TRAIN [FIRST DRAFT]

Gavin's Point-of-View

Prologue: Gavin's Morning

"AIM got her last night. Sometime after eleven p.m."

I remember how hopeful I had been that morning in the medic room. Sure, Stefan and I were recovering from being beaten to a pulp, but it was to defend Aimee. And that morning, it had felt as if she was going to be okay – at least for a while – and then that feeling was just stripped away in a single moment. I'd been pacing around the room like some nervous dunce thinking about what Abba had planned, trying to piece together every detail I knew, when she had barged into the room.

"Buckley wishes to see you two," she casually said. "He says it's bad news."

Aimee.

I remember seeing Stefan. I remember sprinting out of the medic room and shoving him aside to open a door in my unconscious haste, and then we were in Buckley's office. I was seething.

I didn't know why I felt so protective of Aimee; she wasn't my sister, she wasn't my girlfriend and we weren't really friends. We barely knew each other, but I trusted her and she trusted me. That was enough.

My fists were clenched and my knuckles were turning white. I thought about how much I wanted to punch Buckley square in the face, but alas he was my boss, Stefan's father, and there was a massive desk between us. So, I left.

"You couldn't have told me last night?!" I heard Stefan roar as the elevator consumed me. I didn't hear the rest of the conflict.

I stepped out onto the helicopter pad, and my hand soon reached for the door of my chopper. For a moment, I thought of Stefan, wondered how he would get to France, but I couldn't wait for him or the GINMA that Buckley was likely to send. I made up my mind, I had to go alone.

I had to make sure that Aimee was safe.