Zaida and Charlotte push through the border, granted passage by Flourish, and head east through a small rainforest, then an hour of desert. The train station to get to Elysium City is rundown and falling apart, all cracked bricks and rotten floorboards. The platform feels unstable and about to crumble into splinters at any moment.

They both sit there quietly, having spent the walk trying to keep spirits light with little success. Zaida stared at the drowned plushie that Dill gave her, digging button's nails into the wool and squeezing it in her hands… With a shaky sigh, she rested her head against Charlotte's shoulder. They both had a lot to think about now. Charlotte, having reunited with her long-lost twin sister and learning more about how the poachers treated Ingrid Marie, and Zaida, feeling as if her life had been completely derailed now, like exiting the border had left a gaping hole in her chest.

As she told Dill last night, she couldn't imagine living out her life in the city anymore. Picturing her future, all she sees is Dill, those sweet three kids, and the Valley of Eden. How she will leave the City permanently, button didn't know. What sort of legal stuff did she need to consider? It's within the same country, but Elysium City is very… standalone. Though, people at the picnic mentioned that the GUILD is falling apart now that they killed the Inventor. What will become of the city? Her home?

And even if it's easy enough to sell all her stuff and end her lease, what about button's friends, family? With the future of the City so fragile and uncertain, she didn't want to potentially leave at a time where her loved ones are in any sort of danger.

The train was two hours later than scheduled, though not quite as bad as the 3 hours they waited on the other end two weeks ago. It had one passenger carriage, four freight cars, and a single other passenger aboard (except the conductor, an old human man). This is probably the oldest train that still runs to Elysium City, which Zaida had noted on the way here. Inside the carriage was musty, the windows stained, and noticeable cobwebs attached to most seats.

Once it departed the station, everything sunk in properly. Dill… Marigold… The diverse and welcoming community of the Valley… It was all out of reach for an indeterminate amount of time now.