King of Creatures

Chapter 19

Max smiled awkwardly at the old lady, who was staring over at him and the giant Aayma. She slowly looked away, speaking into her phone in harsh whispers. Max looked away, rubbing away at the pain that spiked in his chest. The person behind the ticket desk had stared at him as he kept listing out all the train stations that were available until Aayma had meowed and walked in a circle at the name Nabit Station. But nobody seemed to fight against the cat – creature as he and Aayma made their way onto the train and finding a seat by themselves.

"I-It says we'll be there in about ten hours." Max told the feline as he read the pamphlet that had come with his ticket. The train huffed as it began to move forward. The old lady exclaimed and wrapped her shawl tighter around her.

"Tickets! Tickets please!" The conductor announced as he made his way through the train.

"Excuse me! Excuse me sir!" The old lady said hotly as the conductor came towards her. He leaned forward as the lady spoke fast and harsh, pointing in Max's direction. Him and Aayma looked at each other, Max's knee beginning the bounce as he began scratching at the back of his neck, picking at his hair. The conductor looked over at the two. Looking from Max, then slowly at Aayma before turning back towards the old lady.

Apparently, he didn't tell her what she wanted to hear because she began yelling at the conductor, causing Max to look ahead and cover his ears. A few moments later, he felt Aayma pawing at him and looked up to see the conductor standing beside him. "Tickets please?" Max nodded fervently before reaching inside his pocket and handing over his ticket. The conductor scanned it and placed it above them in the overhead luggage carriage.

"Enjoy your ride." He said before making his way down the rest of the corridor asking for tickets. Max glanced over at the old lady, who was angerly reading a book, then pulled out his phone. No messages.

"Is he okay?" He asked with a grunt as he felt another twinge in his chest. Aayma began purring as she laid her head on Max's lap. Max let out a long sigh as he began biting at the skin on his thumb, patting Aayma on the head.

"Next stop, Nabit Station." Said a robotic voice overhead, stirring Max awake. He stared out the window as the train slowed to a stop, showing a group of people waiting for loved ones or waiting to get on the train. "Nabit Station."

The doors opened as people got up to leave the train. Max waited until there were only a few people left on the train before getting up and leaving himself, Aayma trotting happily behind him.

Max noted how cold the city outside of Nabit Station felt. Aayma chirped before trotting forward, running in between two buildings. Max quickly followed, trying hard to ignore the people staring at him.

The orange cat was meowing at a squirrel, which had tried to run off when Max had appeared, but slowly inched back when Aayma hissed. They seemed to be exchanging words before the squirrel seemingly nodded, before running off.

The huge cat turned towards Max, meowing before running past him. The cat meowed again, prompting Max to turn to follow her.

Right as they rounded a corner, his phone began to vibrate with messages. Max pulled his phone out, unsurprised to see a bunch of messages. The first one he saw being from Penelope, calling him horribly irresponsible, stubborn, and stupid. Aoshanay, wishing that he's told her what he was planning to do. But Nixus, his message was unexpected.

Although I do wish you had told someone about your departure. I don't doubt that it was

mostly impulsive, and that you didn't go alone. The prophecy hasn't ended,

prophecies don't work that way, you are right on track. You know what must be done.

Although, your friends may not think so. I do hope you three make it back safely.

Using that as courage, he texted an apology, read over it twice and sent it to the two girls before muting his phone and following Aayma, who seemed to stop and talk to every non – human creature that they passed.