cascade | kotlc

8. The Train

tw: injury

FUCK.

June screamed, pressing herself against the curved wall. The danger wasn't even the worse part. What she was truly scared of was the transparent doors in front of her, and behind them were people mingling about. Humans mingling about.

If they saw her... she'd at least be taken to the police. And she couldn't risk leaping away inside the tunnel, where she was in plain view.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

At least it wasn't claustrophobic anymore. The transparent doors let in light from the busy station, and it felt cozy, even trapped inside the railroad tunnel.

What- how do I get out of this?
An announcement blared inside the station. June couldn't understand the language, but it didn't seem good. People all around perked their heads up, and June could see frowns appearing on their faces as they put away their phones.

Please, please don't look this way. I can't risk getting taken by the police. If I do, I'll have to escape, which means I'll have to attack humans...

God, they have guns... they won't be afraid to use them either...

Shit, shit, shit. I'm in trouble.

Fuck, and the Council will probably be notified of this...

Oh god, this is really bad. What do I do?

Fuck it, I'm just going to wing this. Since when has that not worked?

Another announcement echoed through the tunnel, almost eerily as lights flashed in the distance. June squinted her eyes at it, and it looked like two gleaming bulbs, rapidly approaching-

FUCK!

June's heart almost stopped as she held her body flat, holding her breath in terror as the metro train approached, its brakes screeching against the iron rails as June tried to remember how to blink. It didn't work, and she prayed the conductor wouldn't be able to spot her as she fell silent and the train approached-

The train's sides were painted white, and it smelled acrid as the train whizzed by her, its sides inches away from scraping and instantly killing her. June shut her eyes so tightly it hurt, and all she could hear was the train's horns and the whistling wind as she held still.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck- what the fuck do I even do-

Shit, I'm out of ideas.

The train braked and stopped, and June barely opened her eyes, her arms loosening as she relaxed slightly. That didn't help things, though. She was still trapped between the tunnel and the train.

What do I do?

Another announcement said something as the doors slid open and passengers flooded into the train. She almost gasped when she realized the train had windows, and she was sandwiched between two of them. She might not get as lucky next time, she had to make a decision immediately.

Her mind shuffling through different but equally stupid options, she reached for her pockets, digging out everything that might be useful. She still had her gun, her home crystal, and Glistensteel, and an idea sparked to life.

This is such a stupid idea, June. What the fuck are you thinking?

It just might work, if I try hard enough.

Fine.

She plunged Glistensteel into the train's side, relieved when the sword cut through easily. Her muscles burned as she lifted herself onto the roof of the train. It was cramped and uncomfortable, and she dragged Glistensteel out as she laid flat against the train, her fingers fumbling for a grip. She found a small ledge she just might be able to hang onto. A red light flashed and the doors slid closed as she lodged Glistensteel's hilt into the ledge, clinging on tightly.

The train started to lurch forward, and June choked back a sob as she closed her eyes, grasping Glistensteel in panic as the train accelerated.

I might die here.

It was cramped again, and June felt claustrophobic, even more than in the pitch black catacombs. There was still light seeping in from the front of the train, but it didn't matter. The train sped up as June screamed, squeezing herself against the roof as the ceiling passed over her. June's hair flew in the wind, occasionally fluttering against her eyes, and she screamed again.

All her channeling was focused on pressing Glistensteel in place and against the small ledge, and it hurt her skull as her veins bulged outwards and her fingers cramped painfully. She could hear the sharp scraping of metal as she felt her hand lose grip, and she screamed, pouring her core energy into her hands.

Please, please, please. How long does this take? A minute? Two minutes? Five? Ten?

Please, please, please.

The world seemed to fade away as she hung onto the train. She still didn't have a plan to escape. Could she drop into the train, perhaps?

How would I do that without anyone realizing?

Light leap away?

At supersonic speeds, trapped, unable to even reach into my pocket as I press against the train? I doubt it.

People chattered away inside the train, and the strange language felt like a painful buzz in her ears as her fingers screamed in agony. There was no option, she had to continue holding on.

I don't want to die.

Her mind yelled chaotically as her vision blurred. She couldn't open her hands, and she felt like she was submerged in the swallowing darkness, unable to fight, unable to flee.

I really don't want to die. Please, help.

Her left pinky slipped off Glistensteel, drenched in sweat as her arms burned, stretched out as far as they could go. It was like hanging off the cliff over the ocean again, except death would come quicker this time. And god, was it so much more painful. It was torture.

When does this train stop?

Sweat dripped onto her face and into her mouth, and she hacked, almost choking on the water as her right thumb pushed against the hilt, straining under the pressure as the wind shoved at her, forcing her back as she leaned her head, pressing her cheek against the cool steel.

Please, help!

Her left hand snapped to her side, her fingers cracking painfully. She winced in anguish as she turned, clinging onto Glistensteel with four fingers, her shoulder pressed so closely to the ceiling her tunic was shredding at the edges, ripped by thin juts lining the ceiling.

Please, please- please!

A finger came off the grip, and then another. She was holding onto Glistensteel with one finger now, and she couldn't possibly hold on longer. She had completely lost her mental focus, her mind was in panic, and there was no chance she could get out of this-

Her last finger came off, and both her and Glistensteel slid backwards, tumbling on the roof of the train as another announcement echoed and more light came into view. She rolled backwards, barely grabbing onto Glistensteel as it skipped past her, and she rolled down the train uncontrollably, when suddenly the train creaked, decelerating as a station came into view.

Yes- YES!

The train skidded to a stop, and June fell over the rear of the train, stumbling off and crashing down onto the rails. She had never felt more exhausted in her life.

Doors slid open again, and people passed into the train. June held her home crystal up in the faint light, and thankfully she was out of view behind the train. A beam of light appeared in her path and, painstakingly, she stepped into the soft glow.