Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Episode 8: Reaction

Things started falling apart for someone over the next while. The train was ever hushed in an urgent whisper as people were compelled to discuss recent events. This was probably the first time anything of interest had happened on the train, or so it seemed by the trending nature of the subject. The attendant could be seen from time to time casting irritated looks about the dining cart, occasionally stopping beside someone who hadn't seen him or who hadn't hushed in time. Then he would place his hand on their shoulder, foregoing the pleasant smile now, not bothering to hide his distress. Person after person was led out the door.

Sarah and I sat across from each other as the man was brought back to our table. Not only did he have the blank look in his eyes, but there appeared to be a bruise near the base of his neck, and his lip was split. He looked at the candle for a long time. He tried to say something after awhile, but it only came in the form of a wheeze. I looked at him intently, the feelings returning with an intensity I was unfamiliar with. I glanced at Sarah, who was examining him with the same look. I glanced at the door that the attendant was in the midst of leading another person through, another hopeless fish in a barrel. I stood with a start.

"Guys," I said, waiting until the man looked at me. "Come with me."

Sarah looked at me with understanding eyes, pushing herself up from her chair with enough force to draw the attention of those tables nearest to us. Her eyes darted around the room with excitement, checking for any sign of the return of the attendant. The man only turned in his seat, his eyes glossed over but his brow furrowed in thought. I grabbed him by the crook of the elbow, pulling him to his feet. He staggered up, grabbing the table and bumping into it with a loud thud that shook the cutlery. I led him hurriedly towards my train car, Sarah close on our heels. Eyes turned to follow us, burning into my chest like a hail of bullets. I ducked my head and we exited into the hallway.

There was a commotion as the door slid closed behind us, cut off suddenly as if it had been sucked under water. Sarah and I exchanged a look, a moment of hesitation. Then we continued with pace down the hall.

4 comments:

  1. Wow! Change in pace. There are slowly learning to think on their own without the control of the attendant. Will they be able to escape? Are they even trying to escape? What will they find?

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  2. It's an interesting turn of events. It makes you wonder what is the real purpose of the train. They've been on there for days, but they don't even bother trying to figure out why. Why is it that the protagonist is doing something about it while the others just sit idly by? Anyways, it's starting to get really intriguing now.

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  3. It seems like they are trying to make an escape at the moment, but I feel that it will fail and the consequences will be severe. It is very interesting that escape has not occured to them before but they were evidently too mind swept to attempt it. I am starting to think this place is more real and not a surreal as it originally seemed.

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  4. Ahhh I do not want to know what the consequences for this are going to be... this is getting so intense!

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