A Vision of Crows

Chapter 4 - To Mardas

The Tallahan Train Station was bustling with noise and movement from all corners of the station. Among the annoyed businessmen in formal suits, families with screaming children, and people trying to reach their train on time, stood Meg near the entrance. She was looking around, waiting for Alice, where her mother had advised her to stand at. She wore a long tan coat, which belonged to her mother, over a white blouse and blue skirt, and on her neck, she wore the necklace that Alice had gifted her. Covering most of her hair was a bandana that also belonged to her mother and a pair of sunglasses that covered her eyes. She was carrying two bags, a suitcase and her purse. Her parents had suggested hiding her face as much as possible, underneath the glasses, her face was caked up in makeup. She was not used to such attire, and was tugging at the scarf until she heard a voice calling her name.

She turned around to greet Alice. Alice's auburn hair that she had spent years growing out and taken immense pride in was now cut short and her usual energetic and gleeful self seemed to have been replaced by an immense sadness deep within her. She smiled wearily before greeting her in return, "You're here Meggy. I almost didn't recognize you."

Meg bit her lip, then replied, "I almost didn't recognize you either, especially with that haircut."

Alice chuckled, "It looks good, doesn't it? Hehe."

"So, why, why did you-?"

Alice gave her a bittersweet smile, then said, "I guess, I thought that I had no other choice at the moment. My family is probably far gone from here now, and it won't be too long until they find me. It's too late for me now, but you, you can still get away from here!"

Meg stared at her with shock, then put her hands on Alice's shoulders. "What do you mean, its too late for you! You too, I'm sure there's still time!"

Alice laughed bitterly before continuing, "Meggy, I never thought that things would end up like this, but, here we are. I'm sure you too, would never have thought that this would be the way things ended. I'm just glad that at least, I can see you once more. I'm sure that things are going to get better, but I don't think we're going to make it to see that day."

Meg shook Alice, and almost desperately, whispered, "How do you know Alice? Change could come very soon, I just know- "

"But when is it coming? Is tomorrow, is it in a few weeks, months, years? Or will it happen long after we are all dead? Maybe we'll never know, but until that day comes, we will still be forced to hide or suffer the consequence for our mere existence. So, until then, you must leave, and I shall stay."

"So, is this farewell?"

"I'm afraid so."

Alice spread open her arms, and Meg threw herself into her embrace. As they hugged, Meg tried her best to hold back her tears, but it was futile as she wept. "I... I don't want to say goodbye!" she sobbed. "I don't you, or anyone else to go! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! If only I had-!"

"It's not your fault," Alice whispered, wiping the tears from her face. "So don't cry anymore. For my sake, please?" Meg nodded, her face red and wet from crying.

Meg sniffed, "So, what are you going to do now?"

Alice sighed, "I don't want to endanger my family any further, so I'm going to turn myself in. I'm sure the police won't be as cruel as the W.H.A. What about you?"

"Right now, I'm heading to Mardas. After that, who knows?"

They nodded at each other, hugged for one last time, then finally parted.

Meg watched Alice as she walked out of the train station and down its steps. Not once did she look back.

Meg glanced at one of the giant clocks nearby, then left to catch the train, wondering if she would ever see Alice again.

The train heading towards the Mercadia, the giant market on the northeast border of Mardas, was full, stuffed with people young and old alike. Meg could feel her heart race as she sat in a seat next to an old woman, who was currently snoring.

No one on the train seemed to recognize her in any way, giving her some relief. However, an employee did ask her to take off her sunglasses for a brief moment, which almost made her heart stop. Still, she was glad to know that she wasn't being pursued just yet, though she knew that once she stepped back into the country, she would have to watch her every step, especially focusing on concealing her face.

The woman beside her continued to snore, and though she felt mildly annoyed, Meg knew that anything she would do would be futile, as she was going to be stuck to her seat for the next couple of hours. She looked to her other side and gazed out the window.

She had never travelled outside of Tallahan, and was amazed by the sights Farthrin had to offer. The rolling green hills, the small quaint villages, and the splendid glory that was the Auror Mountains in the distance provided a much need tranquil contrast to the ever-busy, chaotic streets of its biggest cities, Soladur and Alastan.

As she watched, she was reminded of an old memory of when she and Alice were children. They had been looking at a map, and were excitedly discussing the places that they wanted to visit in the future, once they were all grown up and had money.

Meg had drawn a circle around the map and excited burst out, "I want to see what's beyond the Walls and the oceans!"

Alice stared at her for a good, long second before bursting into laughter, "What do you mean, 'beyond the Walls and oceans?' There's nothing beyond them, you'll just fall off the world!"

"There is so!" Meg had insisted. "And when I grow up, I'm gonna prove it!"

"Then you'll have to take me too, I have to see it with my own eyes. And if I'm right, then you'll have to owe me 250 Shils, no 500 Shils, wait no, 5000 Shils! Deal?"

"Deal."

They had then proceeded to excitedly discuss their theories about what lied beyond the world's boundaries until Steve, one of Alice's older brothers, had caught them and began to scold them for having such stupid ideas about even daring to think about leaving these ancient Walls that have been there as far as anyone could remember. She smiled at the memory, but it soon died as she remembered the events of that morning. She sighed, wondering if perhaps if she had done more, then perhaps things could have been far more different.

It was only when two and a half hours had passed when it occurred to her that Farthrin was much bigger than she thought. The old woman was still snoring, and somehow, her snoring had gotten louder. She grimaced, but reclined defeatedly in her seat, tightly clutching her purse. She closed her eyes, and took a nap. It was really going to be a long ride.

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