Lyra was at a ticket booth, requesting a ticket for the outskirts of the Capitol. The morning light was just beginning to show over the horizon, and the snow was still gently falling. Lyra shuddered, pulling the shawl closer around herself.

The person at the ticket booth gave her the ticket. "Air ship 945. You seem to be in a bit of a hurry, miss." Lyra nodded. "I'm looking to see my family, they've been expecting me, though the snow's been delaying me." The young teen in the booth raised an eyebrow. "Well, get on with it."

Lyra quickly bowed, and then speed-walked towards the air ship dock. She held the ticket in her hands tightly, and looked around for air ship 945. She saw some guards inspecting people for weapons around the ships and her throat tightened.

Lyra shoved the violin deeper into her bag, and walked up to the large ship labeled 945 in neat, gold, lettering. The guards at the ship hopefully didn't know about her yet.

She walked up, trying to look cheerful. "Hello, good sirs. How may you be today?" One of the guards only grunted, and pulled her bag from her tiny hands. The other yanked off her shawl, and began shaking it out for secret pockets. Lyra shivered in the cold, and looked towards the other with her bag.

The guard only looked at the bread and cheese. "Geez, lady. It's like you're out in the wilderness with this stuff." Lyra laughed nervously. "I just always want to be prepared." The guard only rolled his eyes, and tossed the bag hard back to Lyra. Lyra gave a silent sigh of relief, and then the other threw her shawl back into the snow. "Nothing." He snorted. "Just a little street rat, hoping to get out of here."

Lyra handed them her ticket, and after verifying it, she quickly grabbed her shawl and boarded the ship.

It was nice, not as luxurious as the original air ship the king had escorted her in, but very nice all the same. It was like a basic hotel in the sky. She chose an empty room, and dumped her stuff on the floor.

She looked out the window towards the Palace. It was only just sunrise, and the guards had already discovered she was missing. They were looking over the area, and searching for footprints. Thankfully, Lyra had covered her tracks behind her to prevent them tracking her.

Lyra watched them push villagers out of the way, and she realized with a panic they were headed towards the air ships. Lyra slowed her breathing. She needed to think.

Lyra pressed herself against the ground away in case they see her through the window. Lyra shoved her bag under the bed, and listened carefully. The air ship was starting to be readied for take off. She dared not look through the window in case they were already here.

Maybe Lyra was overreacting. She slowly looked out the window. The guards were at another ship, and were talking with the search guards. One of the search guards yelled something, and calmly, a Palace guard pulled out a pistol and shot him.

Lyra stifled a scream, and tears sprung to her eyes. She never wanted someone to be killed. She watched as they dragged his body away, and then push the other shocked search guard towards another ship. They all went into the air ship.

Lyra heard the engine start on hers. She felt her tears begin to slowly stop, and she pulled her bag out. Lyra saw another fleet of guards come towards her ship. And with shock, she saw Victor was among them.

Victor's face was hard, his light brown hair still disheveled with lack of sleep. Lyra knew he wouldn't hesitate to turn her in. After all, she did lie directly to his face.

She closed her eyes tightly. Pass this ship, please! Lyra watched the guards carefully. She saw the guards on her ship were immediately dispatched, and saw with horror as their bodies were dragged away.

Lyra looked around in panic. The ship had to take off soon. She did the only thing she could think of. She closed her door, and Lyra went under the bed, along with her bag. She heard the guards stomp in.

Lyra listened to a voice: "Search for the girl! Anybody who's hiding her will be executed. You there! Question the pilot. If he knows nothing, let him go. If he knows something, 'interrogate him' for information. Are we clear?" There was murmurings of agreement.

Lyra heard the guards burst into rooms and heard screaming. No gunshots, at least that's good, Lyra thought.

She heard someone burst into the room. Lyra held her breath. The guard in there, only looked in the closet. Then he left, grunting to his fellow soldier that the room was empty.

Lyra hoped he wasn't punished too badly for his idiocy.

Finally, after about an hour, the guards left, and Lyra came out from under the bed. The airship began to take off, and she sighed in relief.

That was too close.

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You wassup! What do ya think of the chapter? I put some rivalry between Lyra and Victor ever since she ran away *le gasp*

-Clo