When I walked into the dining car, I was the last one there (as per usual with me). I felt relieved to see that none of the escorts were there. I spotted the small girl I met earlier and sat next to her. Her blue eyes widened at the sight of my blouse and she skimmed her fingers over the sleeve. "That's really pretty, even Clarice doesn't have anything like that." She whispered.
"Who's Clarice?" She pointed to a girl obviously in her mid-twenties. Her blond hair was hanging limply in a simple braid down her back and her olive green eyes were half closed. She caught sight of me and bared her teeth in a fierce snarl. I recoiled in my seat. "What's your problem?"
"My problem? It's my daughter's birthday today and I'm missing it!" I raised my hands in surrender. She turned her gaze to my right and snapped
"Stop looking at me like that Nadia." The small girl melted into my side, obviously not used to being shouted at.
"Hey! She's only young, and she's not even your kid so I'd shut it if I were you!" Clarice scoffed.
"Should I really?" She stood up, knocking her chair with a clatter to the floor.
"Now isn't the time," I said, trying to be the calm and collected one for once. "Just let it go." The older woman seemed to snap then. She picked up the sharpest knife on the table and dove across at me. It's just my luck that I get attacked twice in a day. I moved out of the way and crashed against the wall, hitting my head hard. My vision blurred and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor, with the knife pressed against my throat. A slow mocking clap echoed through the dining car.
It turns out I wasn't the last one to walk in. No, that was Nolan. And he was the one who was clapping. "Well, you just can't seem to stop fighting people; can you Delphi?" The way he said my name made me melt inside. It rolled off his tongue like silk over rocks. Then it struck me, how did he know my name? I opened my mouth to speak but Clarice pressed the knife harder, cutting off my words. "She deserved this," She hissed. "She insulted me."
"That's not tr-"
"Shut up! Or I will cut your throat out!" Her eyes bore into mine. I swear I could feel the hatred coming off her. She looked away for one moment and I took that as my chance. I grabbed her right wrist and pulled up. Sliding under the knife, I twisted and kicked her in the side, glad I had decided to keep my sturdy boots on. She collapsed onto the floor, clutching her side. I stood up and bolted for the door; the door Nolan was at. "Let me past." I said, putting as much menace in my voice as humanly possible. It didn't seem to deter him though. "Why should I?" He folded his arms and leant on the door behind him.
"Because I'm going to fight a bear, what do you think? I'm getting out of here." He raised an eyebrow at me.
"And where will you run to? Home is a long way off, and they'll catch you before you get 2 feet away from the train."
"At least I stand a better chance than you; they didn't electrify my window." At that moment, something inside him snapped. He grabbed the collar of my shirt, pressed the catch for the door – which slid open – and threw me into the corridor. I hit the floor with a crash. The corridor was deserted. I knew even if I screamed, no one would come to my rescue.
Nolan towered above me, staring hungrily at my still figure. For the first time, I really got a look at him. His mane of onyx hair was roughly cut; most of it was just brushing his shoulders. His eyes contrasted greatly. They were a pale green, like jade, with shards of amber dancing within them. He was…Beautiful. "So, you think you stand a better chance than me to run away?" He spat. "You don't know what I did to get here."
"Yeah, you're right, I don't. Every single one of us on this train has done something to be here," I cautiously sat up. "Maybe it was just because they were related to a member of the alliance, or maybe it was something bigger. Something more…Devious." I must have hit a nerve, because he backed up, tears glittering in his gem-like eyes. He lunged forward and I shielded my face, squeezing my eyes shut. The unmistakable hiss of a door opening echoed around me and I realised he'd done it. He'd gotten off the train; he was running.