“Afton..., right?”

“Yeah,” he answered slowly.

“You talk a lot, huh?”

“Mhmm, I live alone. All the words are stuck up in my throat, right now. So that's why...” he replied cooly

“That's fine with me. It's not nice living alone so I know how you feel.”

Holding his tongue, he stared at her impolitely, the words somehow didn't seem to settle in.

“What?” she asked uncomfortably, blushing under the cover of the dark.

“You... are you an orphan?”

“I wasn't until recently.Why?”

“Erm... it's nothing. Just wondering.”

“So what about you?”

“Eh heh! I don't keep a single memory of the past, at least nothing from the time before I was 14.”

“Wait, how old are you?”

“Um, don't you think that's a little personal?” he asked.

“I'm sixteen. Now... you can tell me your age.”

“Guilt-tripping isn't something little girls should major in. But you won this time. I'm seventeen,” he lied. (Please note that he's sixteen currently)

“Hmm, that's nice, Afton.”

Pushing a few words in before the quiet voice could start up again, Afton went straight to the question, “So why are you here?”

Caught by surprise, Kaylie looked up so abruptly that the cape flew off. Her dark blue hair could have passed for black if it wasn't for the stray glow from the moon that peaked through a tiny hole in the roof of the truck.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha hah hah ha. Her cover just got blasted like that. I just knew it was a girl!

He kept the laugh in his heart, though. Not even a hint played at the corners of his lips. For, while his heart was occupied laughing, his mind stood mesmerized under the gaze of those big purple eyes.

She quickly recovered her hood and pulled it lower over her eyes, clearing her throat a little.

“Don't... Don't tell anyone,” she whispered in a shaking voice.

“Yeah, I promise.” he answered.

Their dialogue came to an end. No human voices prevailed over the silence of night. Afton sat there, dreaming of the outside, the freedom he could be experiencing.

I wonder how Alistair is. I hope he's okay. Hmm, have Wison and Jazard run off? That bully... I hope he learned his lesson. Ah... I miss them all. Now, they'll be at the mercy of the king to do as he pleases. Well... there's only one way to get back. The king would most probably throw a tantrum if I don't give hime the information he wants.

“Do you know how long it'll be to Chrision?” Afton asked, suddenly.

“No, it's my first time.”

“It's my first time too.”

I still can't tell if she's being protected or being abducted.

“So these guys are your guides?”

“Them?” she asked casting furtive glances at the stone-silent men, “They're my bodyguards.”

Hmm... makes sense. I saw her glance at them. Is it because she was warned not to make a peep or because she was just asking. I shouldn't misinterpret anything. Man, this is hard, really.

“Do you think your brother's in Chrision? I mean, why are you heading there?”

She felt her face grow hot at the question. Thankfully, her hood was serving it's purpose. “My brother isn't here and Chrision is the only other place he could run to. I don't think he's dumb enough to attempt the ocean,” she said, then added, as if to reassure herself, “My brother is a smart boy.”

Ok... so I'm guessing she really did lose her brother and she's really looking for him. But what is she? Her hair color and eyes don't even seem right.

“Do you mind if I asked you a few questions?

“What if I say yes?”

I want to go home! Please! I'm scared and you're not making things any better! Just tell me everything and I'll disappear. I know it's stupid... but I have family too.

“Well, I was just asking. You have a choice.”

“Trust is something I promised myself I would never do toward strangers. I don't have any reason to trust you. However, I have exceptions. Go ahead.”

This girl is... different. “Which family are you from?” “You don't look like a local, where are you from?” “Are you hurt?” “Who kidnapped you?” “Who is this cruel person?” “And... who is this brother that you'd go through this trouble to find him?”

“Why do you wear a hooded cape?”

“...I... wear it... because... I... because I... I don't want people to know about me,” she stuttered.

Selfish as I am, I do not believe that any child, however young, should ever be hurt to the point of scarring, of ingraining a fear that would affect every decision they make.

“These guards, they know about you too?”

She nodded.

I can't possibly be any luckier. But if I were to have a wish, it'd be to be brave enough to save kids like her. Coming to think about it, there are only boys in the Orphan Brigade. What happens to the girls?

“Your brother. How old is he?”

“He's... erm. To be honest, I have two.”

“Then, the one you're looking for?”

“He's sixteen. The other one should be 18 by now.”

I've a gut feeling... that she has two families.

“Where do you come from?”

She opened her mouth to talk, but her voice was drowned out by an timely cough from one of the 'bodyguards'. “Excuse me,” he said, gruffly, “you two should get some sleep.”

The girl lay back down on the bench and curled up a little without another word.

Hmm. The words she mouthed... looked neither like Isumton nor Chrision. I never was good with history... And seriously?! We just woke up!

Laying his head down, he closed his eyes to concentrate on getting his heart back to a normal rate.

Ah, the wall of the truck is cold. They went through so much as to hide the metal in a little canvas. Heh. Is this girl really that strong? She cowers under her bodyguard's every word. By the way, my heart rate is increasing. Why is that. I even have... wait. I lost one of the switchblades...

Afton clutched at his locket again. Breathing deeply, in and out, he drifted off into a the land of dreams.

****

A little girl with dark blue hair laughed as she spun around, her pretty locks glittering in the little bit of sun that peaked in through the forest. Dizzy, she tumbled to the floor, laughing all the way. Her big purple eyes closing as the dizziness continued to dance in her head. A little boy sat at a trunk of one of the nearby trees, watching her quietly, he almost appeared to entertain a hint of a smile.

“Come on! It's fun!” she laughed, getting up.

The picture of autumn leaves peaking out from her hair, tickled the little boy into a short laugh. He got up quickly and lifting his little arms into a 't', he spun about like she did. It was fun. He laughed so hard that tears rolled out of his eyes.

-Change scene-

Two little kids, slightly more grown-up now, appeared.

“Do you remember what day it is?”

The little boy shook his head.

“It's your birthday!” she laughed, hugging him.

The little boy was slightly taken aback at the sudden gesture. But, he quickly recovered and hugged her back.

“Wait,” she said, detaching herself from their embrace, “I got something for you.”

She disappeared, and returned a few seconds later with a small box. He looked at her with his shy smile.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

“Hearing your voice for the first time, you must mean it,” she said.

He looked shyly into her eyes before quickly diverting it to the floor. His ears turned a little pink at the edges.

Cutting the awkwardness from this scene, the little girl laughed and put the box in his hand. “Open it,” she said.

The little boy just stared at it as if he'd never received a gift before. Swallowing, he opened it with shaking hands.

“Faster, silly, what are you scared of? It doesn't bite,” she said, anticipating his reaction.

In the little box was a locket. A teardrop-shaped locket. It had no design, just a plain silver locket.

“There's something inside that too. But open it only when you're scared. You seem to be most of the time. But today, I'll make it a happy birthday for you!” she chirped cheerfully.

The little boy just nodded.

They spent the day using a little rusty switchblade to carve designs over the locket. She carved steadily each little loop, every little flower... it was pretty. The boy just looked on, whenever he took up the blade, his hand would shake so much that he'd ruin the design.

He'd feel so sad that he'd ruined it, but she just laughed it off and made the scratch part of the design....

****

“Afton, it's time for breakfast.”

“Hmm? Already? What time is it?”

“It's around 7:40. I'm guessing you slept well.”

“I don't remember what I dreamt of.”

Afton sat up to feel pain from all parts of his body. It didn't help that the sun was scorching him.

Ouch! What happened while I was sleeping?!

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah. But... what happened?”

“Those two tried to wake you up but you slept like the dead. Didn't even flinch when they punched or kicked you. Sorry I couldn't stop them. I think it was a big blow to their pride.”

“I... I did?!”

She just nodded and pulled him out of the truck.

The two 'bodyguards' of hers were glaring at him as he took a seat beside her.

As politely as he could, Afton greeted them, “Ahem, good morning, gentlemen.”

Burning with rage, they put away their breakfasts to direct all the attention to the short kid.

“Erm, did you guys sleep well?”

No answer.

“Your breakfast might get cold there, soldier.”

No answer.

Afton cleared his throat before putting the last bit of hard-boiled egg into his mouth. Downing his drink, he was still conscious of the two pairs of eyes boring holes through him.

Oh... this is so scary. These guys... how could she live with them for so long?

She was sitting up straight, chewing on her bread with the poise of a lady, totally composed.

Ah! I forgot that she was a lady.... Girls are weird.

They boarded the 5th truck after breakfast and spent the drive up to lunch in silence. No, they spent lunch in silence too.

“How long more 'til we reach the border?” a soldier asked with his mouth full.

“Tomorrow, we'll be back home, tucked up snugly in our warm quilts,” another soldier answered with his mouth equally full.

“Yeah, there's nothing like home sweet home...” their subject drifted off.

That was all he needed to overhear to understand that chances of going back to Isumton went all the way down to 3%.

He needed to escape... and soon.

What about the girl? I haven't gotten everything out of her. I don't even know what's so important about her. Aish... what am I supposed to do?!

Afton spent the evening drive weighing the pros and cons.

If I escaped without her, she'd probably be punished and security would go up to prevent her leaving too. If I escaped without her, there's a much higher chance I'd make it back, though. If I escaped with her, I'd have to take care of her as well as go through the trouble of hiding us both. But if I escaped with her I'd get all the information I need and we can use her as a hostage... what am I thinking? You want to hurt that girl?

Anyways, back to it, if she's that important, they might stop the whole expedition to look for her and those eighty soldiers are going to do what they came to do.

But... it's better sooner than later to escape. Much safer if we run on friendly grounds...

He came to the decision that he was going to escape, but that was the only thing he was sure about.

When was he to go? Was he going to bring her? Would he even have the guts for that? The thoughts clouded his mind as the sun went down.

Even when she lay down for the night, he didn't notice. He was seriously contemplating the decision he was going to make.

Assuming I decide to take her, would she trust me? Would she scream and get the soldiers running? How am I supposed to decide when I don't really know her?

“Kid, go to sleep already, you don't want to wake up in Hell now, do you?” one of the 'bodyguards' growled.

He lay down and shut his eyes.

A day passed so quickly. Tomorrow is a mystery. Will they just let me go? What about her? Where does her fate take her? Most likely, we won't be seeing each other much anymore after we get to Chrision.... unless...

A zap of fear ran through his veins, his heart began to thump madly.

...unless... Why didn't I think of that? Did they see something that convinced them that I was a danger? Is it more than just that night? Man... did I write something on my switchblade? I forgot. Maybe they dug through my bag or something? But what do I have? Argh! My brain isn't working!

No sign of the inner turmoil was displayed anywhere on the surface of the seemingly asleep child.

All through the night, the fear accompanied him, taking over his windpipe, it seems. With every heartbeat, his body seemed to get colder. The poor Afton was so pale, so dizzy, that even the usual fingering of the designs on the locket didn't help.

It was way too dark to read, so here he was, lying in the cold with no one to comfort. Here he was, shivering so hard that weariness haunted him, but sleep had flown off for a vacation.

I've gone through so much in life, but nothing scares me more than the thought of the break of dawn. Whence does my fate lie? Does Fate rub his hands in anticipation of my execution? I don't know...

Once again, he was in the hands of adults, who'd play with him at their will.

Have I not suffered enough? My family... my memory... now you bring fear...

Afton was still shivering when he felt a warm hand on his arm. “Kaylie?” he whispered.

“Shh. I don't know what's going on, what you're thinking, I don't even know who you are. But I want to tell you that you're still alive, and it must be for a reason. Don't give up until you're really dead. Keep a fighting spirit that no one can crush, but stay humble. You'll get through it...” she whispered.