~ Part 1 ~
- Okay, mom. Stop worrying, I'm a big girl. I'll call you when I get home. Love you. Bye.
The girl pushed the red button of her phone, put it back in her bag and looked out a window. She smiled to the sun and closed her eyes enjoying its warmth on her face. It was a wonderful summer day and completely perfect for a small trip by train. So now she was on the train heading to Chicago, her favorite city full of fun and freedom. There were not many passengers; the atmosphere was quiet and comfortable so the girl decided to take a little nap. She leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes and sank into her thoughts.
Melanie Johnson was a young beautiful lady from the quiet and cozy city called Rockford, Illinois. She was 22-year-old student of the last year of the "University of Economics and Management" and had ambitious goals for her future. But now she just enjoyed her summer vacations and decided to spend it with her father in Chicago.
When Mel was ten her parents had divorced and split her perfect life in two between mom and dad. That was very tough time for the little girl who couldn't take such a trauma. But as people say "time heals all wounds" and now there were no more tears in those beautiful blue eyes. The little girl grew up into the strong wonderful woman with a kind heart and dazzling smile who knew how to enjoy life and saw the positive in everything. But the childhood wound would always stay somewhere deep inside of her heart no matter how much time passed. That had happened and nobody could strike out that fact off her story. But Melanie was strong enough to turn over that page of her life and move on.
After the divorce her dad moved to Chicago to start his own business and Mel had to live in the two cities. She refused to move and leave her school with friends; that's why most of the time she lived with her mom in Rockford. And every holiday or vacations Melanie was happy to spend with her dad in Chicago. She loved that city at first sight. With the first step on that land Chicago caught her mind and made her heart fall for it. There are places in the world where you feel very safe and comfortable. Even if you come there for the first time you realize that it's completely your place to live and you don't want to go anywhere else. Melanie had such feelings in Chicago. It made her happy inside and gave her power to keep going.
David Johnson moved to Chicago twelve years ago and based his own financial company. Thanks to his clever mind and ambitious heart "Financial Bureau Ind." became a very successful company and earned the respect of the leading financial companies in New York City, Washington and Los Angeles. David was blissfully happy to reach his goal and worked very hard putting himself into his business. The company was his child he raised and made it the meaning of his life. But there was only one thing that couldn't compare with anything else on this planet. The love to his one real child, his beautiful daughter Melanie. Although he divorced David maintained a good relationship with his ex-wife and did everything he could to be a good father for Mel. The colleagues and friends saw him as a strict, organized, tough man but it was only at work. This strong man had the heart of gold which was filled with endless love to his sweetheart, to his baby girl who called him for every evening and brightened his days with her contagious laughter. They loved each other to death, spent any free time together and she sincerely thought that he was the best father a girl could dream of. And when she decided to move to Chicago after the graduation David agreed with no doubt and was in seventh heaven that he could live again with his little angel. But it was for the future.
Now Melanie just was going to her daddy to spend her last summer holidays and relax before the difficult year of studies. But there was something that disturbed Mel. Her dad didn't answer her calls for a few days. It was a little strange. They talked or chatted every day and now he didn't pick up the phone. Melanie didn't want to get nervous without a reason.
"He must be very busy". She calmed herself down and smiled at the image of their meet when she'd jump on him; hug him tightly while he'd be twirling her around.
- May I know the reason of such a beautiful smile?
Melanie winced from the voice against her and quickly opened her eyes. She saw a guy sitting at her, smiling and waiting for her answer. Mel grinned at imagining how stupid she looked with the closed eyes and a smile on her face.
- It's a wonderful day. A good reason to smile, don't you think so? Mel looked out the window then got back to the guy with a smile.
- Definitely I do! I'm Nick. he smiled back and gave her a hand.
- Melanie. Nice to meet you. Mel shook his hand and froze for a minute with looking straight into his eyes. Those gorgeous hazel eyes just hypnotized her and made her fall into a trance. But at the same time they were filled with kindness and warmth. Mel caught herself that she's never seen something like that.
- Me too. Nick broke her thoughts and she just smiled shyly. I'm glad that I have somebody to spend this journey because there's no likely company over here. If you don't mind of course! he gave her a questioning look.
- Of course I don't. It's kind of weird that the train is almost empty in this summer period. Mel looked around and realized there were only six people in their carriage. Very weird
- It is. Nick agreed. But anyway it's better than a crowdy and annoying train. he winked. so are you travelling or living in Chicago?
- I live in Rockford and going to my father to spend my vacations. And what about you?
- I moved to Chicago two years ago and I think that was the best decision of my life. Nick smiled from ear to ear, - That city has everything I need and I'm happy to live there. Now I'm getting back from my sister's hometown. She lives in Elgin; she has a baby and asked me to help her a little.
A lovely melody interrupted his speech. Nick began to search for something in his bag. A few second later he found his phone, said "excuse me", pushed the green button and walked away. Melanie didn't get the words but she could hear his voice and it was getting angry. She decided not to listen to him, it was his business; she just looked out the window. She was thinking about the new person in her life. She was that type of person who didn't trust easily and couldn't communicate well since the first met. But she realized that Nick was different. She didn't feel shy with him at all. This guy made her feel very comfortable like they have known each other for years. His charming personality didn't give her a chance not to open up to him.
Mel heard goodbyes behind her and Nick sat back against her. He looked lost.
- Is everything ok? Melanie asked a bit worrying.
- Yeah, it's fine. Just some problems at work. a light smile touched Nick's lips but Mel noticed sadness in his eyes. So where did we stop? Oh yeah. You were going to tell me about your travelling. Nick looked at Mel smiling again. "I bet this smile killed a lot of hearts already", - she thought, - "And I'm afraid I'm next"
They were talking all day long. A lot of stories and jokes were told. A loud laughter blew up the silence for many times. They both understood that they found a good friend, a person who had a lot in common, a kindred spirit.
There was twilight outside, a few hours left until Chicago and Mel decided to make a call. She excused and went out of the room. Finding the needed number she pushed the button and the screen showed "daddy". After the sixth ring tone Mel was going to give up but suddenly the phone was picked up and she heard her father's worried voice.
- Honey, are you ok? Where are you now?
- I'm on a train going to see you. she answered smiling but she felt something was wrong. What's going on, dad?
- Sweetheart, I have to tell you something. Don't worry honey but you have to get of off that train, you MUST do it now!
- Daddy, what are you talking about? Mel couldn't understand what was going on and this made her get nervous.
- Melanie, there's no time to explain, just trust me! Please, I'm begging you, get off the train!
- Are you crazy? How can I get off, there're no stops on this road! - now she was very panic. Dad, please tell me what's going on? she almost cried and tears showed in her eyes.
- Mel, baby, please don't cry. I can't tell you anything but the train is very dangerous. Did you you - his voice lost among the noise and Mel couldn't hear him no more.
- Hello? Dad? Dad?! Melanie screamed and the tears dropped on the floor. Suddenly she felt the floor started moving under her. She heard a noise somewhere in the distance and that was like an explosion. The carriage staggered, the lights went out and Mel almost fell down. She kneeled and tried to see something through the darkness. She was breathing like there was no air, her body was shaking like crazy but she still held her phone in her hand. Among a lot of noises and people's screams she could hear the voice in her phone. She focused on it and touched her ear.
- Baby, baby, Melanie, where are you? Mel? Mel? Please, answer me! the voice begged.
- Dad? she was too shocked to realize what was going on. Her head was spinning around; she couldn't stand up and see anything.
- Oh my God, honey! Are you ok? Please tell me! What's happened there?
- Daddy, I'm scared! she was crying hard.
- Baby, please listen to me! You must get off that train! Did you see Nick? it was like a cold shower.
- How did you know that? she whispered and lost in her thoughts. Now she didn't understand anything at all.
- Honey, it's a long story. Please don't ask. Is he with you now? He's my friend, he will help you to get off the train. Trust him. Mel, please don't waste a second, find Nick and get away from that fucking train! he yelled to the phone and Mel got that everything was very bad. And perhaps she was the reason for everything.
She shook her head and answered Ok, dad, I'll try to find him. after saying that she thought that was impossible to do in this hell.
- Good. Good. Be careful, baby. I love you very very much - he continued talking but Melanie didn't hear him because the carriage shook from another explosion. She fell down, dropped the phone and it broke. Mel had no time to recollect herself as she felt soft arms around her.
- Melanie, come on! We must get out of here!
She heard Nick's voice behind her and tried to stand up.
- What's going on, Nick? she screamed trying to be heard among all the noises.
- We have no time! We need to go! he pulled her hand but she broke out of the grip.
- I will go nowhere until you explain me what the hell is going on! Nick looked at her and realized she said the truth.
- Ok, - he sighed, - Your father isn't a director of the financial company. "Financial Bureau Ind." is in fact the FBI center. David Johnson is an employee of it. He's engaged in undercover investigations of particularly commence. He got in touch with bad people and now he's in great danger. I work with him and was sent to protect you. We got the information that the train Rockford-Chicago has a bomb. Those people knew that you'd be in this train and now they try to kill you. I know you need a time to get my words but I swear we don't have any time. We must get away if you want to see your dad again!
She was listening to Nick with the eyes wide open and couldn't believe her ears. It was like a dream, a nightmare that would disappear in a minute. She lost in her thoughts but the last Nick's words brought her back to life.
- Come on! he said grabbing the girl's hand and headed to another carriage.
They ran in a hurry through the carriages, from one to another, holding hands and saying no words. Once Mel looked back she saw a huge wall of the fire that just was eating the train from its end.
- Nick! she screamed in horror and he stopped.
- Damn it! Hurry up! he pulled her hands with his power that she felt pain on her wrist. She cried but nothing could matter to Nick that time. He had to save her life and he'd do everything for that.
They passed through a lot of carriages and when they reached the first one a big wave of explosion made the train break in two parts. The carriage lurched and Melanie felt that she rolled across the floor. She screamed and began to grasp at everything trying to hold on.
- Nick! Help me! Nick! her screams mixed with new explosions and the carriage lurched much more. The train rushed on the high speed and there were no any possibility to jump down and stay alive.
- I'm holding you! Don't worry, I'm here! I'm here, Mel!
Nick squeezed her hand tightly and tried to pull her up. But the new push made him release her. His heart fell down when his eyes couldn't find the girl.
- Mel! Melanie! he screamed out loud looking around and he felt tears coming to his eyes.
- Please God, I'm begging you! Take me. Not her! Please! Please! he mumbled not stopping searching for her.
- Nick!- he heard from another corner and rushed to there. He found the girl holding on to the wall of the broken carriage. Her head and hands were bleeding and she lost power to keep holding on.
- Melanie, please, try, you have to give me a hand and I'll get you out of here!
- Nick, I can't! I just can't! she screamed and the tears went down her cheeks.
- Mel, dear, you have to. You're strong, you can! Please don't give up! I promised to save you and I'll do it! Give me your hand. Come on! Trust me, Mel!
He held out his hand, she grabbed it, he pulled it towards him and suddenly they felt the new wave of the explosion next to them. They swept aside and Nick fell on the girl.
- Stop! Cut! - there was a shout from behind them. - Well done guys, great shot!
- Thank God! Otherwise, I wouldn't stand one more take. Maybe you shouldn't eat so many sweets and cookies?
- Relax, Tina. You know, you are not a feather either by the way!
- How dare you?
- Hey, hey! Enough! We don't need your silly fights here! We're done. Tina, James, you are free for today. See you tomorrow and don't be late!
- Do you believe he knows the meaning of the words "being on time"? Ha, I doubt it. the girl grinned and headed to the exit.
- See you tomorrow, Miss Little Evil!
- Shut up, jerk! she said with no looking back and left the room.
- We have mutual sympathy, don't we? he said and everybody laughed.
Thus it was the end of the first shooting day of James Maslow.