Peter Hostel: From Petersburg with Love

Chapter 2

Entrance Hall of subway station "Sennaya" opens at 5.36 am. At this time Anton was standing at the entrance. Anton lives next to the Metro in the Peter Hostel at Efimova Street. He was not asleep, because he was in a hurry on the first train. At this time, Anton is usually asleep, but today is a special day; he goes to Riga as a tourist.

Only once he got up so early. It was last year, in October, 2014. Then he went to Tallinn as a tourist. In the past morning a lot of people were in the underground, because then Halloween's carnival ended, and young people hurried to homes after the various parties in bars and nightclubs.

Today, not a single person was almost in subway, because many people have the day off. Today is a holiday too, the 8 of March; it is a Women's Day. Anton has a day off too, so he decided to go to Riga today. But it was not as easy as he had thought at the beginning, because all the tickets have been sold already. Anton usually buys tickets online, but the tickets were not. Then he called in the bus company.

- Young man, you're late! - a woman's voice on the phone was very surprised. - It is a holiday today. All tickets were sold out a month ago.

- Well, it's not my day - Anton thought. - In that case, I'll go in another time someday.

But before he gave up, he looked at the BlaBlaCar website more. BlaBlaCar is the world's largest long-distance ridesharing community. There was one suitable offer. User Ekaterina has offered a trip to Riga on March 8 at 6 am, for 1000 rubles.

Further correspondence from the chat:

"- Hello, Ekaterina. My name is Anton. And I'd like to go with you to Riga tomorrow. Will you take?

- Hello, Anton. And will you be the one?

- Yes, I am alone.

- Okay, we will take. Then be at exactly 6 am at the store "Auchan" metro "Staraya derevnya". Only without delay. Wait, we cannot more than 10 minutes, and then leave. Write down my phone number: +7 927 *******.

- Thank you. At six I'll be there. My number: +7 981 *******."

Thus it turns out that Anton will travel to Riga, as a traveling companion. And in St. Petersburg, he will return by bus on March 10, he has bought a ticket online already.

The first train arrives at the Sadovaya station in 5.45. For 10 minutes, he drove to the Staraya derevnya station, well, that's one line. Coming out of the subway, he ran to the Auchan's parking, and at six o'clock he was on the spot. But he did not see any cars in the parking. He called Ekaterina.

- Ekaterina, hello. This is Anton. I'm standing in the Auchan's parking.

- Oh, yes, hello, Anton. We are seeing you. Now we come.

The car drove on the left, the Chinese Geely, and rolled over to Anton. Anton opened the back door.

- Hello, I'm Anton. You follow me?

- Yes, yes, sit down, and we went - a young woman's voice said from the front seat.

Anton quickly got behind the rear seat, slammed the door, and the car moved off quickly. The driver was a young man of about thirty, not thin, but not thick, handsome. His companion on the seat was about the same age, long dark hair and a spring coat. That such Anton saw in the first minute of his companions.

- Well, hello, Anton - a young woman in the front seat said. - I'm Catherine. This is my husband; his name is Anton, too. We're going to Riga. You've got to us a thousand rubles. Is your visa a good?

- Yes, - Anton said, quickly transferring money to Catherine, she quickly adopted and put in her purse.

- So, that's great!