#19 The Train - An Traein

A shudder ran through my body as we ran in silence. Smith's deep voice identified Lyle's car moments ago and then they went quiet.

We flew through the unevenly planted trees not bothering to stop and listen for their footsteps. I was sure they were following us -or maybe just me. I was the one they believed was the artist behind the painting they wanted to steal.

After first being dragged along Lyle caught up to match my pace. We ran side by side clutching tightly to each other's hands. The pathway charted us on a course directly toward the light emitted from the train station, branches protruded onto the path catching onto my hair and skin. I felt scrapes form on my face and arms but I ignored them continuing our charge ahead.

My mind could hardly focus on anything but the path in front of me. We were enveloped in silence save for the crunch of branches underfoot that seemed like a sonic boom. Then suddenly the sound of a train horn in the distance broke my concentration and I involuntarily squeezed Lyle's hand, encouraging us as we rounded the last tree trunk.

The train station was the oldest building in town, no bigger than the size of our kitchen. A simple brick building that backed up to a wooden platform. The building had one door on the side that allowed for the attendee to enter and work the ticket window at the front of the building. Two flickering street lamps sat on either side, illuminating the outside and a few more lit the twenty foot long platform that featured a shelter and vending machine.

It sat in the clearing several yards beyond the thick tree line we'd just emerged from. A single paved road curved into a half moon driveway before connecting back to the main road that led into town a few miles out.

Tonight there was no one in sight.

We ran to the single metal door. Safety. My body slammed against the frame as I careened to a stop and fumbled with the handle.

Locked.

"No, no, no." I repeated shaking the handle violently. My plan to lock myself inside and call the police was foiled.

Lyle rammed her shoulder into it a few times before backing off in defeat. It wasn't going to budge. We needed to find another place to hide.

The whistle of the train sounded again, this time much closer spurring my entire body to turn toward it. Lyle was already ahead of me and she tugged on my hand, pulling me to race around the building to the tracks. Although I could not yet see the train in the near midnight hour I could make out the slow chugging sound as it neared the station.

"It won't stop, the stations' closed." I fretted looking from Lyle to the tree line. We were trapped in the middle of a clearing with no shelter from Smith and Jones who were close behind.

Lyle stayed stoic her eyes trained on the tracks, soon the train rounded the bend that curved around the forest we'd raced through just a few moments ago. The bright lights fashioned to the engine blinded me momentarily until my eyes adjusted. The outlines of several boarding cars trailed behind and the lights from their windows traveled over the bare ground.

The train was one hundred yards away now traveling straight towards our place by the tracks.

I looked to Lyle. What in the hell were we supposed to do now? Without a word she lifted our intertwined fingers between our faces and squeezed them reassuringly. "Trust me."

I had no time to debate as she pulled me to run alongside the train tracks. The horn blew again, this time directly behind us. I swore as the full force of the train rushed past, the wind propelling my body forward. I watched as the engine pulled past us, then the first car and the next.

The flickering lights from the cabins washed over us intermittently. As we ran and I wondered how many people were riding the train at this time of night, and if they saw us. Would they tell the conductor to stop the train? Would they call the police? I prayed for both, but as the next car passed, within seconds it became clear to me what Lyle was planning.

She wanted to jump onto a moving car.

"Duck." Lyle yelled as the shattering sound of a bullet hitting the metal of the side car echoed around us.

My breath hitched with the influx of adrenaline pumping through my veins as I picked up the pace to match the train. All but two of the cars had passed us. I stole a glance behind me. Perched above the tree line the moon cast its glow down on the two men that tracked us from the main road. Jones rested in a slight squat his gun drawn and clearly aiming toward us. Smith held his weapon with both hands at an awkward angle to his side as he began his chase after us and the train.

Another bullet ripped through the air accompanied by a groan from the engine as it picked up speed. Soon we were neck in neck with the caboose. A four foot deep balcony led off the train car. It was empty - which I wasn't sure was lucky or not.

Lyle reached for the rusted railing that guarded the metal platform just as another bullet whizzed by.

"Shit." She swore her hand instantly retracting. The men yelled incoherent threats from behind us as they gained ground. I refused to look behind me again as I concentrated all my energy in keeping up with the increasingly fast chug of the wheels.

We'd fallen a few paces behind after the shot and Lyle blew out a determined breath pushing us forward until she could grasp the railing. She held firmly to it, and in one smooth motion pulled herself onto the back of the train. In the midst of this maneuver our hands lost contact. My heart jumped at a sudden feeling of panic. Was she going to leave me?

My hand floated down and found its place at my side pumping furiously in order to keep up. The engine was gaining speed, increasing the gap between the rusted rail promising my safety and myself. It was running away from me, and so was my chance to learn anymore about what was so special about my mother's painting.

"May come on!" Lyle yelled over the sound of the trains urgent whistle. Her hand extended a few feet from me as she waved me on. She leaned out over the tracks, her other hand securing her to the platform as she reached out to take my hand.

The air in my lungs went in short puffs. I was running out of steam and Lyle could tell. I reached for her arm before reluctantly drawing my hand back. A half foot gap separated us.

Another bullet whizzed past me pulling Lyle's gaze from me to the men giving chase. A flash of terror struck her features telling me that Smith and Jones were closing in. She leaned out further over the ground that was disappeared under her more and more rapidly.

I needed to get onto that platform.

My arms pumped violently at my sides giving me an extra push that allowed me to lock my hand around Lyle's forearm. The ground seemed to be moving out from under my feet as the train audibly shifted gears again. I couldn't keep up for much longer and I stumbled nearly falling. Lyle held tightly to my arm securing me in an upright position as my legs cycled out of control.

"Jump!" She yelled.

I hesitated and risked another glance over my shoulder. Both men had stopped running instead they stood their ground aiming their weapons toward us.

"Jump, May you have to jump now!" Lyle locked eyes with me as another bullet ricocheted off the railing to her left.

With a final push I launched myself into the air. My feet left the ground, and for a moment I was flying. Everything seemed to stop as my momentum and Lyle's grip pulled me forward.

-

I hope Lyle holds on...

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