City Of Dreams

Thirty-Four

I sneak onto the A-Train in the darkness of night.

"What exactly is your plan here?"

I sigh, staring out the window into the underground.

"I'll do whatever it takes."

She scoffed.

"'This is what happens to heroes in this world, Charlotte, they lose everything they worked for."

I shake my head, leaning my forehead on the cold glass.

"So be it...."

I mumble.

"You do know this is just going to get you killed right? If your dad gets his way you're gonna be six feet under."

I sigh, rubbing my eyes.

"At least everyone else is safe."

She groans.

"That's your problem, Charlotte! What if they aren't?! What if he comes back after you're gone and can't do anything anymore?!"

I stare out the window grimly.

"I'll make sure he can't...."

The rest of the ride was silent as the subway train barreled around corners and out of my beautiful city.

"Goodbye, New York."

I sigh, closing my eyes and trying to sleep.

______________________

There's an hour left on my plane ride.

"LA huh? Getting ya a movie job?"

I scoff.

"Really? Is that what you think I'm doing? I can't go back to France. I can't go to any other country because i can't speak other languages. And this is as far from New York I can get for now."

She laughs.

"Gonna get a Hollywood husband now?"

I groan loudly.

"This is about protecting the one I have...had."

I pull the note I wrote for Katie out of my bag.

Katie,

I miss you. A lot. This is an unfortunate situation I've gotten myself into isn't it? I'm keeping your favorite sweater safe. I did what I could in New York. I knew it wasn't going to last forever. Not for me at least. It just ended quicker than I thought. I wish you could have seen some of the things I did. You'd shake your head. There's a girl I know...I wish you could have met her. You guys would have had so much fun. I'm sorry. You believed in me. Maybe too much. A lot too much. You're always with me. Even if it doesn't feel like it. I let you down. I'm sorry.

I smile.

"God knows I tried..."

The plane lands.

"Has it been an hour already?"

I sigh, throwing my backpack over my shoulder.

No one has recognized me for months.

Why should they?

I'm just Charlotte.

I shouldn't have believed I could have done anything worth recognizing.

"Hello LA."

I sigh.