Arc 3 - Chapter 34: Stopping The Train

(Reverence 4, 59 / 7:21PM)

The van hissed itself to sleep, as it rested on top of a large hill.

With Jack, Johnny, and Luke still sitting in the van, Jack was the one who brought his pair of binoculars. Getting it from his pocket, he pushed it onto his eyes, before analyzing the station in front of him. Green surrounding them all, trees and shrubs scoured around the old building.

Most importantly, it was empty. Void of life itself.

“Sean isn’t there. Unless he’s hiding somewhere in that outdoor station.”

“What about the train?”

“If it’s coming from the North, then I would say … nope. No signs of light or steam.”

Jack pulled the binoculars from his eyes, but he didn’t rest them on his lap. Having them enclosed in his hands, he turned to Luke, who stared at the station with squinting eyes.

“So how are we going about this Luke? Want me to drive toward the station, or one of us go down there?”

“No. The van stays on this hill, unless time is of the essence. The train passing, or reloading at that station, is our timer.”

“Ok … so how are we going to get him back?”

“With this.”

From the floor of the passenger seat, Luke bent his body to lower his hand. Picking up a chest rig, it looked to house a dozen or so black bottles. All mysterious, all ghostly, it made Jack lower his binoculars all the way down.

Johnny being in the middle, he raised his right eyebrow at Luke’s creation.

“That was what you were creating? What is in all those bottles anyway?”

“Nitrogylcerin. Think of them like grenades … liquid grenades.”

Jack froze, then widened his eyes. So did Johnny, who clicked some of the pieces of the puzzle. The two of them palling their faces, they shifted slightly away from Luke; although they sat in a row.

“You mean those things could explode any minute!?”

“Don’t worry, I have them taken care of. As long as they’re near me, they won’t explode.”

“Jesus Luke. Why did you make them anyway?”

“It’s for a backup plan. If by some chance the train arrives too quickly, we could use this to stall.”

Dribbles of sweat ran down their temples, as the bottles glowed a darkness that nobody could dare touch.

Jack scratched the back of his head, his fingers scrubbing off old dandruff from his hair. Scalp littering his shoulders, the stench they all gave off … began to strengthen.

“Copy… we’ll use that for last, last resort. Anyway, we should get down there.”

“Alright. I’ll be back.”

Getting out of the van, he had the chest rig within his right hand. Carrying it like some purse, he wrapped the strap around his shoulder, while closing the passenger door. Feeling the grass, feeling his boots trickle against the muddy dirt, it felt like he was stepping mud.

But it didn’t soil his soles.

—Just hope everything works out for the rest of us … right Gwen?

Jack rested his boots on the dashboard, even though he was the driver. His whole body slumped forward, he remained unchanged, as his lazy nature began to take effect. But a slight thought came to his mind.

“So how did you know Sean was going to raid the train?”

“He sent out a message to me in morse code. When I deciphered it, he gave me a heads up in case I was going to be on that train.”

“Morse code … interesting … he and Hope are the only ones able to—”

—They heard a whistle.—

Luke turned to the North, and noticed black smoke rising in the distance.

Taking two railroad tracks in width, was a locomotive with 32 train carts front and back. The outside latched in golden-turquoise, the metal shone in chromium, as embers spewed from the tracks. Massive in width and length, it was colossal in terms of weight. As smoke blew from the train whistle, another low roar shook their ears.

Luke balled his left hand, and grounded his teeth.

“No no no … are you kidding me!?”

Running back toward the van, Jack quickly settled his feet off from the dashboard. Turning on the engine, it wasn’t long before Luke settled into his seat. Settling the chest rig gently on the ground, he roared through trembled vocals.

“D-Drive to the tracks now!”

“On it!”

Putting his foot down, everyone felt the sudden whiplash. Driving down the hill, Luke kept both hands on the chest rig, making sure that his luck wouldn’t allow the bottles to explode.

“You’re going to park the van on the tracks! Not only that, but we’re going straight into Plan C!”

“What was Plan B then?!”

“Just trust me!”

Jack gripped the wheel with firm palms, as the grass and dirt muddied the tires. The mud stained the bottom edges of the van, and he felt the wheel jerk. But he remained calm; except for those in back.

“Jack?! What’s the rush?!” Exclaimed Miles.

“We got to beat the stupid train! It’s more punctual than it looks!”

Miles and everyone else gripped the edge of their seats. Feeling the van jump, feeling their bodies rustle, they felt their own insides wrestle.

Being the only one sleeping, Luna quickly woke up with jittering eyes. Drool running down her right lip, she stood up.

“WHAT’S GOING ON!!??”

With wobbling knees, she quickly fell over with sprawled arms and legs. Standing up once again, she tried to find balance, but it was easier said than done when the van jumped repeatedly. Her breathing heavy, her whole face was clustered red.

“JACK!! YOU ARE SO—”

Unbeknownst to everyone in the back, but known to Jack, he noticed a small log standing in his way. With the dirt lacking in friction … he had to treat it like a speed bump.

Once the front wheels made contact, the log was crushed by the van’s weight alone. Arching the van just a little bit, everyone had their butts hover over their seats. For a split second, they were in the air, before they landed abruptly with wooing eyes.

But because Luna wasn’t buckled at all … her head hit the roof of the van. Gravity sent her to the floor, her legs and arms sprawled in all directions.

“You… you’re dead…”

Finally reaching the train tracks, they were two doubled rather than single. Pressing on the break, the van turned off, leaving the driver, passenger, and the second passenger to hop off.

With the chest rig strapped on his shoulder, Luke ran toward the back doors. Pinning the code for the lock, it clicked, letting him open the doors wide for everyone to pile out. One by one, they all wore furrowed brows … except for one woman.

As Luna tried to leap out, she fell flat on her chest and stomach. Getting her up, he had one arm wrapped around her neck. Having everyone follow him, he led everyone toward the bush groves, as the darkness within them looked suitable to hide.

“Told you to not take naps in important missions.”

“W-Whatever… just walk me to the stupid bush…”

Pushing him away, she limped, as everyone began to hover near the bushes. Seeing that they were awaiting more orders, he pointed at the spots once more.

“You all are going to hide there. Do not leave under any circumstances.”

“W-What are you going to do Luke?”

“Something risky, that’s for sure.”

Luke began to walk toward the tracks, but Johnny was the only one walking with him. Knowing that he was near him, Luke had the chest rig still strapped on his shoulder, while he carried a flare gun with his left hand. Turning his head North, he blinked, as the black moving dot began to grow in size.

“It’s only two miles until it gets here, and it’s not slowing down.”

“Wait … don’t tell me they have a change of plans.”

“Then I guess I’m playing my final card.”

Reaching the van, he climbed on the hood, and got himself standing on it before he ventured to the top. Being on the roof, he kept his knees buckled tight.

—Trains come to a complete stop in less than a mile. If it’s two miles away…

He tapped his right boot on the roof, and felt the metal thud. Glancing to his left, he noticed Johnny standing on the edge of the tracks. His whole face mesmerized in sweat, so was everyone else who saw what he was doing.

“Luke! Just what are you doing!?”

—“The only thing I can do. Stopping the train.”—

Everyone held their breath. Hearing the train’s low roaring whistle, it rattled every bone in their body, except for Luke. Staring into its singular headlight, he thrust his left hand up, and aimed the flare gun at the sky.

“That idiot!” Yelled Miles.

He pulled the trigger of the flare, and sent its reddish light to flutter the clouds. Still in the evening, it sparkled everyone’s eyes, including the conductor.

Waiting for a response, Luke kept his eyes firm on the train tracks, as they rumbled the van he stood on.

“What is he doing!?” Exclaimed Jack.

The late evening parched his skin with sweat, and it somewhat blurred his vision softly. Using his ears … he heard the screech of metal, a scream that could only be created by burning embers.

“L-Luke…?” Whispered Hope.

Its singular headlight shining on those dark leaves, the mango trees swayed with the gentle wind. Everyone’s ears being assaulted against, the scream of the decelerating train pushed Luke to lower his hand.

9/10th. 8/10th. 7/10th.

“What is … L-Luke!” Yelled Luna.

He saw those embers escape from the tracks. Keeping his head straight, and his body firm, his heartbeat was irregular.

6/10th. 5/10th. 4/10th.

‘Sweet O lord…’ thought Benn.

Another whistle blew. Having that light fully reflect his face, and with the sky turning black … it was like staring at heaven.

3/10th. 2/10th.

“Oh my…” Whispered Christian.

Unwilling to bear the thriller, Luke squeezed his eyes shut. Still seeing the light dig into his eyelids, he scrunched his cheeks, and averted his face to the right.

1/10th.

Everyone ditched the bushes, and ran toward the van. The hard grass being dented by their boots, they saw both the train and Luke at the same time. While shouting his name at the tops of their lungs.

—Please stop…

The van throttled like a violent engine. Despite the train already slowing to a crawl, who knew if the front would push away the van.

—Please … stop…

Releasing its very last whistle, it numbed out reality. But he still kept his boots on the roof. Sweat poured from his face… the van stopped shaking. Dropping the flare gun, Luke took a small step back. Slowly opening his eyes, he moved his jaw, and saw—

—It was millimeters away from the van.—

Having the shoulder rig still intact, he jumped into the grass that trickled his boots. As soon as he did this, everyone began rushing toward him. Huddling around him, forming a circle, all of their faces had a mix of anger and fear.

“You idiot!”, “What the hell’s wrong with you!?”, “You put our van’s life on the line?! Really!?”, “Quit acting like some retard! It’s beginning to scare us!”, “Why do you keep doing this!?”, “Come on hero answer!?”

Luke raised his left hand, and scratched the back of his head with his fingers. Taking a step back, he let out a wry smile.

“But I made it stop.”

“What if it didn’t stop in time!? What then!?” Yelled Miles.

“Miles right Luke. That was a idiotic gamble. Even I thought you went insane.” Said Christian.

“Don’t move!”

They all turned toward the front train cart, as steam hissed from its wheels. One man stood near the steps, and wielded nothing more than a trench gun. Wearing overalls and a flat cap, his skin was corroded in coal.

His sausage hands tightly gripping the gun, he looked at every person, and then toward Luke.

“Looks like I’m getting a big—”

Silence fell.

His eyes widened, and his mouth hanging open, a small whiff of air escaped through his lips. Dropping to his knees, his eyeballs caved into his head, before he slumped off the train. Landing in front of everybody, Luke noticed the red swollen bruise, which was in between the back of his head and neck.

Stepping over the conductor, he helped himself up, before nudging everyone to follow him.

“Come on. We got to get Sean.”

“Copy.”

“Chris. Go back into the van. Here.”

Throwing the chest rig toward Chris, he was sure that the bottles wouldn’t explode. Luckily it didn’t, as he caught it with ease.

As Chris walked back to the van, Luke led everyone to climb the mountain of charcoal. Black staining his pants and jacket, he inhaled some of the fumes, making him cough out just a bit. Once he reached the top of the hill, he stood on the edge, and looked down at the very first train cart…

“Sean…”

Taking cover behind a metallic crate, a ginger-haired elf looked up at the charcoal container. Having his hair wrestle the metal, he had his Thompson cradled in his arms. His scleras strained with veins, the rifle shook the more he stared at him.

As his vocals sounded like he dipped them in poison.

“You…”

“We’re getting you out of here. There’s no need for this.”

“You … you—”

“Sean. Drop it.”

To Luke’s right, Johnny walked toward the edge as well. Having his pants be stained black, he had his left hand on Luke’s shoulder, while the stability wasn’t good with his shoes.

To Luke’s left, was Jack, who felt his eyes soften at the elf. Throughout everything, he saw both Luke and Sean as his personal good friends. If the two hated each other…

He felt Sean’s glaring eyes, and Jack averted his attention to the floor.

“You all … why do you hate me?”

________________________________________________________________________

Everyone else ran huddled behind Luke.

Pushing air through his lungs, Luke had his hands to his sides, his whole face reeking of exhaustion. With push-down eyes, he looked at him with so much… mystery.

“We don’t hate you Sean. All we want is to survive. Even though I yearn for the truth, if it’s between that and my friends’ safety … I’ll choose them in a heartbeat.”

The sky began to turn pink, as the light blue already faded into the abyss. As the sun began to set, some of the trees and shrubs grew patches of shadow. Feeling the night humidity soak their skin, it was a heat that bordered insanity.

“Sean. Stop trying to push our safety into your hands. We could all still go home.”

Luke extended out his right hand, and had his eyes on Sean. Keeping his back straight, and his knees buckled to his own body, he felt the wet heat clog his skin.

“You could return back to us. We could shake hands, we could take that deal, and renew our lives again … What do you say?”

His anger subtly loosened for a quick second. Pulling out his fingers from his rifle, his biceps somewhat relaxed by command. Seeing his smile, a warmth that he could never rival, he pushed down his lips for a frown.

And whispered the words through a parched throat.

—“I don’t know what to do anymore… I’m just tired Luke.”—

He heard a reverb service bell; the same one that he always heard.

Having both of his hands hover his hips, his fingers trickled the edge of his uzis. Squinting his eyes all around the first cart, there was nothing. Just a bunch of metallic crates, all spread out in random order, the reverb bell only rang louder.

“They know we’re here…”

As soon as he whispered those words, everyone began to glance around. To the ground, the sides, the first train cart looked to be outside. The darkness slowly creeped in, a dribble of sweat swept from his temple.

“Johnny, you told us the treasure was at the front.”

“But I never said anything about the first train cart.”

“Still…”

The strands of his hair rose like a cat-human, as he couldn’t scan anything. He knew someone had eyes on him, but from where? Where could the stalker be? Feeling his toes swell in static, his fingers grew cold. His knees buckled tight, all of his skin was engulfed in burning sweat.

“Fenix. Orders?”

Benn spoke, but it wasn’t enough to break Luke’s stare. Staring forward, he—

“It’s—”

He didn’t hear anything; but the screen went dark.

________________________________________________________________________

“Fenix. Orders?”

Luke blinked, and all of his body rushed with warmth. All of his nerves on fire, his senses slowed and fastened, time flowed in long seconds. His legs breaking free from his weight, it was by instinct, that he dropped to his knees.

“Duck!”

The air boomed.

Having his whole body slump to the mountain of coal, he felt some of his hair burn. Strands of it cleaved off, the bullet almost struck his skull, while everyone immediately ducked.

Then they heard the bullets rain.

Everyone holding their breath, the repeating of lead struck the container. Feeling most of their blood grew cold, some of them shielded their eyes, bound to the charcoal beneath them.

Until the bullets ceased.

—It stopped…

Luke opened his eyes, and he knew that he had to tread lightly. With the back of his head rustled with the jagged lumps of black, he still had his back pressed against. But it wasn’t long before a yell roared from behind.

“We know you’re there Fenix! Raise your hands so I can see them!”

Having his uzis holstered on his hips, he turned around on his stomach, and then raised his hands up. Getting up from the mountain of charcoal, his surrendering state made it so he was unarmed.

Dead center on the train cart, was a chubby man with turquoise-colored hair. Wearing a flat cap, along with a thin brown jacket and khaki pants, his shoes were waxed and polished. Golden chains dangling on his coat, he housed himself in such richful pride.

And he wasn’t alone.

In back of him, were dozens upon dozens of guards wearing the same attire as him, minus the golden chains. Having a trench gun in his hands, Luke had both of his palms be tainted with sweat.

“Your group has one last chance to surrender! Do it now, or else I won’t hesitate to kill all of you!”

Luke took note of the loaded gun, as Doug’s finger was already on the trigger. Keeping his boots steady on the mountain of charcoal, he scanned the guards once more, but a glint of metal flickered his right eye.

Up on the roof of the second train cart, was a woman laying down on the metal. Her finger on the trigger, the sniper rifle she laid looked to whistle out gunsmoke.

“After what your group did to me, did to my ranch and crops, I can put all of you on death row. But I’m somewhat of a merciful man. I’m not here to slaughter you all.”

Doug pointed the barrel at Luke.

But next to Luke, walked Johnny, who had his hand on Luke’s chest. Looking like he was covering for him, he had his other hand high in the air. Seeing this, Doug lowered the barrel, his cheeks sagged down to his jawline.

“So that is where you were.”

“Hello Father…”

Many of the guards began to lower their rifles.

Still having his finger on the trigger, Doug began to growl through parched vocals. The gun shaking in his hands, it was subtle, but both Luke and Johnny noticed it.

“Care to explain what you’re doing?”

“I’m not betraying you, but all I ask is for no one to die. Fighting is pointless. There’s no need to—”

“There you go again. Saying the same stupid things that you always spew. To avoid conflict? To avoid challenges? That’s not the will of humans.”

He moved the barrel toward Luke once more. Sulking his eyes in total darkness, he glared; but his guards didn’t follow suit.

“For men like myself, violence is a must to get what we want. Whether we dig deep into conflict or not.”

Doug nudged Johnny to step back. Seeing the lint of darkness in his eyes, Johnny knew what it meant… and his whole face paled in sweat. Unwilling to help Luke any longer, he kept his hands to himself.

Luke felt Doug’s glare, his eyes all brimming with a trickle of anger.

“The Dome will be the Dark Angel’s new home. I intend to make sure their miserable lives are served by liberty’s anvil. But as for you Fenix…”

Luke’s whole body was glued, and he couldn’t blink nor twitch any muscle. Feeling everyone’s eyes on him, friend or foe, there was nothing to guarantee his safety.

As Doug wrapped the trigger firm with his sausage finger.

—“You’re too dangerous.”—

A single bullet snapped the air, and Luke shut his eyes. But he didn’t feel pain. Opening his eyes, he noticed—

A line of gunsmoke escaped from a Thompson barrel. Rising beneath Luke’s nose, he noticed a man with ginger hair, having his aim right at Doug. Many of the guards were speechless, as they glanced at…

Blood poured from Doug’s stomach, since the single bullet lodged deep into his body. Taking a step back, he still had his grip firm on the trench gun, before he roared through strangled vocals.

“FIRE!!”

Taking cover beneath the metallic crate, Sean laid his head firm against the metal. With most of the guards taking aim, he cradled his Thompson with so much force.

While everyone else hunkered down.

Pulling out his uzis, Luke had his stomach pinned against the charcoal. As everyone else took out their weapons, the stench of black molested their nostrils.

—S-Shoo… s-shit!

As they were boxed in tight.