Music Lovers

Chapter ten

It's day two of the holidays, Jake, Fin, Stewy, Roberto and Dun are going to the theme park. There aren't any good ones in Edinburgh so they're going to Thrope park. They're going to meet their friend Gabe there.

They are on the train, only four seats in their compartment so Roberto is under the table. It's 3 hours into the ride. Dun suddenly stands up. "Who wants food?" 

It's only 8am but Jakey sure is hungry. "I'll join you!"

"Me too!" Roberto shouted from under the table, bangs his head and falls back down.

Jake and Dun make their way to the train bar. They place an order for a few snacks, sandwiches and drinks. As they make their way back Jake can't help but feel uncanny. Almost as if there's a pair of eyes on him.

When the food arrives Jake passes a few slices of sandwiches to Roberto under the table. Stewy is munching on his sandwich loudly. Jake nudges Fin with his elbow. "When will we arrive?"

Fin pulls out his Sea-dweller Rolex watch. "There's about two hours left. Go to sleep, I'll wake you up."

And so Jake did that. He finished his all-day-breakfast sandwich.

He fell..

into a..

..deep

..s..sleep..

~~

Jake woke to the sound of nails on a chalkboard. The train compartment is dim and chilly, his friends nowhere in sight. The train seems to be in a tunnel. The only light source is from his phone on the table, displaying 4:56am April 25th.

Jake slowly gets up, grabbing his phone from the table. He leaves the booth. The whole train is in darkness. Jake shines his phone flashlight on the surfaces. There is dust everywhere and a chill so prominent Jake can no longer ignore it. His fingers feel cold, his hairs standing up.

But a voice. In the distance. Jake slowly moves his legs towards the sound, which is by the bar compartment. Jake drags himself over to the countertop, where there laid a phone. The voice is coming from there. Jake places his phone on the countertop and picks up the one playing audio.

Jake gasps and nearly drops the phone.

A video clip of Leo tied up at the wrists and ankles, gag over his mouth, lying on the floor. He looks like he's been there for ages, covered in god knows what. The room is dim, with a bowl of dog food, another with dirty water. Leo is in a pool of  some sort of liquid, Jake unable to tell what it is. A voice in the background saying "We've got the boy, he's making his way over boss. Please let my family go." A gunshot. Then the video clip repeats.

Jake is suffocating. The dark space of the train closing in on him. Hr drops the phone and falls to the ground, wrapping his arms tightly around his body.

He felt so exposed, as if something was prodding him, slowly stripping him of his sanity. Jake is staring into oblivion. 

He wants to scream, his head is-

"Jake. JAKE!"

Jake looks up to see Fin, Dun, Stewy and Roberto who was on the table. Jake looks outside, Kings cross station. That was all a nightmare. He checks his phone. 10:38am April 20th.

Fin stands helps Jake up. "We're here, come on dude." 

~~

The boys meet Gabe at the hotel they're staying at and take another train over to Thrope park. Jake opted to take a taxi, joined by Dun.

There is a curtained off bit between the backseat and driver.

"The taxi is going rather fast, huh?" Jake asks Dun.

"Yeah, hey driver! Can you slow it?." No response. Dun leans forward to lift up the curtain, falling back with a yelp.

Jake is quick on his toes. "What's wrong?" 

Dun is shocked. "No driver! This isn't an autopilot car. I don't understand why it's driving by itself." Jake places a hand on Dun's shoulder, "First we'll try to get to the driver's seat okay? We've played enough Mario Kart last night."

The boys try to break the glass behind the curtain which doesn't break. Jake is scared out his wits. "It's accelerating!" Jake looks behind out the boot window to see a black Rolls Royce Phantom speeding towards them. "Dun! Watch out!"

Dun looks behind just in time to see the impact.

~~

'Two young boys are in critical condition after getting into a fatal car accident near Thrope park. Police are still searching for the perpetrator. Security footage of the accident has since been destroyed. Any leads will have a £5,000 reward'

Fin tunes out his ears. "Damn you." The boys are in Kingston hospital after hearing the news. They've been there for 3 hours with no updates.

Roberto scratches his curly hair which is like pubes. "This must be intentional."

Stewy snaps at him. "No shit dookie brain!"

Gabe is lost, staring into the distance. A vending machine, a water fountain and a person in a black suit staring into Gabe's soul. A person in a black suit? Gabe suddenly jumps up. "Hey guys! Look over there!"

Fin turns his head to see the mysterious person. "Wait a minute! I've seen that person on school campus before! Chase!"

And so they chased.

Who will that be?