I walked over to the old map where she pointed her finger at as we both stared. They showed the map of the Underground being the first station that was now known as Cedar Park. I felt my heart skip when I saw The Kingdom Station towards the end of the line where the words, The Realm Station were written intiny print beneath it. Nobody back home even knew we had our own train station. It must be for those higher up in the palace because as far as anybody else knew, it was impossible for people to leave. If they only knew how many levels to this world there is.
“So now what?” I asked as I plopped down in the seat. “What do we do? Just wait until it cuts on?”
“No… This train won’t move until the end of the school term and beginning of the school term. We have to find another way. As far as anyone knows, this train doesn’t even exist,” Maggie said as she looked around. She walked towards a side door where she slid it open and gasped. I jumped up and walked over to where she was so I could see and smiled. We both stared at each other before she reached inside the small room to look through the boxes of freshly packed uniforms.
“These are brand new,” she said, holding up a blouse. “Probably for orientation and students that came in at the last minute like I did…”
I looked through another box where I saw pants and skirts, socks still in their own individual packs and shoes.
“We should probably blend in, so we don’t stand out too much,” she said as she began to take her shirt off. “If the games are today, we need to represent the school and look like actual fans.”
“Right,” I nodded, reaching in for my size. It only seemed like a few hours passed, maybe even a day when we changed into our school uniforms. I buttoned up the white blouse to tuck into the maroon skirt while she wore a beige pleated skirt and white blouse. Flipping the dark stringy length back, the ends of the strands teased my backside just beneath my waist. Maggieshoved her feet into the shoes provided before walking back out towards the seats as I followed.
“I really wish I had a phone,” she muttered. Leaning over the seat, she read some of the posters plastered against the train walls while I looked on the other side. “I just discovered this world and it’s already being threatened to be exposed because of me…”
“Not because of you,” I argued before adding, “and we are not going to let that happen. We just need to come up with a plan.”
A soft meow crept into the silence as I looked down the aisle. The cat sat by the door at the very end where another door was, calling for our attention. The lights flickered throughout the train as the cat meowed again.
“I think he wants us to get off and walk,” Maggie said before looking at me.
“Walk?” I questioned. “The entire way to Drew Collins? Are you serious?”
Maggie threw her hand on her hip as her eyes darkened to a deep red.
“Do you have a better idea? This train ain’t going nowhere no time soon unless you know how to drive it without drawing attention to us?”
The sound of the flame rising from my palm crackled as we walked along the dark tracks of the train tunnel. The dim lights that were posted every few feet didn’t seem to be enough as Maggie and I walked together, side by side with the sight of a cat tail leading the way. I took a deep inhale before exhaling as the blue flame grew a bit brighter. The light bounced off of Maggie just in time to see her mahogany hair slowly turn white before my eyes. She was indeed a different woman than before. Herentire body looked like it was coming to life as strands of her hair slowly crept against her shoulders like vines.
“So what did Gaia say to you?” I whispered before looking around as I heard the echo. “What was it like?” She inhaled sharply. Her expression was grim for a moment. “And what was all that blood?”
“She made me drink from her–––”
“Drink from her?!” I shouted as the tunnel shook. Maggie wildly looked around while I almost snatched the blue flame away to glare at her.
“Would you keep your voice down?!”
“What kind of woman would make you–––”
“I don’t know how else to explain it, but I was feeding from my own self…in a way.” Maggie put her hand out next to mine where the blue light bounced off her complexion. She brought her fingers in as the blood-stained nails suddenly grew like claws, extending an inch out from its natural length. I gasped, watching them retract as she quickly tucked her hands away.
“I’ve only ever seen Namir do that…Maybe Bellamy but his nails are already sharp–––”
“What did she do to you?!” I hissed.
“Again! Why are you so loud?!” She whispered back. “She didn’t do anything…I…I don’t think I can be what…I’m supposed to be unless I start to…”
“Drink blood,” I finished for her. I saw the fear and curiosity battle in her gaze like a violent dance. “You said vampires drink blood, and that you are one, but you don’t…”
“I don’t but…” She shook her head. “I’m still me. That will never change. I’m just a little more…”
The rumbling of the tunnel shook beneath our feet as I almost slipped on the train track. We could hear a horn blare off in the distance before everything settled. Nothing but the soundof our footsteps, a dripping noise and occasional squeal of a tiny mouse surrounded us.
“What do you mean, a little more? What all did she say? What did you learn about her?”
“Mmm…What about you?” Maggie asked instead, clearly wanting to change the subject. “What did the sun do in my absence?”
I stared at the flame in my hand with a twisted mouth.
