CHAPTER 29: A Deep Darkness

"Have both of you heard?"

I opened my eyes and glanced at Agustin. "Heard what?"

I was in a carriage around the middle section of the train that was speeding toward the exit of Freestone Academy.

Agustin glanced around suspiciously before lowering his voice and leaning in closer to Alistair and I.

"There have been people going missing every other night in Freedom City." Whispered Agustin.

"And?" Alistair's face showed that he'd lost interest, and he leaned back on his seat. "Everyone knows, that's old news."

Agustin smiled. "Ahh, but what is not known is that some Ranked have also disappeared ."

My eyebrows raised in surprise. "Really?"

Agustin nodded his head eagerly. "Yeah, apparently it's gotten so bad that both Ranked and normal humans are afraid to go out at night for fear of never seeing the sun rise."

"Huh," I turned and looked out the window at the approaching barrier. "Seems like it's getting more serious."

I glanced at Agustin and saw a smug smile on his face.

"It's more serious than you realize," said Agustin. He then lowered his voice and whispered very quietly. "I heard that The Hounds might take on the case."

I sat up straight once I heard that and looked at Agustin in shock. "What? Why?"

Agustin shrugged his shoulders. "Apparently the police can't handle it, and Ranked are now involved so they have to intervene."

"Still, it doesn't make sense." I said in exasperation. "The Hounds only deal with criminal matters that have to do with Ranked."

I massaged my temples in frustration. "Even then, they normally won't get involved even if tens of Ranked die, what makes this case different?"

"I don't know," replied Agustin. "All I know is what I heard."

"And where did you hear all this?" Suddenly, Alistair said.

I turned to the right, and to my surprise I saw Alistair with the most serious expression on his face that I had ever seen.

"Well," Agustin suddenly looked sheepish. "I heard it from two people who were talking in the toilet back at Freestone."

My concerns immediately fizzled out once I heard that and I gave a sigh of relief.

"So it's only a rumor. That's good, I would hate for The Hounds to suddenly get interested in Freedom City."

I then turned to Alistair. "Isn't this good news..."

Slowly I stopped.

"Why do you still look so serious?" I asked quietly. "Is there something concerning you?"

The strange look disappeared from Alistair's face and he turned to me. "Nothing serious, just a lot on my mind."

I hesitated for a moment before I nodded my head. "If you say so."

For the rest of the time that we were in the train, all three of us didn't speak to each other and seemed to be lost in our own separate thoughts.

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*SCREECH*

I felt the train coming to a stop so I opened my eyes and looked out the window.

'Nighttime already?' Outside the window all I could see was darkness. 'I guess I refined my Hani all the way into the night.'

I looked at my XOC. 'Ten twenty-four,' I turned my head and gazed out the window. 'But isn't it too dark?'

*BANG*

"Get off and assemble in front of the train!"

I looked up and saw Instructor Cross burst through the carriage door and walk down the aisle.

"Get off and assemble in front of the train!" He repeated as he reached the end of the carriage and entered the other door there.

"You heard him," said Alistair as he got off the seat, "it's time to go."

"I once again looked out the window before I turned back to Alistair. "Where are we anyway? Instructor Cross never mentioned it and it's too dark for me to see outside."

Alistair shrugged his shoulders and picked up his knapsack before swinging it over his shoulder. "I'm sure we'll find out in a few minutes."

I picked up my knapsack and was about to leave when I noticed Alistair pointing at something.

*ZZZZZ*

I turned and saw Agustin lying slumped against his seat with drool coming out of his mouth.

I sighed then shook him. "Wake up, we're here."

"Mhhhm." Agustin slowly roused, then after a few seconds his eyes opened and he stared blearily at me. "What?"

"Instructor Cross said we should gather in front of the train." I replied, then seeing that most of the students had already left the carriage I hurriedly added. "But if you want to stay here and sleep, that's alright with me."

I then nodded at Alistair. "Let's go."

"Wait! I'm coming." Called out Agustin as he tried to fully wake up.

Without waiting for him to gather himself, Alistair and I walked down the aisle before going through the doorway at the end of the carriage and entering a corridor.

The corridor was full of students standing around and talking while waiting for their turn to exit the train.

It seemed that before anyone could leave the train they had to hand over the bags they were carrying to an instructor who stood by the exit.

"Hey!"

I turned around and saw Agustin walk into the corridor.

"Glad to see you with us in the land of the living." Said Alistair, he then took off his glasses and carefully cleaned them before putting them back on.

Agustin leaned next to the body of the train and slid to the floor while sulking. "You could have waited."

I ignored the hurt look on his face and shook my head before turning away.

I glanced out of a window next to me, and still, all I could see was a pitch black void outside the train.

'Is this darkness even normal?' I put my face closer to the glass of the window and squinted my eyes. 'Even back before I became a Ranked I could see quite well in the dark, how is it possible that I can't even see two meters outside of the train?'

"You've noticed, haven't you?"

I turned my head and saw Alistair standing next to me.

"That this darkness isn't normal?" I asked.

Alistair nodded his head and walked to the window next to mine. "Have you looked out the door?"

I shook my head. "No I haven't."

Alistair motioned with his head toward the exit. "Watch what happens when she exits the train."

I turned slowly and followed his gaze.

A brown haired female student was standing by the door, and as I watched she handed the bag she held to the instructor and stepped out the door.

The moment she left the train her body disappeared into the darkness and I lost sight of her.

My face turned back from the door and I dropped my knapsack on the floor, then slowly leaned against the wall. "Yep, that darkness isn't normal."

"Right?" Exclaimed Alistair. "It's like the light from the train can't penetrate the darkness, and the moment anybody leaves, they are absorbed and disappear."

I nodded my head in understanding as I reached into my knapsack

I ruffled around for a while before I found what I was looking for.

'Yes,' I picked up the bottle of diom pills, and carefully brought one out. 'Might as well hold onto it, it's soon gonna be the third day.'

"What are you doing?" Suddenly said Alistair.

I hurriedly pulled my hand from the bag, but I accidentally hit my arm on the wall, which caused the pill to fly from my hand, and before I could catch it, it disappeared.

"Shit." I swore under my breath.

Alistair stepped closer to me. "What were you doing?"

"Nothing," I quickly said. I then thought of something and turned to look at Agustin.

"Shouldn't he be listening to this?"

Alistair glanced behind briefly before turning back to me. "He looks grumpy and seems too busy sulking."

"I heard that," barked Agustin, he then stood up and joined us by the windows. "What were you talking about?"

Skip several minutes and we had filled him in on our conversation about the darkness outside the train.

"So Alistair, basically you are scared of a little darkness?" Agustin covered his mouth and stifled a laugh. "Skinny glasses boy."

I looked at Alistair and noticed that a vein was bulging on his forehead.

"Do you want to go?"

The scary part was that as Alistair said this he had a wide smile on his face.

"Hey, you two."

I turned my head toward the door and saw the instructor looking in my direction. I pointed my finger at myself.

The instructor sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yes, you and the brown haired boy you're standing next to, it's you two's turn to leave."

My eyes widened and I hurriedly picked up my knapsack and followed Alistair in walking toward the door.

The instructor held out her hands and looked pointedly at the bags we were carrying.

Silently I handed her my knapsack and watched as Alistair did the same.

The instructor dropped our bags on a pile of luggage next to her then extended her hand at the door. "Go."

I hesitated for a moment as I looked at the pitch black, darker than night darkness just outside the door.

I looked back and saw Agustin give me a thumbs up.

I then took a deep breath then stepped out of the train and into the darkness.

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I felt a change in the environment the moment all of my body left the train and as soon my feet landed on the ground a sobering thought came to my mind. 'Something is wrong.'

I turned my head to the left then right but all I could see was... nothing, absolutely nothing.