Chapter 7 – The Train
The six-hour break ended with a shout.
"Squad 9, on your feet. Train departing in five minutes."
Ilin was already awake, sitting on the edge of her cot, her face pale but her eyes clear. I stood, offered my hand, and she took it, steadying herself.
"You sure you're up for this?" I asked quietly.
"I'm sure," she said. "I'll only heal if it's critical."
The healer gave her a nod as we passed. Garrick, Mara, and Finn were already at the door, gear checked, faces grim.
The train was an old freight engine, two passenger cars hitched behind it, packed with civilians. Soldiers were loading the last of them, shouting for people to move faster.
Our job was to guard the rear car while the train pulled out of the station.
We took position on the platform beside the last car. Ilin stayed close to me, staff in hand, crystal dark.
The horn blew. The train jerked forward.
As it started moving, creatures poured from an alley onto the tracks.
The two soldiers with us opened fire. Finn joined them, his shots steady.
Garrick swung his axe at the first creature that reached the car. Mara smashed her pipe into another's head.
A creature leapt onto the back platform, claws scrabbling at the metal.
I met it with my blade, driving it through the creature's chest. It fell off the side as the train picked up speed.
Ilin stayed back, but her eyes were tracking every movement, every threat.
Another creature jumped. Finn fired, hitting it in the shoulder, but it kept coming.
I stepped in front of Ilin, blocked the claw with my forearm, and cut across the creature's neck.
It collapsed between us.
Ilin's hand found my arm. "You're bleeding."
"It's nothing," I said.
"You said you'd tell me if you got hurt," she said.
"It's shallow," I said.
She pressed her palm to the cut. The crystal gave a faint glow, and the sting faded as the skin closed.
She swayed.
"I'm fine," she said quickly.
"You're not," I said, but I didn't argue further.
We kept fighting.
The train was moving faster now, the wind whipping our hair and clothes. The creatures were trying to keep pace, running alongside the tracks, leaping at the cars.
Mara swung her pipe, knocking one off the side. Garrick's axe took another down.
Finn's rifle clicked empty. He cursed, dropped the magazine, and fumbled for a new one.
A creature lunged at him from the side of the tracks.
I threw my blade.
It spun and sank into the creature's throat. The creature fell.
Finn stared at me, then at the blade sticking out of the creature.
"Get it back," I said.
He nodded, jumped down, yanked the blade free, and tossed it back to me.
I caught it, wiped it on my pant leg, and sheathed it.
Ilin's breathing was getting heavier.
"You need to stop," I said.
"I can keep going," she said.
"No," I said. "You're done."
"I can help," she said.
"You're helping by staying alive," I said.
She looked like she wanted to argue, but she nodded.
"Stay inside the car," I said.
"I'm not leaving you out here," she said.
"You are," I said. "You'll be more help alive than if you collapse out here."
She hesitated, then nodded and climbed into the rear car.
I turned back to the fight.
The train was almost out of the station.
A larger creature appeared on the tracks ahead, blocking the way.
The soldiers fired, but the bullets seemed to barely slow it.
Garrick charged, axe raised.
The creature swatted him aside like he weighed nothing. Garrick hit the ground hard.
Mara ran to him. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Garrick growled, getting to his feet.
I ran at the creature.
It swung a massive claw at me. I ducked, rolled, and drove my blade into its leg.
The creature roared and swung again.
I dodged, came up, and cut across its chest.
It stumbled.
Finn fired, hitting it in the eye.
The creature fell off the tracks as the train passed.
We were all breathing hard, covered in sweat and blood.
I looked toward the car. Ilin was at the door, watching me.
"You okay?" she called.
"I'm okay," I called back.
She nodded, relief visible on her face.
The train picked up speed, leaving the station and the creatures behind.
The soldiers lowered their weapons.
Mara sat on the edge of the platform, wiping blood from her pipe.
Garrick sat beside her, pressing a hand to his side.
Finn sat on the floor of the car, reloading his rifle.
I climbed into the car and sat next to Ilin.
"You did good," she said.
"You did too," I said.
She leaned her head on my shoulder.
I put my arm around her.
We rode in silence for a while, the train clattering over the tracks, the city's burning skyline receding behind us.
After a while, Ilin said, "I'm scared."
"Me too," I said.
"Not of the creatures," she said. "Of losing you."
"You're not going to lose me," I said.
"How can you be sure?" she asked.
"I'm not," I said. "But I'm not going anywhere."
She nodded.
I kissed the top of her head.
After a while, Ilin said, "When this is over, I want to find a quiet place. No fighting. No rift. Just… a quiet place."
"I want that too," I said.
"And I want to actually eat something that isn't a ration bar," she added, and I laughed.
"Me too," I said.
She squeezed my hand. "And I want to see you smile without blood on your face."
I smiled. "You'll see it."
She smiled back.
The train slowed as it approached the next station.
A soldier came through the car. "Squad 9, we'll be stopping here. You'll be reassigned."
We stood up.
Ilin stood with me, her hand in mine.
We stepped off the train.
The station was a staging area, filled with soldiers and civilians.
The commander who'd assigned us earlier was waiting.
"Squad 9, good work," she said. "Get some rest. You've earned it."
We were led to the medical area.
I helped Ilin to a cot. She sat down, her eyes heavy.
I sat on the edge of the cot.
"You scared me back there," I said quietly.
"I scared myself," she admitted.
I took her hand.
"We'll get through this," I said.
"Together," she said.
I nodded.
She closed her eyes and fell asleep, her hand still in mine.
I stayed, watching her, listening to the distant sounds of fighting, feeling the weight of her hand in mine.
The train was gone. The station was busy. The rift still glowed in the sky.
But in that moment, in the quiet after the train, it felt like it was just the two of us, and that was enough.