Silver Linings

PART TWO - The Survival

PART TWO

By now the people around them were beginning to get themselves moving, wanting to find others on the train who were looking to finding help. Not noticing Georgia and Jonah hidden behind the case they were reluctant to move from, the others soon moved out of the carriage, through the smashed doors and soon Jonah and Georgia were alone, still chatting away and slowly realising how much they really had in common.

Through a break in conversation, cars were heard pulling put near the rail lines and the pair froze in their places straining their ears trying to listen. Could these be friends or foes?

It could be that in the hour or so since the bomb had gone off, the authorities had found out what had happened and that there were here to get everyone out of the train, to get them a decent meal and to warm them up. That would be the best scenario. But what if it was someone else? Someone not so friendly. What would have been the point of setting the bomb if there wasn't something in the train that they wanted? Of course, it may have just been a random attack, but, it could be something more and that's what they feared. These were the thoughts that were running through their heads.

The engines cut and voices could be heard outside. Men could be heard shouting and it sounded as if there were dogs barking. From behind their suit case - from their corner - they heard the shouting and saw eerie torch light pass the window, making the dust on the pane even more obvious that before.

And then they were gone.

The noise passed and so did the light and they let out the breath they had been holding for the last three minutes. "Who the hell do you think they were?" asked Georgia in a whisper, hoping that Jonah would have a deeper knowledge of the subject. "I don't know. They could be anyone. Let's not worry about that, let's worry about keeping warm" replied Jonah who was noticeable shaking now as his muscles tried to generate heat.

Huddled in their corner was were Georgia and Jonah remained for the next long hours, every so often a few words being passed among the pair. At some point in the night, Jonah realised that he had his hand being tightly held by Georgia's. He definitely didn't mind and gave her hand a quick squeeze to which Georgia only gave a tired smile as a reply.

The torch lights passes the windows twice more in the night, the first time the voices could be heard to be saying that maybe they should try the other end of the train and the second time that if they didn't leave now it would the sunrise soon. Then the cars left.

The two had still not been found in the small corner of their now private carriage as they slept peacefully carefully wrapped in each others arms.

"We still have 3 passengers missing" yelled the voice that Georgia and Jonah woke up to the next day. Both had very stiff backs and were really in need of a cup of tea, or anything else to eat or drink, they were in no position to be picky. "We need to get onto the train and retrieve them, their lives could be in danger if they are left any longer. Food, water and thermal blankets are a must. You lot start down there, we will start here." the same voice said.

Georgia looked over at Jonah, his eyes gently shinning in the morning light. "We're two of the people they are looking for. We may as well go, we're going to be found at some point anyway." Jonah said quietly, not really wanting to be the person to break the news out loud, to break the silence. "No. Let them find us. I want to savour these last few minutes were the only worries are keeping warm with you are here, without having to put on a show for some mad fan" Georgia sighed out with a hoarse voice, her head dropping back down onto Jonah's shoulder where it had been all night. Of course, she loved her fans -- her many fans -- but sometimes it was nice to meet someone new and not worry about being her celebrity persona in front of them, rather than just normal her. Jonah nodded. He once again pulled Georgia's hand into his own and rested his head on top of Georgia's as they waited patiently to be found by yet another unknown force.

It isn't long before the voices are heard again. Soon they are in their carriage moving things around and a few seconds later, the suit case was moved and the couple found. Now, too cold and hungry to get up and move for themselves, they were carried off the train by people in army uniforms and swiftly put into separate ambulances before they can so much as utter a goodbye to each other.

To Jonah it all happened very quickly. One minute they were next to each other on the train, frozen in place after sitting in their spot for at least 14 hours — much too long — and the next he was in an ambulance going to where he could only assume was a hospital.

Georgia however, was thinking about Jonah. No one had ever been stuck in Georgia's head before - not to this extreme. As the ambulance sirens rang, all Georgia could hear were Jonah's words from back on the train and the feel of the light squeeze Jonah had given her hand. She hoped for all she was worth that she was going to the same place as Jonah. She had no way to contact him otherwise. She knew his last name but nothing else. 'There is nothing I can do about it now' were her last thoughts before the medics yells started and she fell into a deep dreamless sleep.