“We need to get to the portal dolmen at the center of town,” Rami said in a hushed whisper, the urgency clear in his voice. ”Look I shouldn’t be asking you this you’re only a kid after all but are you able to fight if needed”

  “Okay first of all I’m not a kid I’m nearly seventeen” Virgil began he opened his mouth to continue making his point that he would be fine in a fight but Rami cut him off before he could.

  “When do you turn seventeen?” Rami replied, the urgency being replaced by panic.

  “Why does that--”once again Rami cut Virgil off midsentence.

  “When?”

  “The middle of next month but--”

  “Before or after the equinox”

  Virgil paused, taking a moment to think and try to remember what date the equinox fell,where they the same as the solstices. Probably. He thought, which would mean his birthday was…”I believe it's the day before sir” he said, with some uncertainty in his voice. Upon saying those words he saw Rami’s face fall worse than it had when he had told the other man that his parents were dead.

  “Shit! Shit! Shit!” Rami exclaimed not caring to keep his voice low any longer

  “ What does--” Virgil began before Rami cut him off, he was getting rather sick of being interrupted in the middle of his sentences.

  “Okay new plan, take these,” Rami said as he produced a large hunting knife and a set of brass knuckles from inside his suit handing them to Virgil, “we are making for the train tracks instead we need to get north fast, we thought you were a low priority pick and as long as I got you back to our home you’d safe and we could take our time getting you to the council but they’ll need to see you immediately.” Rami paused taking a minute to catch his breathe but Virgil's head was spin what home up north, why wouldn’t he be safe, who are this council and so much more, Rami must have seen Virgil's puzzlement on his face as he placed a hand on his shoulder before continuing. “Look Virg if we end up in a fight it’s a fight to the death so you are going to have to be ready to kill is that clear?” Vigil just nodded his head to that. “Good i’ll explain everything when we are in the clear, lets go”

  They stepped out from under the bridge with Rami in the lead and Virgil following close behind him. They moved in absolute silence traversing back alleys and side streets each time they got to a corner Rami would poke his head out inspect the path before the, on no less than five occasions he made them double back on themselves and even had them climb over a wall into someone's back garden turning the walk across town that normal took less than half an hour into a two hour ordeal. When they reached the train station parking lot they crouched behind the wall separating the parking lot from the road and Rami broke the silence.

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  “We are going to have to run for it. There's no cover out there so when I say go run as hard as you can into the station.” Virgil nodded his head unsure whether or not he was allowed to speak. The train station was an old building made mostly out of granite; the small crystals in the rocks twinkled like the stars overhead where the street lights hit it. It was almost completely abandoned, the ticket counter was long closed instead being replaced by an automated machine by the entrance and the tracks now see only about ten trains in a day, half of which didn’t even stop.

  “Go” Rami whispered and he was gone like a flash and Virgil followed after but he was nowhere near the speed of Rami, today had been the most Virgil had ran in years ever since he decided that standing up to bullies rather than running away was the best course of action. The sound of Virgil’s feet hitting the tarmac rang out like gun shoots in the tranquil night air. By the time he had crossed the carpark he was blown up and gasping for air, Rami however looked like he hadn’t even exerted himself even slightly as he made his way towards the edge of the platform.

  “Stand over there somewhere you can see the parking lot but anyone looking in can’t see you” the older man whispered.

  “Okay?” Virgil said confused “but why are we here there isn’t going to be another train till morning”

  “I sure as shit hope there isn’t” he replied as he jumped off the platform onto tracks. “Virgil if you see anyone heading this way be ready to fight and that goes double if they are wearing purple”.

  Virgil moved to take up a position by the entry way underneath a light fixture, the light inside being an old incandescent bulb that had long ago burnt out, he could clearly see across the open lot from his hiding spot he was also trying to keep an eye on Rami. Rami hand his hand along the tracks feeling for all the grease and grime left behind from passing train closing his eyes and letting his sense of being spread to the grease before slowly pulling it back taking all the grease within a ten foot radius to himself as he did so and then he began his ritual. He started by orienting himself facing true north using the stars in the sky to help guide him, then he drew a circle around himself with the collected grease the diameter of which went from platform to platform. When the circle was complete he drew a line from its north most point to himself and then behind at a forty-five degree angle to the south-west and he was only getting started. Virgil quickly lost track of his movements instead electing to focus on the parking lot, waiting and waiting all his attention directed that way.

  “Virgil come here” Rami hissed from the darkness causing Virgil to nearly drop the knife. Virgil slowly backed towards the track, his eyes still watching. He turned around as he climbed down off the platform and moved to a small circle next to Rami which he was pointing at.

  “Virgil, I need that knife,” Rami said, his hand outstretched. Virgil held out the knife to him without a moment's hesitation. “Good I promise I’ll explain everything when we are safe” Rami took the knife and slashed Virgil across the hand. Virgil howled in pain feeling the blood rush from his palm. Hearing it drip onto the metal tracks beneath him and through tear stained vision he saw Rami take the knife and do the same thing to himself and then there was nothing.