A natural fighter, Jordan was the first to recover from the stalling of the train. Trading her cumbersome and sometimes awkward heels for a pair of slightly worn blue sneakers she ventured out of her small room and went against the current of people heading for the dining cars. The loudspeakers that the attendants were currently speaking from were turned down so low that amongst the crushing mass of people, no one could hear the instructions. A few mothers fretted over their sons and daughters racing between the legs of the travelers, but even they did not know of the danger that was passing over head. Jordan allowed her looks to let her pass through the throng of people unscathed, but she paused when a girl about her age ran into her bosom straight on. She was a fairly pretty girl herself, but quite plain in a sense of if you had met her you may never think twice. The new girl had jet black hair, and blue eyes that lit up when she looked at Jordan. Her child like lips broke into a friendly smile and her entire expression changed.
"Hi!" Jackie said, sticking out her hand. Bits of peanut butter still filled the creases of her fingernails, but it didn't seem to bother her at the moment. "I'm Jacy-Lynn. But most of my friends call me Jackie. What's your name?"
Jordan was astonished at first then quickly regained her composure. When you were in the fashion world, you needed to change your attitude quickly or you could lose your job. "I'm Jordan." She eyed the peanut butter under the other girls fingernails, but reached to shake her hand anyways. She could wash off the stickiness later. "Do you know where the conductor is? I must have a word with him about the odd stopping of the train today. I must get to Cape Gull as soon as possible, I have a photo shoot."
Jackie laughed, it wasn't the first complaint she had heard all day. But this Jordan girl was different, if she had a modeling gig then she definitely didn't care that much about it. After all, she just shook her peanut buttery hand and wiped the stickiness on her designer jeans!
The shadow flew across the train again, disappointed that he couldn't pick up it's delicious meal on the other side of the mountain. Over here there were too many trees, and rocks which prevented a safe landing. Also there were rock slides over here, which caused trouble for the rouge dragon.
Colin hid in the coal bin. Although he was deep in the tunnel, he could still see the shadow passing through bright section of the tunnel, where the train was still extended through. He shrugged, probably just a very large bird. As he sat in the coal bin he began to think, he was the only one up front, alone, with a dead conductor, the controls to a very large, top speed train and to make matters worse, that dreaded feeling began to slip back into his heart. He had to find someone to tell that the conductor was dead, and he had to find someone to start up the train again. It wasn't going to start by itself after all, when he pulled on the emergency brake he had snapped the pole right out of the floor of the train.
"Dad?" Colin froze, he wasn't expecting to come face to face with two pretty girls as he descended the other side of the coal bin. "Sorry, I'm not your dad, I'm just Colin."
Jackie sized up the new kid from head to foot. He was skinny enough to appear that he hadn't eaten in a few days, but the well worn shoes and mended clothes meant that he was trying his hardest to keep his life together. The black smudges across his face and hair evidently meant that he did spend some time in the coal bin, although how many times he had been in and out of this very one would be a mystery.
The dragon decided to take it's chances and eat the treat anyways. Better to have eaten it now then let it spoil for a few days. But where was the nice hot black things that he used in his nest? He beat his black wings and circled over the train again, taking in deep breathes to fuel his fiery breath. Perhaps he could smoke the moving snake out of the tunnel and closer to his lair. Yes, that would be nice, a meal closer to his lair. He flew in low over the red tail of the snake and released his weapon.
The train shuddered from the impact of the sudden breath of fire. Men, women and children screamed and ran from the dining hall, closer to the front of the train that was still in the tunnel. In their panic they did not hear the small scream of a body enclosed in the caboose, of a body that was slowly boiling in the small space. The second stream of un-holy fire leaped against the sides of the caboose and caused greater damage than the first one. Boxes, luggage and bits of repair for the lost train fueled the inescapable fire, rags forgotten in corners smoked then raged into small bonfires, giving a bridge to the destruction up the walls. As the caboose began to dissolve into nothingness a side of the caboose, twisted in the increased temperature fell, breaking the brass lock that held the captive in her place. Fueled by her hot quarters she shot from the melting glass that held her in the watery grave and with her last remaining strength escaped from the deadly blaze.
Next Time: Strategy
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