2 ~1~

My heart hammered violently against my ribs as a storm raged outside.

Thunder rocked the train and rain hit the windows like tiny missiles.

I looked around at all of the other passengers, just minding their own business; reading, writing, kids racing raindrops down the foggy glass. I felt ridiculous, being almost thirteen and still scared of storms.

They've always terrified me though. They can be destructive and unpredictable.

After a minute of watching glistening brown and green hills roll by outside of my blurry window, I decided I needed a distraction.

I opened the dark green bag I normally use for traveling and pulled out one of my favorite books: On the edge of the world.

I don't remember dozing off, but when I woke again, the only sounds illuminating from the silence of the car were soft murmurs, the clinking of glasses, and the sound of fingers dancing across a computer's keyboard.

the storm had ended and the sun had set, scattering silver specks across a navy blue sky.

I noticed there were different people sitting in my car now.

Had all the others gone to bed?

I picked up the book that lay face down on the table in front of me.

I read the chapter: Chapter ~12~

I knew this chapter, I've read it already.

I stared at it for a long moment.

Why was my book left face down on the table on a page that I clearly had not left off on?

I glanced around the car at all of the passengers.

Now some were sleeping, some were writing, some were having a night cap.

None of them showed any interest in me.

"Excuse me," I said to a girl sitting in the booth across the aisle. She had dark brown hair and grey eyes, almost like mine. But mine were much lighter than hers.

"How much longer until we arrive in Paris?" I asked.

"...Paris? I've never heard of it, what province is that?"

"What...Province? What are you talking about? Is this train not on its way to Paris France?"

The girl smiled at me as if I were a confused child.

"This train leads to the Onyx Province. You must have just arrived, correct? I will take you to headquarters. I'm heading there myself"

I shook my head.

"No thanks," I said, "I'll just switch trains when we arrive at... wherever it was that you said this train was going"

An hour had passed, and the girl next to me began glancing over at me from the corner of her eye; it was starting to make me feel uncomfortable.

"I love your hair," she said putting her chin in her hands as if admiring a piece of art in a gallery.

"Um... thanks? I guess"

My hair was nothing special; seriously. It was an inky mess, and constantly in Knott's. If anything it was more annoying.

She sat up abruptly as if she had just come to a realization.

"Where are my manors?" She laughed.

"Rain," she said extending a hand, "Rain Evans"

I forced a smile and shook her hand.

"Ivy, Dodson"

As I said my name I could feel her grip tighten around my fingers. Barely, but I could still feel it.

Or maybe it was just me.

"Dodson, huh?" She said taking her hand from mine and leaning back against her seat.

"What's it mean?"

I didn't know how to answer her question. How would I know what it means?

"I don't know" I finally said as I picked up my book again and began flipping back to the page I really left off on.

"Good book you've got there. 'The edge of the world'. Very intriguing"

"You've read it?"

She glared at me as if I had offended her.

"Of course I have!"

"Okay...?"

She sighed.

"I'm sorry, I forget that our worlds are very different from each others"

I glanced up from my book. "Our world's?"

Rain nodded. "You won't make it to Paris anytime soon Dodson. My advice; just do as your told and nothing more or less"

I looked at her as if she were spewing nonsense. Which she was!

It wasn't long before the train pulled into a station that I didn't recognize at all.

So, yeah. Definitely not Paris.

I slid out of the booth I was sitting in and stepped into the empty aisle.

I started forward when someone grabbed me by the shoulders.

"Where do you think you're going? You don't even know your way around yet"

"I'm going to switch trains," I said.

Rain shook her head.

" Only one train comes through this station Dodson"

I swallowed back the sudden urge to yell at her to just leave me alone because she was right. I had no idea where I was.

"Is there a motel or something I could stay at until-"

"Yes, come with me"

Rain took me by the hands and led me off of the train. The station was small and only a few people were waiting to board.

The station itself was made of black marble and glass, and so far, so was everything else as far as I could see.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"The Onyx Province"

It looked just like any other city... Except it didn't.

About three miles away, Rain led me to a huge building that looked to be made to resemble modern Greek architecture.

Except it was made of black marble instead of white.

And from where we stood, it sure did seem to reach all the way to the heavens.

"This is not a motel," I said in awe.

"Nope"

"But...you said-"

"-To just do what your told and nothing more or less, you learn fast!"

Then she led me inside.

The inside was grander than the outside. Hundreds of silver Chandeliers hung from the ceiling that was multiple stories above me.

Black flames blazed from silver torches fastened to the marble walls.

There were four cases of stairs at each corner of the lobby that spiraled up and up and out of sight.

If I had to describe this place using only one word... Magical.

"Hello, Kirkus," Rain said to a man sitting at a long black marble desk with his nose buried in a newspaper.

Kirkus lowered the paper so that only his beady yellow eyes were peering up over his round spectacles.

"Hello, Miss Evans, and miss..."

Rain elbowed me in the side and suddenly I was aware that I was still gawking at the marvelous building.

"Oh, uh... Ivy, Dodson"

"And miss Dodson" He finished, "How may I assist you?"

"I'd like an audience with my father please Kirkus"

"Miss Evans, you know how difficult that might be at this time-"

"But it's important" Rain interrupted.

The man sighed and pressed a little grey button on the underside of his desk.

"What is it Kirkus!" A man's voice boomed from invisible speakers.

"You know not to bother me at this hour-"

"I believe it's important sir," Kirkus said.

"Yes, father," said Rain. "It's about... Josephine's prediction"

The man was silent for a long while before he finally said, "Fine. Meet me in my study"