Chapter 23 - A Decent Conversation

'You haven't told me.' Autumn began, just as the carriage door closed behind them. 'Why you were working for that man.'

She had breathed deeply, as if they were going to hold a whole conversation now that they were on their way. Falcon didn't like to talk, and years of solitude had further firmed the habit. It felt strange to be accompanied by another person, more so to be accompanied by a girl who talked endlessly, cursing him half of the time for being the cause of the misfortunes befalling them.

'You mean apart from the fact that he was paying me filthy?' He snorted, sitting down on the lower bunk, head bent so he wouldn't have to face her and keep the conversation going.

Autumn had taken the seat by the window, which was partly open, the night air stirring the carriage with a soft breeze. The air was scented with rain, the petrichor like a drug against his nostrils and Falcon inhaled several lungfuls, until his breathing calmed and he closed his eyes. Even with his eyes closed, his senses were on full alert, tuned in to every sound and scent around him. The lingering sense of danger that was his companion was ever present in various forms, and he liked to be prepared all the time.

'Yes.' Autumn said. 'You are extremely motivated for a person working just for money. Is there any other reason why you want this money so badly?'

Falcon cursed internally. He didn't like the fact that Autumn had read him like a book, able to see the motivation behind his actions. But, the motivation behind the money, should he tell her? His internal conflict only lasted mere seconds when his inner self scoffed at him and he regained the stony mask that was his face.

'I don't think that is any of your concern.' He said coldly, before opening the backpack he had purchased at the station. The backpack was filled with hot canisters of food Autumn had insisted on buying from the vendor. He handed her the carton before using the bag as a pillow and laying down on the bunk. The train started moving then, the gentle jostling lulling him into a sleep he didn't welcome. He kept his eyes open widely staring at the upper bunk. He still got goose bumps thinking back on all the hours he had lost lying in the cabin in the woods. Anything could have happened. What if any picnickers had wandered there by accident and discovered the two of them?

A tantalizing aroma of spicy rice filled the carriage then as Autumn started wolfing down the food, a pleased moan rumbling in her throat. Falcon heard his own stomach growl but he blocked out the scent and focused on the sky outside, growing steadily darker as the train picked up speed and moved away from the station. The sky was starless, just a blanket of clouds weighing down on the earth, threatening to spill if someone so much as poked at them.

'Why aren't you eating?' She said.

'I don't.' He mumbled, staring keenly outside. 'During a mission.'

'Wha...?' She exclaimed, a surprised splutter before she caught herself. 'That's insane. Next you will say you don't sleep either.'

'Exactly.' He said, a bitter smile turning the corner of his lips upwards.

He tuned out her shocked cry, trying to fight the pull of sleep tugging at the corner of his eyelids. It was true he never ate or slept until an assignment had finished and the money had been transferred over. But none of the other jobs had stretched on for days and if it went on like that, he would have to take the pills out to keep functioning.

This is not an assignment technically, the small part inside his body spoke up, wondering why he was punishing himself.

It is a mission, he responded, shutting the voice. Until I get to Cyan, I will not stop.

Soon enough, Autumn finished her meal and sighed contentedly. She climbed the ladder onto the top bunk and disappeared, her voice fading away until she fell completely silent and Falcon relished the moments of peace. The carriage was quiet as they were pulled away to Autumn's town, the name of which she had refused to tell him with an annoying 'wait and see'.

He hadn't argued. His preoccupied mind had been trying to avoid the three figures following him into the station, melting into the darkness like shadows, without Autumn finding out. He knew the trio and couldn't believe the men had the audacity to come after him while the pressing question of what they wanted from him hung about his mind. He had let Autumn get the tickets and find the carriage, confident they had lost the men and hoping he wouldn't run into them. Now was definitely not the time to engage in a conflict, not to mention his energy levels going down drastically. The past had chosen a very inconvenient time to catch up to him.

The continuous jostling of the carriages was pulling him in and out of a restless sleep, a mechanic lullaby which went directly to his brain. Autumn was very quiet in the bunk above him, lying on her side, one arm dangling over the edge and swaying with the train's movements. He couldn't tell if she was asleep or not, but her breathing was even and she hadn't talked for the past hour.

Years of being cautious had him even sleeping in an alert state, expecting nothing and everything from the seconds that might roll into his dock. It was impossible to sleep with the tension and he greatly admired her ability to find peace in such a situation.

Falcon quietly hummed her name. To his surprise, she responded, rolling over onto her belly and looking down at him, her hair hanging around her head.

'I was thinking.....' He began, but was interrupted as she nodded, her hair waving about.

'So was I.'

Falcon laughed. 'What were you thinking?'

'About who those guys could be who were following you around the station. Whom are you running from, Falcon?'

Falcon groaned internally. So she had seen the men. In a way, he wasn't surprised, but her seeing a link with his past was extremely nerve wrecking and highly inconvenient.

'I have plenty of people after me who want to catch me.'

'But none who know what you look like.' She raised an eyebrow.

Falcon grew quiet. It was true only Autumn knew of the face that belonged to 'Falcon' except them, until he realized the faceless man in the cabin had also seen him. Not to mention Cyan and all the people at those parties and if they put two and two together, his life and entire career would fall apart.

'It's okay if you don't want to tell me, but we have to start trusting each other if we want this partnership to work.' She continued, and the obnoxious statement made him snort.

'Says the person who hasn't even told me their real name.' He said.

And this is not a partnership, he thought restlessly, after I find Cyan and apologize to him, I will be on my way.

They both grew quiet. Falcon knew Autumn wouldn't tell him, they both needed some time to decide if they should trust the other or simply kill them.

'Fine, don't tell me.' Autumn rolled back onto her back and her head disappeared. 'But they knew who you were and you should watch out f…'

There was a slight thump above their heads and Falcon would have thought he had imagined it when Autumn grew silent too, looking back at him with question in her eyes. He nodded his head to indicate he had heard it too, when there came the sound of quiet padding, as if someone was walking softly on the roof of the train. Falcon grasped the gun under his palm and held onto its steely comfort, while they waited with bated breath in the semi-darkness.

'I swear, Falcon, if they are more of your gangster buddies, I will dump you here and go off alone.' Autumn murmured in the darkness, frustrated at the intrusion during the peaceful hours.

'You asked me to join you.' He hissed, indignant at her choice of words.

'It's not like I pulled you along with me. You agreed out of guilt for deceiving Cyan.' She snapped.

'Just stop talking, Autumn.'

'You know, for a murderer like you, you have a strong conscience.' She blabbered away and Falcon's heart lurched. Yes, he was a murderer, but why the unfair abduction of Cyan was making him fall through a dark bottomless abyss of guilt reaching up to swallow him whole?

Falcon was saved from a response by a clatter outside the carriage, followed by a sharp rapping on the door. His eyes met Autumn's, who rolled hers, but instead of annoyed, she looked intrigued like she couldn't wait to open the door.

'Go let our guests in, Falcon.' Autumn said in an interested voice as if she was watching a show.

He got up with a groan, his tired body protesting at the effort and approached the door cautiously. He slid it open with a wide smile plastered on his face like a butler.

'Good evening, gentlemen.' He announced into the hallway.. Instead, he was greeted by a punch to his face.