(SCRAPPED VERSION) The Other Side of The Planet

Chapter III

The train hurtles through the tunnel for hours and the two sleep soundly throughout the trip. Above the ground, the sun starts to rise once more.

Ackely is awoken by the sound of the screeching wheels beneath him. He begins to sit up, but is stopped by Ogden's head on top of his. "Ogden, we're here," he says.

Ogden awakes and sits up. "Mm... uh... huh" He opens his eye a bit wider. "Ah! We're here!" He stands up and twirls while Ackely sits up slowly.

"I feel a bit queasy." Ackely says. Ogden turns to him with a wide smile. "I'm sure it'll wear off in a minute. Come along now!" Ackely stands up as his legs struggle to uphold him.

The two grab their things and roll their bikes out of the train, and as they approach the stairs, the sun gleams down on them. They pull their bikes to the surface with them and Ogden inhales deeply. "Now, what's the plan?"

"Dunno...," Ackely replies feebly, holding his stomach.

Ogden's smile fades. "Let's go sit down. There's a restaurant right over here."

Ogden takes Ackely's things and the two drag their bikes to the nearby restaurant. "Let's hide the bikes behind the seat." Ackely nods and, while the cashier inside isn't looking, the two slip their bikes inside and into a nearby booth.

"You sit down. I'll order." Ogden says. He approaches the counter and the cashier greets him cheerily.

After he orders, Ogden slides into the booth and sits beside Ackely. "Alrighty," he says. A few moments of silence pass while Ackely stares blankly at the booth opposite to him.

"Ogden," he says. "What are we going to do if this is for nothing?"

Ogden sighs. "I don't know. Don't worry, ok? Something tells me that it'll be worth it."

"Okay...," Ackely sits up. "I'm gonna go puke."

"Alright." Ogden scoots out of the way. "Don't be long."

As Ackely wobbles towards the restrooms, Ogden pulls out his laptop and looks at the starting time of the concert. After several minutes, a waiter approaches the table with their food, but Ogden takes the food from him before he reaches the booths, in fear of their bicycles being spotted. After a few more minutes, Ackely stumbles out of the restroom and sits beside Ogden.

"How do you feel now?" Ogden asks.

"Better. Are the potatoes for me?"

"Yep."

Ackely spots a slice of pie on Ogden's plate. "Is that cherry?"

"Mhm."

Ackley points to the pie, then to his stomach. Ogden chuckles, slices a quarter of the pie with his fork and slides it to Ackely on a napkin. The two shovel the food and drink into their faces and chatter about various nonsense.

Around noon, Ackely sips the last of his iced tea from the bottom of his cup and Ogden scarfs down the last bit of his pie. "Well then," Ackely says, "That was a good meal, wasn't it?"

"Indeed."

"Alrighty, let's move."

The two retrieve the directions to the concert venue from their bags, sling the drawstrings over their heads, and roll their bikes out of the restaurant. Just as Ackely starts to swing his leg over his bike, Ogden stops him. "Wait a moment," he says, "I checked, and the concert doesn't start until nine. We can just walk."

"Oh. Alright."

As they walk, they are enchanted by the cityscape— enchanted so much so that they become oblivious to the aching in their talons. A few hours in however, Ogden starts to slow down. "I'm rather thirsty," he says. Just then, Ackely spots a vending machine across the street.