Tessa's POV
I  flinched at the woman's voice, who took a deep breath then said, "I mean, could you kindly return my book?" She smiled sharply, almost cruelly. I elbowed Chris and hissed next to his ear, "Give it back." His hand shaking, he handed the leather bound journal back to the woman. "Thank you. And what are your names?" She asked. I could see Chris almost say our actual names, but I kicked him in the shin and he shut his mouth, "I'm Riley, and this is my brother Brady." The woman nodded slowly, "And I'm afraid I am forbidden to say my name." She said the word 'forbidden' as though she was speaking to a five year old. When she was about to turn to leave and go to her seat, I noticed something strange, and I could see Chris annoyed expression when I asked her something, making her stay longer, "What's that?" I pointed to a scar on her arm which, to me, looked like a rough brand of an eye. The woman flinched, then turned away so we couldn't see her face, "I'm afraid-" She seemed to choke on her words before quickly walking away to the first class section. First class?! What was she doing in the third class section!? I thought, but I quickly forgot it for now when the train lurched forward and started down the tracks, which I was sure had been repaired since the 1960's. An actual kind looking lady wearing a orange hijab and yellow dress embroidered with pink designs sat in the seat across the isle, waved sincerely at us, then began to read a book I'd never seen before. Which was strange, as my home was pretty much the town library. "Everything is strange today." I groaned, and Chris nodded, even though I hadn't meant to say that out loud. The train zoomed along the track, which I could hear creak under the churning gears and whistles of the locomotive. Looking out the window, I noticed that the area around us had changed from the never ending field that was outside our small town and now was the deep forest that bordered it. Opening the window a crack, I took a deep gulp of the fresh and green air, before closing the small crack. "You think she's a witch or something I like That?" Before I could reply to him, I was surprised by the lady who was sitting across the row, who laughed, "Ah, Theia ain't a witch, shes an outcast by the Enchanters!" I raised an eyebrow, "Pardon?" Was everyone on this train crazy? She seemed confused for a moment before smiling, "Ah your new. The ones the clock were calling. Very nice."
"Uh, right." I muttered in reply, then scooted closer to the window, suddenly, I remembered something. We're going to our aunts since our dad died- or disappeared, whatever happened, but our dad is a single child and my mom left us a long time ago. My eyes widened, and thoughts cascaded into my mind, after what seemed like hours, Chris nudged me worriedly, "Tess? You alright? Your never this quiet." I shook my head to clear it then nodded to my twin brother, "I'm fine. Fine."

After several more painstakingly long hours, the train lurched to a stop at the next train station, and we stretched our sore limbs before stumbling out. This train station was almost identical to the other one, but the sun was blaring down and causing the paint to peel off the benches. Gripping our luggage, we walked to the road where we were told our aunt would be meeting us, but the only person standing there, waiting, was the woman that the other woman had called Theia, she looked at us and said, "Chris. Tessa. Wrong stop, get back on the train." Her voice sounded frightened, or worried. Something was about to happen, and I didn't doubt out. Chris seemed to have the same thoughts because he grabbed my hand and dragged me back into the train, that almost instantly started down the rail again as soon as we got on.