Getting Back To You (Book 2 of Under The Floorboards)

Chapter 8: Mark

It is the closest we'll get to a peaceful sleep. All huddled together in the corner of the train cart, we begin to shiver less. The only noise is the screaming wind just outside the door, finding its way through the cracks of the train and screaming into my ears. The tiny glimmer of light poking beneath the door slowly dims, eventually the night consumes us. I want to just curl up in that moment, wishing the bitter cold could freeze time for just a bit longer, giving us just a little more time to enjoy each-others presence before we step outside into the winter.

My eyes flutter open with surprise when a banging noise causes my heart to skip a beat. The pounding comes from all around the train, everyone gasps as they sit up from their sleep. "Shhhh," Cole holds his finger to his lips. I nod to him with agreement. Three softer taps sound just outside the door.

"Hello? Anyone in there?" a girl's voice sounds. My eyes bulge, hope consumed me. We aren't the only ones out here.

"Yes. We are in here," Ivy calls out cautiously.

"Please, open the door and let us in. They are coming. Please," another girl's voice whispers. I hesitate before wrapping my fingers over the door handle. I slowly slide the door open, snow swirls inside as a gust of wind bites at my skin. Standing knee deep in the snow is three girls, shivering and full of terror.

"Who's coming?" Arizona gulps from behind me.

"Can we come in and explain?" one of them asks. I narrow my eyes at them with suspicion. They wave their hands in the air, showing that they mean no harm. Reluctantly, I help them up. Sliding the door shut, everything goes dark again.

"We owe you our life for that," one of them whispers breathlessly.

"You look tired?" Cole question:.

"Were you running?" Hazel adds.

"You don't know about them, do you?" one of the girls asks.

"About what?" I arch an eyebrow.

"Sorry, I forgot my manners," the tallest one laughs nervously.

"This is Holland Johnson and Maria Flynn, I'm Pen Harper," the one with hair the color of fall orange-brown and green eyes introduces them. Holland and Maria are about the same height, all three of them are as skinny as the rest of us. One thing we have in common; we are starved and exhausted. Holland has medium-length blonde hair and green eyes. Maria has long and messily curled chestnut brown hair and dark brown eyes.

"I'm Mark Devontae and these are Chase Smith, Cole Andrews, Lazaro Martinez, Yvoni Foster, Hazel Montes, Ivy Cosgrove, and Arizona Pizano," I introduce everyone.

"How'd you guys end up here?" Maria asks curiously.

"Couldn't conquer our fears in the house, some of our friends made it out but not the rest of us. That's why we have to find our way out of this hell, to get back home," Arizona chimes in.

"How long have you guys been stuck here?" Lazaro asks.

"Three years and counting," Pen trails off.

"Are you the only ones out here?" Hazel quivers.

"Not even close. There's a whole group of us, hundreds even. The camp isn't too far from here, but two of our friends ran off in search of a way out, too. We got worried and now here we are, looking for people who might not even be out here. For all we know, they didn't make it through the night," Holland bites her lip.

"Who?" Chase croaks.
"Ty and Leo O'Malley. Twin brothers, I dated Leo for a while. But things didn't work," Pen trails off.

"Never heard of them," I shrug.

"Well who are you guys on your way home to?" Maria raises her eyebrows.

"My girlfriend Kendall Reed, Alaska Pizano who just so happens to be Arizona's twin also, Chase's girlfriend Nina Hau, Damon Miller, and Zane Sisco," I answer as calmly as possible, controlling my voice from breaking. Chase winces at the sound of Nina's name, a pit of sadness swirls in my chest.

"Never heard of them either," Holland shrugs.

"Back to what we were originally talking about," Chase redirects the conversation.

"Who are 'they'?" Yvoni quotes with her fingers.

"Yeah, what don't we know?" I add with agreement.

"The spirits. Everyone who dies out there gets trapped for good, turning into murderous demons. It completely strips away their humanity until there's nothing left of them but soulless spirits that can't handle daylight. There was a group of them out there, we will hear them coming. When we do, we have to be absolutely silent. They can't find out we are in here or we are as good as dead as they are. I don't know about you guys, but I'd rather keep my soul," Pen exclaims rapidly.

Suddenly, quiet crunching noises begin to circle the train. Maria's eyes bulge, her finger flies to her mouth to signal for us to be quiet. Screams and cries of pain from all ages and genders begin to swarm around the cart. An eerie feeling runs down my spine, the cries cause my heart to race rapidly in my chest. I hold my breath, cupping my hands around Arizona's mouth before she lets out a scream. I clench my eyes shut as the screams get louder. They claw at my eardrums, my insides ache with pain. I've never wanted silence so badly. It feels as though it will never end, like maybe the screams will go on forever until I lose all sense of hearing.

After what feels like hours, it goes quiet again. Everyone let's out their held-breaths as we fall to the ground with exhaustion. I can still faintly hear them in the distance as my heart slows its paces. Whatever they are, they definitely aren't human anymore. It made me feel a little less human just by hearing them.