Above

18

Estelle
I wake up to Wrenton leaning over me.
Obviously, I yelp.
"Woah, settle down, love." He says.
"I'm not your love." I say. "Why are you in my room?"
"Well, as your trainer, I wanted to check on you." He says.
"I'm fine, just woke up from a nap." I say.
"Sure." He drags out the word.
I flip over in my bed, looking at the wall, my lemon and lilac candle lit, filling the room with a plesant clean smell.
"Are you going back to sleep?" Wrenton asks.
"No, just studying the wall." I say.
He sighs, then the door closes.
I turn again, Wrenton was gone.
I slip out of bed and pick out a clothes because someone had changed me into an oversized button-down.
With a quick glance out the window, I determine that it's probably cold.
I grab a forest green sweatshirt that I bought at a thrift shop forever ago, along with black skinny jeans.
After changing and applying a touch of makeup, I walk downstairs.
Nobody was home, so I just decided to go out. I slip my boots over my fuzzy socks then grab my coat, and I'm off.
***
Everybody had gathered in the center of town in a semicircle around something, or someone, by the wall.
I stand at the back, trying to see over the people.
Curse me for being 5'8".
"All I want is her and you can't even oblige, I thought you were siblings." A familiar Welsh accent says.
"We're not siblings, she just my friend." Luca replies.
I shove through the crowd, people letting out yelps.
Titanios was standing there, his usually bald head filled with hair, whatever was wrong with his knee is gone, but he still holds a cane.
"Titanios?" I say, walking into the small opening everyone's allowed.
He adjusts the glasses perched on his nose. "Estelle?"
"That's me." I say. "How are you walking?"
"My bedside attendee got a little close." He says, grinning crookedly. "I was looking for you, where were you?"
"Home, napping." I say, stepping closer to him. "Did you kill your bedside attendee?"
"No, but he's taken my place in the home." He answers.
"Did you tell Marilane?" I ask.
He shakes his head softly. "I'll tell her later."
"What do you need me for?" I ask.
He glances around, everyon stepping back as if he were a lion, ready to pounce. "I'd like to discuss this matter privately."
"Yeah, of course." I say. "My house, shall we?"
***
He makes himself comfortable at my small rickety dining table.
"Do you want anything?" I ask.
He shakes his head. "Just to talk to you, dear."
I sit opposite of him, twirling a strand of hair.
"You should cut it." He says.
I glance up at him. "Cut what?"
"Your hair, it's too long." He says.
I shrug. "I like it."
"Anyway, we need to talk." He says.
"I've heard." I say, smiling softly.
He clears his throat. "So Pangaeans..."
"Yeah? What about them?" I ask.
"They're fascinating." He says. "Their instincts closely resemble the wolves', a pack animal, but still knows how to strike."
"Uh, thanks?"
"Either way, they learn quick and battle fiestily." He says, tapping the golden skull perched on the tip of his cane.
"I guess that's true." I say, tapping thoughtfully on my chin.
"I'm getting off track." He sighs. "I'm supposed to tell you about Chigaco."
"What about Chigaco?" I ask.
He sighs. "There's been a spike in Pangaeans around that area, and I want you to get them."
"Why me?" I ask.
He shrugs. "You've always been good at coaxing people."
"Oh, thanks." I say.
"You should bring that Galdea boy, just in case the law gets after you."
"His last names Propkin, and he has a first name." I say.
"It's Leeciy, His Highness, whatever." Titanios says, huffing.
"Don't call him Highness, he doesn't like that." I say.
Titanios stands, walking over to the dusty window. "Anyway, Chigaco."
"Who are we looking for?" I ask.
He sighs. "I'll get to that."
"Where are their portraits?' I ask. "Quiet child." He takes a box of cigarettes out of his pocket.
"Don't." I say. "I don't want to stunt September's lungs."
"I don't smoke." He says, opening the box, pulling out a strip of paper. "I destroy."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
He begins shredding the paper. "I just shred it."
"Oh, okay." I say. "How are we going to get to Chigaco?"
"The new bullet train." He says, as if it's obvious.
"What's a bullet train?"
"It's a train that goes as fast as a bullet, context clues, love." He says.
"How long are we going to be in Chigaco?" I ask.
"The bullet train goes every five days, it takes off tomorrow at six." He says. "It goes from Seattle to Chicago so you'll have to drive a little bit."
"Oh." I say. "How long of a drive?"
"Twelve hours." He answers, throwing the last scraps of paper on the floor.
"What if someone recognizes me?" I ask. "They'll call the cops."
"Not everyone isn't on your side." He says. "The police have been shutting down Pro-Pangaean riots and protests."
"Oh, that's neat." I say. "Can I see the people now?"
Titanios takes a stack of folded papers out from under his shirt. I study the harshly yet perfectly drawn lines.
Mareena Ohlen, a girl that looks around Annaliesee's age, but her face was peppered with little spots, and her eyes were dark.
Pyol Fren, a strong-jawed man with stubble sprouting from his face, he doesn't look friendly.
Hetij Mogoros, a little chubby-faced kid with spirals of hair running down the sides of her face.
Eura Morogos, a little girl almost identical to Hetij, except the harsh scar running down Eura'a little face.
Last but not least, Roselette Citree, a girl around the age of Annaliesee, who looks a lot like her, the name is faintly familiar, but nothing significant.
"Good luck." Titanios says, slipping out of the door.