He was running. That was not unusual on the morning commute. Often she had seen frantic suited men and women running around the station moving between platforms or subway cars. He was not wearing a suit. He did not have slicked back corporate hair. He looked…
"Wild."
She spoke the word aloud unconsciously. No one around her heard it, Catherine herself did not hear it.
On he ran. He moved so gracefully, effortlessly avoiding the obstacles of the busy station; the business man and his briefcase, the mother and her pram, the two eager lovers wishing each other a good day. He elegantly avoided them all. He was moving so fast, so fast the Catherine wondered if these people were even aware that he had passed them so skilfully.
"Why are you running?"
The sentence spoken to no one- although this time she was aware of the words, felt herself blush and was instantly annoyed.
"You can talk to yourself if you want." She forced the words to come this time and at once felt foolish for having done so. She wished she were more confident.
Black coats came into view; 3 of them. They were leather and flowing as they too were running. No, not running but…
"Chasing."
Now she was moving too, moving to try and catch a glimpse of these assailants who were chasing her wild one. They too were moving at speed- incredible speed, unbelievable speed. They were like something out of a dream…or a nightmare.
Catherine began to push her way through the crowded station. She had to see- she had to know what was happening. The feeling was immediate and intense and her brain had no chance to compute what was happening before her feet began to move. This was most out of character for her as she was not the impulsive sort. But now here she was, shoving a fellow commuter out of the way so she could chase shadows, because that's what they were now- nothing but shadows. Occasionally she though she saw a flick of his long hair moving up ahead of her but she knew now that she must be imagining it- and yet still she runs. Catherine becomes more erratic, more aggressive as she bursts thorough the undulating crowd bearing the cross words and angry faces as she forces her way onwards. She runs until there are no more crowds and no more platform to run on. She runs until all she is faced with is a solid white tiled wall with no doors or corridors.
She stops, panting like a dog, and realises that she is crying. Tears are rolling down her cheeks unbidden as the reality hits home. There is no one there. No one there. There was nowhere else they could have run to but here and there is no one here but her. No one. She stands in the stillness of the space and hears nothing but her own shaky breathing. She is alone.
"It was all in my head." Her hands come to her face and press her eyes harshly. "All in my head, again."
She turns now and walks away swiftly.
From beneath her feet two blue eyes watch her go.