Little Miss Hellhound (nanowrimo2022)

Chapter 4

Now arriving at Richmond station. Please make your way to the exits if this is your stop. We are behind schedule.

Yeah? And whose fault is that? Amtrak announcers always make it sound urgent. That's why I prefer to be driven. No one has time for a late train that moves the same pace as a car on the highway. But, here I am. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have a whole seat to themselves. Their luggage was stored below, but they took a few bags with them, including Mrs Bradley's purse sitting at the end of the opposite table. Along with me and Begal. This gaudy yellow collar was notched as far loose as it would go to fit me, and the leash attached to it was very strong. I don't think I can snap out of it without breaking my neck. At least it matched my eyes perfectly. That's a plus. But haven't they ever heard of a vest? They're safer for leashing and walking. We weren't getting many stares, thankfully. There was barely anyone on board. The staff had mostly returned to the front since there wasn't much else to do. The beagle sat across from me, half scared and half glancing between me like she wanted to say something.

"Well," I said quietly. "What is it, 'sister'?"

"You're not the real Jessie," Begal said. "I don't have to tell you anything."

"Other than you're scared of riding trains?" I mocked.

"But how–"

"Please. I get car sick sometimes, too. I know the look. Dog or human."

"I don't get that about you." The fear left the beagle's eyes. "How can you be a master? Masters can't just become dogs when they die."

"How many dogs do you know can break into a car and find exactly what they're looking for, and make this (admittedly) convoluted plan to sneak onto a train? How else would I have known you meant to say red instead of green? You don't even know what red is, but I do. And I can see it."

"So what?" Begal scoffed. "That doesn't make you a master. Nothing does."

"Fine, don't believe me," I snorted. "But each and every time I do something smart, you'll have to accept it. Or don't. I don't really care as long as I get far away from the Bay."

"Why are you even leaving, anyway? The Bay is huge! You could've just gone somewhere else."

"I can't just walk all the way to another town. I'd probably get hit by a car first. Or picked up by some stranger. Dog or human, it's never safe to just walk along the freeway."

"Maybe I wanted to try my luck somewhere else," I growled. "Got a problem with that?"

Begal backed off a bit and shook her head.

"Good. I don't have to explain myself to you. Just focus on holding it together. You get me kicked off this train by peeing on the seat and I'll make sure it's the last thing stuffy ever sees."

The beagle gripped the stuffed animal tighter in her front paws, gnawing on its chewed up neck a little more.

Remember we are skipping Martinez station due to maintenance. Repeat, we will not stop at Martinez so if that's your stop, get off now and a bus will take you the rest of the way.

They say hurry up and then they stop longer than usual. Again, they wonder why they're always late. While Begal was busy chewing her stuffed animal and keeping it together, I scoped out the new passengers. I was bored enough as it was (how do dogs sleep so much during the day? And just sit there the rest?) so I made a game out of it. I saw one person get on who was clearly too rich to be riding this thing. His well-pressed blue suit sported a watch and a pocket watch. Old fashioned, but classy. He was also kind of cute. Another lady got on who looked and smelled homeless. She seemed well dressed enough to keep staff from questioning her and she had a ticket in her hand. I didn't like the looks of her. But the third was actually a surprise. A girl my age (or around my age when I was alive) with the fashion sense of a child. Nothing she wore matched anything else. Her red-rim glasses were straight out of the 50s but her skirt was modern. Her brown hair was a tangled mess that she probably passed off as curls. She looked small and frail. I know I don't want to be some big muscly brute but she looks like a twig. At least I had definition. But there was one thing, I think... oh no. It's that stupid, pampered collie. The same one that ignored me in the shelter. She acted like nothing was wrong and left right before it did go wrong. And she just didn't care. She never once even considered helping me, despite knowing the plan. I know she was fake sleeping and heard everything I said. Well, she's gonna hear me if she sits next to me.