Shahi City

The train started moving after half an hour. The car beside them had also quieted down soon after she came back. Everything was back to how it first had been before the blackout but the tension was so much higher right now. Even with everyone sitting in their own seat and having casual conversations nothing about the atmosphere was peaceful and calm. A veil of vigilance was over everyone. By mid-afternoon the train had reached Shahi Train Station.

Inside the car Emery could hardly breath. She felt as trapped as a rat. So when the train slowly came to a stop no one was as happy as Emery. Quickly she took her things and was walking out of the door. Getting down Emery could still feel all the eyes on her. Gazes she did not want and attention she did not crave.

Gulping Emery composed herself and with a blank face started to walk. On the outside she seemed as ordinary as ever but on the inside she was busy chanting. 'don't panic. don't panic. don't panic.' Just like a sutra Emery kept on reciting these two words to herself. There was one thing Emery had always gone by and that was reacting according to the situation. And in her current state faking calmness was the best option.

So without a word and while maintaining a calm face Emery quickly made her way outside of the station. A gentle breeze greeted her at the entrance. Finally, since the black out did Emery feel like she could breathe. She felt completely exhausted. Too much had happened too unexpectedly. Calming herself she started to walk. ' Just a bit more.' Just a bit more and then she could completely shut herself out from the world.

Emery had walked for a while to reach the main square of the city and by then she was convinced of one thing. She had most likely entered a ghost city. All throughout the entire place not a single being could be seen. Everywhere was pin drop silence.

Emery could barely recognize this place. In her memories this place had always been the most crowded part of the city. There was always something going on here. Yet today there was not a single soul to be seen. All the shops throughout the streets were closed in a hurry and the road was clear of even rats and dogs. ' What is going on here? ' Thought Emery, worried. Yet there was no one who could answer.

Quietly she made her way through the seemingly empty city. Entering the residential area the roads were just as empty. But Emery could feel it. The air was too stuffy. Looking around she realized that it was not that the city was empty. ' They were hiding. ' thought Emery as she noticed all the eyes peeking at her from behind the curtains. ' But from what? ' she couldn't help but wonder.

Emery tried not to look but she could still feel them. Wherever she went the gazes followed behind like a shadow. Emery kept a straight face and continued walking. Yet in her mind she couldn't help but complain.

' What. A. Great. Vacation. ' She thought to herself. ' I take back whatever I said about this being a great idea. '

****************************

*Clank!*

The sound of keys hitting each other echoed through the hallway. The apartment she had here in this city was quite old and it had been a long time since she stopped renting out the place. Emery was quite curious to see what the state of the place was like.

With a soft noise the door opened giving a view of the inside. The first thing that Emery noticed was that the air was a bit stuffy and the place was all dark but the light coming in through the roughly closed curtains of the balcony. The bag she was holding fell down to the floor. With another *Clank* She closed the door and made her way towards the curtains.

Slowly she moved the fabric out of the way and what greeted her vision was a view of quiet streets and a small garden that was well maintained in front of the apartment complex. It was a small three storey place with a somewhat spacious back garden and a flower nursery at the front. The two gardens were mostly the reasons why she kept this place. Along with the fact that it was in one of the least crowded places in town.

Emery stayed at the window for a bit before leaving the balcony and making her way towards the only bedroom in the apartment. It was the only other space other than the kitchen and the living room. The dining table was squeezed somewhere between the kitchen, living room and the main door. Emery loved the small space.

Emery softly opened the bedroom door and observed the place. The bedroom was old just like the rest of the apartment. There was a window facing the door with a wardrobe placed right next to it. Light was coming through but it was a lot softer than the one from the balcony.

The only other piece of furniture in the room was a queen sized bed and a small medium sized study desk. Shelves were attached to the walls around the table but they were empty.

Emery walked to the bed and flopped right on it. Hugging the pillow she could feel herself loosening up for the first time today. No, scratch that. She hadn't felt this exhausted in too long. A cold sweat broke out all over her. She had never felt as stressed as she had felt in one single day.

The happenings this morning played out in her mind and she couldn't help but groan. She could feel her body aching all over. As to whether the pain was physical or mental she could not tell.

All she knew was that right now she was always safe and that was all that mattered. What she had gone through in one day was enough to make her shut herself in for at least the next week.

Completely done with the day Emery closed her eyes and cleared out her thoughts. Soo she was off on her way to dreamland.