Alice froze. She slowly stood up, and immediately smrintef away. The officer grabbed the back of her sweater but she shimmied out of it and took off running down the path. Within seconds, she was in so much pain between her ribs and her foot that she could barely breathe. She focused her mind on the wind zipping past her face, attempting to lessen the pain.
She ran until she could barely move. She collapsed somewhere in town.
(awww Alice)
Isobel boarded the train without much incident, keeping her carry-on handbag close as she found a seat and sat down. She pulled out her phone, checking for notifications, and replacing it with a mystery novel when she found none.
Through the thick haze around Alice, she heard the distant rumble of a train. She straightened as it dislodged a memory— Isobel had been going somewhere. Somewhere in Canada.
Painfully pulling herself up, she hobbled towrads the station. Wincing every other step a young man stopped her. He put a hand on her shoulder and she whirled with a scream.
He looked extremely concerned. "Are you alright?"
Lost in the story, Isobel almost failed to notice the young man trying to squeeze by her to his seat. "Oh– sorry!" She quickly moved her legs, allowing him to get by and take a seat next to her. "HI, I'm isobel." He smiled, cheeks dimpling. "Jordan, nice to meet you."
(stay the hell away Jordan)
Alice backed away. "F- fine." She walked away and the man didn't follow. She finally got to the station; she found a sign listing the trains. The first one Alice noticed was to Montreal.
"That's it!" she exclaimed loudly, receiving multiple skeptical glares. Platform 3, platform 3, she reminded herself, roaming the large building.
(loll)
Isobel returned the smile, closing her book and resting it in her lap. "Where are you headed to?"
"Montreal, actually, for my sister's wedding. You?"
"Montreal as well, just– just to visit some family," she lied.
(has the train left?)
(No, it’s still there)
(k cool)
Alice eventually found the right platform. She hobbled down towards it, trying to control her breathing. A handful of station employees talked near the ticket booth. She stood still, waiting to see if they'd noticed her– they hadn't. Alice carefully approached the train doors. She walked onto the train easily, too easily. Dismissing her unease, she went to sit down in one of the unreserved seats.
Jordan nodded along. “Cool. Do you go to Humber?” he asked, referring to the university. “Yeah, do you?”
He shook his head. “I graduated last year. Marine biology.”
She smiled, impressed. “Oh cool. I’m doing my major in English Literature and history.”
Alice settled down, wrapping her arms around herself— she now had nothing but a tank top and her uniform skirt. The train will be departing shortly. said the woman in the overhead speaker. Alice closed her eyes and leaned against the window.
The train pulled out of the station, and the two continued to chat. Eventually, he got up to go to the washroom, and she opened her book again.
Alice woke up a few minutes later. She stood up and started walking up and down the carriage, unconsciously searching for Isobel.
Isobel was lost in her novel by the time Jordan came back. He had to tap her on the shoulder to get back, laughing good-naturedly. "Good book?"
She smiled sheepishly. "Yeah. Agatha Christie."
Alice got to the end of her carriage. The latch was easy but it was a bit of a jump. Alice almost walked away until she heard a train worker walking up and down the isles, checking for tickets.
Without thinking, she tugged the door open and jumped onto the edge of the next carrisge— her foot caught on the chain and she just barely caught the handle on the next door. She pulled herself up and through, falling into the next wagon, gasping.
“So, you read a lot?” Isobel nodded, closing her book again. “You?”
Jordan seesawed a hand. “On and off.”
She took a second to catch her breath. She neatened herself up and marched into the next isles. From behind the door, she could see a young woman and man chatting animatedly. The young woman held a book, which she quickly closed, and the man gestured, smiling. (Jordan and Isobel)
(do you want Isobel to see Alice?)
(up to you)
Isobel smiled, holding her book to her chest. “What about movies? Do you like those?”
The girl brought the book to her chest. Alice sped past them towards the next wagon. She pushed the glass door open and ended up in front of bathroom.
Jordan nodded. "Yeah, but I'm more of a documentaries kind of guy. Do you watch any?" Isobel shook her head ruefully. "Unfortunately no, but I've seen a few good BBC ones on Netflix."
She pulled the door open and locked herself in it. She leaned against the door, breathing. What did she think she was doing?
Many hours later, an announcement came on the PA. “We only have one more hour before we reach our destination,” a female voice droned. Isobel sighed in relief, rubbing at her cramped legs.
The announcement rang louder in the bathroom. Sighing in relief, Alice fell against the door. She opened and headed back out into the hall and, unconscious of her surroundings, went to take a seat near the front of the carriage.