in.

"Excuse me miss but this is your stop." It was the brawly train conductor.

"Alright," Kaelita got up and went for her bags. Before she left however she turned around and gave me a faint smile while saying good-bye.

"And what about you missy, when's your stop?" I looked up and decided I was going to follow Kaelita when a hand grabbed my shoulder.

"She's getting off with me." The voice was smooth but authoritive. I turned around and saw a guy with dark brown hair and reddish brown eyes. The train conductor nodded and went back to his post.

"Who are you?" I asked curiously. He was silent and took a seat, patting the spot next to him so that I would sit down next to him. Smiling half-heartedly I sat in the seat facing him instead. He shrugged and began to speak.

"Open your mouth." He asked so casually that it took me a second to remember to ask why. "Because, I want to see your teeth." I froze, he knew what I was!? I wasn't safe now; surely he would throw me off the train. "I won't hurt you I promise." His eyes looked at me so gently; I figured someone who could have such a genuine look on his face couldn't be dangerous. So I opened my mouth. Inside my razor sharp canines sparkled back at the guy and he smiled. "Welcome to Autoburro."

"What?! What are you talking about?" I couldn't believe it, what did my teeth have anything to do with me going to school?

"The better question us why were you planning to go alone? And with one bag, where are your parents?" My chest stung with the mention of my parents. It had been a month since I'd last saw them and I was right to think they wouldn't look for me, but I still loved them even if in a small place in my heart. I looked up and held back the tears.

"I left because they don't want me anymore." My words came off cold and emotionless, it had to be to cover all the pain I felt.

"What happened?" I was a question but seemed like a command to answer. I didn't want to but something about him made me feel so comfortable.

"They found out I was…different. Everyone did." I was a sinful person in all their eyes now, maybe even the rest of the world. That's when the man placed his hand on my knee and gave me a sincere look of compassion.

"You don't have to worry anymore." I wanted to believe him but nothing good seemed to be coming out of this, I mean how many vampires are in the world now that I think about it. "Come now, we still have a few hours on here so why not sleep?" I yawned in agreement and fell asleep in the seat. As I was drifting off I felt something put over me, perhaps a jacket, and then as I hovered over unconscious I heard him utter, "Vampire."