Royal Blood

Chapter Twenty Three

The train is packed full of people. Most seats have already been taken and the ones that are not have been filled by people's bags. A lot of people are choosing to stay standing rather than fight for a seat, and I cannot say that I blame them. The only problem for us is that we need to find a seat for Jasper to sit on because his leg is still too weak to stand for long periods of time.

Shuffling our way through the busy carriages, the three of us keep an eye out for an empty seat. I and Max do not mind standing, just as long as we can get Jasper to sit down somewhere. Unfortunately for us, it looks like no one is willing to move any of their own belongings to make room for anyone else.

"We're going to have to ask someone to move their things, aren't we?" Max asks and I nod my head at him.

"We really are... Excuse me Madam, would you mind moving your bag from that seat there? My friend here has recently had an operation on his leg and we have a very long journey a head of us. It really would be best if he could sit down." I ask an older woman, whose hair was turning white.

Unwillingly, the lady begins to move her bags and allows Jasper to sit next to her. I hear Jasper mutter a 'thank you' to her and that is the end of their conversation. Holding onto the railings above my head, I focus on the journey a head. The original plan was to go to the Eastern Zone once we arrived at The Cold Lands but I do not know how we are going to get there now. Between the three of us, we have no money and it is not like we can start asking for jobs. Maybe for the time being, we will have to stay where we are but even then we will not be able to afford a hotel room, not even for a night.

I begin biting my fingernails, a habit my mother used to always yell at me for. Ever since I turned twelve, I have been wearing false nails in order for me to fit the image of a princess, however, since starting this journey, they have all fallen off.

I feel a tap on my shoulder so I turn around to see Max staring at me. "Are you alright?" He asks, actually sounding concerned.

Shaking my head I tell him, "I'm not sure if we have made the right choice. How are we going to find anywhere to stay once we do reach the Cold Lands?" I ask in a hushed, worried tone.

Watching Max's eyes, I realise he had not thought about this either. I watch as they dart from side to side, thinking about the whole situation.

"So far we have slept in abandoned sewers and in the middle of fields. I think we should be fine." He tells me, his voice sounding shaky and not at all reassuring.

"If you say so..." is all I say back to him, not believing a word that he says.

As people board and exit the train, they always seem to try and hit us on the way out, as if it is their own personal challenge. It then comes as a relief to Max and I when we reach a stop and a lot of people decide to exit the train. We are then able to sit down near Jasper which is a lot comfier than standing up and holding onto a railing.

"How long until we reach the Cold Lands?" Jasper asks us once we have sat down.

"I do not know. Funnily enough Jasper, I am not the driver of the train so stop whining like a five year old." I snap back at him.

Straight a way I feel bad for talking to him like that, it must be hormones, I think to myself and then I realise that it will be that time of the month again soon. The more I sit back and think about it, the more I realise how unprepared I was to run away. I hardly doubt that too boys will be carrying around tampons or pads with them. Well there's not much I can do about that at the moment than hope it does not come, which is unlikely.

I'm sure there are women on this train who are carrying tampons with them, I'll just have to go around and ask, I think to myself.

"Max, can you pass me that bag? I have to go somewhere for a minute." I tell Max who passes me the bag with an unsure expression on his face.