Chapter 47

Death in the Trio

In the end, Jeremy didn't even need to be taken in the ambulance that had arrived by a call, evidently from Richard. Both Chloe and Jeremy had been given towels, a pat on the back for Chloe for her good work, and telling both of them to stay out of danger. Only after the ambulance drove away did Lisa walk to the couple.

"How are you feeling?" Lisa asked to Jeremy.

"Cold." Jeremy replied honestly. As if to prove the statement, he sneezed. "Guess I was saved just in time."

"…I guess." Lisa glanced to Chloe, but couldn't sense anything other than the few weeks old baby. Chloe herself had one arm around Jeremy and her head nuzzled under his chin and shoulder, her eyes closed in relief. "So… guess the walkie-talkie idea worked."

Without opening her eyes, Chloe nodded.

Unable to think of anything else to say, and still surprised at the fact Jeremy was even alive, Lisa instead contacted Richard. "They're fine." She reported to the line.

{Both of them?}

"Yeah. Chloe got there just in time." Lisa replied, unable to take her eyes away from Chloe. No-one, other than her, Joshua, Miles and that Fisk fellow should be able to survive death like that. But Chloe had brought Jeremy back. There was no doubt about that, Chloe had brought him back!

{Lisa, are you okay? You sound shaky.}

"Fine. I'm fine, I guess the cold's just getting to me. I'll talk to you later." Tucking the walkie-talkie back into her jacket, Lisa couldn't help but wonder what that shiver was. Was it simply indicating that Jeremy would survive, or something different?

Something else suddenly hit Lisa, sending a slight wave of panic in her body. She never received a letter from Jason. What did that mean? Was he… no, that wouldn't be right. Lisa started walking, leaving Chloe and Jeremy to themselves, sitting on a bench. It could be he fought back and… what would have happened? Man, my mind can't take all these things at the moment. Can things even get much worse?

Her walkie-talkie suddenly hissed, another shiver hitting her spine. Picking it up, she found it was Richard again. Before she could even talk, Richard said quickly, {Bad news. Josie's trapped. I got her on another walkie-talkie here, and her foot is stuck in a subway line. Apparently the train's coming in five minutes, according to schedule. She is with Alexander and Jay.}

"What are you phoning me for? I'm nowhere near the subway lines, send someone closer." Lisa said sternly.

{That's the thing, you're the closest. Everyone else is further away than you.}

"What?" Lisa groaned. "Christ, how far away from me is she?"

{I'd say, if you run fast, five minutes.}

"That's no good!" Lisa all but snapped.

{I'm well aware. But you need to get to them, don't you?}

With a blatant curse, drawing the attention of Chloe and Jeremy, Lisa started sprinting again, wryly noticing that she hadn't run like this since trying to impress Isaac all that time ago.

Ten Minutes Earlier

"Y'know, I really cannot believe you've never been to New York." Josie said incredulously as she, Jay and Alex walked in a trio down the sidewalk.

Alex could only shrug. "I live down south, besides, I never had a reason to come here."

"Why didn't you tell us two weeks ago?" Josie just shook her head. "We could have gone on all kinds of tours and shopping trips."

Alex smiles at the enthusiastic female. "I was enjoying your company, if I'm to be embarrassingly honest." Alex rubbed the back of his brown hair. "I mean, I never really had friends."

"Well, now you do, and now we are going to take you around New York!" Josie said, crossing her arms.

"Shouldn't you ask him?" Jay asked with a faint smile. Lately, he had been finding himself enthralled with the many curls and curves of Josie's hair. It was a wonder how she even got it like that. Was it natural?

"Okay." Josie turned on her heel to face Alex. "Would you like to look around New York? Yes? Good." Josie put a finger on, Jay couldn't help noticing, a slightly plump lip. "Now… nothing interesting is around here. I know, let's take the subway! Then we can start somewhere interesting."

Walking away, Josie was murmuring to herself where the best places to visit would be for a newcomer. Jay half-shrugged to Alex, who repeated the gesture. Both men followed after the exuberant Josie.

XXX

The walk was long, and soon Josie was leading them down steps into the ground. As they descended, Jay couldn't help noticing the severe lack of people. Usually the subway was packed with hurried businessmen but only a few people hung around when they reached the main platform. A man in black loitered in one corner, smoking a cigarette. A woman with a phone glued to her ear chatted away without a care in the world for those around her, while another large man sat on a bench, newspaper in his hands. Jay noticed it was an old issue, from the 18th of January. Maybe he grabbed it from the floor for light reading.

Josie was looking at the schedule board. "Looks like we just missed one. Well, it's never long to wait for another. Give it five minutes or so."

The sudden strikes of a bass guitar and a drum drew Jay attention to a previously ignored band of three. They were chocolate skin with dread locks and multi-coloured hats. The leader, evidently, placed an old cap on the floor in front of him before cleaning his throat and started to sing with deep, accented tones.

'I come from the Land of the Shaman,

Where the innocent are taken to the pavement,

Won't somebody just tell them,

Won't somebody oh,

Won't somebody oh, oh oh-oh-oh, woh-oh, oh-oh-oh, ooh…

Won't you please look after my children,

All the words that are comin' from the mouths of the women,

From the northland down to the rio grande,

New England town to Oregon

Won't somebody oh, oh oh-oh-oh, who-oh, oh-oh-oh, ooh…

So we're callin' all the Crows,

They comin' in slow,

It's gonna be a showdown,

Said the rebel to the revol-lution-ary come with me,

And if you feel like you are witnessing a movement,

Then get up girl and let them know you're free

Jay felt something bad in his mind, but that was quickly thrust away when Josie pulled on his arm.

"Hey, Jay. He-ey!"

Jay's eyes turned to Josie. "Hm?" He noticed that she had something in her closed fist.

"I almost forgot about this, but I figured I'd get it for you." Josie opened her hand to reveal a small Obama bobble-head. "Maybe one day you'll meet the real thing, huh." Josie's smile was infectious and Jay couldn't help but echo the smile.

"Maybe one day."

"We can take Alex with us!" Josie turned to Alex, who merely shrugged. "You're practically living with us as roommates anyway, we'll go to Washington." Josie turned back to Jay quickly, the bobble-head rolling off her hand at the force. It bounced off the tiled platform before falling into the tracks. "Damn." Josie muttered, before jumping down to follow it.

"Hey! That's dangerous." Jay exclaimed as Josie landed softly on the tracks, her hair bouncing on her shoulders. She reached down and grabbed the bobble-head.

"It's fine." Josie smiled.

"Well, get up. I'm pretty sure one of those rails is electrified." Jay offered his hand which Josie grasped gratefully. Grunting, Jay leant back but was surprised at resistance. Josie wasn't that heavy, surely? "Come on, jump." Jay said, leaning back towards Josie.

Josie herself scratched her cheek, her cheeks going red. "Um… my foot… it's kind'a stuck…

"What?!" Jay's eyes widened. "You're kidding?" Jay looked to see that Josie's foot was indeed wedged under part of the rail. Jay quickly jumped down to get a closer look. "That's wedged tight. Hey, Alex, come help me."

Nodding, Alex jumped down as well. Nobody was paying attention to the trio, other than the man in black who touched his ear as if he had a scratch.

Alex spent a moment looking before frowning. "We can't even get the shoe off." Alex glanced to the tunnel and realised they were far to close. The train would start stopping, but it wouldn't have stopped slow enough to not harm Josie. A pulse of panic started in his head before a buzzing was heard.

"Oh, look, the walkie-talkie." Josie said, her smile not lost. In fact, she seemed in a pretty good mood. Bringing the walkie-talkie up, Josie answered. "Hello?"

{Hello Josie. You're with Alex and Jay, right?} Richard's voice growled down the receiver.

"Uh-huh."

{I just wanted to inform you three that Jeremy was just saved. So all three of you are next, since you all died at the same time in the vision.}

"Uh-huh."

{Nick also phoned in, saying that he swore he saw a reflection of a train in a window, but of course there isn't any trains close to him. So, stay away from the subway and trains, okay?}

"Uh-huh."

{Something's wrong. What is it?}

Josie giggled lightly. "It just that we're kind'a already in the subway."

{What?}

"My foot's stuck in the track. Alex and Jay are trying to get it free." Josie laughed lightly again, but could of swore she heard Richard groan down the line.

{One moment, I'm going to contact…} Richard paused as if looking at one of the many screens. {Lisa to come.}

"You better hurry." Jay said quickly into Josie's walkie-talkie. "The trains coming in five minutes or less. I'll be betting less."

{Damn.} Richard hissed between his teeth. {Stay on the line; I'm going to talk to Lisa.}

Richard could be heard moving in the background, but Josie's attention went back to the two men. "How's it going?"

"It's completely stuck. You lodged this one in good." Jay grunted, trying to pull the shoe off of Josie's foot.

"Well, why don't you an Alex go and get off the tracks?" Josie suggested. "I mean, we're all next. No point all of us dying."

"Bullshit." Jay hissed. "The day I leave you is the day I die."

"Probably not the best situation to say that in." Josie pointed out with a smile. "Well then, why don't you break my ankle?"

{That's a bad idea.] Richard cut in from the radio. {Your foot is stuck with the rail above your foot, right?}

Josie answered the affirmative.

{Then breaking the ankle will do no good, will it?}

"What do you suggest?" Josie asked, still in the best of moods.

{I don't mean to sound crass, but if you haven't got it out yet, you won't. Lisa is coming, so if Jay and Alex stay away from the tracks-}

"No!" Jay barked, his eyebrows narrowed. "I'm not leaving her."

{Don't be stupid, boy. Don't think yourself a hero. If you haven't got it free yet, it is far too late. It is far better for two of you to survive than all three of you dyi-}

"Shut up!" Jay shouted, surprisingly loud, causing Josie to jump in surprise. Jay rarely got angry, let alone shouted like. She was even more surprised when Jay grabbed the walkie-talkie from her hand and flung it as hard as he could at the nearest wall. The walkie-talkie bounced off and slid against the floor.

"Jay, don't panic." Josie said lowly.

"Don't panic?" Jay questioned as he and Alex continued to try and ease her foot out. "You're telling me not to panic? It's meant to be the other way around, damnit! But I'm not leaving you, Josie, I told you that. Just a bit more force."

"It's no use." Josie soothed. "As I said, and as Richard said, it is far better for only one of-"

"Don't speak like that!" Jay choked, looking up to Josie. Josie was surprised to see tears running down his face. He quickly looked down again. "Don't speak like that, Josie. You were never one to give up."

Josie was about to reply when she heard the familiar sound of a train, with the tracks rattling, actually squeezing her foot tighter. Seconds after she saw a figure land with a thump at the bottom of the steps to the platform, as if jumping down the last few steps. The figure stretched up and Josie caught eyes with Lisa.

Josie smiled at Lisa and pointed to the back of Alex and Jay's shirts silently, shaking her head. Both Alex and Jay were too preoccupied to notice. Lisa herself glanced to the tunnel before motioning to her own foot. Once again Josie shook her head again, and smiled grimly for a second time. Lisa visibly sighed before nodding.

"Hey, Jay, Alex."

"What?" Jay asked, looking back up again. Alex also looked up. Both was surprised when Josie put a hand on their chests and pushed them. Both stumbled back, before Lisa grabbed the collars of their shirts. With strength, Lisa grunted and pulled both men up and out of the tracks. She let go, allowing Jay to fall to his knees in surprise.

Josie looked to the left where the nose of the train was seen approaching. It would be slowing down, enough to not obliterate her. But not slow enough.

'I… I want to meet people in high power! There, I said it. Laugh, go on.'

'Why would I laugh? I think that's a lovely idea. I know, I'll help you! You always were far too nervous to do anything yourself. We can meet the president, the prime minister, maybe even the Queen of England!'

'Well, I didn't mean it like that, I mean, a mayor would be fine, y'know.'

'Oh come now, you can't go half-hearted. Let's start, shall we?'

Josie's eyes glazed over as she remembered that time when both were eighteen, one year ago. Her memories turned back to their first meeting, back when both were in the same class at fifteen.

'You're awfully silent aren't you?'

'I like to be alone.'

'Well you shouldn't be. Being alone is… well, lonely. You need someone by your side.'

'I'm fine.'

'No you're not. Y'know, you are quite cute. Let's be friends!'

A smile grew on Josie's face as she made out the detail of the train. The silver paint, the half-clean glass. She could even see the driver. Feeling everything other than herself was in slow motion, Josie turned to Jay. Her smile brightened up her features as she gazed into Jay's eyes. "Love you, Jay!" She said happily as the train smashed into her.

Only able to watch, Jay's eyes tracked Josie's body as it was flung like a ragdoll, skidding down the tracks. The train hissed to a stop but it was far too late.

Josie was spread-eagled on the tracks, her body broken and battered. Thankfully the majority of her face was covered by her hair, while a smile poked out from underneath. Her fleecy red hair grew damp as blood seeped from the back of her head. Anyone only had to look to see that she was dead.

Jay spent five seconds to register what had happen, another five to climb to his feet, and a further three for his emotions to well up inside him.

"Josie! Josie!" Jay stepped forward but was grabbed in the upper forearm by Lisa. His attention diverted towards Lisa, Jay flung a hand towards the woman.

Expecting the blow, Lisa raised her arm to block it.

"You bitch! Why did you do that, why did you save me, why did you save me!" Jay cried, his hoarse voice echoing around the platform. "I should've been there with her, I should've been there!"

Lisa knew not to say anything. Jay had to let his emotions on someone.

"She… I… I should be there… I should have… I…" Jay was so distraught he wasn't even wiping the tears away from his face. He tried to head for Josie's broken body again, but Lisa still had a tight grasp. "Get off me! Get off me, get off me, get off me!" Jay cried, trying to bat Lisa away. However, another arm blocked his blows. Before Jay knew it, Alex pulled him into his chest. Putting one long arm on Jay's back, Alex started to walk away from the scene.

"C'mon Jay, let's go. There's nothing we can do, you need fresh air. Come on." Jay tried weakly to pull away, but all his strength had left him. He surrendered and allowed Alex to lead him away. "Stay strong, Jay, stay strong…"

A/N:- Thanks to Bookreader2010 and Gabe's-Girl-Forever for the reviews!

So, Josie is gone from the list. I felt it was time for a shock, and what's more shocking that just after Jeremy survived his incident? Hm? Things get tense soon…

'Till tomorrow!