+Chapter 4+

Caspian saved some doughnuts for later, walking onto the train when it pulled up.

The ticket hadn't been as expensive which meant that more money could go into his survival until he got a job. He chose another window seat, his gaze fixed outside the window for the entirety of the ride.

He should be tired but he didn't feel even a bit sleepy, excitement thrumming through his veins. He almost forgot to eat his doughnuts, only remembering when he was a station away from his stop.

Four hours seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, and soon he was coming down from the train with the other passengers, clutching his satchel tight at the crowd.

Cities were way different from towns, even towns like Beckley. There was so much going on just at the station that he was disoriented, his head swiveling from side to side as he tried to figure out where to go.

"Hey, you look like you could use some help," A friendly-looking Beta walked up to him. He was dressed in a rumpled dress shirt and faded slacks, a bag over his shoulder.

"Sorry, it's my first time here, could you point me out of the station?" Caspian responded, sighing in relief.

"It depends on where you're going," The Beta threw an arm around his shoulder to lead him away from the crowd of people.

"I doubt you're going downtown but that's the best exit," He pointed at a dark corridor that was the farthest away from them. "Central Area is also where I'm going so I could lead you there."

Caspian wasn't comfortable with his arm around his shoulder but he felt bad about shrugging it off as the Beta had been generous enough to offer his help to a stranger.

"Th-Thanks." He mumbled.

The Beta did lead him out of the crowded station and was even kind enough to hail him a cab. "You said you're going to the 2nd District?" He confirmed.

Caspian nodded, a bit overwhelmed at all the help. There were cheap motels there so he would find a decent one to stay in.

"He's going to the 2nd District," The Beta said to the driver of the cab he called, offering him a rumpled bill. "Here, I'll pay for him."

Caspian had been getting into the cab then but he paused when the Beta said he would be paying, "Thank you!" He said in a more energetic voice, "And I didn't catch your name."

"It's Max," The Beta grinned, waving him off as the cab drove off.

Caspian didn't realize what had been done to him until he was at the counter of the motel he had chosen and he reached into his satchel to find all of his money gone, horror dawning on him with the realization.

The gum-chewing cashier behind the counter scowled impatiently when he wasn't forthcoming with his payment, her deep purple lipstick cracking as she sneered at him. "If you've got no money, make way for my paying customers."

Caspian had no option but to walk out of the motel amidst strangers' stares. His mouth tasted like metal, the same metal that weighed on his stomach, making him feel like the bottom of his stomach was about to fall out.

What was he going to do? He was stuck in a strange city without a single penny to his name and he didn't know a single person.

It should have struck him as strange that Max had taken out the time to approach him but coming from a small town with a bunch of nosy people, that hadn't been that strange of a behavior to him. He was distracted as he walked out of the motel, needing to jump back as a car sped past him then, the driver screaming obscenities at him.

He was truly in a strange place now, no one even looked at him, everyone minding their business. He wandered until he got to a park where he could find a spot to sit and think about what he could do. He went through his satchel properly and found out that the pickpocket hadn't even left his old and cracked cell phone behind, taking everything of value. All he had left was his old clothes and books.

Caspian wrapped his arms around his knees on the metal bench he sat on, resting his head on the top of his knees as he just tried to breathe so that he wouldn't drown in his emotions.

It was late in the afternoon now but it would get dark soon and he had nowhere to sleep. He hated to compare but even Noah's couch was a far better option than a cold metal bench out in the open.

His situation was distressing but he didn't let himself crumble, if he could just make it through the night, he could try finding a job in a restaurant or something.

If his boss was nice enough he could ask to sleep at work until he got paid, then he would find a place to stay.

Caspian raised his head, taking off his beanie so he could push slender fingers through his hair, his nose bright red from how hard he held back his tears.

It had been years since he missed his parents this much but as it got darker and colder, he would give anything just to see them again.

He half expected to be chased out of the park but he wasn't, even after it emptied and the sun set, he still sat on the bench, staring at the tall buildings and the big unforgiving sky. He was just glad it wasn't raining, that would make it really hard to sleep under the stars.

Caspian couldn't fall asleep despite his hectic day and it had nothing to do with the hard bench he was lying on. He jumped and flinched at the slightest sounds, the only lights at the park were dim so it was easy to see monsters in the shadows.

This meant that the moment an actual person walked up, he immediately jumped up with a high-pitched scream, already strung up tight.