Chapter 4

***(we continue)***

It was almost midnight. Two days have passed since they boarded on the train. The wasteland outside of the train was darker than black. You could not see further that where the lights coming from the train illuminated. The train was almost empty and most of the small amount of people that were in it were sleeping. Eliot and Seryoja were sitting in the first wagon, on seats that were around the middle of it. It was one of those trains that doesn't have separate cabins. Seryoja and Eliot were on separate seats. Eliot was spacing out in the view seen through the window while Seryoja was sleeping. It was quite late however Eliot couldn't sleep, because he was excited over the journey. It was his first time boarding on a train so it was only natural, however excitement wasn't the only thing keeping him awake. The things that happened with the Soul Leech scared him soo much that he was afraid of falling asleep. Some time passed and he stopped looking through the window and started watching his sleeping companion. It has not been that long since they've know each other so now was the first time that Eliot noticed that Seryoja has a scar that goes horizontally through his left eye. He got curious as to what has caused it however currently he couldn't ask because Seryoja was sleeping...

Eliot started spacing out again and after about 30 minutes he felt the need to go to the toilet. He quietly got up and headed out to it.

On his way out of the wagon he bumped into a man that was wearing a white coat, jeans and a white fedora.

-Im sorry - apologised Eliot.

-No problem kid. - said the man and continued his way.

Eliot continued straight to the toilet as he couldn't hold it in any longer.

***(meanwhile where Seryoja is)***

Not even a minute after Eliot headed out Seryoja woke up and continued lying down in his seat while thinking. Something bothered him.

~ It is way too quiet in the wagon. In fact the train as a whole is emptier than usual.- He thought to himself. Seryoja actually noticed this when they boarded the train but at the time he didn't want to give it much of a thought. The road they took was long. It takes about 5 days to get to Rantio - the city they were headed to, and there are a couple of stations on the way, where the train stops and takes new passengers and food for the restaurant wagon. Thats where the strange thing comes. Even tho it's been 2 days of travelling and 4 stations along the way, almost no people boarded on the train. Seryoja stayed in the same position for less than a minute and noticed a person sitting close to where he is. Seryoja quickly stood up and said:

-Stop pretending to be invisible you bastard. What is your agency doing on this train and why are no civilians getting on it? - he said in a serious manner while starting at the man.

-I think you do know quite well mr. Seryoja.- answered the man.

-Don't tell me it has too do with what i was sent for in New Yourk! - said Seryoja after which he quickly backed away and got in a stance for a fight.

-You catch on pretty quick- said the person while taking out a revolver out of his coat.

-Look, we both know that if i want i can destroy all of your agents that are currently on the train...- Said Seryoja after which he slapped the gun out of the man's hand. - So, why don't we just calm down and sit in our seats, until we get to the next station. Im currently not in the mood for killing people so it's better for you to give up while you can, since im not giving IT to you. - said Seryoja clearly annoyed and at the same time angered at the agent.

-That may be true, however I'm pretty sure that the kid with you ain't as hard to deal with as you! - said the stranger while grinning.

***(back to Eliot)***

After finishing his "business" Eliot got out of the toilet and headed back for the wagon. His head was still full of thoughts so he didn't even notice that there were people in front of him until he bumped into them.

-I'm sorry, i got distracted and didn't see you. - said Eliot and tried to continue going his way.

-Hey kid! Wait a second, we want to ask you something. - said one of the men.

Eliot turned back and noticed that all of the people were wearing clothes similar to the ones of the man he bumped into on the way to the toilet.

-What is it? - asked Eliot while starting to feel cautious about them.

-Well you see, the thing is your friend over there happens to have something valuable to us so we thought that you'd be helpful. - said the man and tried to get closer to Eliot who backed away instinctively.

-And how would i be helpful, if you don't mind answering me?

-Well it's quite simple... we'd use you as a hostage - said the man and tried to grab Eliot. Eliot however reacted first and started running away back to the wagon where Seryoja is. The three strangers started running after him however he was faster than they thought. While running, Eliot took off his jacket and threw it at the pursuers, after which he started running faster to the door and managed to close it. He took a broom that was conveniently close and blocked the door handle with it. He thought that he had escaped, however he found he was not at safety in this wagon either. Although Seryoja was there, 10 more men in white had surrounded him. Eliot took a breath and shouted:

-What is going on in here!? Who are these people!??

Seryoja noticed the boy was back in the wagon and grinned.

-I'll tell you later, for now get under one of the seats and stay put until i say. - asked Seryoja while looking around cautiously at those surrounding him.

-O-okay.- said Eliot and did as he told him.

-I guess you are not that great of an organisation after all, i mean letting a kid escape from a couple of grown up men... pathetic. - said Seryoja and in the blink of an eye took out 6 of those surrounding him.

-Now... for the rest of you.

The people in white started running away however he didn't let them escape. Seryoja jumped and in midair took out four small knives from his coat's pocket. He threw them and managed to hit all four of them in the backs.

-Now as for you... - said Seryoja and looked straight at the exit ahead of him.

Eliot took a look as well and saw another man wearing white clothes.He was as tall as Seryoja, white skinned, with red hair and a moustache. Something about him seemed off. He just witnessed what Seryoja did and yet didn't show a glimpse of fear. This could mean that he is either a madman or as strong as Seryoja.

-So you were here as well Sullivan?- said Seryoja and made a serious face.

-Of course I'm here, The White Order is not dumb enough to send only low-end agents after you, it'd be like sending them to their death... Although.. - the man continued - ...it seems that you showed sympathy for my lackeys , as you didn't hit any vital spots with those knifes, which is strange for you...

Seryoja stoped him mid sentence:

-Shut your mouth and get to the fighting already, unless you are scared!

The man smiled and said:

-Okay, if thats what you want let's get started.

He took off his jacket, stretched out his hands and shot straight for Seryoja. Seryoja blocked him and started hitting back. They exchanged a couple of swings that were so fast that Eliot couldn't follow them with his eyes. Both of them continued getting pushed back and forward from the opponents blows over and over again. While fighting Sullivan spoke:

-You do know that using only bare strength won't do much on me right, my dear holy piece!

-Sadly you are right... however don't you dare regret it if i kill you! - answered Seryoja and punched him so hard that he got pushed back a couple of metres.

Eliot was quietly watching from the corner of the wagon where he got after they started fighting so that he could be safer. What he was about to witness is something that not a lot have seen - a Soul Purifier using his real strength.

The changes in Seryoja were visible. Strange purplish aura surrounded him and his scarred eye became black with a red iris. His right arm and left leg were also almost like cloaked in what seems like a black armour with sharp claw at the end of the arm, which was coated entirely with purple aura that moved a way which made it look like his arm is on fire. Sullivan shot again straight at Seryoja, however this time instead of exchanging blows Seryoja grabbed him by the neck while midair with his cloaked arm and turned him to the side of the train.

-I told you not to regret what was about to happen. Now i hope you are ready to take your consequences. - said Seryoja and got in a weird stance with his cloaked leg in the back and his other one in front, he put his normal hand on the one he was currently holding Sullivan with and the aura went crazy. It once again took the form of a flame but looked like it got shot out of his shoulder backwards. Eliot didn't realise how but this caused an explosion in the palm of the armoured hand that shot Sullivan out of the train leaving behind only a giant hole in the wall. Eliot couldn't comprehend what he just witnessed however he got up and started walking straight to Seryoja.

-A-are you okay Seryoja? - asked Eliot

-Yeah? I told you that I'm in a perfect sync with my holy piece, so why wouldn't i be?

-Well i ... I don't know how to react... - said Eliot who was glad that he got saved once again however was shocked from the power he just saw.

-Anyway, Sullivan is a tough idiot so he wouldn't die from this, also I'm sure that The White Order will react soon and send more agents on our assess so I suggest we start running on foot. - said Seryoja

-But how? We can't just jump off from a moving train, can we? - asked Eliot

-Well duh we can, you did see what i just did, right? So it's pretty simple. - he said after which he grabbed and put Eliot on his shoulder and continued - Lets get going kid! - after which he jumped off the train. Eliot screamed in fear for his life, until they landed, after which he calmed down.After that they started walking towards somewhere...

After a couple of minutes spent in walking Eliot asked curiously:

-So... what now? How will we walk all this way on foot?

- Well there is a city nearby so we will try finding a means of travel in it, also some of the SLFO are stationed in it so we won't have as much problems in this city as we would in some others... - answered Seryoja after which they continued walking...

***(time pases)***

It was almost the noon of next day when they got to a cliff from where the city was visible.

-There it is Eliot, Ramp City! Let's get going to the SLFO station.

-Yeah, sure, let's get going... -said Eliot while trying to take a breath - It's not like we have been walking for the past 12 hours or anything !

-Oh, i see, you are tired... okay then- said Seryoja after which he put Eliot on his back and shot straight at the city.

***(to be continued)***