Their Mate, My Saviors

There's a First for Everything

---POV Ayame---

I hopped off the bus and looked up at the sign identifying this as the train station. “Stay safe out there, kid.” The driver called before closing the door and driving off.

I kept my head down and rushed to the ticket counter. The first thing that caught my eye was a train to Canada. Ha! What are the odds? There is no way he would look for me there. Ha! There is no way my odds were that good with the relationship I’ve had, but I’ll take the stroke of luck. “One ticket to Montreal please.” I said when I reached the booth.

The woman looked at me skeptically. Just like the bus driver. “Do you have a passport or birth certificate, miss?” She asked condescendingly. I’m sure she thinks I’m homeless or something. An old, knitted bag with no luggage and a basic outfit not at all conducive to the chill of early March weather patterns of the northeast.

I nodded and pulled out my passport book. She grabbed it and looked at the photo before looking at me and repeated the action until she sighed. “Is there something wrong?” I asked.

“Driver’s License?” I nodded and pulled that out of my wallet, handing it to her. She compared the pictures to my face once again and started to create the ticket. Once the ink was printed on the paper. She returned my identification cards and held out her hand. “One hundred and seventy-three dollars, Miss…Pierce.”

I sighed in relief and handed her the two hundred dollar bills. Okay, someone is still looking out for me. I cannot believe I thought I was alone in all of this. I’m sure my mother has been looking out for me all this time. That has to be the only explanation. I guess there is a higher power out there somewhere. I smirked internally. “Here you are.” I said confidently and she scoffed.

She pulled out a pen to make sure they were real hundreds and, to her dismay, they were. She handed me my change. A mere twenty-seven dollars, but I know how to make that last. I mean, I was a college student before my life crumbled around me. “The train leaves from platform three in ten minutes. You have a coach ticket, so you will not have a bed, but it is only a four-hour ride. You are looking for Montreal, Quebec. That will be your last stop. Good luck and happy birthday.”

I gasped when she said that and it made me tear up for a moment. I don’t remember the last time I celebrated my birthday. Maybe my eighteenth? No...I had to watch my mother that weekend. It was one of the last times I saw her smile before the pain became too much for her. The best she could do was open her eyes and rest. I pushed a grin as the memory faded and nodded. “Thank you.” I said, with a slight blush in my cheeks. I’m sure she wouldn’t be able to see it through the concealer and my bruises, but I was still grateful for her...kindness.

I walked over to platform three and checked my ticket against the notification board about ten feet away from me, hanging from the rafters. I waited patiently for the train to get here and, right on time, a blue and grey train skidded to a halt and a small door opened in front of me. I immediately went to the last coach car and climbed up to the second floor. I hid myself in the corner and made no attempt to talk to anyone or ruffle any feathers. I held out my ticket when asked, and bit my lip every time I felt hunger running through me.

This day came and happened so fast, but I will do everything I can to make sure I will never see that man again. Every hour I make it further away from that prison, my dreams are coming true. “Last stop! Montreal! Last Stop Mooonnnntreal!” The conductor shouted as he walked past my seat.

I waited until the train came to a complete stop, gingerly walked down the stairs and out onto the platform. To say it was freezing out here, was putting it lightly. Everyone was staring at me now. I was just in a sweater and some jeans with converse. If this didn't fly in the northeast, down in the states, this outfit was definitely not at all appropriate for Canadian winters.

I grit my teeth and walked off to the shelter of the train station. I gave my passport to customs and they nodded me through. I walked on and made sure I didn’t present any conspicuous behavior; well...aside from the obvious. I walked up to the ticket booth and looked at all the options. I cannot stay in a major city. Montreal was only a pit stop and it was not one I could stay at for long. It wouldn’t be safe. “Ma'am!”

I turned my attention to the ticket booth and the person on the other side was staring directly at me. “Yes?” I asked hoarsely.

“Where would you like to go?” I bit my lip and pointed to the cheapest destination.

“Wait, you want to go there?!” He asked, then looked at me curiously. “Dressed like that?” He asked again and looked down at my outfit once more. Ugh, I really should have brought a coat, but that would have been harder to run in. I mean I didn’t bring much of anything with me. A coat was the least of my problems.

“Yes, please. One ticket to…Ridgewater Cove, please.” I said, trying to convince me more than him.

“Well, I guess there is a first time for everything.” He mumbled.

“Pardon?” I asked curiously.

He sighed again and printed up the ticket. “This is the first time I have ever printed a ticket for that stop. No one ever rides that train to the end. Are you, like, a researcher or something?”

He was starting to pry. “No, but I heard I would get some great photos there.” I said, patting my bag. Again, lying flawlessly.

He smirked and I gave him the twenty. He returned twelve to me. I guess I can grab something to eat. “The train arrives in an hour. Good luck.” He called. I nodded and ran straight for the food court. I made sure I was modest with a simple cheeseburger and small fry. It wasn’t a lot, but I was used to it. Along with his stupid workout requirements, I was only allowed to eat a slice of toast for breakfast, a fruit cup for lunch, and a small piece of chicken for dinner.

Only that for the last two years would make anyone's stomach shrink, but I also didn’t have much to spend anyway. I just enjoyed the grease I was deprived of all this time. I knew there was no way I could get a hotel when I got there, but at least I would have fifteen dollars for food.

After an hour went by, I made it back on the platform and hopped on the correct train. It was freezing outside and the weather only got worse as we continued northeast. However, the train was cozy and old. Like those historic trains you can ride in through parks and stuff.

I snuggled into a bench and kept my eye out until the relic came to a stop in the middle of nowhere. I climbed out of the train and the conductor stared at me with genuine concern. “Are you sure this is where you want to get off?” This wasn’t the first time he asked me this. He asked me about four times on the train as well as once he read my ticket.

I nodded and double checked my ticket with the abandoned train station's faded sign. Now I understand everyone’s concern, but I can’t turn back now, and I don’t have enough money to try. “Yes. I’m sure.” I confirmed confidently.

“I hope you are meeting someone here or there will be a very long wait until the next train comes.” He added.

“Sorry?” I asked, confused. He pulled off his scarf and his gloves, handing them to me. I hesitated. “I…I can’t take this sir.” I said, blushing heavily.

He shook his head and grasped onto the bar next to the train car’s entryway. “I have plenty more at home and you are going to need it more than I would. I wish I could give you a coat too, but that I do need.” He said with a chuckle. He has to stand on the train steps every time the train comes towards a stop. He will get quite chilly without something to keep him warm.

I laughed along with him and wrapped the scarf around my neck. Then, I pulled the oversized gloves onto my already frozen fingers, thankful for the temporary warmth. “Thank you, sir, but I was wondering. When does the next train come?”

He looked at me worriedly. “Three months, miss. This train only comes here every three months if someone requests a ticket from Montreal.”

I let my mouth drop. Again, guardian angel in the house! “And what if someone requests a ticket from here?” I asked curiously.

He shook his head. “It has never happened before. That shack is over a hundred years old, and it hasn’t been used in almost the same amount of time. Not once. The mayor of this city thought it would attach this city to others, but it never did. It’s much too cold up here and not very forgiving, but it is a good place to turn this old locomotive around, so we keep the stop for tourists and such.”

“Not very forgiving?” I repeated curiously.

He shrugged. “Not only the cold, but rumor has it, the people from other towns were terrified to come here and nobody from here cared about leaving. It really was a strange town.”

“Was?” I asked again.

He nodded. “Yeah, was.”

I shook off the warning and looked back at him. “Thank you for that information!” I said with a grin and started to walk towards the seemingly empty town. Maybe I will get lucky again and if not, at least I can die in the snow…right? It can’t be as bad as it has been. To die would be much better if I couldn't feel my wounds.

Morbid, I know.

So, I say the colder the better. “Thanks for the lift!” I called back and the train’s whistle drowned me out. I grinned as I saw the wheels push the train back to Montreal and far, far away from me.

I shook, wrapping my arms around my torso tightly as I looked at the empty doorways, broken in windows, and the frozen atmosphere of my new haven. This town really was deserted. I shifted my weight and walked through the streets as the wind continued to pick up. As if someone was drawing me there, I continued to move through the town and headed straight for the tree line. The pull was unrelenting.

The wind continued to increase, and I realized that if I went much further, I would surely freeze to death. Even though I thought about it. I’m not trying to complete the deed now. I just got here! I walked up to a random store and pushed the door open with great effort. I was met with a small pub long since abandoned.

I walked up the back steps and huddled into a storage room I found up there. It was dry and it was warm enough. That’s better than I could say about being outside. I just need to focus on the now. No more talking about death. For now, I just need to stay alive. I've gotten this far. I’ll figure something out…I’m sure of it.