Chapter 2
2 months earlier
Sven stared out at the elaborate ocean that danced gracefully. The little waves crashed against the quiet shore and the beautiful sunset glistened with orange and pink. Sven had sent Eve to boarding school two months ago. She had agreed, but only if Sven promised to visit her every month or so. So here he was, standing by the school building on a late Saturday afternoon.
"Sven," came a soft voice. Sven glanced behind him to see Eve. She had her hair still cut short and a long coat hugging her tight. She ran over to Sven and hugged him.
"it is good to see you," she said. Sven smiled.
"nice to see you too. Heard from Train?" he said. Eve shook her head and released Sven. She had grown a lot since Sven had seen her and now she was perfectly in line with his eyes.
"grown much, made any new friends?" Sven asked. Eve nodded.
"yeah, I have a lot of friends, but I don't see them much," she informed, "I have gotten a lot of detentions," she explained. Sven looked perplexed. He never imagined Eve as the bad type.
"I wish to be free, I miss lessons sometimes, and I go out for walks after curfew," Eve told him, "I don't mean to, but I cannot help myself, I hate it here, Sven, please take me home," she said. Sven was taken aback. He didn't know how to respond. But eventually he found himself. He shook his head, she had tried this last time he visited as well.
"no Eve, if you don't drop this I won't visit you anymore," he said firmly. Eve's eyes dulled. Her face dropped and she sighed.
"fine," she said and walked back to the school building. Sven couldn't help but feel guilty. But he shook his head and headed back to his car. He trudged in annoyance. She seemed way more spoilt than he remembered. Since when did Eve get upset by his decisions? He opened the door to his car and almost fell over backwards in shock.
"Train?" he said. The sweeper was lying on the front seat, a bottle of milk in his arms, all tucked up in a coil. His Hades was in his hand, hanging loosely by the handle. Sven noticed there were no bullets, so he wasn't worried. Even with his bullets, Train had almost flawless control. He leaned over to Train and opened one of his eyes with his hand.
"Train?" he asked. Train groaned and yet continued to sleep, "huh, even I didn't think he'd need an actual doorstep to curl up on…" Sven muttered. He shrugged and tugged the bottle of milk free from Train's hands. He took a swig and lay it back, then sat in the drivers seat and closed the car door, revving up the engine and setting off.
Train moaned lightly and opened his eyes. The car was running and he saw the faint outline of Sven in his groggy eyes.
"yo Sven, long time no see," he said. Sven scoffed.
"what'dya want this time?" he asked. Train shrugged. He glanced behind him. There was an empty space in the back seat and the books that sat in the seat pocket were gone. Train frowned.
"where's princess?" he asked. Sven glanced at him and he blinked quickly, to keep calm. The glitter in his eyes that had been there when he saw Train vanished and his face looked solemn and guilty.
"she's gone to boarding school," he explained. Train stared at him in shock, then his face curled into a suppressed smile.
"Eve agreed to go to school?" he asked in shock, "eve? School? I didn't even know the two belonged in the same sentence!" he added. Sven gave him a dangerous glare and Train's smile faltered. The rest of the car journey was silent. Until…
"so what's for dinner?" Train asked.
Train POV
"train? Train?" said a calm, gentle voice. Train opened his eyes groggily. He heard a pathetic moan and seconds later realised it had come from him. Saya stood above him, a smile on her face and a look that said "bless his heart". Train sat up in his bed. He looked at Saya, at her beautiful form and respectable expression. Train rubbed the back of his neck. He yawned loudly and reached next to his bed towards a bottle of milk which wasn't there. Saya raised an eyebrow and tossed one to him. Train gratefully smiled at her and drank.
"I've got a good idea," Saya said, "wanna race?" she suggested. Train blinked.
"why?" he asked.
"what are you saying you can't keep up?" Saya giggled. Train stood up.
"of course not!" he said dramatically, "a race it is!" Saya clapped her hands. She giggled and led him outside. There was nothing but light out here now, no paths, no sky, nothing but the brightness of the sun. Train was shocked at first when he stepped outside, that he could stand, but steadied himself and walked on. Saya didn't seem at all concerned about the absence of the floor, but instead just watched Train struggle, with a ridiculing face.
"ready?" she asked, "go!" as soon as she said it, Saya was off in a speedy sprint. Train was shocked for a moment, just staring at her speed. Then he collected himself and speed up after her. Soon enough they were in line. Train jumped ahead of Saya. Who giggled and ran even faster.
"anything you can do, i can do better!" she sang. Train scoffed.
"oh yeah?" he questioned, running far ahead of her. Saya ran more, speeding back up to him.
"yeah," she said, "and i can do it in Geta Sandals," she teased. Train's face edged into a grin. The two laughed as they ran. Train glanced at Saya. He blinked and stopped running. He could have sworn he had seen through her. Saya had stopped running as well and looked at Train with concern.
"what is it?" she asked. Train blinked. He shook his head and smiled.
"nothing, catch me if you can!" he said, breaking into a run.