10

The first train ride is five in the morning. We need to be on the Metro, a station that connects different quarters before that time runs. I don't even know if the docks are open in midnight but Ina is in rush packing foods and clothes for our trip. An hour has not passed after our conversation and we immediately need to get to someone.

"Hurry! Grab your cloak." She urges and transfers to me one satchel full of necessaries and simultaneously shuts down all the windows then hurrying up to the door, while I follow her through. After locking the door, hand in hand we stroll the empty streets, moving to the docks.

Apparently, there is still one boat service to cross our town. Mang Predo, who is living on his boat wakes up, probably upon hearing our footsteps.

"We need to be off on the first ride of the Metro. Can you fasten the ride?" Ina asks him.

"Mine is the fastest boat in here." He beamingly boasts. "Come on."

Mang Predo hands over life-saving equipment or clothes and I straightly barge in to refuse.

"We can swim though," I say and lie on my part.

Ina elbows me that made me look at her disturbed face but the soft laughs from the old man in front of us interrupt.

"I know. That and the fact that you are not an Aqua." Mang Predo smilingly retributes, while untying the lines on the boat sides.

"I apologize," I mumble and he starts paddling.

The ride is furious and extraordinary that the cold breeze strikes and sprinkles of water hit our faces. I need to clasp tightly on the handrails while also onto our belongings. We reach the destination for half an hour compared to an hour and a half of an ordinary lift. Obviously, he used magick. However, he didn't befriend with the water as an Aqua would do, but with the wind. Mang Predo is not an Aqua either.

"Thank you, Mang Predo," Ina mutters when we are both off the boat.

Mang Predo waves as an answer and tells us to hurry and when he seems to notice my bewildered look, he smiles at me.

"Let's go!" Ina dictates and we walk in a haste to the station of our city.

I cannot help but wonder...

How many non-Aquas are there in our town?

Ina and I are on our way to the end part of the train though our seat number tells otherwise. Ina knows that it doesn't matter as there is no inspection as early as this time. It's the nearest part of the train to the exit stairs of the station when we go off of it. As if it will speed up our chase to the first ride of the Metro Station. But as we about to settle down on the seats, two men masked and covered in black cloak block us.

"These seats are taken." one man says and I made eye contact. His eyes are dark and hauntingly empty.

Ina turns immediately shy and awkwardly moves us to the seat next to it and I sat by the window. I still can't get over with the two men though. I keep on turning to their side, of which ironically, I avoid to get caught until Ina silently elbows me and signals me to just look at the view by the window, so I did.

The ride seems unending than I thought it would be and when it stops to our destination, interestedly, Ina didn't move. She remains seated until the two black men left the train.

"Let's go." she alarms me, walking straight out of the train. As we run to the ticket station, curiously, the two men in black were out of sight, a time to shrug off my thoughts on them, I guess.

Gladly, we arrive five minutes earlier on time and now standing and waiting on the platform for the 'Norte Train' to arrive. Norte, the only city of the North Quarter.