rr (ON HOLD)

Chapter 3

Kaina tried not to acknowledge the fact her arm was heavily bleeding and focused on running. Honestly, she hadn't any idea where she was going to, but ideally another country would be good. For now, at least. Briefly stopping to glance at the house, she breathed a relieved sigh when she saw that it was quite clearly on fire. If one of them was in there - well, they'd be dead. Thank God.
Unfortunately, she was completely unfamiliar with where she was - for all Kaina knew, she could be in France, Switzerland or any other place. This wasn't America, she was sure of that. England? Perhaps. She'd just have to keep an eye out.

After an hour of wandering, the girl realised where she was. Newcastle upon Tyne.
"Tyne," she muttered. "Where have I heard that before?"
Exhausted, she checked her watch and was disappointed to find it was only five thirty a.m. Kaina seriously doubted much would be open yet. But the sun was rising, a light reaching out of the darkness - a good sign, right? Or at least a sign that it must be June or July.

She was passing an estate agency when she stopped dead. There was a poster, advertising some house in a place that clearly was not Newcastle.
"Sunset Valley?" she huffed, looking at the poster. "That sounds..."
Safe. That's what it sounded like; because apparently it was a "new town" that barely any one knew existed. Glancing at the opening hours, she groaned.
"Eight? Screw this."
"Is there a problem?"
Kaina jumped and turned around.
"Who're you?" she asked, glaring at the figure.
"I could ask the same for you. This is my mother's shop, what're you doin' looking all shifty outside it?"
"I'm not planning to break in, if that's what you mean," replied Kaina flatly. "I just... uh, you know-"
"You wanted to buy a house?" the person snorted. "Right. How old are you, sixteen, seventeen?"
"Fifteen," she snapped. When the other girl - she assumed she was a girl, she couldn't tell; why did Brits have such odd hairstyles? - raised her eyebrows, she added coldly, "I should think I know my age, thanks."
At least I hope I do.
"OK, OK." The girl raised her hands. "I'm Laura. Your name?"
"Chances are I'll be dead by tomorrow so don't worry about personal stuff."
Laura began to laugh. "Oh man, you're funny."
"I wasn't trying to be."
"Are you American?" the girl asked, looking at her curiously. "Your attitude is totally American but I can't distinguish your accent."
"Look, Laura," Kaina pointed to the poster. "Is this house still for sale?"
"Yeah... hey, why do you want to know?"
Kaina ignored the other's question. "Where is this place, though? This 'Sunset Valley'."
Shrugging, Laura gave a frown. "I honestly don't know but I can ask my mother, if you want?"
"Sure, I'd appreciate that."
Laura took out a key and opened the door.
"Stay there, I'll be back soon. Just be careful, alright? There's some bad folk here and you don't want to deal with them."
"I've met far worse, I'm sure," replied Kaina dryly.

The door flew open and Laura hurried down the steps, a map in her hand.
"Follow this map to Leeds and then go to the house circled on it. If you tell the guy there - he's my uncle, by the way - that Jenny Troughton sent you, he'll understand."
"Then what?" asked Kaina. Impatiently, she took the map.
"He'll give you another map, which'll take you to Sunset Valley," said Laura, looking a little peturbed. "By the way, what in God's name happened to your arm? It looks like a psychopath totally slashed it."
"Spot on."
Rattled, Laura gestured to the sky. "You should tell the feds. Looks like abuse to me, guessing from your - well, your appearance."
"And what exactly does that mean?" snapped the girl.
"You look like you've run away from someone. Really, you ought to tell the police."
"They wouldn't be able to do anything."
"If you say so." Laura shrugged.
Smiling slightly, Kaina glanced at the map. "Hey, where's the train station?"
"Really close to here. Follow the road 'till you find the fork. Then take a left and boom, you're there."
"Thanks!" she called, and began to run.

For the first time in quite a long while, Kaina began to feel a glimmer of hope.