Hey, everyone! Okay, as I said before, this is the last chapter. I just want to mention explain something quickly that features in this chapter- in the Monster World, I have made it so that their equivalent of a train works by a magnetic force, (presuming that they have actually found out about the magnetic poles) and is kept on the track by this force. I know that sounds completely random, but it does relate to this chapter at some point.

Chapter 8- Trains

He kept going over those words, those sharp, powerful words that she had thrown at him that fateful night all but a month ago.

Well, I'll tell you what the matter is, Dad- YOU CAN'T MAKE AN EFFORT TO SPEND TIME WITH ME- THE ONLY FAMILY YOU HAVE LEFT!

It all kept coming back- little snippets of the argument that had raged between the two of them, the look on her face as she let out all the anger she had been holding within.

It's no wonder YOU haven't got any friends, SINCE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO TREAT YOUR OWN FAMILY PROPERLY! NO WONDER THE PEOPLE AT WORK CALL YOU A FREAK!

The last words she had uttered were the worst, though. They were cruel and based on a hatred Randall had never experienced before, as though he was to blame for all of her misfortune, and the fact that he remembered it all so vividly made matters worse.

You're not a freak in the way they think it though, no. Instead, you're a freak in the sense that you live in your own little stupid world, and when it comes to OTHER people, YOU DON'T GIVE A DAMN!

And this evening was to be a complete replay of the events that had changed his life in one way, causing other ongoing tasks to be transformed in another.

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It had been half an hour since they had last spoke. Randall had spent the majority of it thinking, and, if he was to be true to those thoughts, feeling deeply ashamed.

Fliss had been right- he had been neglecting her, though he found himself unable to change the situation. Many times before she had said that she wanted to see more of Randall, to socialise more- he was the only family she knew of, after all- but even after an explosive argument, nothing ever changed. Eventually, she had given up all hope of getting any closer to her father.

But this evening...this evening hadn't just been a common argument. It had, instead, been a statement of the pure facts, and an opportunity for Fliss to tell Randall what she really thought of him, and what their relationship had become based on- broken promises.

Apologies had been reluctantly accepted in the past, but this time Randall wasn't sure as of what to do. He could try and patch things over with Fliss, but something told him that she wasn't feeling too forgiving at the moment. Nevertheless, he would try- at least she wouldn't be able to hold his lack of effort in these situations against him in the future.

The door of Fliss's bedroom was, of course, firmly shut, but Randall hadn't expected such difficulty to get it open. It can't have been locked- the only doors in the apartment which even had locks on them, other than the front door, was the bathroom and Randall's bedroom. In the end, Randall took a few steps back, bracing himself, and rushed forwards powerfully, slamming his arm and side against the door.

It moved open a few inches- enough for Randall to have a look about inside and find the cause of the problems. It had been Fliss's heavy wooden toy chest, shoved up against the door, and behind it, her bed had been moved to hold it in place, giving it more support.

"Fliss, what the heck have you been doin' in here?" One of Randall's emerald eyes searched about the room, but there were no lights on, leaving everything hidden in shadows. The curtains fluttered amongst a cool breeze, and as they parted momentarily, the moon's milky whiteness would spread over Fliss's bedcovers. There was not a lump under them, though. "Open the door, Fliss!" Randall waited for a reply, but there was none. "Felicity! Stop this, NOW," he called out sternly. "This is..." he began, sighing. "This is getting silly now. Just open the door." Nothing. Not even the pitter-patter of four-toed feet against the wooden floor. "Fine then," Randall growled to himself.

He stepped back once again, pushing against the door until the gap was wide enough for him to get through. Clinging onto the wall so he could get over the large toy box, Randall slipped into the room and dropped down, landing onto the bed and making the metal coils beneath him creak and groan ominously. He rose up, pulling the bed-covers back with him just to double check whether or not Fliss was hiding under there, but to no avail- all he found was a curled up Jud Green hiding in the warm.

In his bed, Randall shivered and rolled over. He didn't like this part.

Randall then crawled off the bed slowly, his eyes peering about in the shadows, and reached over to switch a lamp on. The warm, orange light filled the room instantly, but the tense atmosphere remained. Watching from above, the toys seemed to know something that Randall didn't as he searched the room over and over again, but as he glared up at them, they hid away, looking innocent and trying to prove that they really were just toys.

As the fifth look around came and went, Randall really didn't leave any stone unturned. He looked in ridiculous places, taking all the books of the large bookcase that covered one whole wall, then eventually pulling this back down with a thundering crash, as though doing so would block out the little voice in his head telling him that Fliss was gone, that she had run away.

He knew he could track her down, but just the fact that she had run away was so...shocking...No. No, it wasn't shocking. Randall should've expected it sooner, and he knew it.

The open window beckoned, and standing in the middle of this once beautiful room biting a finger wasn't going to help find Fliss. Randall needed to get a move on, before she got too far ahead.

Not believing that he actually had to do this, he revealed a forked tongue and smelt the air, counting to ten to calm his nerves. If the air could've talked, it would've screamed in agony, knowing that it was the one with all the clues as to the whereabouts of someone who just didn't want to be found.

And then Randall climbed out of the window, ready to begin the chase.

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It only took him a good twenty minutes or so and a bit of a trek across town (stopping, every now and then, to check that he was headed in the right direction) to spot her.

She had sat down in a bus shelter, huddled up in the corner, staring at the fluorescent green graffiti to her side. Before leaving Randall's apartment, she had packed carefully and sensibly, and had only brought things which could be of a real use to her, rather than giving in to her sentimental side and bringing Juddy along for the ride.

And now, she waited. She waited for the bus that would take her...well, anywhere. As long as it was away from there, away from Randall, away from her old, disgusting, pathetic, useless life.

When he had spotted her, Randall's emotions really had become too much. He had kept them safely locked up inside upon the realisation that Fliss had run away, but now he had found her, everything was going to be alright! He'd be able to take her home, to comfort her, to be a real father, as he had promised time and time again. But this time, he was going to do it. He couldn't break another promise. He just couldn't. He might've had his last chance, but surely he deserved another?

Approaching the bus-shelter without having turned invisible was the biggest mistake of Randall's life. Seeing her father running towards her, eyes wide and shining in the dim glow of the streetlights, was the one thing she had hoped wouldn't happen, and Fliss knew that if she didn't get away know, he'd never let her go.

She grabbed her bag with shaking hands, and fled.

Randall, nearing the bus-shelter, saw Fliss suddenly jump to her feet and sling her bag over her shoulders, and felt like taking a knife to his wrist for even thinking about getting his hopes up. But he did have one thing on his side- pure agility. He flopped down on all eights, embracing the cold tarmac, and went into hyper-drive.

Fliss also had something on her side, something she was prepared to use; her understanding and knowledge of her father. She knew he would speed up upon understanding that she was running away again, because she knew how desperate he was. Fliss was, after all, all Randall had left, and though the same applied reversed, she found that she just couldn't love him like she used to. Sadly, she had found that she needed...someone else.

It didn't take Randall long to catch up, but Fliss had had an idea. Speeding up a wire-fence, she leaped over the barbed-wire, using her light weight figure to her advantage, and knowing that, though Randall had his own moves, he would struggle. The purple lizard-monster snatched at her tail as she jumped over, shouting her name frantically before trying to follow suite.

But, as Fliss had expected, (and, frankly, hoped for) Randall had great problems with getting over the barbed wire. His body was just too heavy and long to be able to just leap over it, but bearing a few scratches wasn't something that Randall was going to worry about. How long he was taking, on the other hand, stressed him out, and after some quick consideration, he took the barbed wire in two hands and feet, and hauled his structure over it. The sting of the sharpened tips of metal weren't a problem- the adrenaline rushing through his veins blocked out most pain and emotions, thankfully, and focused him on his target- Fliss.

Unfortunately, she had vanished out of sight, and as Randall stalked around a large building, trying to find its entrance, a sign loomed into view, lit up by a flickering, bare bulb directed over it.

NORTH MONSTROPOLIS COUNCIL TRAINSTATION

Fliss was still nowhere to be seen, and Randall doubted that she had gone into the train station- the place was alarmed and, what's more, the twelve-year old knew it.

But his tongue said otherwise, leading him right up to the entrance. Suddenly, in his mind's eye, Randall could see Fliss coming over here...trying the door, but deciding it was too risky...she had then turned to the wall next to her...and had climbed up...and up...

And Randall went after her. There was still a chance. ALWAYS a chance.

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The view was spectacular from up top. Fliss could practically see the whole of Monstropolis, just a mass of dark, punctuated by the dozens of streetlights dotted about the roads. Almost in a day-dream, she wandered forward to the railings, clutching them with her cold, stiff hands.

Randall wasn't going to be so stupid this time. He tried to intertwine common sense into his thinking, and shifting into the background to catch Fliss seemed the most sensible thing to do. As he stepped slowly forward, his arms outstretched and his feet leaving blood footprints, ready to embrace her, ready to do something that he had waited for such a long time, he took a steadying breath, holding in his excitement.

She can't get away now...

The sweaty hand upon her shoulder gave Fliss a horrible shock, and she swept round, fear showing in her eyes, before fighting against the grip. Randall's grasp was tight, but his fatigue was becoming evident, and a square punch in the jaw from a terrified Fliss gave her enough time to get away.

Staggering backwards, suddenly visible, Randall dived forward but only grasped air. Fliss had jumped over the railings.

"NO!" Randall ran to the bars and looked over before jumping up himself, and crawled down three stories of wall before reaching the safe but deadly ground. "FLISS!" he called out after not being able to find her body. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?! WHY?!" Panting, Randall calmed himself down and checked out where she had headed.

At least she isn't dead, a voice said comfortingly in his mind.

"Why," Randall began angrily, "am I even THINKING THAT?!"

I shouldn't even HAVE to say, 'at least she isn't dead', it continued. I should just be able to love her...like a real father.

"Oh, just get on with it," he said to himself.

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Felicity stood on the edge.

It didn't look very nice down there, in the dark, but if she went down there and waited, it would all end. She'd be dead, and it would all be...over.

The train would be coming soon- she remembered the times from when she and Randall had gone on a day trip to some museum in the neighbouring city of Screamsville. It was the last train, always empty, and it didn't stop here, in Monstropolis. It just carried on to somewhere else.

Still, Felicity stood on the edge.

The platform was dirty, covered in litter that danced around like leaves in the wind, and little blobs of pink and white chewing gum, some still sticky.

And it still didn't look very nice down there, in the dark.

But Fliss found that, in this moment of time, being sandwiched between metal was very tempting. Too tempting.

Just one step, a minute's wait, and it'd be over.

She'd be in heaven.

"Don't you dare, Fliss. Don't – you – dare." Fliss closed her eyes, refusing to turn around.

"This is nothing to do with you, Dad. I'd really appreciate it if you'd just leave." Upon hearing a slight pat, she held up a finger warningly. "And don't come any closer." But she didn't expect to hear her father chuckling.

"And you think this is the right way, huh Fliss? You think this'll end it all?" He shook his head. "You're wrong. You'll just be wasting a life, your life. You don't wanna do that, do ya? You don't wanna just...end it all. I can tell."

"Yeah, right-"

"You're my DAUGHTER Fliss! Well, at least, according to me. I KNOW you! I know your personality, your quirks and habits, everything about you!"

"So why didn't you ever act as though you cared? Why did you just leave me?" Fliss turned around, and Randall could see that she was crying. "Why didn't you love me any more?"

"Oh, Fliss," Randall said, his own emotions getting the better of him. "I never stopped loving you, never." He took a step forward, holding out his arms as though he was hugging someone, the blood on his hands dripping down onto the ground. "I've never been able to really, y'know, show my feelings-"

"But you HAVE!" wailed Fliss, the tears pouring. "You have...I remember...when I was really young and you'd hug me and talk to me and BE there for me! B-but then," she swallowed, "one day, you just...weren't there anymore...I remember the first time you came home late and I cried and cried and cried, and no matter what Fungus did, he couldn't stop me. He, he got all my toys out from my room and played with me- well, tried- and he..." Breaking down into sobs, Fliss hugged herself, then willed herself to carry on. "...he tried so hard, it was sort of funny," she carried on, her voice nasal. "But all I wanted was you...and I wouldn't do anything else but cry until you came home." Randall nodded slightly.

"I remember that..."

"It took me ages to get used to it...to you not being there..."

"Fliss..."

"And in the end, I stopped loving you.

"No, no, Fliss!"

"I stopped you, you didn't care...so why should I have?"

"Fliss, j-just promise me you won't do it...you won't...go down there..."

The train was coming ever nearer, and it's bright head light was casting long shadows on the platform.

"Dad..." Randall took another careful step forward, his hands trembling terribly, tears trickling slowly down his cheek. He smiled as Fliss edged forward a little.

"My darling little Fliss..." Randall breathed.

"No...no, Dad. I can't let you do this...I can't let you manipulate me..."

"Fliss-"

"NO, DAD! NO!"

"When you were y-young, Fliss-"

"NO! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!"

Randall turned over again, still restless in his sleep. Why couldn't he just wake up now?

It was over in a second- Fliss had slipped, tumbling down into the darkness of the rail track. She screamed as she did so, her body disappearing in a second. Randall had hastily run forward and, seeing a heap in the darkness, jumped down.

"DAD!" He leaned over her, taking her arm, and tugged hard. "Dad, I-I'm stuck..." Fliss's whole body was shaking in fright, but Randall tried to concentrate. Why was she stuck? What was wrong? "M-my necklace..."

Fliss had been right- her precious necklace had been attracted to the magnetic force of the rail-tracks that would keep the train down, and it wasn't coming loose. Randall's first thought was to open the clasp, but then it dawned on him.

The clasp had rusted.

Fliss had asked him to fix it.

And he had said no.

The train was here. They had...oh, three, four seconds?

Wake up, you idiot!

The struggle lasted for nearly as long, but the chain wouldn't break. If Randall had had the energy to snap the metal, he would've.

Wake up!

But he didn't.

Come on, you can't go through this again!

The train had come.

WAKE UP!

He felt a hand roughly grab him by the shoulder, pulling him back, pushing his structure against the side of the rail-track. Fliss's hand slipped out of his, her face contorted with fear.

WAAAAKE UUUP!

And the train had gone.

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And Randall had gone home, and had washed the blood off his face and hands and feet, and had gone into Fliss's room to tidy everything up so it could be just as it was, absolutely the same, everything in its place.

There was only one thing missing.

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Randall opened his eyes. Why did he have to remember that?

Every other night, always remembering...

He sat up and held his head in his hands, taking a deep breath and biting his tongue, holding back the tears. He'd cried enough yesterday, and had completely blown it with the only two friends he had ever really had...

If only they knew what had been really wrong, the main reason for Randall's unusual behaviour...

No. No, they could never know. Fliss had put everything into perspective for Randall, and he needed to focus his life now. He had the success of the machine to rely on, and he could do it- he could be victorious, and overcome any obstacles.

Rolling out of bed, the withdrawn lizard-monster swallowed, clearing his mind, and walked out of his bedroom, into the last real day of his life for many a year.

Because on that day, he would be talking to Waternoose about the machine's progress. He would be leaving a door out in the evening to collect the first test child, and he would be having a sleepless night.

And tomorrow, he would try and kill someone.

And tomorrow, he would be fighting for his own life.

And tomorrow, he would be banished.

But that was tomorrow. He still had to deal with today first.

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Well, that's it, sadly. My next story will be up soon and...Oh, I know this chapter is horrible and mean, but I had to do it at some point. Ah well...Anywho, thanks for the reviews and have a nice day!