Nothing Happened.
Artemis felt the car below him jerk. Then slowly, shift backwards. Finally, coming to an altogether halt. At first the train ahead of them stopped momentarily as well. At this he cursed. Had he brought them to share the same fate as himself? He pounded at the window, as if his violent thuds would somehow push the car to move.
He then saw Holly stumble back to the window and without looking up, she began to spasmodically bang at the glass of the door. He peered from his window and into hers. Hoping to catch a glimpse of her face. Holly whirled around and began pointing accusingly at Butler her petite, but muscular body violently shaking to match the threats she threw at his bodyguard. He knocked at through his door, loud enough for Holly to spin back around.
She peered through the darkness and met his eyes. She didn't say anything. But the anger she was fixed on releasing, but a moment ago, had only brightened to its extreme- then died down. Now they were glassy, and mournful. He touched his lips and pressed it against the window. Holly stared at his fingers against the glass for a moment, looking at the proffered kiss...then rolled her eyes and smiled. She pressed her thin fingers against her lips and pushed them hard on her glass. She was thrown forward, as the train began to move, and Artemis was thrusted back in accordance to his car's movements.
The air became thick and his breathing was labored. Already the radiation poisoning was setting in, and only quickened as he neared the poisonous air. The closer he was, the quicker his symptoms would worsen.
He felt his skin reddening and he struggled to his feet. "Where are you?!" he yelled in blinding darkness. The coughs came, and were almost reassuring. One sounded as though it came from the lower right hand corner, by the second handle, the other was far more distant.
He noticed a "hang" of the air above him, weighing him down enormously and pressuring his chest. He took a seat by him and let his head hang heavy.
He was not tired, nor did he will to sleep. But sleep overcame him. Forcing him to the ground. He maintained a good coughing fit for a minute or so, before he finally became weary. Soon, sleep was all he willed for. No longer fighting the urge... he shut his eyes.
Excerpt from the Herald Times of Haven City
8/20/09
A terrible accident occurred a few days ago on the Old Colony Railroad in one of the un-used locomotive alleys in a desperate attempt of escape, by which two passengers were instantly killed and the engineer and seventeen or more passengers were injured, some fatally. The train was the Vineyard express, due to the surface entrance of 45-EGH at 1:10 P. M.
The train was a MASTER VINEYARD, in which consisted of two parlor cars.
This
first car rode upon the engine and was so smashed and broken by the
shock that the scalding
steam
from the locomotive found an easy entrance. Many of the passengers
were held down by the seats and others by the wreckage, and were
unable
to escape.
The
engine set fire to the train. The passengers were for the most part
injured by escaping steam, many being frightfully
scalded.
The Haven City Fire Department was called to the scene as
quickly as possible and shortly afterward the fire
was extinguished.
The dead and injured were then taken out, the latter being taken into
private houses and to the Lady of Chalice's Hospital.
Some
of the passengers who had the presence of mind to act broke the
windows and escaped
with slight wounds.
Where the engine and the car came into collision; several women and
children steamed
to death,
while some were badly
mangled.
More than one being officers of the police force.
The Second Car, however, was not as lucky.
It is suggested that heroic efforts were made on the second car's part, but it has not yet been clarified, as to their have been no testimonies yet. Officer's investigating the accident will NOT ask for the accounts of passengers that seem in any way mentally affected by the incident.
However, witnesses of the Haven to Surface, Master Vinyard Train Wreck say that while the train's second car crashed through the escaping radiation and plummeted into the rail's cross-way, a female passenger of the first car managed to escape the first car and search among the wreckage. This is where the woman lays now. Searching about the wreckage for something possibly misplaced. In the state she seems to be in...no questions or account references will be asked.
When more information about the second car becomes available, it will be posted immediately.
News Update
Excerpt from The Herald Times of Haven City
8/21/09
All the surgeons in Lady of Chalices, were summoned to the spot and the lawns on each side of the railroad were covered with the passengers of Freight Car 2. Heroic efforts were indeed made by the passengers of this car, in attempt to lessen the weight needed in attempt to reach the terminal.
A reporter who was on the first car was interviewed and said the following:
"The engine of the car behind us jumped the track on the west side, plunging into the support rail directly behind us. Almost immediately I noticed some sort of- of- gas...seep out of the car, and new gas enter it. I couldn't notice much after because that's when my car starting having problems as well. I was really nervous- you know?"(Morion O. Quartz MOQ)
"I didn't wanna share the same fate as the guys behind me. I was in a passengers coach which collided with the gate entrance, but we made it out all right. Some hurt, like...one dead, but that was cause the stupid guy couldn't get his friggin' seat belt off. Fat ass."-MOQ
"No- two dead. That what I'm seein' with my eyes of course. Some inbreeds decided they'd jus- you know, die by their standards. Killed themselves a ways back. One was scalded by the escaping steam. Kid, I think. Shame. And then there was those who were man enough women included to break the windows and jump outta a movin' train. Genius right? Good thing I was smart enough stay put. Never found what happened to them. Don't care really. " (-MOQ)
"Do you know how many were in the car behind you, by any chance?" (-Reporter Agate J. Onyx)
-noted pause- "...Well...no. No, not personally. I did see a group of men leave my car and enter that one. But...their fault, man. Not mine. I mean- I would've upped and left just as quick as them if I knew they were tryin' to save everyone...I just didn't know what was going on. Probably better of that way, huh?"(-M.O.Q.)
The car was completely destroyed in the wreck.
There were no survivors.
