Chapter 44: Chapter Seventeen: The Testament of Areala Hawks

As we walked in the door, Josie jumped at me, grabbing onto me. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” She kept repeating.

"It’s okay, I’m fine,” I wanted to let her hold onto me. I wanted to hold her too, but I knew that we didn’t have the time for it. 

"Hey, we need to move our asses now!” Shana shouted.

"Why what’s going on girl?” Naomi lazily lifted herself up from the cot.

"Bastards placed a tracker on me back in the bar,” Shana grabbed her hat and mother's poncho, and threw the disguised clothes to the floor. "They know we’re here!”

"A tracker? They have that kind of technology?” Naomi asked doubtfully. 

"Not surprised, honestly I should have seen it coming,” Josie released me, walking over to Delun, and shook him awake. "Hey, dumbass, we need to hurry!” 

"The hell, what’s going...who are?” He awoke in a stupor, "Josi...Josie?” 

"We need to catch the next train to the third circle,” she said, pulling him to his feet.

"Why the third circle?” he wrenched his arm away from her, "shouldn’t we return to the manor?”

"No time for that, we only have days before the train with the weapon should pass through, so we’re hopping on it from the wastes outside of Ridge city,” she explained.”

"But the train here only took six hours.”

"Yeah, that was an express train, we won’t have that luxury this time. Gotta take what we can get.” She went back into the armory room, and came out with a bag full of supplies. "Take this!” She handed a rifle over to Naomi, then tossed a handgun to Shana. "We run into inquisitors, you’re going to need something other than your magic.” 

"I thought you said the trains won’t be running for a while?” Shana asked.

"Not if we want to get on one legitimately. But there’s always the high-class business trains running. They’re not about to disrupt rich stiffs just because a couple witches are running around.” She handed me a handgun. "You know how to use this Reli?”

I nodded and took it from her. My parents were in the navy, they made sure I had learned at least some combat skills. 

"So, this train is taking us where we need to go?”

"Well, no, not directly," Josie shook her head, "good chances are we’ll have to jump off just like we’re jumping on.” She walked over to a closet, and began to pull up the floorboards, "there’s an old service tunnel that leads right to the tracks, we just need to sneak on board. We built the escape passage for just this kind of situation.”

"And in how many cities do we have these ever so convenient passage ways?” Shana asked with a hint of skepticism.”  

"They’re not part of the Manor per se, but the posse Delun and I once belonged to.”

"Thirty seven if I remember correctly,” Delun answered.

"So you two do know each other?” I asked.

"How do you think I found out about Karakahls powers?” the disgraced Sheriff answered, "Before I was a bodyguard, hell before I was a sheriff, we ran bank heists all over Haven.” 

"So Josie was a real badass huh?” Naomi said.

"Hey I deserve credit too, I was the leader after all!” Delun argued. 

"Achak was the leader, you were just the loudest,” Josie sighed, "anyways let’s hurry through here, hopefully they haven’t stopped the trains yet.” She led our group down a dugout tunnel. After only a minute of walking it became pitchblack, "Hold on to each other, I know these tunnels pretty well so I’ll get us through this.” She reached back and grabbed my hand, and in turn I held onto Shana. I felt her pull forward, and so I tried to match her pace. The ground was slightly uneven, and the passage felt narrow, it was amazing that Josie could navigate through it with such ease. I struggled to keep from falling as I stepped over invisible obstacles.

"Can we slow it down a little?” Naomi asked. Suddenly a light shined as our familiars took form.

"I feel as if you forgot about us precious,” Bara said a bit forlorn. 

"The hell, those things glow?” Delun nearly shouted in shock.

"To be honest I was going to wait for someone to say something,” Gabby stuck her tongue out.

"Guess we’re so used to you staying hidden in town, kinda slipped our minds?” Shana sounded embarrassed. 

"Would have been nice to have a witch back when we were running banks eh Josia...I mean Josie?” Delun laughed.

 Josie ignored him, and continued on, still holding my hand. With the light shining from the witch’s familiars the tunnels became easier to navigate. Miki hovered over me, bearing a suggestive grin whenever I looked back at her. I blushed, noticing Josie’s grip on my hand grow tighter. "I can see now, Josie, you don’t have to hold my hand,” I said quietly. 

"Oh, I’m sorry Reli,” she let go, "I wasn’t thinking.” 

"No it’s ok,” I said, my face still red, "I didn’t mind, just thought it would be easier for you.”

 Josie continued forward in awkward silence. Honestly, I felt a tinge of disappointment, wishing I hadn’t said anything, as we followed. 

We arrived at what seemed to be a dead end, where Josie cautiously lifted up on a wood panel above us. She peered out it, then climbed up, and after a moment or two popped her head back in to call the others over. She hoisted me out of the tunnel into what looked like some sort of storage area. As everyone else climbed out, she silently motioned to follow her, ducking behind crates and cargo. Voices could be heard from beyond the walls, muffled by the sounds of the trainyard. 

"So how exactly are we gettin on this train?” Naomi asked in a hushed voice.

"Could we force our way through?” Bara suggested.

"Damn girl, you want me to get caught again?” her witch sighed, "no way am I comin this far just to be arrested,” Noami patted her side pocket, "and get back in your damn carta before someone sees you.” The familiars disappeared, leaving us in a dimly lit room. 

Josie peeped over a stack of crates, "exits unguarded, let’s hope we are as lucky on the outside.” She vaulted over the obstacle and ran for the door. 

"Old bank robbers huh?” Shana questioned, "guess appearances really are deceiving.”

"You don’t know the half of it,” Delun said, following his former ally.

"Yeah, like hell I don’t, asshole,” Shana muttered and followed. 

Through the door, we arrived at the trainyard, a host of guards checking passengers as they boarded. "Looks like they’re checking for brands,” Delun pointed out, "getting on isn’t going to be easy.”

"Rush at the last minute,” Josie said, crouching behind a fence post, "power forward and just don’t worry.”

"Damn girl, does the little princess jump lots of trains?” Noami whistled. 

Josie shot her a glare, then continued watching as the guards continued loading passengers.

"Is it wise to cause such a commotion?” Miki asked.

"Won’t they just alert the next station about us?” I voiced her concern.   

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"We’ll worry about that when we get there,” Josie continued to watch the train. I watched along with her, awaiting our chance to break through. Each prospective rider was thoroughly examined by the guards, as an inquisitor stood on watch. Occasionally the inspectors confiscated weapons, or completely refused boarding for one reason or another. At last the final person walked onto the train, the guards signaling the conductor while closing off the door. With a whistle blow, the train began its departure, "Now!” Josie leapt from her hiding spot and ran through two surprised guards, making sure to shove them to the floor. 

Shana, and the others sprang forward, following the girls lead, leaving me behind. With a moment of hesitation, I heard Miki tell me to run, and so I made a mad dash after my companions. I stumbled out from hiding, leaping over the grounded guards. Narrowly avoiding the grasp of an outreached hand, as the inquisitor attempted capture. Josie had already leapt to grab the safety rail of the caboose, and spring herself onto its back platform, the others not far behind. All but me had made it onto the moving train, and soon it was picking up speed. My legs ran as fast they possibly could, just barely able to keep up with the speeding vehicle. Miki sprung her leaflike wings from my back and flapped as I jumped for the back rails. Josie reached out and grabbed me with a surprisingly tight grip, pulling me into her body, squeezing my face in her flat chest. I felt her heartbeat, its pace almost matching my own, as she wrapped her arms securely around my quivering body. 

"Damn kiddo I thought you could fly,” Shana exclaimed as she helped the two of us stand.

I shook my head, unable to speak at first, then said, "only glide,” between exhausted gasps. 

"Well we made it,” Delun, who was uncomfortably pinned to the wall, said as he pulled the door open.

We five stowaways spilled into the caboose, where we were greeted by a group of surprised workers. Standing up and retrieving Shana’s displaced hat, Naomi struck a tough pose and stared down the onlookers, "Got a problem?” She challenged, causing them to turn away and pretend they hadn’t just seen a gaggle of witches jump aboard. As Shana stood up, she handed her back her hat, receiving a small thanks. 

"So what now?” I asked, climbing out of Josie’s arms. 

"Move on to the passenger cars,” Delun suggested, offering his hand to Josie.

"We should spread out for now, draw less suspicion,” Josie refused Deluns gesture and lifted herself up.

"So what, we jumping off this train at the next station?” Shana dusted off her hat and placed it back atop her head, "I’m certainly not opposed, but it sounds like we got a tight time table for this next mission.”

"Pretty much all we can do,” she pulled a spare poncho from her backpack and handed it to Delun. She handed out more to the rest of us

"Back to wearing these things,” I sighed, pulling my own disguise on. 

"It’s not so bad wearing the other’s clothing,” Delun put the garment on, "just look at Josie here always wearing that... Oof!” Before finishing his sentence Josie punched him in the gut, "nevermind,” he groaned.

Without another word the angered girl stomped off, an almost deliberate sway in her hips. "She does not seem to be on good terms with this man,” Miki stated, "though admittedly I find him rather boorish as well.” I cracked a small smile and followed Josie into the next car. I hid my face under a hood, glad Josie had still fulfilled my request to add one when we were preparing to steal back Bara’s carta. 

I tried to keep my head low as I passed through a dining car. The train was relatively new for one traveling between the second and third circles, not an express train like the ones we rode before, rather one built with comfort in mind. I caught the occasional passengers conversing about profits and trade, things that once interested me. Now I found it hard to follow along as numbers were being thrown around. The most notable thing said was by a rather lavishly dressed individual, who bragged about the "cheap labor costs of the first circle saving thousands for production.” It seemed to be a common practice among the traders onboard, not that it was a particularly new idea, but still hearing the cold manner of which they viewed the citizens of the first circle didn’t sit right with me. 

Then something far more serious was said. Two men laughed, talking about the events back in the town, about the execution. 

"Won’t have issues like that for long,” one chuckled, "invest in Triumph Productions now, I’m telling you. Malicite on a mass production level. Every soldier in the church’s army will be outfitted with anti-witch armor by the end of next year!”

"Triumphant, wasn’t one of their factories hit recently? You really think they can supply such a demand?” The other inquired.

"Of course they can! Old Daneld knows what he’s doing. There are factories all over Haven working non stop!” 

My heart froze, to think of an entire army of inquisitors was a nightmare for any witch. The witch hunts were gone in name only, Naomi was proof of that. For the church to mobilize the army against us? That would be devastating. I hoped and prayed in my heart, that it would not come to that. That our status as "Tolerated under watch” would not be revoked to the days of our ancestors.

Frightened, and feeling alone, I ran to the next car. This car was just as lavish as the last, being a passenger car with very few yet spacious seats, all rivaling the bedding at the Angel Kiss manor in terms of elegance and plushness. It did not take long for me to realize we had hopped aboard a train destined for the sixth circle. Whether this one would truly stop in the third, was a new worry I found racking my nerves. Quickly I moved on to the next car, hoping this would be where Josie was, only to find it was the private cabins.”

"Josie?” I whispered as loudly as I felt safe to, and repeated to call as I walked past each closed door. An occasional answer would come from someone seeking the dining service or just ushering me to move along, till I reached the end of the car.

"You seem rather persistent in your search,” Michael teased, "do you crave her touch that much.”

"It’s not like that,” I whispered back, though it wasn’t untrue either. In the moment though, I was motivated more by concern than feelings of desire. If in fact the train were to not be making a stop in the third circle, that would complicate our already flimsy plan. I leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath, panicking now would do no good, we would have a day before we’d even reach the next circle. Clearing my head, I tried once more to listen out, just in case I could hear my friend.

"Don’t you think we should move on to the next car?” my familiar broke my concentration. 

"The next car would be a baggage car, before the lower class car,” I answered, "though more importantly, security tryin to keep the ‘rabble’ from disturbing the first class.” 

"Shall we try the private boxes again?” Miki asked, almost immediately before the door next to me opened. 

"What are you doing there?” An ugly old man asked with a sneer.

"Oh um sorry I,” I tried to come up with a lie but found myself blanking.

"Come now dear Daneld, the longer you stay away the lonelier I’ll get,” a familiar sultry voice called to the man. 

His face transitioned to a horny grin, "coming my angelic sweet,” he gave one last stern look before returning to his private box. 

"Well it would seem we’ve found her,” Miki laughed, "she is quite the tricky temptress, I admire her craftiness.” I thought it was odd how much Miki’s tone towards Josie changed in such a short time. Was she doing this for my sake? Or was it all an act? 

Ignoring that thought, I pressed my ear into the door and tried to eavesdrop, only to have it once more slide open, knocking me off balance.

"I thought I said to split up,” Josie sighed.

"I just wanted to discuss our plan with you,” I rubbed my sore ear after picking myself from the ground. 

Josie smiled, helping me stand, "you’re lucky you’re  cute Reli,” as we talked it had occurred to me that the surly man had fallen unconscious. "Don’t worry about him, he won’t be bothering us,” Josie reassured as she took a seat across from him. I gingerly stepped in, closing the door. Standing there I stared blankly at my friend. "Come on, sit down,” she said, patting the space next to her. 

I obliged, sitting down on the far corner of the seat. Josie smiled and laid her body across the bench, resting her head on my lap, "you don’t have to be afraid silly,” she looked up at me with sultry eyes, "are you afraid to be close to me, after what happened?”

I shook my head, my cheeks glowing red. Josie sat back up, and crawled over the seat, pinning me in the corner. She slid her pink painted nail from my ear down to my chin, bringing my lips closer to hers, "You’re so precious Reli,” let’s do this right this time,” she touched her finger to my lips, "may I?”

I turned my eyes away, my face redder than the setting suns, then looked back at Josie’s vibrant cerulean eyes, "But what about that man? Won’t he catch us?”

"Don’t worry about him, he’ll be out for hours, I gave him a pretty powerful dose of thimbleweed,” she reassured me with a wink.

Gulping, I moved my face closer, my body tensing at first, then relaxing as I kissed Josie’s lips. We’ve kissed before, though oftentimes there was food involved, but this moment felt different from every kiss before it. Her soft wet pink lips brushed against mine, and a chorus rang out in my head. I could feel my heart thumping in my chest, louder and faster than a war drum, it’s beat sending rushes of heat through my limbs and to my face. We lingered on that single kiss, not pulling our faces away. There was no sloppy tongue this time, there was no force or discomfort, there was only our lips, pressed together in a sweet embrace. 

After what seemed like hours, but was probably only seconds, Josie leaned back, and looked me in the eyes. "I didn’t let you say it before, I was still... I was still processing everything that had happened. But if you want to, you can say it now. That is, if it’s not too late.”

I stared back at her, caught in a daze, mesmerized by her lips, her eyes, her voice. I was caught in a dream. Finally my heart felt reconciled, a weight that had been holding me down was lifted. I wrapped my arms around her, as clear thought came back to me, and I yelled, "I love you Josie!” 

She placed a hand around my lower back, and another around my head and said, "I love you too, Reli.” She held me and I never felt closer to her. "I’m sorry, if this is you know, awkward.” She laughed a little. "Guess confessing in front of a living corpse isn’t the most romantic of gestures.” 

I giggled, and shook my head, "No, it’s fine. I’m just glad that, well, that we can be close like this.”

"Me too,” she said as she kissed my forehead, "you’re so precious to me Reli. I was devastated when I thought I screwed things up. Thank you for forgiving me.”

I clung to her tighter, not knowing what to say, the only thing I could think to say was just simply "I love you!” again, and again. It had only been a couple months since I had come to the manor, since we met, but I just felt deep in my heart that she was someone I truly wanted in my life. 

"If you’re happy, I’m happy Reli,” Miki whispered in my ear. "I love you.”

"I love you too,” I whispered back.

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