The Heart Collector (Under Editing)

Chapter Eleven: Deal

It was not as crowded as Fare hoped. While the line was long at the ticket counter, the platform had only a few people. A man was asleep where he sat against a pillar and another sat with his feet dangling off the platform. Agatha sat facing the rails and Fare sat on the bench behind her. To an outsider, they looked like strangers, but Fare wanted a visual on every direction. Fare's paranoia was elevated and that made it difficult to keep a cool head. She knew that she needed to, but she felt her control on the brink of slipping. Agatha must have sensed her distress because she reached behind her and tangled their fingers.

"Fare, calm down." She whispered.

Fare's hands shook, "I'm trying."

Agatha's grip tightened, "Listen to me. You are experiencing emotions that you normally keep bottled up. Right now, you're scared, and your adrenaline is pumping at the max. Do you remember the calming technique that Michael taught you when you had nightmares?"

"Aggie, I don't think that picturing myself in a happy memory is going to help. If anything, I may make matters worse."

"Why do you- OH."

She realized that most Fare's happy memories were of Kila and Michael. It would be almost impossible for Fare to pick one that did not have one or both of them in it.

"Okay then, find a sound and focus only on that. Maybe taking your mind off it for a moment can help you regain enough control."

"But Aggie, if I do that then my other senses aren't on our surroundings."

"Fare, give me some credit. I've picked up a few things from you over the years. I can keep watch for a moment."

She knew that it was pointless to try to continue to prolong this conversation and closed her eyes. Fare took a deep breath and focused on her hearing. Somewhere down the railway, she heard train signals chiming and gravel shifting from an oncoming train's vibrations. She took another deep breath and tried to expand her hearing further. It was like hearing someone speak underwater. The next sound was muffled, but Fare thought it sounded like something hitting metal. Fare tried to focus on that sound, but she could not pick anything else up. She opened her eyes. While she was calmer, something about that noise confused her. It was not metal on metal, but it sounded heavy. Before she could dwell on it any further Agatha released her hold on her hand. They felt rumbling under their feet and looked to their side. A train was approaching, but it did not stop. As soon as it fully passed the platform, an announcement came over the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry for the inconvenience. The train departing for Westin Brookes has been canceled due to an unexpected incident. If you would like a refund or to rebook your ticket, please make your way towards the nearest ticket office. Thank you and have a nice day."

Agatha began to get up, but Fare grabbed ahold of her wrist.

"Fare?"

"Something doesn't feel right. Do me a favor and hide in the nearest bathroom until I get you."

"What? Why? I'm sure that there is just something wrong with the train."

Fare tightened her grip, "I don't think it the train Aggie. I heard a strange noise coming from the direction that the train just came from. I have a hunch that something happened, and it involves that train."

Agatha was about to protest again, but Fare gave her a pointed look that made her think twice.

"Fine."

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Fare braced herself and jumped onto the parked train. The Truthfalls were still up a little way. They had set up police tape and were talking with the Human police force that arrived first. After she had left Agatha, Fare asked a woman in the crowd if they had known what had happened. She did not know the full extent of what had happened. She figured that someone was either injured or dead because an ambulance had just shown up. Whatever had happened was a jurisdiction nightmare because it occurred on the border of Truthfall and police authority. On the outside, nothing about the train was out of the ordinary. Something about it though had many on edge. The police had roped off the entire train and two hundred yards down the track. Fare had eased herself through and open window. She looked around the first carriage. There was luggage overhead and under the seats. The Truthfalls must be questioning their owners. She moved to the second. I was the same as the first but this time all the windows were open. The third was where the private carriages were. It was here that Fare felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. The doors were all open. The second room on the left had a massive blood trail that led from the room and down towards the dining cart.