Runaway

Lastfield?

Stepping lightly out of the empty train, Makayla looked around at the just as empty train station. No one but the ticket collector was in the huge building. The fresh, two am air filled her lungs as she left the station. The area outside the building seemed empty. A dirt road split into two directions. One ran straight area into the dark, brooding forest of evergreen; the other ran to the left of the building into an empty field. Pointing toward the field, a sign told that the city of Lastfield stood a few miles that way.
No sign pointing toward the mysterious forest, Makayla followed the dirt path going into it. She knew that she had come to go to Lastfield, but something in the back of her mind pulled her into the trees.
A dark, mysterious air filled the forest. Moonlight glinted off the needles on the trees as they loomed over her. A quiet breeze caused the trees above her to whisper to each other, asking  each other what she was and what the should do with her. She walked for a long time, the sweet scent of the evergreens comforting her as they murmured in a language she could not understand.

The trail twisted and turned, leading Makayla into what seemed like circles, but nothing existed that could show her if she was going in circles. She walked for hours. The sun touched the top of the trees, but she did not consider turning around. The trail still felt right. Every step made her more and more confident until finally she found something. 

A huge clearing opened up in front of her after a sharp turn, and a small town stood happily in the clearing. Most of the buildings were made of wood and only stood one story tall. People walked around, all stopping to talk as they passed each other. No one rushed. A tall, blonde, teenage boy interrupted his conversation with a girl when he saw Makayla standing frozen and confused at the end of the path. Walking towards her, he smiled invitingly.

"Hey," He greeted her gently. "My name's Blake, what's yours?" He held out his hand.

"Makayla." She shook his hand. A moment of silence passed between them before Makayla spoke again. "So what is this town? I've never heard of anything like it."

"Oh! Let's go over to the restaurant and talk- if you don't mind." Blake smiled at her again. She shrugged and then followed him. They walked down dirt streets, and Blake smiled and waved at everyone who passed by. A waiter brought the two to a table and took their drink orders.

"Alright, so I know you have a million questions. And, I bet that I can answer at least half of them," Blake smirked at Makayla as she rose an eyebrow. "Starting from the top, this is not Lastfield obviously. We usually refer to this town as The Runaways.

"Everyone here has run away from their home. I'm sure you heard the trees deciding what to do with you?" Makayla nodded hesitantly at this. "Yeah, they decide who comes here. No one has ever moved out of the town. Not that we're keeping anyone here. It's just, no one wants to leave." Makayla met Blake's sky blue eyes with her green. 

"So, what you're saying is everyone here at one point ran away? Everyone? How- What?"

"I told you. The trees decide. It's always the same. Someone runs away, thinking they'll go to a nearby town or city. They see the path into the trees and feel like they should go that way. So they do, and they end up here." Blake said as the waiter came over to take their orders.

"Nothing on this menu has a price..." Makayla mumbled, "I'd like to get something cheap." Blake smiled.

"Nothing here costs anything. As long as you do something to help the community around here, everything is free basically."

"Are you serious?" Makayla asked, looking over her menu at him.

Hair falling into his face, Blake nodded, grinning ear to ear.