"Miss, your ticket please?" The conductor asked impatiently. Despite his voice being hoarse and wheezy, his tone demanded enough respect for me to have no choice but to turn around.

"Well, um, you see..." I said, fidgeting nervously. "I kind of dropped my.... um... ticket- sir. I was hoping you could-"
"Your ticket miss. I'm sorry, but no ticket, no passage." The conductor said, sounding irritated and speaking slowly. I resisted the urge to say: "I speak English perfectly well thank you!"

Instead, I continued to play the part of a nervous, forgetful tourist.
"I'm, well, I-" I stammered

"Next." The conductor said in a bored voice, ignoring me.

Yes. Now all I have to do is grab a ticket. I had an up close look at the tickets in the conductor's hand, and I'm fairly confident I can make a passable forgery.

Thomas and the boys stepped up as I began to walk away.
"Four, please, my good man." Thomas said to the conductor, flashing four white tickets. I froze. Nathan frowned.

The conductor looked confused. "Sir? There are only three of you." Thomas laughed. "I seem to have forgotten this lovely young lady." He looked at me.
"Come here Elena."

Everyone was looking at me now. I had no choice but to come over to where they were standing.

Nathan still held his face of disapproval, but I chose to ignore it for now. I stood next to Thomas, who smiled at me in a fatherly fashion.

"Well, go on then." The flustered conductor grumbled. "And next time, show a ticket!"

We boarded the train and made our way to a compartment.
I was confused. "I don't think I understand sir-"
"Thomas. Please, call me Thomas. 'Sir' makes me feel old."

"-Thomas. Why did you pay for my ticket?" I asked nervously. Who were these people?
"Sit down my dear. We have a long journey ahead of us." Thomas said, taking a seat himself. I had to sit down next to Nathan, because Thomas sat next to James. I scooted as far away from him as possible. I still didn't know if I could trust these people.

"Where does this train go to?" I asked, generally.
Nathan snorted, and James looked at me funny. I glared at Nathan.

"You mean you got in a train without knowing the destination? Really?" Nathan said,smirking.

He looks really hot when he smirks.
Who's getting distracted now?
Regardless of that, I was not amused.
"I am in a complicated situation." I said stiffly, in a tone indicating I was in no mood to elaborate.

"Estúpido." I muttered under my breath.

"I'm answer to your previous question,"
Thomas said uneasily, attempting to ignore the tension sparking between us.

"I merely thought you could use some assistance procuring a ticket." He said lightly.

Nathan glanced at him and I tensed.

He's lying.

Knowing this was not all, I clenched fists and took deep breaths. And started thinking about possible escape routes.
I'm being honest when I say I did not expect what Nathan said next.

He took a deep breath and said very calmly - "We know who you are, Elena Fernanco-Gomez."

Oh-no.