Lady Of The Island

Into The Buffers (V)

Burnett brushed through the bushes that had been plentily overgrown. He grunted and scoffed as they tour at his ripped shirt. The young man was now a shell of his former self. While only being widowed for three weeks at most, he was ready to sort everything out once and for all.

"I think....I can trap her..." He huffed to himself, dragging what seemed to be an axe through the evergreen with him.

He found himself at a large shunting yard, with a lingering stench and clear smog surrounding the area. He watched three diesels, two small, one large, gossiping at the refueling dock. The larger one had a beautifully carved face, while a slit sat upon their right eyebrow.

One of the diesels was painted in a vibrant green, and was giggling quite loudly, while the purple one tried to explain himself - red faced.
The big diesel saw him.

"Oh! Burney!" She called, smiling. "C'mere!"

Burnett slowly slumped across the yard, avoiding a third shunter that just...stared...

"What brings you to Sheffield?" The green one - Dick - asked.

"I come bearing bad news."

"Is it that dreadful shirt? It's torn to hell and back! Did Tasha lose her sewing kit?" The purple one - Clod - laughed.

But Burnett didn't laugh. The large engine's face morphed into seriousness.
"Burnett?"

"Kelly, Dick, Clod..." He sighed and looked down at himself. "Tasha is dead, and I need your help."

"Help? I'm not exactly a good therapist. I can barely understand Kelly's problems." Clod looked around. "Though, I can try, Mr Stone."

"No, not that. I need your help with what killed her. Do you remember the engine I showed you photographs of?"

"Oh, that pink one? Lady Valentine?" Dick raised an eyebrow. "Did she run her over?"

"I don't know exactly what happened...but I got a phone call from the police saying they found her blood and guts beside the rails...I presume she used one of her legs?"

"Legs? You gave her legs?" Kelly asked.

"No, she grew them. I don't know why, or how. It's mind bending, at this point. I just need your help to lure her away into the buffers." He batted his eyes.

"The magical ones you keep talking about?" Clod rolled his eyes. "Are you sure that's not fantasy-"

"We'll do it." Kelly honked her horn. "Anything you need us to do, we can help!"

"Thank you." Burnett smiled.

"After all, what's the worst that could happen?" She began to move towards the buffers.

***

Sudrian air was cold, cold, colder than usual. There was a hanging feeling of dread and bloodthirst, it shook Burnett to his core. He was meant to meet Alice here, but she hadn't shown up...so, he was going on without her. The mist was extremely hard to see through.

"Are we fully prepared?" Clod asked, looking terrified.

"We are we even doing this?" Dick grunted.

"Because, Burney got us into that film that Tasha was working on, right? You took my notes on board on how I want to be presented, right?" She gave a soft smile. "I love villain roles."

"Yes, but we should focus on the villain we all don't love." Burnett gripped the axe tightly. "I don't know how close she is, or how far. Just stick around the buffers and-"

Stab. Stab.
Squelch. Squelch.
The sound of screeching metal filled the air. All four froze.

"Oh?" A voice blared with a giggle. "Burnett Stone. Come to see your wife, let me help you!"
With a gust of ice-cold wind, a slumped woman appeared infront of Burnett. She was curled in a ball - wearing a sweet pink dress. Her nails seemed freshly painted, and pieces of paper laid beside her. They were character designs, for several different characters.

"...Tasha..." He held his arm out. "...my darling..."

The woman began to pull herself straight. She began by pulling back her arms, then with a quick snap, her spine clicked upright, revealing a large hole in her chest. Blood seemed to drip from every crevice. She was missing an eye. Her remaining one was no longer bright.

"..." Kelly couldn't stop staring. "You.....you Monster!" She howled.

"Oh? Who's this?" Pink dots appeared in the distance and began to unnaturally trundle over. "Kelly? Oh, I know who you are!"

The diesel's face turned stern. "Get behind me, boys." She told the twins. "Get into the buffers and GO HOME."

"But-" Clod stammered.

"Kel-" Dick muttered.

"NOW!" Kelly rolled backwards, hitting the twins. They honked their horns and disappeared out of view.

"You're a brave girl. A PRETTY girl. A BEAUTIFUL girl." The voice laughed again and again, before the magenta disappeared.

"..." Kelly had been cringing her face. "...c'mon then. Give me your best shot."

As if accepting a challenge, Lady thrusted herself through the mist and threw Tasha's body out of sight. Her legs were dripping with a mixture of blood and a..strange black liquid. Burnett watched as Lady's jaw snapped, as if on a hinge, and opened ninty degrees. She spat out a vile acid, scorching Kelly's left cheek.
"You taste good, sweetie." She giggled.

Kelly, not exactly thinking straight, charged right towards her, hitting a leg.
Lady screeched a noise which left Burnett's ears ringing. More acid was spat out and she was getting angrier by the second.

"Kelly! Retreat!" He shouted.

"No! You get to safety! I'll handle her!" She shouted as Lady slowly slid down her own legs, where did they go once inside? Who knows.
They locked eyes.
"I must say...your eyes are enamouring. You could get lost in them....And your face, oh darling, it's angelic. It would be a shame if they got...torn."
Her smokebox clicked and sent her jaw right into Kelly's face. She tore and bit into it, resulting in Kelly screaming bloody murder. But she didn't back down. She continued to push against the leg as blood spewed. Burnett had to look away. It was too disgusting for words.

With one large push from Lady, Kelly was sent flying back towards the buffers. As she began to disappear, she stared at Burnett. Her face was ruined, dripping - no - flooding. Her eyes showed remorse and pure hurt.
Burnett ran after her, into the buffers.
But Kelly was already gone...and now Burnett was too.

Leaving Lady...all alone on Sodor.