Chapter 19
I saw the suspended tracks race up past my head as I fell down. Down I went, spinning out of control. I closed my eyes as I tumbled into the never ending vortex of darkness. I couldn't even tell which way was up anymore.
I felt an overwhelming rush of fatigue wash over me. What was this? My body felt as though it was becoming lighter. Emptier. I couldn't get in control of any of this. I would fall for the rest of eternity, I was sure of it.
Then it hit me.
If I could unlock a window by controlling my mind, then maybe it could somehow save me here. Wherever here was.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on the backs of my eyelids. It was hard to focus and relax with adrenaline pumping through me. But I had no choice. I had to try.
I looked down at myself while keeping my eyes closed. I could faintly see my energy body that I had seen before, but I wasn't focused enough to see it clearly and brightly like before. I had to keep working. If only I could stop falling…
Of course! If only I could stop falling!
I put all my concentration into stopping the sensation of falling that I was trapped in. I felt myself slow down a little, but then I lost it and sped back up. Once again, I concentrated on staying still. I felt myself slow down significantly more this time. I took advantage of this sudden change to quickly finish the job. I was suspended in the space, unmoving. I slowly opened my eyes and looked down.
I could see the train tracks I was on just a moment ago. They were leading down in a spiral, into the blackness beneath me. I mentally edged myself over from the middle of the spiral to the tracks and landed my feet on them. I looked up, and saw the train moving towards me. In the conductor's seat – Kagami.
This was it. She was advancing towards me. I only had one chance.
When the train was about twenty meters away, I jumped up. I was directly in front of the window when the train crashed into me. In that instant, I focused on seeing the glass break in my mind.
I came crashing through the shattered window. I landed directly on Kagami, knocking her out of her chair. I didn't know where this train was headed, but I didn't want to find out. I got up and reached for the emergency brakes. Kagami's hand shot forward and grabbed my wrist. She wasn't going down without a fight.
I grabbed her arm holding my wrist and pushed her over. She used the momentum to spin me to the ground in mid-fall. On top of me then, she tried to poke my eyes out, but I quickly moved my head left and then up; I first dodged her attack this way, and then I delivered a head butt while I was at it. Kagami was stunned, and I used this time to kick her off of me. I jumped to my feet and ran for the emergency brakes.
I felt my feet give out underneath me. I looked down as I fell, and saw that Kagami had knocked me over before I managed to get to the brakes. She was once again on top of me, and she had her hands around my neck.
She squeezed my neck with all her might, cutting off my breath as easily as if my windpipe was a bendy straw. I gave her an uppercut right below the chin, knocking her off of me. I got up once more, felt the sweet air around me rush into my lungs, and grabbed the brakes. I pulled the lever with all my might. The train began slowly but surely coming to a stop.
Kagami lifted her head. Suddenly, as the train continued to lose speed, I felt a wave of exhaustion hit me. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldn't. I began falling, falling to the floor, slipping into unconsciousness.
What is this…?
"Hey, Konata!"
I snapped my eyes open.
It was Kagami. I was back in the train before she had begun to unleash whatever power she had.
"Konata, we're here."
I still felt drowsy from where I had fallen asleep. At least, that's what it felt like. But when had I fallen asleep? On the way back? I looked around. There were a bunch of people on the train, just minding their own business.
"Let's go."
Kagami led me out of the train and onto the sturdy ground of the station. I had a bag from Gamer's in my hand. She had nothing. I looked up at the sunset. Kagami looked with me, too. It was a nice sunset, mixing the evening sky with hughes of pink and orange. Beautiful.
"I'll see you tomorrow then, Konata."
"Yeah. Later, Kagami."
I put one hand in one of my pockets and used the other to bid Kagami farewell. I couldn't believe it. Everything that had happened was nothing more than a dream. Kurokona, the dream blurs… My prayers had been answered. Kagami wasn't deceiving me. She would always be my best friend.
Everything was alright.
That's what I tried to look like I was thinking as I squeezed the pocket watch tight in my palm and waved goodbye.