THIS STORY IS BEING UPDATED TO FIRST PERSON. THAT IS WHY CHAPTERS ARE MISSING.

"Coming mother?" I called. The woman behind me smiled.

"Yes dear. I was just admiring the scenery." she said. I held my hand out, and she took it as the two of us walked along the dirt road.

"I'm so glad you came to see me on my birthday. I thought maybe you would have been too busy." she said. I chuckled.

"I always make time for your birthday, you should know that." I said. It was my mother's birthday, and all she had wanted to do was go for a walk in the country. I was happy to oblige.

"Look at that!" my mother suddenly said, pointing to a small bird on the ground in front of us. We stopped, and watched as the small bird pecked the ground a few times, before looking at me.

"You don't see a bird this close everyday, do you?" I said. Finally, the bird flew away, and the two of us continued walking. A gentle breeze blew through the nearby fields, rippling the long prairie grass in a beautiful pattern.

"I don't usually notice all of these things. I'm usually in my car on the way to work. It's nice to take things slow and take in the scenery once and a while." I said. My mother laughed, and patted my hand.

"Of course it is, dear. It's a beautiful world, and it's important to enjoy it." she said.

After a few more minutes of walking, we arrived at a set of rail road tracks.

"Would you like to keep going, or turn around and go back home for some tea?" I asked.

"Oh, lets keep going. I could use the exercise." she said. I smiled, and took her hand before setting foot on the tracks. Suddenly, a loud whistle rang out, along with a screech of brakes.

"Look out!" a voice shouted. I looked up to see an engine rushing towards us at ludicrous speed.

I quickly ran across to the other side of the tracks, pulling my mother behind me.

But my hand slipped.

I fell onto the ground on the other side of the tracks, the engine just missing me. I frantically got up, only to see the engine sliding to a stop, dark red stains covering the track behind it.

"MOTHER!"

. . .

I jerked awake in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. I frantically looked around, before realizing it was the same nightmare as I had every night, and calmed down.

It had been five years since that day, but I was forced to relive it every night. Every night for five years, I watched her die. I had been to several psychiatrists, but none of their methods or medications helped. It was a curse I endured every night, and by this point, I had gotten used to it.

Sometimes, I would only sleep a few hours before it happened. Other times, I almost made it through the entire night before waking up. Regardless, once it happened, I knew I wouldn't get back to sleep, so I just stayed awake.

Finally, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, and stood up. It was six in the morning. I always tried to sleep until seven, so I actually got a pretty good sleep.

Today was going to be the first day of my new job. I had trained for years, and went through college for this job. Today, I would start saving lives at the Sodor Search and Rescue Center.

It was the least I could do to help prevent others from going through the same hell I was going through.

I didn't have to be at the Search and Rescue center for a while, so I had enough time to get ready. I threw on a clean set of clothes, and went into the kitchen for breakfast.

I was never a big breakfast eater, so I just had a slice of toast and a cup of tea. I flipped on the radio, and listened as the quiet music filled the room. As I ate, I stared off into space, thinking about the new job.

Who would I work with? What would I do? The manager had liked me, and said that I would be assigned a work partner once I arrived. It might be a person, it might be an engine. Who knows?

I didn't like trains. Ever since that day, I only saw them as death on wheels. But, I was willing to put up with them if it meant I could help save the lives of others. Plus, I didn't really have a choice. I lived on the Island of Sodor, and it was crammed full of trains.

The clock struck nine, and I gathered my things. My shift started at nine thirty, so it was time to go. I took my lunchbox, my hat, and my phone, and walked to the car. It was a short drive to the Search and Rescue Center, but I wanted to arrive early to familiarize myself with the place.

As I drove down the country road, I passed the spot where it all happened. It was a car and pedestrian crossing, with no gates. The engine should have been paying more attention. It should have sounded its whistle sooner, knowing that there could have been people there. But it didn't.

And it cost my mother her life.

I walked up to the grave next to the track, and stared at the cross marking its significance for a few minutes, silently talking to my mother, even though she wasn't really there. I stopped at the grave every day if I went out this way, rain or shine. It was the closest thing I could do to stay close to her.

Others had said I should just forget about it and move on, but I couldn't. For some reason, it always stuck with me, and was always in my mind. It didn't help my situation, but it also made it better, knowing that I could at least be close to her, at least in some form.

I finally forced the bad thoughts from my head and got back into my car. The rest of the way to the Search and Rescue Center, I felt chilled, regardless of the fact that it was seventy five degrees outside.

. . .

Once I arrived, I stepped out of the car and took in the place. The Search and Rescue Center was a large property. Several buildings, a large rail yard, a helicopter pad, and even a dock for a rescue ship was all here. Several people milled about, as trains rushed past in all directions. Harold the Helicopter was landing on his helipad, and various noises filled my ears.

This was my new work environment, I had better get used to it. I headed towards the main building, and was greeted almost the second I walked in, by my new boss, no less.

"Hello Anon! You're early, which is always good! I hope you're ready for your new job. Put your things in your locker, and then I'll fill you in on what you'll be doing, and who you'll be working with. This way, please." he said, leading me towards the locker room.

Once I picked out a locker, and stored my belongings into it, the manager started talking again.

"I think you'll like who we've paired you with. Her old partner retired a few weeks ago, so she's been going solo. She's an engine, a very nice one at that. She saves lives and buildings everyday." he said.

"What will her and I be doing?" I asked.

"You'll be fighting fires. She's a fire engine." he said.

My mouth dried.

It HAD to be her.

There were only two fire engines on Sodor, and only one of them was a female. Of all the engines I could have been paired with at the Search and Rescue Center.

"She's already here, waiting to meet you. She's being filled with coal and water right now." the manager said as he walked outside, me following behind.

"Is that so?" I asked quietly. As the manager and I rounded the corner, there she was.

Sitting patiently in the yard, waiting to meet me. Except for one thing...

The two of us had met before. She saw me, and almost immediately looked away, a look of surprise on her face. I forced myself to walk up to the engine.

Dark blue, with red warning lights. Two large water cannons mounted on top, and a large brass bell sitting proudly on her boiler. The bell that was silent when it really mattered. The engine I had hoped to never see again, and now I was going to be working with her.

The engine that had been in such a hurry to get to an emergency, it had forgotten part of its job, and caused another emergency.

The engine that had killed my mother.

"Hello, Belle."