Chapter 2 - Kalen

"Can't we stop for a hotdog Ally?" I pointed to the many food stalls stationed outside. They did smell good.

"Not even an ice cream?"

"We need to get back," my sister smiled apologetically, her ponytail swaying as she turned to face me. I didn't need to be here and no one had wanted me to be here, but I jumped at the chance, and no matter how tired I was from being away, I was determined to get as much from this day as I possibly could.

"So where to next? I've heard that people love to go to the chippie after a big match you know."

"Where's you hear that from huh, Kale? You've never been here in your life!" She punched me playfully on the arm.

"Come on! We could go on a walk in the park! Erm, we could go shopping in town huh? Ty would love it if we brought him back something."

"Kalen..." Ally's eyes met mine, filled partly with light-hearted exasperation and partly with grasping exhaustion and a pang of guilt struck me. She'd gotten us out of there immediately and was obviously quite shaken from meeting the girl. My sister wasn't like me exactly, but she looked almost as tired as I felt. I persisted anyway. We hardly ever left so why can't she have fun for once? Life was so tiring and draining anyway so what did it matter that we were far from home?

I cast my mind back to Ella. The peppy, powerful player on the court wasn't quite what I expected. I thought she'd be like me, like all of us. As surprised as I was, I'm a little relieved too. Best we figured this out before she ended up anything like I did. But the masses of ghosts surrounding her told me we didn't have much time.

"Alright Kale," Ally said, "Maybe just one ice cream."