***All of the characters in this story are over the age of 18, unless otherwise stated.***
Still trying to catch my breath from the battle and our escape, I lean heavily against a window, the vibration of the train sending tremors through my body. The sound is almost deafening, the metallic roar as the train hums along the track, whizzing through tunnels and across overpasses seems to reflect the feeling of adrenaline and blood pumping through my veins. The others are excited too, but they don't hide it as well as I do. Barret's loud, but then again based on what I've seen so far, he's always loud; celebrating success one minute, shouting his frustration at the world the next. The guy's clearly got issues. The others are talking a mile a minute. They're proud of themselves. It's okay, I guess they earned it.
I slip past a well dressed couple, trying my best to look inconspicuous, which isn't easy when you've got a giant sword strapped to your back. Barret gives me a look as I move past him. I ignore it. I just want to be left alone. I make my way to the back of the train car and find a seat by myself. The blue lights inside the train cast an eerie glow across the faces of the passengers, punctuated by the bright red and yellow lights that stream past the windows in a garish dance of color. It reminds me of something, something at the back of my mind but I can't put my finger on it. I close my eyes and try to shut it all out, try to ignore the worried looks of the other passengers, the scowls from Barret, the lights, the sounds, everything.
After a moment I feel someone sit down beside me. I crack one eyelid open just enough to see that it's the red head, Jessie. She's sitting close, her eyes down. I can tell she's trying to work up the nerve to say something. I close my eyes again and wait. She'll spit it out eventually.
After a minute, I hear her clear her throat, "Cloud, are you-are you awake?"
I consider not answering at first, but she seems like a good kid. "What's up, kid?"
"Hey, I'm not a kid," she said a little too quickly, "I'm nineteen...only a year younger than you."
"Two," I reply matter-of-factly.
At the sound of my voice she shifts in her seat to face me, looking me in the eyes for a brief moment, "I...I just wanted to tell you," she pauses, nervous, "well, it's just that...you were amazing back there." Her eyes are twinkling with the same excitement I can hear trembling in her voice. "I've never see anyone fight like that and the way you jumped onto the train," the hesitation was gone from her voice now. As she talks I study her. She's cute, young but cute. Beneath the layers of patchwork clothes she's petite and slender hipped. Her smile is infectious, though this is the first time I can recall seeing it.
"God, the whole thing was just so daring...I just feel so alive, so on edge," she says touching my leg as if to ask if I understand.