Inhumanity

Chapter 1

I sigh in relief as the warm water envelopes my skin in a warm hug. If there's one thing I have kept going it's my routine. No more orders and hidden threats to do something, only I get to decide how I spend my day. I work some vanilla shampoo through my hair and then rinse it out. I do the same with the conditioner and then turn the temperature right down. The jolt of cold makes me hiss a little but it's not to unbearable. I step out of the shower and wrap myself up in my towel.

After drying myself off I get changed into my long navy blue skirt and white shirt and put on my small silver locket and my sparrow earrings back on. I have my job as the classroom assistant in about an hour but that gives me plenty of time to go up to the engine. I like to watch as the train swallows up the track at an incredible speed. Also it's nice to have someone to talk to and the guys always know how to make me smile. I have a good 10 minute walk through the borders between 2nd and 1st, as usual the corridors are alive with an organised hustle and bustle. I greet a few of my students and their parents, I love talking to children they're so often excited by the smallest of things. Melanie gave me the job two years ago, as a way to keep me entertained but I also suspect she's still testing me, seeing if I can play the part.

Once I finally reach the engine room door I smile, I press my hand in the panel and it gives a cheerful beep. The door slides open and I slip in quickly. I'm glad to see Javi is sat at the main controls, he's much nicer to me than Mel or Ben and he's always up for a chat. Ben and Mel can have their moments but nowadays they tend to brush me off like I'm some naive child. Javi is sat watching the land go past. He hears me enter and turns round "Eve, what can I do for you? Is your wiring messing up again?" He asks brightly. I shake my head "I have some time to kill, thought I'd see if any help was needed up here" I say. I spin around on one of the seats, staring up at the ceiling "how's she going" I ask boredom lacing my voice. He lets out a deep breath "still running, that's the main thing. On the less mechanical side of things, some trouble in the tail but that was cleared up quickly enough" he says. I smile bitterly "ever think it's a bad idea to keep all those souls trapped there?" I question. He goes to answer but Ben comes in interrupting him "eve what a lovely surprise" he says. I shake my head "wish I could say the same seeing you, you really need a haircut. Try out a new hairstyle" I tease. He laughs "well unfortunately looking good isn't part of the job requirements, Javi is proof of that". I roll my eyes, I slump into a chair and study the screens.

Everything seems to be running but the train won't last and Melanie hasn't figured out the escape route after the train finally stops. Every titanic is immortal until it collided with the inevitable iceberg. The boys continue on with their work, no one has much to say "well as much as you provide stimulating conversation I have to get to the classroom in less that 15 minutes" I get up and walk quickly out "be careful, I really don't want to have to repair your wiring again" he shouts after me.

Somehow I end up arriving early all in one piece. Mary is setting up her classroom, she hums an tune to herself happily "you're in a good mood" I state. She jumps a little "good morning Eve, how did you sleep" she asks. I smile brightly "honestly it was like someone flicked the off switch, I didn't wake up once" I say. She laughs "you never do". I help her set out the whiteboards for the children, the bell rings and they file in chatting away with one another. They take their places.

We have to sing the morning song which is of course is about Wilford, and his glorious engine. I don't really sing, just move my lips to appear so, it hurts me to even do that. I tried to convince Mel to change this song to something else, but she still believes that having Wilford appear to be on board is a way of maintaining order. Personally I think that he should be cast off and forgotten. Finally the song ends and at last the lesson begins, maths. I walk between the desks, pausing to scan their work and help them if they've made a mistake or are stuck. If there's one thing I had to work on when we first started it was how to be gentle with my help, you can't just point at something and state wrong and move on. They won't respond well to it and most likely will start crying at the harsh tone.