[indent]The night passed by with its terrors. Toni tossed and turned for hours, unable to settle to position to set mind and body at peace. When rest finally came to her, it was unsettled, outright tormenting at times. The sleeping dreams barreled upon her relentlessly; nightmares of Rue dominating the night's repertoire. In some, she was battling them as they sought to do harm unto mortals. In others she was consoling Rue that were despaired by their existence in the human plane. In others still, Rue were attempting to take over the bodies of herself and her love ones, as though they were demons Hellbent on possession. 

Waking came her with a suuddenness unlike any she had experienced. She throbbed and shivered, head burning with a fever, and her face was covered by a thin veil of sweat. She shot upright, grabbing her stomach as her muscles cramped. For a minute or two, she stayed sitting in her bed, easing her pains. When she at last felt strong enough to ruse to her feet, she did so with a labored slowness. Almost as quickly as they had come about, the feverish symptoms receded as Toni set foot onto the floor and tracked to her window. 

She pulled back the curtain, and sighed in relief. The first light of dawn was still just creeping into the distant skies. Her worry that she had slept in assuaged, she went about with the final preparations for her departure. Her travel backpack had been packed the previous night: a spare change of clothes, ammunition, a few provisions of food, and a water catine were among her essentials. She put the finishing touch by stowing a pipe, matchbook, and smoking herbs into a side pocket; whether she would have a chance to stop and smoke, she didn't know, but she felt right in bringing the items along anyways. 

Dressing appropriately for the journey to come, she strapped her [url=https://i.pinimg.com/236x/eb/37/5d/eb375d62272614c1776d06979b728e9c--riding-boots-horse-riding.jpg]boots[/url] securely, fastened a holster with a sixshot revolver (a gift from an insistent Olivia) to her waist, and grabbed her backpack. Drawing the curtains and dousing the lamps, she parted from her bedroom. Checking both the clock on the wall and the pocket watch she had been left by her late father, she confirmed the time: [i]7:00AM.[/i] She would have plenty of time to get to the station. Walking down the hall, she heard no sound coming from her brothers. 

Just as she had planned, she was leaving before they woke. She opened the door to the outside. Already standing on the front walk was Mrs. Maribelle; somehow, Toni saw, she was looking saddened in a way she hadn't the previous night. [color=fdc68a]"Everything should be all set for you, Ma'am,"[/color] Toni said. The older woman didn't respond, but looked back at her like a medium looking into a crystal ball. [color=fdc68a]"Mrs. Maribelle?" [/color]

"Oh. Sorry dear." Olivia snapped to as though pulled from a trance. "Yes. All will be well. Stephen and James will be fine under my care. She placed another comforting hand upon Toni's shoulder, and hugged her quickly before setting her on her way. "Be careful Antonita. Your journey may be more trying than expected. But I know you will succeed." 

Toni departed, passing through the front gate of the apartment courtyard with no more than a side eye back. Her trip through town was uneventful, the early hour of a Saturday seeing most people sleeping. All that were awake and about were the shopkeepers preparing for the inevitable rush of commerce. Toni nodded to the ones she knew, who looked at her, puzzled as to what had her out so early. She paid their bewildered stares no attention. 

Her mind was focused on her destination. Atop a hill overlooking the city from Lumin Park, stood the white gazebo. She had heard talk of the Darklight Corridor. But had she not been required to go there, she might never have given the place any thought or notice. As she scaled the hill leading up to the Corridor entrance, the prickling sensation ran across her skin. She looked around, and, seeing nothing, felt best to ignore the feeling for the time being. 

Only as she started down the marble steps did she begin to wonder about what Olivia had said. More trying than expected? Was it possible the older woman knew more than she was letting on?

Toni didn't have much of a chance to dwell on the question. The sight of the cathedral-like station caught her off guard, leaving her too awestruck to think of much else. Her eyes would come to a machine with four spidery legs, housing what looked like an entire ecosystem in a terrarium atop itself. That's where she also noticed an elderly woman sitting on a bench accompanied by another woman not far off from Toni's age. 

Toni stepped forward to join the other two. From her pocket she pulled a folded copy of the flier, presenting it to both women. [color=fdc68a]"Uh. I'm guessing I'm in the right place,"[/color] she said. [color=fdc68a]"Antonita Hawkes. But I go by Toni."[/color][/indent]