Racing Against Time

Chapter One

"Darcy, you need to catch the 5:12pm train if you want to make it home tonight for Gigi's recital," Richard said in a concerned tone. Darcy furrowed his brows, his jaw tightening as he glanced at his watch, his mind racing with the urgency of the situation. "I know, I have to go." It was only 5:04 pm, and the train station was a good ten-minute walk from where he stood in the bustling city, but he still had to make it through the office building.

Darcy tried to avoid the city as much as possible, but being a lawyer made it impossible for him to completely steer clear of it. He weaved through the corporate office building lobby, barely sparing a glance at the modern glitz and glamor that surrounded him. His thoughts were solely on getting home to Gigi, the one bright spot in his otherwise jaded life. He couldn't help but admire how his younger sister still saw the world with hopeful eyes, her bright blue gaze filled with wonder and longing to explore the city.

Lost in his worries, Darcy suddenly collided with a petite young woman with golden bronze hair and soft curves, sending them both stumbling. He barely registered her distress as he kept striding towards the train station, ignoring the woman's frantic calls after him. "Damn crazy woman," Darcy muttered under his breath, his focus solely on catching his train. Darcy's long strides propelled him forward, weaving through the crowded streets, his heart pounding in his chest as he pushed himself to walk faster. He had to make this train on time, Gigi counted on him.

—

"Train 5723 headed north to Pemberly is expected to be 15 minutes late," the loudspeaker over the intercom system repeated twice, while Darcy arrived into the train station.

Frustrated Darcy slammed his fingers to the phone's keyboard and sent off a text to Richard, "Just got to the station, but going to be late. Train is 15 minutes late. I think the world hates me today, not like I don't hate it back either." He then rammed his phone into his pocket. "Well I at least should head down to the tracks to at least get a seat," Darcy resignedly thought to himself.

The sweltering urban heat enveloped Darcy as headed down to the tracks. The fluorescent lights were on even though the sun sparkled outside through the glass skylights. The stench smell of stale air, body odor and cheap highly processed foods filled Darcy's nostrils as he finally got off the escalator. Walking towards the track, the crowd appeared to keep growing in front of his eyes, filled with mostly well dressed business men and women headed from their corporate jobs and headed home after another long day in the city. Their weary faces and earplugs in, showing the universal sign of do not bother me. The way he liked to be treated, to not be bothered.

"Excuse me sir, are you a basketball player," asked a little boy, in a friendly tone, while poking Darcy in the pants. He could be no older than 6 years old, and with the biggest blue eyes and forehead that looked like he still needed to grow into. With innocence written all over his demeanor.

"No, but you look like you could be," Darcy replied kindly, bending down to the boy's level.

"Really," exclaimed the delighted little boy, showing his joyous smile where a missing tooth should be.

"I'm going to be the best basketball player ever sir."

"I believe you should go back to your parents' side," Darcy said firmly, as he pointed towards the boy's parents, who wore matching expressions of concern as they watched their child converse with a stranger. Though they weren't entirely surprised, since their child had a knack for talking with strangers, no matter how many times they told him not to.

As Darcy stood up, his tall frame looming over the child, he noticed a familiar figure in the distance. It was the petite woman with gold bronze hair whom he had run into earlier. The petite woman's eyebrows were raised in a quizzical expression as she observed the scene unfolding before her. This time he was able to notice more about her. She was not dressed like the fashionable business women surrounding them, and her hair was a lovely shade, but it was not brushed making her look wild. Her outfit looked comfortable but quirky, but most noticeable were her eyes. They looked like they contained the secret to happiness hidden within them. Darcy wondered what could allow a woman in the city to not be jaded or weary of life yet.

"I appreciate your curiosity, but it's very important to stay close to your parents for your own safety," Darcy said in a gentler tone, his deep voice carrying a hint of warmth. The boy's eyes widened, while looking up, with understanding, and nodded in agreement with a shy smile forming on his lips.

Darcy glanced again over to the parents, who nodded their appreciation. The concerned creases on the foreheads smoothed over realizing that Darcy meant no harm to their child. Darcy exchanged a nod with them, acknowledging their unspoken gratitude. While feeling the curious gaze of the unknown petite woman observing him from across the way. He couldn't shake off the strange feeling of familiarity that lingered in the air but didn't give it a second thought as his train finally arrived and loudly pulled in. The metal brakes making its loud entrance known.