20.
Stranger and stranger, these view outside of that train continues to get. Besides the large red fire breathing dragon and the white unicorn that the dragon harasses high up off the ground, and the likes of the one-legged creatures stampeding from not long after his initial arrival to this world, there is plenty to see as that train he is on continues to travel to what is for him, an unknown destination.
Off in the distance or as near as it can be, what could be described as an emerald city floating on a large green rock comes into view, with a great wall present which leads up to that large green rock with a possible full city upon it, a great wall which could easily rival that of the one which can be found in China with the exception that this on move upwards to be sky bound.
This all could easily rival that may be found somewhere within middle-earth if it were to be hit a wallop of the future for that floating green rock that just hang in the sky, the floating city, certainly must be something from a future far away. This is not the future, this is a strange land, the strangest of strange lands to say the least.
Either side of this floating emerald city are rising rock faces of green and icy blue crystal and beyond that is a sight to beat all sights. There are two moons ... yes, two moons and they both are so large in the still daylight sky that it could be imagined that if one were atop of either of those rock precipices, one could almost reach out and touch one of those moons.
And for a moment at least, a moment which seems far longer than just a moment, Samuel is standing atop of one of those rock faces and he is no longer imagining reaching out towards those moons, he is actually doing it. It is only when he takes a second to look back and down that he realizes that he is not on the train with which he should be on.
He can see that train moving on, going about its business as if he weren't a passenger upon it. He is a passenger on that train and just like that he is back right where he had been sitting. Had he really been off the train at all? Who the hell knows? ...and especially in a world like this one. There is something a little off, something from before. He experienced that cliff precipice with Delia, but they also visited that emerald city? Perhaps he is not remembering right ... it is all so ... fragmented.
To view these sights and a numbers of other, one could go on for more than a while without realizing that there is anything wrong the likes of an all-encompassing darkness which is consuming this world though as the journey does continue, Sam tries not to dwell on memories either real or untrustworthy and takes notice of the newspaper one of his companions is reading.
DARKNESS LOOMS ... is the headline and despite that and what actually may be occurring in this world, the passengers on this train, no matter how odd they seem, are apparently going about their everyday business.
There are a number of stops though Samuel is unsure as to where or when he is to exit the train. His ticket has no pre-determined destination imprinted onto it, no destination that he initially sees, so for the moment all he can do is go with his gut; it may be possible that a gut feeling will inform him as to where it is he is supposed to be going to.
In fact, all that had been imprinted on that train ticket had only been the platform number and departure time which had simply stated five minutes rather than an actual time. That imprint on the ticket had now at this point vanished from it leaving it completely blank. If anything, it is more a case of 'what now?' more than anything else.
Lizard tongue man catches himself a second insect. Large lady in red still does not acknowledge the fact she is sharing a section of the train with three other people and businessman continues to read his paper, the one with the DARKNESS LOOMS ... headline. Things are very surreal to say the least.
An electronic voice calls out the names of each stop not that this provides any inspiration for Samuel. He still is as confused as he has been all day. That electronic voice indirectly does tell Samuel where to get off the train for after four station have come and gone a fifth one is reached where that voice simply speaks two word, 'last stop'.
Samuel's travel companions get up and vacate the train quickly and efficiently. Lizard tongue is the last of the three to vacate, still being as fidgety as he has been since he first sat down. All three quickly move out of Samuel's sight.
'Right so, this must be my stop' he speaks to himself.
Exiting the train Samuel's confusion grows exponentially. Once again, he looks at that ticket of his. It is no longer blank. It now simply reads 'you have reached your destination'. His destination? He holds his head low as he does step off that train, for he is still studying that ticket of his. He is completely taken aback as soon as he does raise his head in order to see what is before him. What is before him is darkness, complete darkness. He can see no more than just a few feet on front of him.
What is this? Is this the darkness which looms?
There is nothing else anywhere. There are no people; there is no sign of any of his travel companions. There is absolutely nothing but the platform he stands upon and the train which is behind him. The train, Sam turns towards it but there is nothing he can do. A loud whistle sounds, and the vehicle begins to move. He bangs the palms of his hands against the moving train as he moves along with it for a moment in the hopes that he can get it to stop and then re-board it.
No such luck. The train continues to move; it picks up speed and pretty soon is gone completely out of view. Samuel now stands within only a few feet of light, as if a spotlight shines upon him, everything else all around is in pure darkness. Samuel cannot even tell as to if he is indoors or outdoors. All has gone quiet. All is quiet.
Samuel is at a loss for what to do next. There may have been a lot of confusion, there may have been strangeness in heading to a lost and found, despite it all he had the hope that this train he had been on would bring him closer to Delia. Maybe it has. Samuel stands in complete silence; complete silence however does not last long ...
