The Night Bus

THE MAN

The silence was deafening and the only barrier between Manila and Alec.

Manila put on her earphones and started her playlist, yet she wished so desperately that Alec would say something.

Alec wanted to sleep, he wanted to forget everything about Ella. But he was cursed with the ability to remember.

They both sat still until a familiar man walked on to the bus.

"We can go now," Manila turned to Alec, only to find him staring back at her.

"Finally," he sighed.

Manila eyed the man, looking for suspicious behaviour, "Alec, why do you think he was talking to the staff for so long?"

"Technical issues probably, anyway all I care about is leaving."

She glanced at Alec and thought about Ella. What could have happened in Thailand and why was he so distressed?

She waited for a few minutes, expecting the journey to begin. But it didn't. She turned to Alec again, he was asleep. She looked over at the man and their eyes met and for a moment she felt afraid and vulnerable.

She put her head down, trying to sleep but her wild thoughts kept her up. There was something strange about the man. She couldn't seem to forget the faint glow of wickedness in his eyes.

She was pulled out of her imagination unexpectedly when she heard Alec call her. He was awake now.

"Are you awake, Manila?" He whispered.

Manila sat up again, "yes, I'm awake. I can't sleep."

"I know what's keeping you up. Stop overthinking about that guy. Just because he's creepy doesn't mean he's a serial killer."

"We don't know that yet. People don't look dodgy without a valid reason."

"Manila, seriously," he started, "what else are you thinking about? Ella and I?"

"Well...it's one of the few things on my mind."

"You really want to know what happened to her, don't you?" A small yet sad smile creeped its way onto his lips.

She nodded guiltily, "you..don't have to.."

"It's okay, I might feel better if I tell someone."

"Okay," she said. Manila was curious but she also felt uncomfortable for having him tell her about something that broke him.

"Um..the car followed her to the hotel and the men saw her come out of the taxi alone. So they followed her to our room and..uh..they got her. Well that's all I've learnt from the police anyway.. They didn't find her." He wanted to keep the story as short and cursory as possible, for every word he used, a memory with Ella flashed through his mind.

Alec's eyes were full of despair and she could feel all of his emotions when she stared into them. She put her hand over his.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

Manila's eyes scanned the room but avoided Alec's eyes. She looked at the man again and the fear came back inside of her.

"Alec, he's got a gun."