The bandages didn't come off for a few weeks, and when they did I had mixed feelings. There was a long light blue scar right down the back of my neck. I hated seeing it every morning when I got dressed and I started to wear my hair down so that it was shielded from view. I knew that it wasn't as bad as I thought it was but all I could hear was Wilford scoff and comment on how I was no longer perfect or something along those lines. I'm sat at my work station when a warning sign pops up, I hiss in annoyance, just when things had returned to normal "what is it" Ben asks coming over and peering over my shoulder "Subtrain, platform 312. Electrical short" I report pointing to the red flashing warning. He immediately starts searching for the tool box "I'll go"
Javi snorts and glances back "Sure have all the fun jobs, man. And you don't even have to follow protocol." He snipes. I take a deep breath, they've been like this for the last week, exchanging barbs and insults. It's starting to grate on my last nerve. Ben shrugs him off "Isn't that nice?" He says passively. Javi flares at him "What do you want, Javi? You want to invoke Wilford's "no fraternizing in the Engine" rule, is that it?" He questions patronisingly. I lean back in my seat "Hey, when she first took this train, she said we'd follow his order. But I guess if she can turn a trial into a total sham, she can shag the help, too, right?". I wasn't expecting such harsh words from Javi, my mouth forms an 'o' and I look over at Ben. He's equally taken aback but quickly recovers, he chuckles "You know, Javi,
it's almost been seven years. Maybe you should find a girlfriend." He storms out. I look over at Javi "wow that was serious entertainment, didn't realise you had it in you" I comment. He scoff and turns back to his work. We continue on with our work as the day passes "that work is taking forever" I mumble. He chuckles "Mel and Ben are probably in some broom closet, shagging"
I quickly pop into the cabin to grab a notebook for some calculations that I need to show Mel when she gets back but something catches my eye. A small scrap of paper, 'tools down, justice for niki and Ed, justice for third'. I returned to the engine holding the pamphlet "what's this?" I asks. Javi turns round "oh shit" he hisses. I raise an eyebrow "you guys keeping secrets? Cos this seems like something I might like to know about" I say carefully. He shakes his head "Mel thought that with your recovery we shouldn't stress you too much" he explains. I bite my lip and snort "she left it out on her desk, so congratulations on keeping it a secret" I rest my hand on my hip "anything else I should know about?". He shakes his head and turns round, I know there's something else but I decide to leave it. I'll figure it out myself.
Suddenly I'm flung on the floor, Javi also gets flung forward. The whole train jolts. I haul myself onto my seat and fumble to get my headset on, Javi is also fumbling around up front. He slams the lockdown button, setting the whole train into emergency settings "Warning, please brace. Emergency lockdown in effect. Warning, please brace. Emergency lockdown in effect." Melanie's recorded voice repeats and alarms whine to life. I immediately see the problem "hydrological failure" I shout. Mels voice come over the headsets "Javi, Eve, can you hear me?" She asks her voice shaky. Javi nods "What the hell's going on, guys? Talk to me." He questions. I bite my lip "it's a hydrological failure isn't it? That's not good" I declare. Mel isn't wanting us to focus on the problems "Hey, take us down to dead minimum speed." Javi does what he's told, taking us right down "And where are we? How long till Torreta Canyon?" She asks. I quickly figure it out, being under pressure always helps "at minimum speed, the canyon's gonna be
about eight minutes to the Engine." I look to the satellite picture for confirmation and nod when I realise I'm right "How long till us?" She asks. I frown "Fourteen minutes to you. Why?"
She is breathing heavily "Because at this angle, when this car hits Torreta Canyon,
the whole train's gonna derail." My eyes widen, this could be the end? Javi glance to me "Holy shit." He mutters. Mel chuckles humourlessly "Yeah. "Holy shit" is right." Mel is quick to get under the train, i stagger upfront to get a good look at the video feed "this is crazy" I murmur.
YOU ARE READING
Inhumanity
Fanfiction"If I was to tell you I was built in a lab like this very train would you believe me?" Wilford spent his time investing in the future, before the global extinction that was me. Trapped together, round and around and around we go. Speeding on throug...
