Before Time Runs Out

Chapter 20

Ethel had laid down across the fabric seat, her head resting on Carmelita's lap. Only the light from the kerosene lamp illuminated the train car faintly, the sky dark with how late it was. Carmelita was scribbling away at the mountain of paperwork she had, the concept of time having fled her with how late it truly was. Ethel had not wanted to leave her no matter how late it had gotten, but she could feel her eyelids growing heavy as the gently rocking of the car was lulling her to sleep. Carmelita set her pen down as she took a sip of her tea, it now having gone cold as she looked down at Ethel.

"You're still up."

"I said that I didn't want to go to bed without you." Carmelita sighed, giving her a tired smile. She leaned over and pulled the quilt that Elise had set down on the table earlier towards her, before draping it over Ethel.

"I'll carry you to bed once I'm done with my work," She leaned down and planted a kiss on Ethel's forehead, before picking up her pen once again. "I just have to finish these papers before we get back home." It did not take long for Ethel to fall sound asleep, Carmelita occasionally stopping her writing to listen to Ethel's heartbeat and quiet breathing. She had rolled over with her quilt tucked up to her chin and had rested her forehead against Carmelita's stomach, and she made sure not to move so she would not disturb her from her sleep. No matter how many cups of tea she poured and drank, she felt herself continuously grow more exhausted by the moment, laying her head up against the window as she stared off at the night sky. The pen eventually slipped from her hand and clattered onto the table, and she finally gave in to sleep.

Carmelita was awoken the next morning by knocking the side of her head against the window, as the train went over a small bump in the tracks. She looked down to see Ethel still sound asleep, her arms wrapped tightly around Carmelita's waist as she slept. Carmelita's hair had come undone from its poorly tied bun, and she noticed a large streak of white that was running through her hair. She was busy studying the white streak of hair when she felt Ethel grab her hand gently.

"You know, if your turning grey at twenty-four, all of your hair is going to be white by the time you hit thirty."

"Stupid curse speeds up aging with things like this in the last few months of it. Its hair, nails, and joints, unfortunately."

Lancelot climbed up onto Ethel's lap, and she slowly sat up to take him into her arms. She sat on Carmelita's lap, pulling the quilt up around both of them as she laid her head on her shoulder.

"I promise ill figure it out."

"I know. I just wish I could help you more with it." Ethel tied her hair up as Carmelita spoke, wrapping her long braid around itself as she put a pin in it and a ribbon around it. The train abruptly came to a screeching halt, nearly throwing Ethel into the table if it were not for Carmelita holding her. She set Lancelot down and stood up an uneasy feeling in her chest building up. Carmelita noticed her heartbeat kicking up, going, and standing up next to her, and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Somethings not right." Ethel furrowed her brows as she spoke, clasping one hand tightly on her wrist to keep herself from picking her nails apart.

"What do you mean somethings not-" Carmelita was abruptly cut off by the car door being thrown open, and Matthias standing there with a revolver in his hand. Before they could do anything, a bullet ripped through Carmelita's side, and she instantly fell to the floor, quickly going into shock.

It took Ethel a few moments to react as Matthias started making his way towards her, grabbed the letter opener off the table, and gripped it tightly in her hand. She could feel cold sweat running down her back, as her shaky hands kept the letter opener positioned in front of her. Carmelita was fine. She was fine. She had to be fine. She kept herself from looking at Carmelita who had long since gone unconscious, taking a step back and willing herself to not look at the blood on the carpet. In an instant, he was Infront of her, and her first Instinct was to stab him. She dug the letter opener into his shoulder, and he instantly frowned as he pulled it out.