Shattered

When I woke up, the sun was just rising over the east and casted shadows over the desert earth. Yesterday, I had talked to Jack and Alex for a little while about my old life in Denver before going to bed.

I peeked at the clock next to my bed. Little green digits flashed the number seven thirteen. It would take me another hour and a half to two hours to catch the train. I couldn’t be late!

Moving swiftly, I gathered all my stuff, shoving my beanie and clean shirt at the bottom with my used socks. After that, I put in the first aid kit, crackers, water bottle, extra food, four extra dollars, and lastly the notes that Chris and Austin had given me. The pills still sat next to the paper slips. I took two, just in case I felt any soreness after the surgery. Most of the pain was gone, but I had to be careful.

After momentary hesitation, I decided not to raid Jack and Alex’s pantry. They had been so kind and I couldn’t take advantage of them. Slipping on my black converse, I zipped up my light jacket and softly bounced downstairs. My fingers clutched the pack tightly to my back as I reached the bottom of the steps.

Taking soft step after step, I slowly crouched my way to the door. About five feet away, a board squeaked. I held my breath and counted to ten. Nothing. As I raised my foot, I hesitated.

“Going, somewhere?” Jack asked. I turned around to see the boys both standing with their arms folded. Relaxing, I slumped over in defeat.

“Yes.” I responded softly. Alex raised an eyebrow. The clock on the wall read seven fifteen. I was wasting precious time. The key in my pocket that Quinn gave me urged my feet to move.

“And where would that be?” Jack asked curiously. Both boys were wearing pajama bottoms and a light shirt. If I had to, I could book it outside. The two didn’t look like the running sort, so I didn’t worry about it too much.

“To the train, in Price. It’ll take me directly to Denver.” I announced firmly. Jack stepped forward, his arms still crossed. Alex followed in his wake. Both had tired rings around their eyes, like they hadn’t slept much last Thursday night.

“Kyn, I hope you know that if you leave, I have to call Austin. I can’t let you go out and know that if anything happened to you, I didn’t call him.” Alex warned me cautiously. I nodded, knowing that at least I had a head start.

“I know. I’m sorry I put you guys in this position, forcing you to not call Austin, but I have to get home. I have my own old man to take care of and I’ll see a doctor there.” I told them quietly. The image of Wrecker in the golden fields haunted me, but I pushed them aside. It was probably just a hallucination.

“Kynder, I don’t want to let you go.” Jack murmured. I wrapped my arms around him in a gently hug.

“You’ve been wonderful hosts. I’m so lucky to have met you, but I have to keep on moving.” I held myself together. It tore me apart, just like when I was leaving Ghost. Now I had to rip myself away from people who genuinely cared all over again. I moved over and gave Alex a long hug as well and started to move towards the door.

“You have everything?” Alex asked as I cracked the wooden exit. I nodded solemnly. Jack grabbed the phone off the counter and started to dial. I waited as we all heard the buzzing tones.

“Hello?” A broken voice on the end answered. I turned around, knowing that I was being betrayed by them, but that they were trying their best to help me. Thing is, no matter how much I knew I loved Austin, I had a duty to go back home.

I might have longed to be held in his gentle arms, to be called his love and darling, but I had to see Wrecker and get to a surgeon in Denver. Maybe, just maybe, after all that, I would call Austin and use the numbers at the bottom of his letter.

I peeked over my shoulder. Alex had tears in his eyes and so did Jack. Jack’s hand trembled as the phone was pressed against his cheek.

“Hi Austin, it’s Jack here.”

“Hey! What’s up?” He asked curiously in the background. I lingered long enough to hear the next little bit of the conversation.

“We found Kynder.”

“Stop BS’ing me.” Austin spoke in disbelief.

“She’s on the road to Price, right now. We live in the little town just south of that on highway 10. She’s on her way to the rails right now.” Jack mumbled. I bit my lip from crying out as I slipped from the doorway and jogged down the steps, keeping to the dirt road.

An hour and a half later, I had managed to hitch hike a ride from a passing van to get to Price. It shortened my trip by about an hour, since I couldn’t walk that fast. It was eight thirty right now, and I was sitting on a bench outside the train station. I had to look for the specific car the Quinn told me about. My fingers grasped the key in my hand. The car was number 232 and had a graffiti cross on it.

Each time a car passed, I looked behind me nervously. I expected a truck to be approaching me. When nine rolled around the train had arrived. As it slowed to a halt, I walked through the numbers. Close to the end was car #232.

On the side was a green and yellow cross painted across the sign. Black outlined the figure. The artwork stood out against the rust brown sides of the box car. The sliding doors were shut, but that didn’t deter me.

As I walked up, I read the words outlined in the cross.

Lost Hope for Lost Souls

Despite the ominous words, I went to the metal doors. The sounds of men emptying out some of the cars echoed to me. I knocked on the door quietly. Nothing sounded. A scuffling sound echoed for a brief second, then disappeared.

So I knocked again and whispered, “Please let me in! I’m looking for Hope!” I begged. The sounds of men’s voices were getting closer. The door opened a crack. A hag’s hands grabbed my shoulder and yanked me aboard. I scrambled to get my feet under me as the doors shut again. The inside was dark black.

Three lanterns flickered on, illuminating most of the box car. Inside the compartment was fairly empty, except for the old woman, young man, and two teens. All hollow eyes stared to me. I stood awkwardly in the corner.

“What do you want?” The old woman questioned with her voice like rocks sliding together. It creaked and groaned like the rolling wheels of the train.

“I’m looking for Hope.”

“Aren’t we all?” She chuckled, eyes still squinted. One of them looked clouded over. She must be blind in her left eye.

“I have this key.” I dangled the metal shape on the chain out from my hand. She gasped and looked at it curiously, touching it with a long nail.

“Where did you find that?” She growled. The two teens stared at it curiously. The young man in the corner seemed to be asleep.

“Quinn gave it to me. I was riding on the Sacramento-Moab Line and met her. I need to get to Denver for a surgery, so she gave me this key to show you.” I briefly explained. A lantern light flickered ominously. There were blankets strew about the ground. Boxes piled in corner were strapped in. The train jolted to life.

“Oh Quinn, she did have a knack for reading people. Okay, come aboard. We’ll be in Denver by Monday.” She gestured to a blanket and sat down opposite of me.

“I’m Kynder.” We exchanged greets as she introduced me to the inhabitants. The young girl and boy, both about seventeen were named Anarchy and Amity. Amity arched an eyebrow at the sound of her name.

“They’re fairly experienced iron riders. We don’t know their true names, but they seem to respond to these fairly well.” Hope laughed. As soon as we got to know each other, she seemed to loosen up. The man in the corner’s name was Craig. I’d meet him when he woke up.

Looks like these would be my close friends for the next few days.

Notes