The Untouchables

Chapter Twenty-four: Lynn

I paced back and forth inside of the musty train car, as Griffin and I raced toward the Monarch's Sector. The morning sun was coming through the small, barred window, lighting up some of the cattle car. The ride so far had been smooth for the most part, except for a few turns in the tracks that made it seem like the entire train would've tipped over.

Neither of us could get any sleep, so Griffin laid on his back staring up at the wooden ceiling, at least trying to get some rest, while I continued to pace for hours.

"You don't have to be worried." Griffin assured me after about three hours of me pacing, and he fiddled with the strings on his black cloak. "They're not going to find us. I've done this a thousand times, they usually don't even check the cars since the train doesn't stop."

I went over to the little window and gripped the bars covering it, watching as the thinning forest whipped past us.

I groaned. "That's not it." I told him.

"Well it certainly can't be the gnawing feeling that I'm going to kill you." He joked. "Because if I wanted to, I would've just left you in my trap."

I turned back to him. "You didn't even help me!" I pointed out. "I got out myself. You just walked away!"

"Sure, sure." He waved off my protest. "Now since we've narrowed it down your problems significantly, what's wrong?"

I sighed deeply, not entirely sure if I wanted to tell him, but if we were going to pull this off, it was in my best interests to tell the truth.

"What if they don't help us?" I asked quietly. "Your friends I mean. We're going all this way to see them, and what if they don't want to help? This entire effort would've been for nothing."

"Trust me." He told me. "They'll help."

I grabbed one of the smaller crates and pulled it over to where he was sitting, since it was uncomfortable to sit on the bottoms of my wings. "How can you be so sure?"

He scoffed a little and pulled up a crate across from me. "They've been planning something like this for a little while. They've just needed an excuse to start putting plans in motion." He assured me again. "And, if I know her, and I do, she won't say no."

I was somewhat comforted by his words, even though I had no idea who these people were, it made me feel better with his reassurance.

"Well, this has been a long ride." Griffin stretched his arms, and nearly fell backwards in the process.

"Absolutely." I agreed with him.

Thankfully, the train started to slow down after a little while longer, and went over to the little window.

The approaching view of the Monarch's Sector was a strange sight. I've only been used to the close quarters of my home sector and the desolate towns in the middle of a forest. The first thing we could see was the spiraling, gleaming white towers of the Monarch's Palace. The smell of corrupt power and obnoxious wealth seemed to radiate off of its walls. I scrunched my nose in repulsion.

Unfortunately, I couldn't see any of the other buildings inside, because almost immediately after I could see the towers of the Monarch's Palace, a massive beige wall emerged from the trees and covered the rest of the sector as the train came to a complete stop.

"Sure is a sight." I said sarcastically, and rolled my eyes. "Big wall."

"Very." He said, matching my sarcastic tone. "But don't worry, the inside is so much better."

"Fantastic."

As we were observing the wall, the train suddenly lurched forward, sending the both of us toppling to the floor.