Ailith sucked in a breath. It was Alex but he looked like a completely different person. Everything about him was strange. From the way he held himself to the mysterious aura surrounding him. Ailith took a step backwards, away from him. She wasn’t sure what was going on but something just didn’t feel right and if Michael reacted like that upon hearing his name, he couldn’t have been any ordinary person. “What are you doing here?” she asked, a hint of menace in her voice.

Alex remained stone cold. “I have been sent to retrieve you Miss Gallow. Please follow me.” He started walking.

Ailith grabbed his wrist. “What’s wrong with you? Stop acting that way!”

He snatched his wrist from her and when he turned around, shot her a look filled with so much hatred and disgust one would have thought she was out to get him.

Ailith flinched away. “What have I ever done to you?”

Alex ignored her and spun around to walk toward the station again. “I have permission to use force to make you submit should you not willingly follow. I suggest you start walking.”

Ailith blew out an annoyed breath. “Fine. Just tell me one thing.”

“I believe you are in no position to-”

“Did Clarice send you?”

“I am not subjected to answer any of your questions.”

‘So it was her. That wench.’ Ailith would deal with her later but for now, she had no choice but to follow Alex.

Ailith slumped over in her seat. The train ride along with the knowledge that she would be horribly punished or even killed when she returned made her sick to her stomach. ‘I could try fighting him off and running.’ She had considered it but she knew from training he could easily outbest her. And if they really had been tracking her this entire time like Michael had claimed, she wouldn’t get far before they caught up to her again and reprimanded her even more. Ailith huffed out a breath. Her life was seriously fucked. Just when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, the train jolted and came to a screeching stop. Ailith covered her ears to protect them from the deafening noise. Around her, people were starting to rise from their seats, confused as to what might be happening. The only person who looked calm was Alex. It couldn’t have been another routine check. They usually happened once the train reached a platform. No, everything about this was off. Ailith sprang up from her seat just as the doors opened but there was no-one on the other end. Cautiously, she headed towards the open door as some of the other passengers were doing now. Quickly throwing a glance behind her, she knew that Alex had no intention of getting up. “Suit yourself.” she muttered under her breath. Ailith was nearly out the door when she heard an all too familiar *click* behind her. Her stomach twisted.

A foreign voice spoke behind her, his voice thundering through the cart. “None of you are leaving this train alive.”