Twenty minutes later, they had managed to climb up in an empty boxcar of the old variety. There were usually at least one of these to be found on any train, especially one departing from a town like this, where buildings had fallen into disrepair and nobody really cared anymore.
Besides, Mel was good at hiding.
Finally, the train ground into motion, and the two of them dared to breathe. Their chances of being found now were very slim. Mel went to sit in the open doorway, dangling her legs outside. No matter how many times Jess told her it was dangerous, it was always the first thing she did when they hopped a train. It was probably just because she was an insolent, stubborn little wretch.
Jess sat down with her back to the wall and broke out their lunch – a pitiful thing it was, just crackers and cheese and a couple apples. Mel snatched up one of the apples and rolled it around in her hands, considering it. "Do you think they'll ever get tired of chasing me?" she suddenly asked.
"Who?"
"You know who." Mel said, not even bothering to look at Jess reprovingly. She directed her scowl out to the passing trees instead. Glaring at Jess never worked.
After a moment's pause, Jess slowly said, "Maybe. Someday. When you're old and gray and you can stop being so darned obvious about yourself."
Mel sighed and lay back on the wooden floor of the car, pulling her legs up so her feet rested just on the edge of the open door, her toes tantalizingly close to the open air. "Do you think my mum and dad could ever find me?"
Jess' mouth twisted into the wry imitation of a smile. "I thought you said they were dead."
Mel looked over at her. "You're not the only one who has dreams, you know. I did, too. Last night. I dreamed they were alive. And they came to get me, and we were all happy."
"Sounds like the dream I had when I thought my mom's boyfriend wasn't a jerk. Face it, Mel – the eyepatch lady-"
"Madame Kovarian."
"Yeah, whatever – she's probably right. Your parents are dead, because do you really think a woman like that'd leave them alive?"
Mel looked away from Jess again, tilting her chin down so she could see her hands. "Sometimes I think I can remember things. Little flashes of my mum's face. A funny man who could understand me. And then they all went away, and there was only her left, and the people I can't remember…"
Jess could tell Mel was fixing to drift off into sleep. Her voice stumbled over itself, and her eyes were drifting shut. "Sometimes I think I can hear them calling me…like if I'd just wait five seconds, just a little bit longer when they're chasing us…I'll find them, because my parents'll come to find me…"