Field of Innocence

Chapter Two

Somewhere on the street in Appleby

It was evening when and finally arrived back in their hometown, Appleby.

“-sis, -sis?!!” Eaze called out when he spotted the two girls. His eyes widened in surprise, confusion, relief and happiness. The little boy ran toward the girls happily. “You’re not dead!!”

Tyki, Crack and Momo shared a look of confusion and delight, glad that the girls are alright after all.

smiled and hugged Eaze. “It’s nice to see you…”

“You just met him yesterday…” pointed out.

released Eaze from her embrace and glared at her friend. “Well, in that case it’s nice that I able to see him again…”

“Look who are back from the vacation…” Tyki said as he approached the girls, one hand on his pocket.

smiled a little. “What can I say? I guess I’m totally grounded for this town…”

“Speak for yourself…” gave half-moon eyes. “I still can’t get over the disappointment and the shock…”

sighed. “Can’t you just be grateful that we are not dead?”

“How are you two alive?” Crack cut in.

“Oh, about that?” grinned. “There is something a bit odd happening to us this morning when we…”

quickly nudged ’s waist with her elbow to stop her from spilling the incident that morning.

“Hey!” complained . But apparently that was not enough to stop her ramble. “Anyway, here…”

quickly stepped on ’s toes…really hard.

Tyki and the others sweatdrop at the display between the girls.

“Ow, , what was that for?!” whined as she pulled one leg up to rub her foot.

gave a tell-and-you-shall-die look.

quickly shut her mouth up.

“You were saying….?” Crack finally asked again.

“We missed the train…” replied. “I overslept…” She said with a sheepish smile. “Right, ?”

pouted but nodded. “What she said…”

Tyki knew the girls are lying but didn’t press them for answer.

“I’m glad that -sis and -sis are alright…” Eaze spoke up sweetly.

smiled down at the little boy. “Aw, Eaze, that’s so sweet…” She looked expectantly toward the others. “This call for celebration, don’t you think?”

smiled. “Sure, why not? I’m sure if Aunt Jesse and Uncle Julio saw us alive and well, they would celebrate it with free food and drink… Want to join us?”

Tyki grinned. “Couldn’t say no to that…”

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Rutledge Cafeteria

“OMG!” Aunt Jesse put a hand over her mouth when she saw and entered the cafeteria with Tyki and friends. The woman quickly sprung toward them and gave the two girls a big bear hug. “You’re alive!!”

groaned at the sudden invasion on her personal space.

“Ow, ow, oxygen, oxygen please!!” complained.

“Oops, sorry.” Aunt Jesse quickly released the two. “How can the two of you be alive? Didn’t you two take the train to fern?”

is about to spill the truth when shot her a warning look. She was afraid of ’s fury. rubbed the back of her head. “About that…we didn’t quite make it in time…” she said with a sheepish grin.

“Oh, thanks the Lord…” Uncle Julio chimed in and the girls got their second big bear hug.

“Hey, enough with the hugging!” snapped.

only smiled although she agreed with .

“Sorry, I’m just so glad the two of you are safe and sound.” Uncle Julio said with tearful eyes.

and said in the same time, “So were we…”

“Well, this call for celebration, people…” Uncle Julio said. “The foods and drinks are on the house today!!”

Everyone in the cafeteria cheered in.

grinned and settled herself in the table counter. “In that case, may I place my order now?”

“Anything you want…” Uncle Julio chimed in.

“But it’s really free, right? No cutting on our salary?” asked.

Aunt Jesse laughed. “Rest assured, your salary is safe, ’s too…”

“Great…” smiled happily. “Come on, !!”

smiled then frowned. “Hmm, before that, did my grandfather know about the accident?”

Aunt Jesse look horrified. “We so totally forgot about him! He didn’t know about the accident, did he? As far as he concerned, you girls should be having fun in Fern now…”

“Good…” cut in. “If ’s grandfather know about the accident, even though we actually survive, chance are he’s going to lock for good this time.”

Everyone laughed, except .

“Not funny, when you know that probably will happen…” said giving everyone a good glare.

Everyone laughed again.

“So what’s your order, people?” Aunt Jesse asked.

, Crack and Momo quickly placed their order.

“, what would you like to eat?” Aunt Jesse asked.

waved a hand. “I will pass. Not too hungry at the moment.” She moved behind the counter and grabbed an apron. “I will help you with the order…”

“You don’t have to…it’s your break time after all…” Aunt Jesse said although she looks pleased.

“It’s alright. Break time is over.” said with a smile.

“Speak for yourself!” spat in when she heard what said. “Don’t be such a goodie good, missy!”

“I’m not!” protested.

“…” Tyki called out.

“Yes?” turned toward the man with the super thick glasses. “Would you like the usual?”

Tyki let out a soft smile. “Just want to say I’m glad that you’re alright…”

For some reason that made blushed. She smiled shyly. “Thanks.” She pulled up a pen and started writing on everyone’s orders.

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A few days later…

was just on phone with Dean. The news about the train wreckage had just reached his ear and he freaked out but then relieved to know and had cancelled at the last minute. That was what told to her grandfather too.

went to a bookstore belonging to a middle-aged man that everyone called Uncle Terrius. She bought a novel and put it inside her bag then she continues made her way toward the cafeteria’s back door. She greeted Aunt Jesse, Uncle Julio and in the kitchen. “Good evening, everyone!”

“Oh, hey, -chan!” Uncle Julio smiled at her. “I thought my wife said you couldn’t make it today. Said you have a huge headache or something.”

“I’ve got enough rest already. I think I could manage for the evening till night…” said.

“Hey, , we need to talk!” said and grabbed . She is itching to talk to about what happened that day but the said girl refused to talk about it and always make an excuse to avoid ’s curiosity question.

sighed. She knew she could not avoid for long. If anything, her best friend can be very persistent when it came to something that piqued her interest. didn’t really want to talk about how she knew that the train was going to crash before it happened. She treated it as if it was just purely coincidental. She just wanted to get over it and move on with her life.

disagreed though. She felt what happened is kind of creepy but fascinating. She wanted to learn about ’s prediction ability that she often asked stupid question these past few days, asking her best friend to predict things.

“Just drop it, ok?” begged. “I told you I’m not a psychic and I’m not about to be one! Ever!” she said this time firmly. She grabbed the pilling up garbage in garbage can and went outside to dump it on a dumpster.

“So how do you explain about the train wreckage? Surely you aren’t going to think it was just a coincidence?” asked as she followed out and in.

washed her hand on the sink. “I don’t know.” She wiped her hand with a wiper then looked at in the face. “Can’t you just treat it as a one time miracle and just be grateful that we survived the train wreckage and not questioning it?”

continued to persist. “I’m grateful but…”

groaned and walked away from .

continued to follow . “I mean don’t you at least be curious that it might be that you actually…”

picked up all the dirty dishes from the table. She stopped what she’s doing and glared at . “What? A freak? One that caused train wreckage with her prediction?”

“You know it’s not your fault…” said.

“Is it really?” asked. “I mean let’s just say that I might have predict the train wreckage…what did I do? Nothing. I just save myself and let’s the others died! That would make me a killer!”

“You saved me, don’t forget that. And you did warn the others before they throw us off the train.” reminded.

continued collecting the dirty dishes and brought it to kitchen’s sink. “Ok, you know what; I really don’t want to talk about this, alright? Just drop it for now!”

“Alright…for now it is…but just so you know this discussion is far from over…” said then turned away to serve a customer that happened to enter the cafeteria.

watched go and sighed. She could felt a huge headache forming. She put a hand over her forehead when suddenly a brain-splitting headache alarmed her. She groaned in pain. A split second later she saw it… A group of children are playing inside the woods the same evening in the outskirt of Appleby Town. An abandon cave is sighted. The children went inside the fragile unstable cave. Terrified cries are heard as the cave got buried.

gasped. “Oh my God…” she whispered. She leaned herself against the wall and put a hand over her mouth.

“Hey, , help me, would you?” said as she entered the kitchen, hands held two trays filled with dishes.

put down her hand and look at . Face looked pale.

“What?” asked. “Geez, who is dead?”

“I have to go.” said numbly. She grabbed her jacket and rushed out of the door to the street.

“But you just got here!” yelled.

“Where did she go?” Uncle Julio asked.

“Beats me…” answered with a shrug.

Meanwhile rushed toward the street and struggled to wear her jacket. She bumped into none other than Tyki. She quickly apologized. “Sorry, sorry…”

Tyki grabbed to lessen the impact. “Easy there… ? What’s with all the hurries?” he asked.

looked up toward the super thick glasses man and for a moment she was tempted to tell him the truth but she was afraid that he would think she is crazy and decided against it. “I can’t explain but I have to go. Sorry.” She said with a clearly troubled look. She ran past Tyki and his friends.

Tyki watched her go. He felt a bit curious of what is going on with the girl. He shrugged and led his friends toward the cafeteria.

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couldn’t believe it but what she saw in her vision is really happening. She had gone inside the woods and was currently in front of the cave. She quickly stopped a passing-by carriage of a group of traveler and asked for their help. While some of them started to inspect the cave, the other went to the Appleby town to ask for more assistance.

A group of panic-stricken parents and some of the townsfolk were seen looking through the woods shortly after. It took them three hours to finally get the cave all cleaned up and look through for the children buried underneath. Luckily the children are still alive and quickly taken to the hospital.

In all and during of coomotion, was forgotten as the first person to realize the whereabout of the children which is just fine for her. She went back to the town. She watched as the carriages took the children off to the hospital and felt relieved.

“You have a vision of those children in trouble, didn’t you?” asked suddenly as she appeared behind starling the girl.

“, you scare the crap out of me!!” glared at her best friend. She is mildly annoyed to see ’s I-know-I’m-so-right look. “I’m too tired to deal with you right now, . I’m sorry, but I have to go home now. It’s late, Grandpa is going to freak.”

“You did it again!” look annoyed. “Why won’t you admit that you have a vision of things that is going to happen?” she yelled.

clamped her hand on ’s mouth. “Are you out of mind? You might as well declare me insane to the world, ! Is that what you want?” she yelled. She looked around to make sure no one eavesdropping.

’s face turned blue at the lack of oxygen.

quickly released the girl. “Sorry…”

“I thought I’m going to die…” said with unsteady breathing.

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Rutledge Cafeteria

loves her best friend but sometimes she just wants to strangle the girl for being insensitive at times.

is busy pestering over her about last night’s incident. She was upset with because didn’t tell her that she had a vision. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m sorry, ok? I think I’m acting on impulse. Beside I need to make sure that I’m not crazy first before I go around declaring things that will definitely make labeled as a freak…” said.

“So what is your conclusion?”

“…”

“Well?”

“Alright, ok, I have somehow developing some kind of ability…”

“Psychic, you can say it, you know?” said. She looked more excited than herself.

“Oh, …” felt like giving up.

“What?” asked.

“Nothing, we have a work to do.” got out of the kitchen and saw Tyki and his friends settled down in one of the table. She grabbed her notepad a bit too eagerly and walked toward them.

followed her. “So how does it worked exactly?”

“Can we not talk about that?” stopped walking and looked toward . “You know ever since that day all you ever ask of me is about…that stuff!”

“Can you blame me for being curious? I’m sure you would too if the position is reversed.”

“Yeah, but I would at least wait until you are ready to talk about it…” said and started walking toward Tyki.

“But…”

“Hush!”

Tyki and the others looked up toward the approaching girls.

“What can I do for you today?” asked.

“…” began again. “You can’t put this off forever!”

“I can and I will.” replied. “Do you mind? I’m serving customer over here…”

“What’s going on?” Tyki asked.

“Nothing.” quickly answered.

“Bull…” is about to ramble again.

“, if you still want to be my friend, you better stop that now right this instant.” said firmly.

gave a look. “You keep threatening me with that…”

“Err, maybe you can serve us later…” Tyki said, noticing an argument between the girls.

“It’s alright. What do you guys want?” asked.

“Just the usual then…” Tyki said with a smile.

“Ok, just wait for a moment…” said politely after writing down their usual order on the notepad. She walked behind the counter, tore the note containing the order and gave it to Uncle Julio, the chef of the cafeteria.

Tyki watched and then looked at . “Are you two having a problem?”

“Sort of…” said with a sigh. “Excuse me…” She followed as the girl went inside the kitchen. “, I…”

“Oh, please, … I don’t understand why you have to make such a fuss about it.” said as she pushed the door to the kitchen.

“Because, , you are not dealing!” yelled, getting impatient by ’s attitude.

“And you are not helping!” said without turning to face the other girl.

look muffled. “Not helping? I’m here, trying to help you figure out what is going on but you keep avoiding the subject!”

“Well, take a hint!”

“I’m not the one with the vision, am I? You’re the one with all the hints?”

“You just have to rub that in, don’t you?” glared at . “And would you tune down the word ‘vision’ a bit? I don’t want people to hear us talking crazy like this!”

grabbed to a corner. “How could I not? You have a vision, , of future gone wrong. Don’t you at least think that it mean something?” she said.

“Ok, so what do you want me to do? You want me to tell the world that I have a vision, is that what you want me to do?” asked, clearly getting impatient.

“I don’t mean like that.”

“Then what? You think I want to have this vision? Think I’m happy?”

“Well, there is a reason why you suddenly have these visions. The least you could do is trying to understand it. That’s what people would do given the situation.”

“I just have two visions, that is all. No telling that there will be more…”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure there will more to come…”

“What are you, a psychic?” asked sarcastically.

chuckled. “I wish, but you are… I think it’s great that you have this gift. And I think you’re chosen for a reason…to help people in trouble.”

“You make it sound like this is some kind of story, . And I’m chosen for a reason? What? I have to save the world from ending?” asked. “Please! They got the wrong person for that…” She rolled her eyes and moved from the corner as Uncle Julio hollered at them to deliver the order to the waiting customer. “I just want to be a normal girl…”

watched and sighed. “Maybe they did have the wrong person…” she whispered but didn’t hear. All her life, was seeking to be someone special, important and has the luck to have it but refused to accept it. ‘Who want to be normal when you can be special?’ she thought.

walked out of the kitchen, bearing the tray containing Tyki’s and his friend’s orders. “Here we are. Enjoy it.” she said as she put down the food in front of them. She stayed around and chatted with them for a while, unaware of ’s envious eyes.

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Serene Antique Store

“Sorry, I’m late, Grandpa.” got inside the antique store her grandfather had opened for 23 years.

“You’re back…” Grandpa Graham was busy serving the last customer of the day, a young woman in elegant dress. “I will have the necklace fixed tomorrow and you can come by again later on, Miss Greenhorn. Have a nice evening.”

Miss Greenhorn nodded and left.

watched the young woman left and then went to kiss her grandpa’s cheek. She noticed the necklace the woman left behind. She touched it. “It’s pretty…”

“Hand off, that is not a thing people like us should like or want to have…” Grandpa Graham scolded his granddaughter as he slapped ’s hand away.

pouted. “I know, I know, Geez…” She sighed. “Gosh, I felt so tired.”

“Then go get some rest.” Grandpa Graham said. “I will heat some milk for you for tonight.”

“Thanks, Grandpa.” grinned. Her grandfather is a strict man but he is gentle at heart. He obviously love and care for his grandchildren. “But I will help you close the shop first.” As she helped her grandpa closing the shop, a familiar headache started to form again followed by a sharp pain in her skull. She groaned in pain. Her hand touched her forehead while the other gripped on the nearest table.

“What is it, ?” Grandpa Graham asked concerned.

bit her lips as she closed her eyes and then she saw the vision again. The woman, Miss Greenhorn, is walking on the street at night. A man secretly followed her and later cornered her in an alley. They had an argument. The man stabbed the woman with a knife. The woman looked shocked as she grabbed her wound in the stomach.

gasped. “Not again…” she whispered.

“?” Grandpa Graham called out. “Are you alright?”

“Grandpa, I just remember that I left something in the cafeteria. I have to take it back.” said and rushed out of the store, ignoring her grandpa’s protest. She groaned when she realized her grandpa is going to have a fit later when she is home.

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Somewhere in the street

The evening is almost swallowed by darkness. quickly made her way to follow Miss Greenhorn when she stumbled across .

“, what are you doing here? I thought you said you went home…” asked in confusion.

grabbed and told her of your vision. “What do I do?”

looked serious. “For now, we just follow her…”

“There, that’s the man!!” cried out suddenly.

Indeed, a man is following the young woman. His face looked stern as if he had such a burden.

and continued to follow the two.

“What do we do now?” asked nervously.

As had foreseen, the man grabbed the woman when he thought no one seen him and pulled her down to the nearest alley.

Without thinking, sprung forward and ran toward the alley. followed shortly after. , being the brave girl she is, actually confronted the man. The man was angry and told to mind her own business. Of course, wouldn’t listen even when the man suddenly pulled a knife to scare her. was terrified. She quickly yelled for help.

The man knew his scheme had failed, dropped the knife and ran away. He saw and are helping the woman he had intended to kill on her feet as he rounded a corner.

“Thank you.” The ever grateful Miss Greenhorn said.

smiled. “Be careful. It wasn’t safe at night.”

watched then decided to ask, “Did you know that man, Miss?”

“No, no, I don’t know him anywhere…” Miss Greenhorn said still with body shaken up.

and exchanged a look. Was it just a random attack then?

“That man is trying to kill you, you know? Maybe you should report him to the police…” said. “Just for safety…”

The woman looked unsure. “Look, I’m thankful for what you girls did tonight but I really don’t think it was necessary to do that.”

and stopped a carriage and help the woman to get inside. The two watched the carriage drive away.

“We did a good deed today…” said with a pleasant smile.

“You did great, . I’m just…frozen…” said. “If you weren’t here with me, I might have let that woman die…”

“No, you won’t.” said. “I know you. You couldn’t help yourself but to help when people are in trouble. The fact that you are here tonight is a proof of that.”

sighed. “I’m scared… Why do I have these visions? Why me? Why so sudden?”

“I don’t know the answer for that either but like I said you are chosen for a reason even though that reason is currently unknown to us…” said wisely. “I’m sure sometime soon you will learn the answer.”

bit her lips. She didn’t like what is happening to her but she has no way to stop it so she might as well try to adapt with it.


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Cassiel Lorna

Edited by Moth – September 28, 008