The Never Ending Train

25 It's Funny How Fast Your Life Can Change, Isn't It?

"No!" Thump. "No!" Thump. "No!" Thump. I ask myself for probably the 50th time, why is this happening? Kai continuously hits the ground, he screams and cries for both Dominic and Nora. He finally broke. I feel like I'm about to break too. As if knowing I'm about to die in half an hour wasn't bad enough. Why do I have to suffer the pain of losing people I love before then? Why can't I be the first to go?

I stare at Nora's lifeless form, willing her to get up. To open her eyes, yawn, stretch, and tell us what a good nap she had. But of course, she doesn't move. Only the shaking of the jet slides her around.

The pool of blood around them starts to grow even faster. I notice it must be from Kai's leg. I would just let it be, we're all going to die soon anyways, but I don't want to see another one of my friends go before then. I want at least one of my friends to stay with me until the end. To remind me of my time on the train. To remind me that it really happened and that we did have good times then.

With trembling legs, I shuffle over to where Kai is still banging the floor of the jet, just barely missing Nora's body. More tears wet my cheeks but I don't notice them. I flinch when Kai actually does hit her body, slamming into her so hard it looks like he snapped a bone. "Kai!" I shove him away from Nora, gingerly touching the spot on her shoulder where he hit.

"What?! What do you want from me, Scarlet?!" He howls through his tears.

"Your leg, we need to fix your leg." I drop down onto my knees, crawling to him.

"What does it matter anyways." Ophelia says. I almost forgot she was here.

Kai finally stops moving, sitting still and panting hard. I reach him and sit around his leg. "We need to take this fabric off." I look for a tear to open. Kai lies down to become more comfortable.

"Does anyone have scissors?" I say.

"Scarlet..." Terri starts, quietly, like she doesn't want me to snap.

"Or anything sharp? Anyone?" I ignore her. God this thing is bleeding a lot. Kai must have lost a lot of blood by now, so we need to hurry.

I'm still struggling to find a hole to rip open when I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Scarlet." Denna says, more firmly than Terri.

Kai's leg starts to slide from the shaking. "Kai, keep your leg still." He doesn't respond. Doesn't move. I guess he's really tired. Fine, I'll just move it myself.

When I touch his leg however, more and more blood gushes out. I finally spot a tear at the back of his leg. I use that to rip open his pants and pull down the pant leg so I can see what we're dealing with here. I honestly have no clue what I'm doing, I'm not a healer, but I just can't leave him a mess like this.

"God you crazy bitch." Ophelia gets up and shoves me onto my elbows.

"Leave me alone! I'm trying to help him!" I retaliate, shoving her back and making her lose balance. She crashes to the floor, anger written out on her lovely face. She once looked so calm, so collected and in control. Now her features are twisted in ire.

I rip off a piece of Kai's shirt to stop the bleeding. I might need his whole shirt, most likely more, with how much blood is coming out. I start wrapping the wound.

Ophelia gets up and rushes me, tackling me off of him. "He's dead you crazy bitch!!" She starts slapping. I slap right back, ignoring the stings on my face. We grunt and scream. Throwing punches and hooks and pulling each other's clothes.

I roll us over so I'm on top and have the advantage. I fight viciously, pounding her face. Staring at her with murder yet not seeing her at the same time. Not really anyways.

"Scarlet!!" Arms wrap around my middle and lift me off of Ophelia but I don't stop. I lean down further to reach her. Still hitting her. Soon hands are grasping mine and holding them still.

"Stop! Please stop!!"

A slap with so much force hits my cheek that I spin 180 and fall with a loud thud. I lay still, empty, devoid of all emotion, not caring anymore. Not wanting to care anymore.

Oh, but I do care. Denna, it's all Denna's fault. Who was she to make all the calls?

Who was she to decide to wipe everyone's memories? Who was she to ask Terri to go through hell for her? Who was she to leave me? Who was she to decide everyone's lives?

Anger from the fiery pits of hell rises up within me, filling every single empty nook and cranny I have. Anger at Denna. This is all her fault. I slowly push myself up onto all fours, then up onto my feet. I feel pain all over, but don't really feel it at the same time. I can tell my body is bruised and I'm completely exhausted. I still have the injuries from jumping the train. My body is at it's limit. But I ignore it.

I turn to look at Denna and Terri. They're both sitting on the couch with their heads in their hands, but they turn to look at me when I get up.

"Scarlet, I'm sorry for slapping you." Denna starts but stops when I put up my hand.

I walk towards them, watching without care as their faces shift from worried to frightened. Frightened of me. Scared. Of. Me.

"Denna." I start.

"Y-yes?" Her eyes are wide. They have bags under them and are dull, so unlike the ones I remember. The ones that would light up every few minutes at anything and everything. She was so happy. Who was she to take away her own happiness for some bullshit like this?

My anger dulls. Who was she to become a stupid hero?

My shoulders droop. Who was she to sacrifice everything when no one asked for her help?

My eyelids become heavy. Who was she to make me fall in love with her? Why her? I forget what I was about to tell her. I turn around. Ophelia is dead. I killed her, but she doesn't capture my attention.

Kai's leg is still bleeding. Nora's head is still bleeding. But other than that, they look like they're sleeping. Dominic isn't here, but I can pretend he is. My poor friends. My dear friends, I'm sorry.

I turn back to Denna and Terri. They both look terrified. I wish I would stop caring. The world is ending, I'm dying in a few minutes, why can't I just have a break for once in my life. I wish I could stop caring, but till the end, I can't. They look scared, and I hate that. I take a step towards them, almost falling. I have no strength left. I feel numb inside and out. "Don't," I inhale. "be scared." I exhale.

Terri covers her mouth but stays in place, her eyes never breaking contact with mine. Denna runs towards me, tears freely falling. Her eyes are wide and she screams something. My name? I don't know.

When I married Denna, I thought my life was perfect at that moment. I thought I had it under control, I knew what was going to happen. I had the best friends ever. Everything was perfect. Then I woke up on the train and nothing was right. I met new friends and found someone else to love. I had a new purpose in life, even if that was just surviving. I left my old life behind, my wife, my friends. They were no longer a part of me. For a split second, I thought my life was going in the right direction again. Now I'm here. Everything fell apart in less than a few hours, just like how my whole life changed in an instant when I woke on the train. All my friends left me as fast as they came.

In the end, I'm back with Denna and Terri., but I choose Nora, Kai, and Dominic.

It's funny how fast your life can change, isn't it? No, it's not.

I slump to the ground and fall asleep alongside my friends.

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