Here we are with chapter 4! This one hit me with a wall, it might be a bit rough in some areas. Tell me your thoughts or theory's.. you'll understand at the end ;)
The storm raged above our heads, pinging on the windows and sounding like baseballs being dropped from sky on the roof of the train. The window was filled with rivers of rainwater, constantly breaking off and flying away with the speed of the train. Had it not been storming, I'd image a searing display of red and gold sunlight would have cast the compartment with burning and glittering tones but no, a dreary dim light cast dull, watery shades on the faux-wood walls and the seats covered in faded red fabric. Night was falling and quickly; mom and Charles's heads drooped down, hers coming to rest on his shoulder and his to rest on her head. I reached up and pulled on the chain connected to a lamp that was bolted to the wall on my side of the window, filling the compartment with a weak yellow glow. Sure, it wasn't that useful now but it would be later. A rattling sounded outside in the corridor, but it was muffled through the sliding wooden door with its frosted glass inlays. It sounded like a cart being push or pulled down the aisle. I looked over at the door, a shadowy shape blocking the lights of the corridor and looking pixilated on the frosted glass. Three quick tabs rattled the glass before the door was slid open revealing a plump middle-aged woman with her speckled grey hair pulled up into a tight bun. She fiddled with adjusting a white apron over a light pink dress then adjusted small golden glasses before gestured to a cart she was pushing.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" She said sweetly, her accent wasn't too thick to understand thankfully. Mom and Charles didn't offer to move, they must have been really out of it. I got up and went over to look at the food and snack laden cart. The top layer was mostly individually wrapped deli sandwiches and bags of chips, most of which I had no idea what they were but some I recognized from the logos but were under a different name. The same was true for the second and third layers, candies and drinks respectively. I picked out a few things that I recognized and some for mom and Charles too. The cart lady smiled, she didn't have a name tag on her apron to my surprise, and have a nod when I offer thanks before pushing the cart to the next compartment and repeating the process. I slid the door shut and laid the snacks on seat cushion beside me, picking out mine: a can of Coke and a package of Oreos. I watched as the bleary grey light faded to black, the only thing lighting the shimmering rivers of rainwater was the lamp. It would still be a good while till we get to Marrowton station.
I was jerked awake as the train slowed, sloshing my stomach around until the momentum of the train came to a halt. I drew my arms above my head and stretched the sleep from my joints and stood up, looking out the window. Rain was still coming down in sheets but the lights of the station left a grey glow. I got my stuff from the overhead compartment after Mom and Charles, both sending smiles and thanks for the snack I left for them. Charles slid the door open and ushered us, dragging our belongings, into the corridor to going a thin, weak stream of people getting off at the station. Cold, wet air, smelling slightly of smoke and farmland, hit my face with enough force to make me cough slightly. We skirted by groups of talking people as we left the platform, Charles locating a cart for our luggage, and trying to make our way to hail a car to get us to our new home. I looked up at a clock on the wall just as we were leaving, it read eleven forty-two. We stood under the extended roof of the station, shivering as headlights cut through the darkness and an old looking car pulled up in front of us. For the second time today, we threw our stuff in the truck and clambered into the back of a taxi. Charles gave the driver the address before settling back against the seat.
"All the way out there? That'll cost ye extra." The driver snorted gruffly and let out a smokers cough before taking off down a winding road. The journey was long and silent until something nearly smacked off the windshield and the driver swerved sharply to the right, throwing us about the back.
"What the hell was that?" Mom's voice wavered in a shrill tone, she was clutching the driver's headrest in a death grip. The driver threw a sharp left to get us back on the road but didn't even bother to ask if we were alright. A chilled silence fell as we all started at the driver, who seemed to be gripping the wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned a sickly shade of white. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity staring at him while the windshield whippers squeaked across the glass, he spoke in a raspy tone,
"Damned rats with wings, infesting the countryside like a plague."
"What are you talking about? Bats?" Charles gave a laugh not only to shake off the tension but also at the absurdity of the whole thing.
"Aye, bats." The driver spat with vile distaste. "Filthy vermin, skulking around an' feeding on good farmers livestock."
"They don't hurt… people? Do they?" Mom gave a shudder. Charles quickly reached over to whisper calming words into her ear. I looked up and locked eyes with the driver in the rearview and without breaking his gaze he growled,
"Don't let them get the chance."
We scrambled from the taxi as quick as we could, the driver uttering one last thing to me specifically as he leaned out the window,
"A pretty lass like you better watch your back." He sped off flinging mud and gravel behind him. I bolted to the landing of a two story stone cottage in a flash, not really feeling the weight of my suitcase anymore, partially because of the downpour but also to get as far as I could away from the quickly fading taillights. The door opened with a squeal and we stepped inside, dripping on the stone slab entryway. Someone clicked on a light, filling the room with bright yellowish white light. The room, though it was bare, had a feeling of being home. The floor was tiled with cream colored tiles and accents of blue dotted the room, while the walls were paneled with wood. A few boxes were stacked in a corner and I dropped off my stuff against the wall by the door to check it out.
"Oh, the movers must have gotten a few things in before the storm hit." Charles found a place for his things before moving to the boxes with me. We tore off the packing tape and flipped the leaves of the box open. Mom plucked a few things off the top and examined them, giving an approving nod.
"That was so nice of them to unload the box that had the blow up mattress!" She shooed us out of the way so she could pull the rest of the blue inflatable mattress from the box. The cord was the last to be taken from the box and I started opening the others that were behind the first; throw blankets and pillows were now laying on the floor as Charles hooked up the power pack with the cord to the outlet on the far side of the room, next to the kitchen door. A whirring started up from the power pack, a fan started blowing air through a hose into the blue plastic-y mattress, puffing it up till near bursting. Mom capped it and the power pack was turned off.
"There now… nice and homey. I'm going to get the blankets and pillows laid out then try to relax for the night." Mom bent over to gather up the bed stuff before looking up at me with a wink, "Don't stay up too late."
"Don't worry, I won't. I'm going to look around upstairs." I shot a smile before heading off to the back of the house. I found the stairs built into the wall between the living room and the dining room and clicked on the light but a small pop turned a flash of light back into darkness.
"What was that?" I heard mom call from the living room.
"Light bulb blew out." I called back, fishing my iPod from my hoodie pocket and unlocked the screen, squinting to find my flashlight app. Light flooded the stairwell and I slowly climbed up the creaking steps, my hand sliding up the railing. The wood felt well-worn under my hand as I climbed higher until I reached the landing. I pointed my light at all the walls, trying to find a switch but I found none. Maybe the switch downstairs controlled the upstairs hall? I swung my light to the first door, illuminating the cut crystal doorknob with light blue porcelain inlays. I gripped it and turned, expecting to feel resistance but the bolt slit from its home with ease, letting the door open with the tiniest squeak from the hinges. I pushed it open all the way, letting the light play on the wooden floors. This room had some furnishings, a few chairs and a spindly legged end table. I patted the wall to find the switch, feeling the cool wooden surface beneath my finders, and when I found it, I flipped it up. Nothing happened so I flipped back down but to find the same result. Puzzled, I tilted my IPod to shine the light on the ceiling. I let out a frustrated sigh when my light found an empty light fixture. I backed out of the room and opened the door across the hall.
A bathroom covered in white tiles which reflected the light back at me and I decided that since two lights were not working, I should test all of the upstairs before tomorrow. I found the switch right beside the door frame and clicked it on. Bright light flared in my eyes, and the bathroom was bathed in light showing the pristine tiled walls and floor. The bathroom itself was quite large and could easily fit five or six people comfortably. The sink had delicately curving silver handles inlayed with the same blue porcelain as the doorknobs. I noted that the claw footed bathtub matched the sink, but the 'odd man out' was the toilet, it had a simple modernized design. I clicked the light off, leaving the bathroom and continued down the hall to the last two doors. The next door that I opened was along the same wall as the bathroom and after testing the switch, which the light came on, I did a quick scan of the room. A fireplace sat against the back wall but there was no other furniture in the room. Thunder rumbled over my head as I went across the hall, gripping the doorknob. It's at times like this where your mind likes to play tricks on you, leading you down dark fantasy's that make you scared of your own shadow. My heart beat hard in my chest as I turned the doorknob slowly and then pushed the door open slower still. I breathed a sigh of relief but a strong crack of thunder made me jump. I let out a shaky laugh as I tested the light switch, the bulb came on but flickered out. And there's number three… I noted to myself. Shining my light around the room, I noticed that it too had a fireplace along with a table sitting in the middle of the room. My light ran over the wall and across the windows, reflecting on something red. At first I played it off as a pair of tail lights from someone's car going down the road, but these didn't move. My heart rate picked up again as I stared into those red orbs until they blinked. A cold chill ran down my spine, dropping my stomach like a ton of brinks. I stood, transfixed both by the red orbs but also by fear; my iPod shook in my hand, threatening to fall to the floor and wobbling the light against the wall and window. Suddenly the eyes moved upwards and out of sight and I bolted for the door, closing it tight behind me. I raced down the stairs, not even worried about tripping in the darkness until I was bent over with my hands on my knees trying to catch my breath.
"Hey kiddo? You doing ok?" Charles patted my back as my breathing and heart rate slowed down. "You look like you saw a ghost."
"I'm… fine. Tripped a little coming down the starts." I stood up. Charles raised an eyebrow but didn't press it. "Three light bulbs are done for up there, two still work."
"Figures. If the weather clears up, we can run to the store after the big stuff gets in. Oh, there is a bathroom on the other side of the kitchen." He gave me another pat on the back. I walked back into the living room, glad that mom was turned away, still fiddling with a fitted sheet on the air mattress. I rummaged through my stuff until I found a much worn tee shirt and a pair of sleep pants. Tucking my clothes under my arm I headed towards the downstairs bathroom, still trying to shake those eyes from my mind.
