Author's note: This is the sequel to Twisted Tragedy. I realize the
ending to my last story was a bit confusing. So this chapter of the sequel
should clear things up. I hope you will like it. Please, please review!
************************************************************************
Chapter 1: Their Never Coming Back
************************************************************************ This is the story of strength. Of courage. Of love, in all its forms. This.this is our story.
************************************************************************
"Nooooooooo! Mommy! Daddy! Come back! Don't leave me! Please come back!"
John bolted awake at his twin's screams. He went to the edge of her bed; her screams had turned into incoherent mumbling. He noticed tears stains on her face as she writhed with nightmares. Suddenly, she sat up screaming. Through tear-blurred eyes she saw her brother sitting next to her. She threw her arms around him.
"Say it won't happen John. Tell me it won't. Promise me," she whispered vehemently, gulping back a sob.
"It won't. I promise, Nikki," he whispered back comfortingly.
************************************************************************
"When are they getting here, Grandma?" Nicole whined. She couldn't hold still. Her grandmother smiled at her indulgently, knowing that the girl was anxious to see her parents.
"My dear, do try to be patient. Why don't we go ask?" she said rising from her seat. Together they walked over to talk to the conductor. "Excuse me sir, but what is delaying the 523 train?" she asked.
He looked at her over the counter at her as if he was wasting his time by answering her question. He looked back at his schedule and said, as if her were conveying a secret she wasn't worthy of hearing, "The 523 train has been delayed due to unpredictable weather conditions. It should be arriving in about and hour." He turned back to his schedules, ignoring her completely.
Eleanor sniffed peevishly and turned to go back to her seat when the radio blared to life loudly. Stopped mid-step as she heard the broadcast.
"Breaking news. There has been a train wreck 10 klicks North of London. The train derailed suddenly, apparently due to the tracks being wet from a recent storm. The accident is still being cleared. Unfortunately, it was a passenger train. People are still being found in the rubble of twisted metal. The numbers of dead and wounded are unknown at this time. More updates on the situation in 15 minutes."
The station was at a stand still as there were only 20 or so people there at that late hour. Everyone, including the conductor were in shock. Eleanor came out of a daze and, gripped with a sudden panic asked, "What train? They didn't say what train it was. What train? Please, God, please don't let it be Christian and Satine. Please."
The conductor looked up at her sadly. "It was the 523. It was the only train left to come in from the north tonight. I'm sorry," he said collapsing back into his chair.
Eleanor slowly walked back to her seat. The twins gathered around her, lost and confused at their grandmother's behavior. They climbed into her lap and the three of them sat comforting each other for several minutes. After awhile of uncomfortable silence Nikki said, in the most heartbreaking voice, full of longing, "I miss Mommy and Daddy.
************************************************************************
Christian's mother approached the coroner reluctantly, hoping that she wouldn't find them here. She cleared her throat and asked, "Excuse me sir, but are you in charge here?"
He turned to her and somberly said, "Yes ma'am. I am. How can I help you?"
"My son and daughter in law were on this train. I wondered if you had.had found.any unidentified .bodies," she stammered, fighting to get the heart- wrenching words out.
The coroner looked at her with sadness and compassion. "Unfortunately, there are many still without names or ties. You are welcome to look. I hope you don't find them here. I should tell you. Some are in the local hospitals and some have not been found. So please don't give up hope," he replied, trying to smile encouragingly, yet knowing there wasn't much hope of her finding them alive.
She nodded acknowledgement of his warning. She walked into the building where they were keeping the bodies of the deceased. She asked an attendant for help, describing the couple. The attendant led her to the end of the row and pointed to the last two cots. She approached slowly. She gasped when she saw the face beneath the white sheet; for there lay Satine. Her pale skin even more pale and the once vibrant red hair dirty and matted. She was afraid to look under the sheet next to her knowing what she would find. She forced herself to look at her son. She broke out in fresh tears as she gazed upon the cold face. She reached out as if to touch him and pulled back. Her knees buckled as she collapsed in a faint, welcoming the earth's cold, hard embrace.
************************************************************************
Eleanor closed the door on the grey weather outside. She turned to face the house full of depressed silence. She searched the house not finding a single sole. As a last resort she checked the attic. To her surprise there were the children, including the baby, sitting amid Christian's old toys and books. John, always an advanced child, was reading a story to his two siblings. They looked up as she walked toward them. John gazed at her solemnly, while Nicole looked ready to burst into tears. Eleanor knelt down between and put an arm around each twin. They leaned into her and held each other bracing themselves for the coming sorrow.
After a few moments, Jonathan pulled back and looking his grandmother in the face and said, "Their never coming back are they?"
Tears ran a course down her face as she replied, "No, their never coming back."
Nikki broke out into the threaten tears and between sobs said, "I miss them." That said they all embraced each other and cried their mutual grief until the tears ran dry.
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
Chapter 1: Their Never Coming Back
************************************************************************ This is the story of strength. Of courage. Of love, in all its forms. This.this is our story.
************************************************************************
"Nooooooooo! Mommy! Daddy! Come back! Don't leave me! Please come back!"
John bolted awake at his twin's screams. He went to the edge of her bed; her screams had turned into incoherent mumbling. He noticed tears stains on her face as she writhed with nightmares. Suddenly, she sat up screaming. Through tear-blurred eyes she saw her brother sitting next to her. She threw her arms around him.
"Say it won't happen John. Tell me it won't. Promise me," she whispered vehemently, gulping back a sob.
"It won't. I promise, Nikki," he whispered back comfortingly.
************************************************************************
"When are they getting here, Grandma?" Nicole whined. She couldn't hold still. Her grandmother smiled at her indulgently, knowing that the girl was anxious to see her parents.
"My dear, do try to be patient. Why don't we go ask?" she said rising from her seat. Together they walked over to talk to the conductor. "Excuse me sir, but what is delaying the 523 train?" she asked.
He looked at her over the counter at her as if he was wasting his time by answering her question. He looked back at his schedule and said, as if her were conveying a secret she wasn't worthy of hearing, "The 523 train has been delayed due to unpredictable weather conditions. It should be arriving in about and hour." He turned back to his schedules, ignoring her completely.
Eleanor sniffed peevishly and turned to go back to her seat when the radio blared to life loudly. Stopped mid-step as she heard the broadcast.
"Breaking news. There has been a train wreck 10 klicks North of London. The train derailed suddenly, apparently due to the tracks being wet from a recent storm. The accident is still being cleared. Unfortunately, it was a passenger train. People are still being found in the rubble of twisted metal. The numbers of dead and wounded are unknown at this time. More updates on the situation in 15 minutes."
The station was at a stand still as there were only 20 or so people there at that late hour. Everyone, including the conductor were in shock. Eleanor came out of a daze and, gripped with a sudden panic asked, "What train? They didn't say what train it was. What train? Please, God, please don't let it be Christian and Satine. Please."
The conductor looked up at her sadly. "It was the 523. It was the only train left to come in from the north tonight. I'm sorry," he said collapsing back into his chair.
Eleanor slowly walked back to her seat. The twins gathered around her, lost and confused at their grandmother's behavior. They climbed into her lap and the three of them sat comforting each other for several minutes. After awhile of uncomfortable silence Nikki said, in the most heartbreaking voice, full of longing, "I miss Mommy and Daddy.
************************************************************************
Christian's mother approached the coroner reluctantly, hoping that she wouldn't find them here. She cleared her throat and asked, "Excuse me sir, but are you in charge here?"
He turned to her and somberly said, "Yes ma'am. I am. How can I help you?"
"My son and daughter in law were on this train. I wondered if you had.had found.any unidentified .bodies," she stammered, fighting to get the heart- wrenching words out.
The coroner looked at her with sadness and compassion. "Unfortunately, there are many still without names or ties. You are welcome to look. I hope you don't find them here. I should tell you. Some are in the local hospitals and some have not been found. So please don't give up hope," he replied, trying to smile encouragingly, yet knowing there wasn't much hope of her finding them alive.
She nodded acknowledgement of his warning. She walked into the building where they were keeping the bodies of the deceased. She asked an attendant for help, describing the couple. The attendant led her to the end of the row and pointed to the last two cots. She approached slowly. She gasped when she saw the face beneath the white sheet; for there lay Satine. Her pale skin even more pale and the once vibrant red hair dirty and matted. She was afraid to look under the sheet next to her knowing what she would find. She forced herself to look at her son. She broke out in fresh tears as she gazed upon the cold face. She reached out as if to touch him and pulled back. Her knees buckled as she collapsed in a faint, welcoming the earth's cold, hard embrace.
************************************************************************
Eleanor closed the door on the grey weather outside. She turned to face the house full of depressed silence. She searched the house not finding a single sole. As a last resort she checked the attic. To her surprise there were the children, including the baby, sitting amid Christian's old toys and books. John, always an advanced child, was reading a story to his two siblings. They looked up as she walked toward them. John gazed at her solemnly, while Nicole looked ready to burst into tears. Eleanor knelt down between and put an arm around each twin. They leaned into her and held each other bracing themselves for the coming sorrow.
After a few moments, Jonathan pulled back and looking his grandmother in the face and said, "Their never coming back are they?"
Tears ran a course down her face as she replied, "No, their never coming back."
Nikki broke out into the threaten tears and between sobs said, "I miss them." That said they all embraced each other and cried their mutual grief until the tears ran dry.
************************************************************************