Morning came, the three of them sat around that shaky wooden table. Orion pulled out the food bag, ripped a dry bread loaf and split it for everyone. Noir only ate a few small bites, her eyes still glued on the digital map on the table. Specter glanced at the laptop showing some blurry signal.
"Guess we're slowly catching Dr. Aurel's signal, but… still weak. And to find the exact spot we still have to go look by ourselves." Specter said.
"We can't stay here any longer. We have to move further, the sooner we find him the better." she said quietly, eyes not even blinking.
Specter nodded. Orion chewed and grinned.
"Makes sense. At least we won't run into drunk dudes in the alley anymore."
After a fast breakfast, they packed up, tried to set the house back to how it was, leaving no trace, then walked to a small station at the edge of the city. Noir pulled her hood low, sunglasses covering half her face. Ironically, the more she hid, the more people stared.
At the ticket counter, the staff frowned.
"Hey you… why cover yourself like that? Let me check you."
"Wanted posters getting serious these days huh?"
Before Noir could say anything, Specter stepped in, gently putting a hand on her shoulder, voice calm.
"So sorry. My little sister's sick and… blind, bright light hurts her eyes. We're taking her home to get treatment."
"If she takes this off I'm scared she might…you know, spread it." earnest tone.
Orion joined in instantly, unexpectedly serious.
"We gotta keep everyone safe too right? No one wants to get sick, right pretty lady?" *winks*
The staff hesitated, but looking at those two guys' faces and the way they sounded so natural, she gave in, even shy-smiling at Orion's line. Three tickets slid onto the counter.
They boarded the train, sat in a hidden corner. The whistle blew, wheels grinding the rail, taking them away from the city.
Noir leaned back a bit, breathing out. Specter looked at her, chest tightening. Orion stretched lazily.
"Done. But from now on, double careful. No more reasons for anyone to suspect us."
Outside the window, the city fell behind. They went deeper into some quiet lands filled with traps they didn't know yet.
The train rocked lightly. Inside, everything was quiet except some coughs and a baby crying far away. Noir sat by the window, face hidden behind mask and shades, arms crossed, looking cold as always.
The heavy silence went on until Orion leaned back, hands behind his head, and randomly chuckled.
"Hey, when you think about it… guess our luck must be maxed out to be sitting here with you."
Noir turned her head slightly, that cold stare behind the glasses hitting him.
"What do you mean?"
Orion laughed louder, half teasing, half serious.
"Since we met you, we've been chased, shot, stabbed, almost died like…ten times? And we're still alive, still sitting on this train. If that's not good luck then what?"
Specter shook his head, trying not to smile. Noir was silent for a few seconds, then let out the tiniest exhale, almost a smile.
"Luck? I think Death just finds you annoying."
"Poor guy… even Death rejects you." pushes glasses up.
Orion laughed like a hyena, while Specter froze a bit, staring at Noir's rare smile like trying to store it forever.
Inside the small train car, that was the first time laughter actually lifted the heavy air.
The wheels screeched again. Just when the mood got lighter, Noir tilted her head a bit. Another sound mixed into the footsteps too heavy, too steady to be normal passengers.
The door opened. Three men walked in with half-covered uniforms. Long coats, metal boots, cold eyes scanning. People thought they were just patrol soldiers, but the trio recognized them instantly.
VOID's hunters.
Specter clenched the seat edge, Noir felt his gaze. Orion stayed calm on the outside, but his finger tapped his knee faster.
One soldier stopped near them, frowning at Noir being too covered.
"You. Take the glasses off."
The whole car froze. Curious passengers looked over, a few pulled their kids aside.
Specter stood immediately, putting on a polite smile.
"Sorry, my sister's blind. Doctor said she needs to stay covered from any light. And she has a contagious condition."
"Can you let this pass?"
The soldier looked at Specter, then Orion. Orion raised a brow and said, voice sharp.
"What? Taking family to get treatment is a crime now?"
Tension stretched tight. Noir started coughing hard, head lowered, her hand already on her hidden weapon. She even thought about standing up and taking her mask off going full risky. Specter and Orion held their breath.
"I… I can…" *cough*Noir raised her hand weakly.
The soldier grimaced, clearly not wanting to catch anything. He waved them off.
"Sit down. Don't get others sick."
He walked away with his team, checking the next cars. But the air stayed heavy. Noir lifted her head a little, eyes behind the glasses cold and alert.
Still a gamble.
Orion nudged Noir quietly.
"Damn, you went all in, huh? Haha."
She didn't answer, just sat back down.
The speakers crackled, announcing the next stop. People got off with bags, stepping into a misty platform. Lights flickered yellow across the station.
They blended into the crowd, walking casually. They had just relaxed a bit when Noir suddenly froze.
A freshly pasted poster on the wall. Her face, bold red word "Wanted – Extremely Dangerous".
Specter immediately moved, covering her shoulder and pushing her forward. Orion started complaining loudly to a staff member, making a distraction. But right then, from the opposite side, a group of people in long coats entered the station, scanning everyone.
Noir didn't have to look closely.
VOID's agents again.
The train behind them screamed, crowd scattering, noise everywhere. Noir muttered, voice loơ.
"They already found us."