The Story of The Prince

Chapter 2: Stranger Danger

Other than the bus driver Kyl was the only one in the bus. He didn't mind, no one would question him that way. As he warmed up from the warmth of the bus he looked through the window and stared at the snowflakes he passed.

His stomach growled and Kyl realized he hadn't eaten in hours. 'I should have brought some food with me..' he thought. He looked down and suddenly there was a sandwich on his lap. He looked around and then noticed a man standing next to his chair. Kyl was startled so much by it he could've jumped out of the window right then and there.

'Mind if I sit here?' he said pointing at the chair next to Kyl. He slowly nodded and let the man sit down. 'Sorry for frightening you, I saw you sitting there all by yourself and figured you would like some company. That sandwich is for you by the way, you looked starved to death.' 'Thank you..' Kyl said as he started eating the sandwich. Normally he wouldn't have accepted food from strangers, but he was so hungry he didn't care anymore. He was still wary of the man, because he was sure he was alone in the bus, and they hadn't made any stops yet. Still he let him sit next to him.

'So why is a kid like you all alone here at this time?' the man asked. There was the question he was dreading.
'It's a secret..' Kyl mumbled. The man looked at him with an amused look in his eyes and nodded. 'A secret huh? I know all about those..' the man said with a chuckle.
'So where are you headed?' he asked. 'The city..' Kyl answered. 'So you're going to the Mini-Apple.. Interesting..' he said with a nod.

Kyl now started to get suspicious of the man and asked some questions himself.
'Where are you going sir?' he asked. 'I have some business to take care of in the city.' he said. That was a vague answer, but he didn't question it.
'Where did you come from?' he continued. 'Far' the man said.
'How far?' Kyl asked getting a little irritated. 'You've never been there, I'm sure of it.' the man said.
'Alright..' Kyl said defeated. He knew he wasn't gonna get a clear answer out of him.

'Can I ask you something else?' the man asked. 'Okay.. What is it?' Kyl said wearily.
'Where are your parents?' he asked.
Kyl didn't see that question coming and it hurt him more than he expected. 'Mom is at home and dad... I don't know him..' Kyl said quietly.
He felt like crying but stopped himself from doing so. He hated crying.
'And I assume you're not heading towards your mother?' the man asked. Kyl shook his head at the question. 'I see..' the man said with an odd interest.

Then the bus suddenly stopped driving. 'This is my stop' the man said while getting up.
Kyl, still a bit shaken up from the bus slamming on the brakes out of nowhere looked outside and saw the light of the city around the bus.
He hadn't realized he had been talking to the man for so long.
He quickly stood up and asked:
'Wait what's your n-'.
He stopped talking when he realized the man had left.
He looked through the window, but the man was nowhere to be found.

When he looked down at the seat the man had sat he noticed a small piece of paper laying on it.
He picked it up and tried to read what was on it.
He has always had some trouble with reading for some reason.
His teachers suspect it might be dyslexia, but his mom never took him to be diagnosed by a doctor.
As he read the letters on the paper he slowly repeated the words in his head.
'Erik R. Gale'.
There was also a phone number written on it, but he didn't have a phone.

'Would you mind getting out? I don't have all night.' a voice said.
Kyl looked up and noticed the bus driver looking at him.
'sorry..' he muttered.
He quickly got out of the bus and thanked the bus driver for the ride.

When he stepped out of the bus he was blinded by the lights of the city, but something felt off to him.
He turned around and the bus had disappeared. He didn't even hear it leave. He also didn't recognize anything around him.
He had been to Minneapolis before, and this place looked nothing like the place he remembered.

He searched the area for anything he could recognize, walking through the sea of people that were out in the city that night. He looked up and saw a huge billboard in the air.
The letters were big enough for him to read, but a wave of shock went over him once he read what the big red letters said.
'CHICAGO'
Something went terribly wrong.