Ah... my heart... is the worst. Can't even slow down a little? ... it's already hard enough to keep on the mission.

“Ok, I've released you all. Go, run along now,” soldier #2 said, gruffly.

Wison and Jazard ran off first, not even stopping for a second to see what would become of Afton.

Calm down, already! You gotta keep calm for the whole trip. Breathe in. Breathe out.... Gosh! The beating of my heart is more exaggerated when I hold my breath!

“What are you doing here, kiddo. You wanted freedom so badly, and now you're staying?”

Idiot is making my blood boil...

Mustering all the foolishness he had left, he asked shyly, “Sir. Can I go with you?”

“What does he say?!”

“I really like the truck. Can I go with you?”

“Kid, we do things rough around here. We live a cold life, eat only two dishes, and watch through the night. You think you can handle that kind of life?”

You bet! At the Orphan Brigade we only had cold soup and a extra-thin slice of baguette. Two dishes sound like Heaven! ...well... there is the problem with my bed though, I'm going to miss it.

Afton nodded his head like a crazy person.

“Heh, fine. We'll reach our destination in a few days. I'll let you off if you can't take it. You're a good kid and that's the only reason I'm letting you on,” the soldier laughed, patting Afton's back. Afton laughed together with him.

Woah... did I just shudder there? His very face is freezing my blood.

“Hey, kid, we're moving off soon. You can get into the second truck, we'll get to know each other better on the way.”

“Sure!”

This... is where my life ends. I thought it would end last night but... right now, I kind of wished it did. Acting was never my major. Now....my whole life is going to be whatever comes out of my head.

The refugees had already packed up their tents and all other belongings they had. They were presently boarding the 4th and 6th trucks.

It's a wonder that they could all fit. Didn't expect all that baggage....

Afton got into the 2nd truck. It was not half as dark as the 5th one, so Afton could see all their faces clearly.

Not like that makes anything better... these guys are freaking me out!

He reflexively found the locket at his chest and held tightly to it. The locket always had a charm to it. Afton would stay calm so long as he touched it.

After a few hours of waiting in complete silence, Afton dozed off...

****

“Sish! Push me on the sweeng! He he he he he,” a little boy squealed, his eyes shining, drool dribbling as he giggled.

“Ok, now. Fwy!” the equally small sister screamed, throwing all her weight into pushing her brother.

“Wee! Higher! Higher! He he he he!” he cried, enjoying the moment.

“Kids, time for dinner!”

“Yay!”

“Mommy, when'z daddy comee home?”

“I'm not sure about that, sweetheart, daddy is a very important person in the outside world so he's very busy,” the mother replied, patting the little girl affectionately.

“I wish daddy wasn't beezure!” the little boy shouted with his mouth full of meat.

“Why's that, Yarrow?” the mother laughed.

“Dan he would come back! Now, we doe know if he's dead or not!”

The mother was surprised for a moment...

_Scene change_

“Daddy? Mommy? Sish? Sisher Cypress?” the boy called into the vast forest of towering trees.

Lonely and cold, he had been so for two days now. Grubby fingers and wide eyes, he was abandoned to the mercy, or is it hard-heartedness, of the wild.

“Mommy?” he called once more. The little voice echoed through the forest.

Tired and hungry, he snuggled against the rough trunk of an enormous oak, waiting, as he hugged his knees, for the replying echo that never came.

****

“Kid! Kid! Are you alright?”

Afton's eyes shot open in fear as he crash-landed back from the world of dreams.

“Kid, it was hilarious! You were crying in your sleep! Ha ha ha ha!”

“Stop it, Haydren, he's an orphan, imgine what he's been through,” soldier #2 scolded. Upon the realization, all the other soldiers swallowed their held-back laughter and Hayden's face turned a shade of bright pink.

Afton kept his mouth shut throughout the incident, he was too busy thinking.

Wait... how long have I slept? Which direction are we going? Oh... I shouldn't have picked this time for sleep. Well, I did think I was going to die...

“Kid, what are you thinking about?”

“My family, sir.”

“You said you didn't have parents, right, so do you have... erm... like siblings?”

“I'm not so sure. I think I have a brother and... no I don't think I have siblings.”

Hmm, if I die. I hope they do it quickly. They won't torture and stuff... oh, I should stop thinking negative about all this. I hope they give me some water though, don't want to die of thirst.

“Kid, if you ever feel hurt or sad, you can come to me. I'm not good with empathizing or anything but I'll do my best.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Well then, I guess I'll break it to you that it's lunch time!”

Afton looked around in astonishment as he watched all the people from before unload, dragging chairs and little packets of food along with them.

They have all the time to do this?! I mean, are they fearless or just plain dumb?! They could easily be mistaken for tourists and their guides, relaxing their feet with not a care in the world... Are those kids playing hide-and-seek?! Guys! This is enemy territory!

He sat down slowly, rather disillusioned with the way Chrisianons do things. He chewed on a sandwich slowly as he watched with utter amazement as the soldiers wolfed down theirs. Beside him, soldier #2 had already finished his sandwich as well as his drink and was licking any stray sauce off his fingers.

How long have these guys been starving? Poor them...

Afton offered his sandwich to soldier #2.

“I think you need it more than I do,” he said quietly.

Soldier #2 looked at it like he would gold. Stuffing the half-sandwich into his mouth in one go, chewing noisily, he was the very picture of gluttony. “Thanks.... kid,” he managed to squeeze between bites. After swallowing all that too, soldier #2 wiped the sauce off his mouth with his index finger and sucked it voraciously.

Man... how does he do that?!

Afton handed his drink over too. It was gratefully accepted, more like snatched, from his hands. Gulping it all down within twenty seconds, soldier #2 stood up and belched. “Ah, that was mighty nice of you, kid. Thanks for the extras.”

There was no reply, Afton was occupied blinking and rubbing his eyes for all he was worth.

I almost regret throwing a sandwich into that black hole... My drink! I was so thirsty, too.

After the soldiers had eaten, they escorted the person out of the 5th truck and relieved the two bodyguards/jailers of their duties. It was rather weird as thirty soldiers sat down in a circle around this little important hooded figure, leaving only ten to actually watch the civilians.

Reminded of his mission by the appearance of this person, Afton wormed his way into the circle, finding a spot beside soldier #2 (who was staring at the wasted sandwich in the hands of the captive licking his lips involuntarily). Afton took this time to inspect this person. His face and body was mostly covered with his hood and cape, so the only thing that was actually visible was his legs and hands.

He wore long black skinny jeans, the same shade as his hooded cape, and from what could be seen, his legs were rather well-shaped. There were boots on his feet, a simple design with the same black. The only skin that could be seen on this person was his hands. (It's totally cliché but...) They looked white, all the slender fingers and the back of his hands.

Could pass for a girl's hands if it wasn't for the scars. Well, that's enough of staring at this stranger for me. Whoever this person is, he's spooking me a little...

Afton did try once more to see the face under the shadow, to no avail. Giving up, he broke the circle and retired to the 2nd truck to rest. This time, he spread out the length of three-quarters of one bench.

They'll definitely have to wake me up this time.

****

Ah... that was nice... didn't even have a dream... but why does it seem like my whole world is being shaken? Oh... how did that...?

“You're a really good sleeper, kid! That right there was phenomenal!” soldier #2 cackled in his face.

“What?” he asked drowsily, he got up slowly to find himself on the floor of the truck.

“You slept for six hours there, kiddo, it's dinner time!” he exclaimed. Afton fancied he saw a little drool dribble out of his mouth.

There's really no way I'll ever get back to Isumton... oh heavenly sleep! Why doest thou torture me so?

Afton witnessed the same jaw-dropping scene, gave his hard-boiled egg and soup to soldier #2, and went to watch the hooded person.

The soldiers seemed to slack off more in the night than the day, to the complete stupefaction of the little spy of Isumton. They left ten soldiers to watch the entire camp and only five to actually watch the hooded figure.

Oh no... a day passed still don't know who this person is. Every day, I lose a good 25% chance of ever returning. Whew... only a day passed... I can still do this!!

Afton strolled over to the hooded figure and sat down. The guards made no move to stop him.

“Hi...” he ventured.

Aish, this is totally awkward. Why am I starting a conversation seriously. I don't even know what to...

“You are...?”

“Afton...”

“Hmm, I think I mistook you for someone else,” the person answered in his/her small voice. (Afton was seriously doubting that this person was a boy after that short exchange.)

“So... who are you...”

“My name's Kaylie and I'm looking for my little brother,” she said

“...looking for?” he finished. He awkwardly nodded his head and excused himself.

Man... what is that girl? She's.... even more spooky than I thought.

Clutching at his locket, Afton went back into the 2nd truck to sleep... again.

You never know when you'll have another couple of sleepless night. Might as well rest now.

Afton awoke a few hours later to find the truck moving...

WHAT!? I swear I'll fall apart one day! How?! Why?!

Sitting up, he found himself on the bench. Across him sat ten soldiers, all wide-eyed with fear.

Afton sniffed and put his hands on his lap. “What's wrong, guys?”

Is it just me or did they just cower a little?

“Afton... you just...”

“What? What did I do?!” he asked, the tone of his voice rising as he lost his patience.

“You... You knocked him out and told him to... g..go away,” soldier #2 explained with chattering teeth, pointing with a shaking finger at a comrade lying on the floor of the truck.

“You're saying I did that?!” he asked in bewilderment. The soldiers fell down at his feet and cried for mercy at each word.

“We didn't touch you...” “Please spare this humble servant!” and “Mercy!” sounded from the back of the truck.

“Speak! What did I do?!” he ordered, more frustrated than ever.

The story tumbled out all right... though it did take a while to get the sequence straight.

Afton was sleeping on the bench as he did after lunch. One of the soldiers was going to lay him on the floor again... but when that soldier touched his hand, Afton had told him to leave him alone or he'd regret it. The soldier just laughed the threat off, as did the guy grabbing both his legs. Apparently, Afton had done a well-aimed kick at the bottom of the guy's chin as well as his thigh, sending the poor soldier limping to the other side. The soldier at his front continued on, to the annoyance of little Afton. It seems Afton took out a switchblade at that moment and threw it at his forehead. (Thankfully, Afton was too drowsy to think of opening it) With both soldiers down, the witnesses were terrorized and did not entertain any more foolish thoughts on further interrupting the orphan's already fitful sleep.

Serves them right! Now it's his turn to sleep on the floor! Leaving poor boys on the floor like that?!

Afton held back his kicks, glaring at the unconscious person on the floor as the others crumbled onto their knees.

“I.. I'm sorry, guys, didn't do that on purpose,” he tried ease their fears. “Well, you know, years of living outdoors... I got to defend myself from little robbers... I mean, robbers... ehem.”

The drivers stopped to stretch their legs for a while. The ten soldiers from before ran off to find their superiors. They held a little meeting, pointing and casting fearful glances at the orphan who sat there sipping his water.

Eventually, they came to the conclusion that the shortie was dangerous and was to be locked up in the 5th truck.

“Afton, I'm sorry your little expedition with us has turned out so,” soldier #2 said before closing the door and securing it with a bolt and padlock.

I really don't know whether to laugh or cry. Now, I'll definitely find out who this person is but... my freedom has been taken from me! Hmm, at least I can rest in peace. But... I'll miss daylight. Oh no... these three are already starting me up with the shivers...

Afton sat quietly in the corner, if there was anything he could act as, it was a mute. Though he did talk when he needed to. The hooded person was lying on the bench, asleep. Her two bodyguards/jailers were sitting on opposite sides of her.

Wait... aren't these guys too much? She/he can't even be an arm's length away from either of them? This girl... is so mysteriously calm. What's with her? Heh, who cares? Girls are weird.