Kate, Jodi and Madii walked for about an hour until they got to a train station two towns down. Kate went up and bought three tickets and then went back downstairs to where her two sisters sat in silence. Although Madii tried hard not to show she was tired, she was fast asleep in Jodi's arms by the time their train came 20 minutes later.
As the train's soft repetitive rocking finally lulled them to sleep, Kate saw someone walk into their carriage that woke up Kate with a jolt. She quietly woke up Madii and Jodi up. "We have to move carriages, NOW! Don't look now but guess who's sitting less than four sets of seats away! Move quietly now, keep your heads down." Kate's heart was beating a mile a minute when they got to the last carriage on the train and sat down. After sitting on the alert for over half an hour Madii spoke, "Look. He's getting off." And sure enough there sat Alex on the benches on the benches. The rest of the 2 hour train ride was relatively uneventful except for a few fights and a car accident Madii saw from the train. It was around 3.30am when they finally got off the train and, to Jodi's disappointment, straight on to a bus. Jodi's groan could have been heard in Texas for goodness sake, and it was only when Kate assured her it was only a ten minute bus ride from now.
Kate fell asleep and slept bitterly for about five minutes, her dreams riddled with Alex finding them. It was Christmas Day, Alex hadn't hit or yelled at and one yet. However he hadn't allowed her mother to see Aunty Lindy though, "She's a trouble making cow in a fat suit" He had said. However mum hadn't seemed upset about it, she just went along with whatever he said now. "Lunch is ready" mum had called out and Kate finished packing up her dolls and gone up to eat. Kate suddenly heard Alex's footsteps thudding down the stairs. Alex grabbed Kate by the hair and spat in her face, "And no, you lazy cow, you couldn't be bothered helping, you had to go play with Barbie didn't you. Your mother has been cooking ALL DAY and you couldn't be BOTHERED TO EVEN HELP! And now that lunch, CHRISTMAS lunch is ready, you take your sweet time getting here" Kate froze. He had the upper hand. "I'm s-s-s-sorry A-Alex. It won't hap-appen ag-g-gain." He looked at her, utter loathing evident in his putrid features. "Damn straight it won't" He replied as he hit her with the glass he was holding in his hand. It shattered and glass fragments exploded everywhere. Kate toppled down the stairs as Alex stormed out of the house and slammed the door. Kate! Kate! Madii was shaking her. KATE!
She was jolted back to reality by Madii shaking her arm. "Are you okay, you were shouting in your sleep?" Kate looked like she was lost in thought, then she came back down to earth. "Yeah, I'm fine. Hey, this is our stop." They pressed the STOP button and started walking down the road. The sun was starting to rise now, the light just visible over the roofs of houses. After walking for about five minutes in silence Madii broke it. "How much longer Katie?" She asked in an exhausted voice. Kate didn't answer but walked little over ten metres then stopped in front of a block of units. "We're here." She said then walked inside, slipping out of her bag three golden keys. She walked onto the footpath of the units then unlocked the door. She turned to her two sisters, "C'mon guys." And they ran into the corridor. "Guys, its 5.30am. Shhhh!" They looked at Kate. "Sorry", they whispered. Kate looked at all the numbers on the doors. "Guys, look for 6B." Said Kate still scanning the numbers. After walking Madii called out. "Kate, it's here." Kate unlocked the door and stepped inside.
It was an averagely sized room with a small kitchen adjoined to the lounge room, and two separate doors of the lounge room, presumably the bathroom and bedroom. Kate suddenly felt like the 14 year old she was. Then responsible Kate took over. "Alright, Madii, go do your teeth, and get your P.J's on. Jodi, help me make the bed, I bought some sheets and there's a new doona already here. Jodes, you and Madds will have to share the bed; I'll sleep on the couch. C'mon, let's go!"
And at 6:30am when Kate finally got to bed, sleep claimed her straight away.