Homeless

Chapter 11

{The story will continue with a narrator, Enjoy!}

The train makes its way over bridges and through tunnels. The nature of Telonia is truly spectacular, but Sebastian is too sad to notice. Once in a while, he would turn to the empty seat next to him expecting Kristine to be there. She's not. There are many sighs coming out of his mouth throughout the journey. There's a boy around his age across the aisle. "Are you okay man?" Sebastian turns, "I guess..." "That's a lie.." "Yeah, it is. What is it for you?" "Geez, no need to be rude, I'm just trying to check up on you..." "No need for that..." "Just take the help, when you need it." The boy says and turns away. Kristine said something similar, thought Sebastian. When Sebastian was getting told off by the gang+his brother, Kristine said words that were similar. This made Sebastian think more and more sadly. "Girlfriend broke up with you?" The boy says. "What?" "That's the look when you're sad because of a girl.." "But i didn't–" Sebastian tries to say but is cut off. "I know I know. Break-ups are tough. You'll get through it though." Sebastian is so confused, as he never broke up with Kristine. He whispers, "Did I though? Does Kristine think so?" "So her name is Kristine?" "What? You heard that?" "Yeah?" Sebastian really didn't want anything to do with this boy, but he kept questioning Sebastian. "Was she pretty?" "Pretty? I don't know.." "What do you mean you don't know." "I've never really thought about it." "Really? How come..."  "We met by accident, then found out we have so much in common physically, but our mental way of thinking is quite different. We started to spend time together, and I guess feelings started to grow." "Hmm... You still haven't answered my question. You've never had any like fantasies about her?" "Fantasies?" "You know..." He says, with a huge smirk. Sebastian is almost disgusted. "What? Of course not...And I guess she is pretty. She has long strawberry blond hair, it is always tied in a braid. I've never once seen it not tied in a braid." "Hmm. well I have to go back to work." "Work?" "I work on the central green line " He says, Sebastian now notices his uniform, again with the Telonian crest on it. Sebastian nods, and falls asleep. He chose an overnight train because he wants to start working bright and early in the morning when he gets there. It's about a 5 hour train ride, so he can get at least a little bit of sleep.

Back at Duarta,

Kristine is using some of the leftover money to buy a cheap, pre-made meal. It's night-time. The stars glimmer as she sighs sadly, Kristine wished that Sebastian would have told him where he was going to stay, but she was sure Sebastian didn't even know himself. Or Did he? Did Kristine know Sebastian all that well? She knew his backstory, and his voice, but, they haven't known each other for very long. Was it ridiculous? That she has already fallen for Sebastian. Maybe it was too early. She sat down on the leg, and turned her body so she laid down vertically on the old wooden log. She thought long and hard about who she was, who Sebastian was, but most importantly, what they were. The morning came and she found herself on the grassy floor. Her clothes were stained green, with pieces of grass in her hair, and all over her body. She brushed it off and looked down at the spring. The little island, the willow tree, and lily pads. The water, shining as always. It was getting towards summer. The grass was getting less green and luscious than before, and the sun felt hotter on her black jeans. She stretched, her back and head aching from sleeping on a literal tree She goes to her chest at the back of the tent. Opening it, using date of the day she left home to unlock the lid. Inside were clothes, canned food, and her diary. She picked it up. "Yes, the day I ran away, this was left on my dresser, I couldn't read cursive then, but when I learned to later, I read the different pages. It was written from my perspective, but I didn't write it. Somebody I guess wrote it for me." The flashback of when she first showed the journal to Sebastian ran through her mind. Her pages flipped as the warm breeze and she noticed something. The pages in the beginning of the journal, were filled, while the ones near the end were still empty. But in between the empty and full, there was something else. In between the pages full with the most memorable writing, and the pages blank, the pages were ripped. No, cut. The pages were cut out very neatly. Not by her though. She doesn't usually touch that journal, but her eyes widen at the site. There were at least 10 pages cut out of the journal, right in the center. It was cut almost perfect, except for the top corner of the first page, were 3 words, written smaller than the the print on the other pages, this time not in cursive. This was her father's writing.  "stuck, no trapped" They read. Whoever wrote this diary, either wanted to leave me a clue, or just didn't do a good enough job of cutting out the pages. I look dig through the chest, trying to see if the pages were somewhere hidden at the bottom. No luck. She starts thinking of places they could be. Maybe the person who wrote this diary threw them away. But something about her father's writing in that journal, kept here curious, wanting for more information. She had no idea how she knew her father's handwriting so well. Was it the way it was written? Maybe the shape of the letters. She looked back. There was something else written besides those three words, in smaller print. She couldn't read it, but it was some sort of address. A home address. "Home." She murmured out-loud. Her head turned to the direction of the village. Her long legs, made her way through the forest, to the village. The stone+dirt road mixture was drier, sadder, and browner than ever. Her old house was located on the 3rd and final road east. It was on the lower hill, and the log chalet looked as it always did. It never seemed to age. There were some photos of her family in the beginning of the journal. The 3 were standing in front of the chalet, holding hands. she was in the middle of her parents, with a 'i don't want to be here' type of smile. Her hair was shorter. Up to her shoulders. The strawberry blond hair was the same though. Just the length and height of me changed. In the back there was a huge banner saying, "WELCOME CEREMONY" It was written in English, but had the Telonian crest on both sides. Typical. Most titles were written in english. Businesses, Schools, and celebrations. Of course, the towns and streets were still in Telonian, as they were older, but most teenagers tend to say "Telonia City" rather than "Kita Telonia" in Telonian.

(Kristine POV)

 I walked up and saw the "For Sale" sign. It has always been like that. Ever since I lived there. Nobody ever bought it though. The realtors office was located on the higher hill. It was in the same complex as the Doctors, Vets, and Dentists' offices. The building was modern and new. It didn't belong with the chalet Swiss type of village. I walked in and took the elevator to the last floor. As I got off. I walked to the last office door. I took off my shoes, resting them in the shoe bin outside the door. I walk in and put on those ugly feet protectors. They're uncomfortable, and probably bad for the environment. I sit down at one of the later arm chairs, and wait. One of the receptionists, calls "next" and I walk up to the desk. Nobody else was there but me, and an older woman who just left the building. "Is the last cottage on the 3rd floor east still up for sale?" I ask the woman. She had nude make-up on and a tight low pony tail. Her uniform was navy and gold. Telonian Colors for commoners. "Let me check" she says, and types on her keyboard with some of the longest nails I've ever seen. "Yes, you can get more information with Dr. Banni. I can schedule an appointment, he doesn't usually mind if the appointments are last minute." When mentioning one of the realtors I assume, she phrased it as if I should know who he is. I nod reluctantly, and she tells me to wait. I sit back down. By now, a man and a child around 9 years old, walks in. The woman talks to the man for maybe 2 minutes or so, and they sit down. The boy is playing on some sort of electronic, while the dad is also on his phone. I'm sure this is a usual site for the woman, behind the desk. I wonder what kinds of people she meets everyday. 15 minutes go by and the woman calls me in. We walk down the very short hallway, to the 2nd door. She knocks slightly. Another woman in the same uniform comes out. "This is Dr. Banni's secretary, Gina I nod again slightly as Gina motions me inside the office. "Are you here because of your parents?" She asks. She has a slight American accent in her voice. You can tell Telonian isn't her first language. "Yeah..something like that" I say, not really wanting to explain. But, how high up is this man that he has a secretary? There is another waiting room, with only one chair, and a desk. Hers, I assume. I hear a low and monotone, "come in". I actually start to sweat a little when I see this man. His uniform, Purple and Gold. 2nd class, CEOs, Governors, and Nobles I've never actually met a 2nd class person before. In Telonia there are tons of 3rd and 4th class, villagers. But I've never actually been face to face with a 2nd class individual. He sits me down and dismisses his secretary. I check, good. She isn't locking the door. I've read so many stories about young girls sitting in a locked room with an older middle aged men. Not very good outcomes come out of those stories. He speaks. "Kristine, correct?"

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Hello Friends.

Hope you are all doing well. 

I really do hope you enjoy the story. Next chapter, (tomorrow) will be around 3000 words. (not including the author's note.) So read at your own pace.

Here is the teaser!

"KRISTINE!!!!" Sebstian shouts. As he looks up from his seated position, he sees two figures. Kristine and that boy from the train. "Wh-what are you doing here together?" The boy speaks first. "She promised me she'd treat me. Wait this is Kristine?" "Um yeah..." Sebastian says. "Um Luke? I will go buy you your snack now." "Can I have a Galta?" (basically balls of flavored sweet batter on a stick) "Yeah, what flavor?" "Um...Coffee!" Kristine nods and I watch her walk off. I turn back to Luke. His name is american, but i'm almost positive he's from Telonia. I remember Kristine told me that children our age were named American names, the trend only lasted a year though. So 'Luke' is probably our age. "Well, it's good that you two have broken up for me I guess..." He says. I look at him, "What?" "She's really considerate. Did I mention pretty? She's gorgeous. Wow.. If you two were still dating, then I would try to hide my feelings, but she's not cheating on you if you two are not dating, right?" 

Until Tomorrow :)

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