Chapter 2: The Encounter

Sebastian tripped and fell hard onto the ground. He turned behind to see the doctor following closely. Overwhelmed with intense fear, he quickly climbed back up to his feet, stumbled forward as he tried to get away.

He looked over his shoulder as he ran from car to car. Strangely no matter how fast he was, he can't seem to shake off his pursuer.

Running back and hiding in his own compartment was definitely out of option. What's more the train doesn't have much hiding places. While pondering where he should headed next, he found himself stumbled upon the baggage car entrance.

Without thinking twice, he hastily looked around to see if the doctor was nearby. Surprisingly he was nowhere at sight. Taking this chance, Sebastian went in. He scanned around the car for a hiding spot and noticed a few boxes right stacked at a corner. He checked and was relieved that they were just about the right size for an adult to fit in.

He opened the lid and climbed inside. He carefully closed it back in position and sat there. He then noticed a tiny gap at the center of the box he's in and decided to peek through to keep a lookout.

Moments later Sebastian heard the tapping sound of the walking stick, followed by footsteps at a distance. He felt his heart beating fast.

Soon the sounds halted right at the baggage car door and slowly the entrance slid opened. Sebastian could clearly see the doctor's large shadow, casted by the flickering light, loomed over the baggage car interior.

Through the gap, he saw Guillermo walking in. The enormous old man proceeded to the pile of baggage and began his search, shifting them here and there with his stick.

Sebastian watched him from his hiding spot. Guillermo, seeing that his target was not in the midst, turned his attention to the boxes.

Sebastian quickly recoiled as he drew near, and covered his mouth to muffle his breathing. The doctor grinned momentarily, adjusted his brim hat and toyed with his walking stick.

"Where are you?" he called out. "Come on out wherever you are."

Sebastian heard one of the box lid open, not far from his.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he opened another. "I just want you to do something for me."

Sebastian, knowing that he's no longer safe. He kicked opened the box and crawled out.

"There you are," Guillermo's black-gloved hand tried to grab him but he managed to duck as he dashed straight for the exit. He was about to reach the door handle when he felt something tugged his left leg hard that he fell.

He turned back and saw child-sized porcelain doll, blonde curly hair with a black ribbon and wearing a black Victorian dress, gripping at his leg while Guillermo slowly approached.

"Don't be rough on him, my dear Belle," he said.

"Where are you going?" the doll asked. "Play with me!"

"L…Let go!"Sebastian in frenzy, tried to free himself from the creepy doll's strong grip. "LET GO!"

But the doll won't instead she giggled playfully. In rage, he leaned forth and placed one of his hands on her forehead. He strangely felt a surge of overwhelming power in his mind and released its energy.

Belle suddenly shrieked making Guillermo kind of taken aback. The next thing they knew, she flew across the room and smashed onto the wall causing a hideous dent.

"Belle!" Guillermo cried out as the doll, now had a crack on her face, slumped onto the ground. Sebastian staggered by what he just did, stared at his hand.

"Did I just…" he mumbled.

"Oh my sweet Belle!" the doctor scooped his precious porcelain doll up in his arms. He caressed her face. "Hush don't cry...daddy will fix you up."

Sebastian quickly got back up and ran out without even looking back. Right now, he was focused on getting away from both of them. He ran all the way back to the power car and pulled the emergency brake without giving a damn.

A loud, harsh and squealing braking sound screeched throughout the train and soon it came to an abrupt stop.

Sebastian didn't even bother about retrieving his backpack nor where the train had stopped. He just alighted and ran into the woods nearby, for his dear life.

He pushed past the branches and leaves. Twigs scratched his face and tugged at the sleeves of his trench coat. Without any source of light, it was extremely hard for him to see in the dark, and constantly tripping over tree roots. But he kept running even though he heard no one following him.

Soon he found himself out into the opening, illuminated by the moonlight, and saw an empty street right ahead. He climbed over the road railing, doubled over as he gasped for air. His legs were trembling from the running.

Night was still around him. Sebastian checked his watch to see what time it was now. He was astonished to find it was already 12.15pm.

After he had regained his breath, he walked down the street, trying to figure out where he needed to find a nearby town to get help. He sighed as he recalled that he abandoned his backpack and passport back at the train but thanked lady luck that his wallet and cell phone were kept in his coat pocket.

He took out his cell phone to see if he could call his uncle for aid. Sadly no signal was detected. Hungry as well as cold, he tucked his hands into his coat pockets to keep them warm and continued on his journey.

After 30 minutes of wandering aimlessly, Sebastian felt the exhaustion setting in. His eyes were getting heavy probably due to his frailty condition.

To be honest, he hasn't fully recovered from his fever. Ever since he obtained this 'gift' he had been falling sick frequently. Though he responded well to medication and went back to work, he suffered a relapse later.

"You will get well soon," that's what his colleagues always say to him. But he knew very well in his heart that they're getting tired of it.

His chief even came to pay him a visit one day and suggested that he should apply for a long term break till he's better. However Sebastian declined his offer, staying at home will only made him frustrated. He wasn't physically weak but rather his illness were caused by the strains of his 'gift'.

And now he stuck at god-knows-where place till he found either a town, motel, petrol station or anything as long he can find help from and get some rest.

He doesn't know how long he had been walking. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed a dirty stairway on a concrete slope at the side, leading up to a security fence. On the other side were warehouses. Relieved, he immediately headed for it. Maybe he can find help there.

He climbed up the stairs then over the fence. Due to his fatigue, he lost his balance and fell hard on his back. He groaned in pain as he rolled back onto his stomach. He had barely been able to prop himself up when a powerful hand wrapped about the collar of his trench coat and hauled him upright.

Sebastian was staggered at first. Then he slowly looked behind. He gasped the moment he saw that very familiar face.

"Had enough?" Guillermo greeted him. The creepy doll Belle, which Sebastian attacked earlier, was sitting on the doctor's shoulder. Staring down at Sebastian with her cold, icy emotionless eyes. The crack on her face were completely gone.

Sebastian started reacting viciously and tried to jerk himself free from the strong grip but his fatigue prevented him from doing so.

"Why?" Guillermo pulled Sebastian close to him. "Why do you resist?"

"What is it you want with me?" Sebastian looked up to him.

"Didn't I just state back at the train?" Guillermo replied. "I need you to do something for me."

"Which is?" he demanded an answer.

"To relive Beacon, of course."

Sebastian was stunned. "W…What?"

"It's your rightful place," he continued. "It's where you rightfully belong."

"No its not!" Sebastian shook his head. He tried to pull himself free from Guillermo's grip but was forcibly pulled back.

"Ruvik sees the potential in you. You're special."

"This isn't true!"

"Now now…," Guillermo stroked him by the hair to calm him down. Sebastian felt cold shiver running down his spine as the doctor's hand was oddly chilling cold. "You know it very well. Just accept the fact, Sebastian. After all…"

He whispered into his ear.

"…you survive."

Sebastian was speechless that he slowly looked away. Guillermo grinned at him.

"Now come with me."

"I'm not going back!" Sebastian refused to cooperate.

"Too late for that," as he dragged him along. Suddenly a spark of fire was fired onto the concrete ground. Splinter of small concrete scattered by the impact. Alarmed by the sudden attack from nowhere, Guillermo instinctively with one strong arm wrapped around Sebastian's waist, lifted him off ground, holding him hostage.

A dust of smoke merges and materialized into a stranger, his face was concealed by the shadow of his hood, wearing a denim vest with a black sweater inside, pair of denim jean and black sneakers. He had a long chain whip wrapped around his right arm.

Both were surprised by his sudden appearance. Sebastian was wondering who he was; to be so daring to stand up against this doctor.

"Who are you?" Guillermo asked.

However the unknown stranger never spoke a word instead he immediately swung his chain whip towards him. Belle quickly blocked off the attack to protect her master.

The doll with her hands grabbed the chain. Little did they expect, it was actually the stranger's intention; he gripped the other end of the chain whip, unleashed a fire trail towards her.

By the time she realized the incoming danger, it was already too late. She was immediately consumed by the fire. She screamed in agony as she fell, rolled on the ground, trying to extinguish the flames blazing on her.

"Belle!" Guillermo quickly flicked his fingers. Just when he did that motion, the flames consuming the doll vanished but was still badly burnt as she lied face downwards, moaning on the concrete floor.

Seeing that he had successfully diverted the doctor's attention, he materialized once again into a gust of smoke, swept towards them then engulfed itself on Guillermo, choking him.

Guillermo, with one hand brushed desperately at the smoke, trying to disperse it. It was so thick that it even clouded his vision, he didn't notice that his hold on his hostage loosened. The smoke then took this opportunity and engulfed Sebastian next.

Sebastian thought he was going to choke but strangely he didn't at all. Instead he felt a sense of warmth as if it was welcoming him. The next thing he knew the smoke materialized back into the hooded stranger and snatched him away from Guillermo's hold.

Alarmed by this sudden action, Guillermo tried to retrieve Sebastian back but the hooded stranger while holding the detective in a protective stance, shot a few flame sparks directly onto his eyes, blinding him again.

"ARGH!" he shouted in pain.

Carrying Sebastian in his arms, he flew into one of the warehouses. Once they're safe, the hooded stranger gently placed him down on the ground, got up and checked around the corner to see if the doctor was still on their trail.

Sensing that they're safe for the time being, he returned to Sebastian's side. He then removed his hood to reveal his face. A young man probably around in his mid-twenties, looking down at him while the older man looked up at him.

"You ok?" he asked.

Sebastian didn't respond instead he moved away from him, terrified.

The young man immediately knew he had somehow unintentionally freaked him out.

"I'm really sorry about what happened back there," he quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to frighten you but it's the only way to get you away from that creep."

He moved forth but Sebastian moved away from him again.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he tried to convince him, "I just want to help that's all. You're safe now."

Sebastian somehow sensed honesty and trust in the young man's words.

"Y…you're not one of them are you?" he asked.

"Pardon?" the stranger can't seem to understand what he was talking about.

"You aren't one of those who tries to use me for their purposes?" Sebastian asked again.

"I really don't get what you meant," the young man give him a confused look. "What purposes? What are you talking about?"

(Looks like he isn't) Sebastian thought to himself. "Nothing. Never mind."

"Anyway," the young man offered a helping hand. "I'm Delsin Rowe. What's yours?"

Sebastian looked at him before reaching out for his hand. "Sebastian…Sebastian Castellanos."

"It's best we don't stay here Sebastian," he helped him up. "There's a small town not far from here. We will be safe there besides that doctor…" There was a short pause. "He doesn't seems human."

(He isn't human to start with…) Then he gave Delsin a quick glance.

"Are you hu…?"

"Is he trying to kidnap you if you don't mind me asking?" Delsin cut in.

Sebastian looked at him then nodded his head. "Yeah…I met him on the train. I manage to escape but I didn't expect he is able to catch up."

"Ok…," Delsin said. "We might have to report this to the police."

"It's useless," Sebastian replied. "I doubt they will believe us."

"What makes you say that?"

"Didn't you just saw what he did back there?"

"Erm…he controlled that doll."

"Do you think the cops will believe our story if we tell them that?"

There was a short silence.

"Anyway let's just get out of here…" Delsin placed Sebastian's arm over his shoulder and supported him as they exited the warehouse.

END OF CHAPTER 2