Disclaimer: I do not own Black Cat or any of it's characters
Chapter 3: His Friend Rinslet
Train drove for about three more hours. Then he turned of the interstate into an urban community. If he remembered correctly Rinslet's house was near here. He looked at each house in turn. Some were big, some were small. He drove around for an hour before he found the house he was looking for.
The house in question was quite large. Rinslet had made a lot of money by being a thief and this house proved just how much. It was the biggest house in the whole town. It was four stories high. It sat on a small amount of land, but Train knew that somewhere south to the city Rinslet had a good many acres of land.
Huge purple shutters covered the windows. These shutters blew in the wind. They would hit the house and make a dull clomping sound. These shutters did very well covering the windows.
The windows were huge. They were stained-glass windows. Rinslet had liked the idea of stained-glass windows in her house. She said they made the house mysterious looking. Train did not if they made the house mysterious, if anything they made it look creepy.
The door was quite large. It had inviting feel about it. It was this door that was an entry way into the house. It was colored the colors of the rainbow. Rinslet said it was to show her diverse personality. To Train It held a different purpose.
Train was fascinated by this door. To him it was the gatekeeper or guard of the house. For years it had protected the house from unwanted intruders. It locked at times in order to keep anyone from getting in. It protected the owner. And yet though it did seem like a good gatekeeper, man was able to turn the knob and open it. For even though the door was great, man was greater.
The land along the path, even though it wasn't a lot, was covered in a variety of things. Trees, magnificent and tall, stood as timeless guardians. For countless centuries they had stood through everything. Anything the world could throw at them they had stood through rain, snow, sleet, hail. They had somehow survived when their siblings had been cut down. They had stood through long winds, winds that were strong. They had stood through the strongest of all forces on Earth, time.
Flowers grew at the base of the trees. These flowers swayed along with the branches of the trees to the rhythm of the wind. The wind carried the potent aroma of the flowers all around the house. This aroma smelt good. No smell man ever created smelt so good and Train was glad that he had the chance to smell something so wonderful.
These were Train's thoughts as he turned the car off and strode up to the front door to ask permission to be admitted into the magnificent house. He ran his hand along the beautiful oak door. He rapped on the door with his knuckles. It created a hollow sound that echoed through the house.
"I'm coming," shouted Rinslet's voice from within. It was a musical voice and it soothed Train's uneasy heart, just for a moment.
The door opened to reveal a beautiful woman in her twenties. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders to the middle of her back. Her eyes scanned the visitor in front of her. "Train, I didn't expect to see you here." Her heart secretly fluttered with joy.
They embraced. "Now, why don't you come inside."
Train followed Rinslet into a large living room. She gestured towards a long sofa. Train sat down and looked at his surroundings.
The living room had a sense of comfort about it. The walls were painted red. The sofa, which was white, fit right in. Like the door and everything else in Rinslet's house there was an inviting feel to the living room.
"Now," she said, "Train what is it that brings you here?" she asked.
Train hesitated then said, "Do you mind keeping a secret. I don't want to Sven and Eve to know I'm here," he paused until he saw Rinslet nod her head in agreement.
"I don't know how to begin. I guess I will just say it. Rinslet, I need your help," he said.
Rinslet was confused. Why did she did to keep this a secret. She nodded her head in agreement anyway.
"I have become very uneasy lately. I have…. I am, wondering if Saya really died. You see lately every time I fall asleep I hear her saying, 'It's okay Train….. Okay to forget about me and move on.' Normally, this wouldn't affect me, but two days ago I witnessed an odd sight.
"I was in the weapons shop. I got a creepy feeling about the shop owner. Then these people walked in, a trio. They were carrying guns. I couldn't see their faces but I could tell that there were two men and a woman. I hid behind a cabinet to hear what they were saying.
"One of the men, a tall one, told this other man Jim to go back into the back room. He told the man to get the case from the shop owner…. and if the man did not cooperate… kill him. I grew worried but then he said, 'me and Saya will stay here.
"I was shocked, but I was sure that he didn't mean Saya. She is dead right? Well, the man gave them a case. Then they left saying they would be back tomorrow. I decided I would come back and investigate.
"The next day they came back. I couldn't see the woman's face. She was wearing a veiled hat. The tall man once again examined the contents of the case to make sure it was all there. Wait, I forgot to tell you he examined them a first time. Well, he did it again. He was satisfied with the contents.
"The little man had been carrying a package in his hands the whole time. The big man gestured for him to unwrap it. In the package there was a knife. The big man took it and killed the shop owner, he said the guy knew to much.
"They left. When I left, I saw this piece of paper that had fallen out of the case. It had Saya's name on it in big letters. So, now I'm wondering if she is really dead."
Rinslet was confused. "Why didn't you call the cops or tell Sven?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. They said that Sephiria would punish them if they failed. I am guessing that they were a part of Chronos. If they were, then the law can't do anything. I didn't tell Sven because I didn't feel as though it were any of his business."
"So you felt that it was my business?"
"Well, I felt like I could trust you with it. I know you can help me." He gave her a warm smile.
"So what do you need me to do?" she asked returning the smile.
"Well, I was wondering if you could do some tests on the paper I found. Maybe see where it is coming from. Then we can find out where the company has been shipping a lot of their paper to. That should let us find their base. Then I can do some investigating before they get back or meet them there."
"That can be arranged Train. It is getting late, however, and I need some rest. We can start in the morning." she reached over and patted Train's shoulder affectionately.
Train nodded. "Where will I sleep?" he asked.
"You can sleep in the spare room. It is the one across from mine. " Train followed her upstairs.
The spare room was spacious. There was a king-size bed in the center. Plump pillows covered the top of it. The walls were painted purple. There was a computer desk with a computer on it.
What really caught his eye though was the bed. He was tired after driving all day. He pulled off his jacket and his shirt. He took off his pants and got into bed in his boxers. It felt good to lay down in a bed. Sleep soon came over him.
The sun was bright in the sky. Saya laughed as she splashed around in the ocean. Her and Train were there. No one else. Train didn't know why.
"Come on, Train. You'll have fun." Train stood and joined Saya in the water. The salt stung his wounds. He endured the pain for love, for Saya.
She splashed him with a handful of water. It hit him in the face. He started to laugh. They soon had a splash fight.
"Train, will you swim me on your back?" Saya asked.
"Sure where to?"
"Right over there." she said pointing to a small bank of land. Train let her get on his back.
He began to swim, his powerful muscles moving in a pattern. The water became progressively deeper. Saya beamed with happiness.
"Train this is so much fun!" Train smiled too. They did not have much farther to go to the bank.
"AAHHH!" screamed Saya. She slid off Train's back.
"Saya!" Train cried reaching his hand over to her. "SAYA!!" It was too late though. She was too far out and the current was growing faster. Amazingly, Train was not pulled in.
"Train! I want you to know something!" she cried. Water got in her mouth and she spit it out. The water began to roar.
"It's okay Train….. Okay to forgot me and move on!" she cried over the noise of the water. Then she was gone.
Train woke up to the sound of Rinslet's voice. "Train are you alright?"
Train looked around him. The whole bed was covered in sweat. He was hot. He had no covers on himself.
"I'm fine. What happened?" he replied.
"You were screaming. I figured you were having a nightmare. Then I began to hear stuff break. I came in hear to check on you."
"Train looked around the room. A vase that had lain on the nightstand by his bed was now laying on the floor shattered. A mirror lay broken from where the vase had hit it.
"Rinslet.. I am sorry. I will pay for it."
"No, no it's no problem. I'll pay for it."
"What time is it?"
"About two thirty in the morning." Train sighed. He couldn't sleep now.
"Can I have some coffee or something? I'm not going to get any sleep now."
"Sure, c'mon down stairs and I'll make you some." She smiled.
"Okay, let me get my clothes on." He stood and grabbed his pants. Rinslet could never tell him, but she was secretly disappointed. She thought he was sexy.
Train put on his pants and joined Rinslet down stairs. He could smell the coffee that was brewing.
"Train, I'm sorry. I can't imagine what you are going through right now. I will help, with whatever I can. If something is bothering you, tell me."
"Thank-you Rins, it means a lot." He smiled once again. Train sat on the couch. He turned the T.V. on. There he sat and watched the television until Rinslet announced that the coffee was done.
"What do you want me to put in there? Cream or sugar? Oh, but maybe you like it black."
"I'll fix it and save you the trouble." he replied. They sat in drank their coffee in relative silence.
"Rinslet, what was I screaming?" asked Train breaking the silence.
"Its okay Train…. Okay to forget about me and move on. What do you mean by that? I know you said you hear it every time you sleep, but that does not tell me what you mean."
"Those were Saya's last words. They are beginning to haunt me. I can never get any sleep if I continue to dream of her. That is why I have to find out if she is alive." Train said these words then they went into another long silence.
In the silence Train noticed how still and quiet everything could be. He was used to loud sounds. However, the silence was peaceful and it brought tension in the air.
"You must have really loved her, huh." said Rinslet. This time she had broken the silence. Train wasn't expecting her to say such a thing. But it was true, he did love her.
"Yes, I guess I did," he replied, "I loved her more than you can ever imagine. I still do. I guess that is why this is bothering me so much. Can you imagine what it feels like to love someone that you can never have?"
Rinslet did know. She knew to well. Train was who she loved. She knew that she could never compare to Saya though. She had been Train's everything. In answer she only bobbed her head no.
"Well, Train, should we begin work now or do you think that you can sleep?" she asked.
"I think I can give sleep a try." They both went back upstairs. Train fell back into sleep at once..
He dreamed once again of Saya, but this time he did not scream. He had fevered dreams until he awoke in the morning. This was the day that he and Rinslet would start their work.