Inhumanity

1. Into Darkness-4

The sun shone in with an intensity that I had never felt. The light told me that today would be an unusually hot day. I got up from my chair, watching the air filter through the light. Time seemed to stand still in that moment. I paused, thinking about my aunt. I could not return to New York; I had to continue on. My aunt needed me, and I could not refuse such an invite, especially given the circumstances. I immediately walked over to the wardrobe, opening the doors with caution. I knew there was nothing to fear anymore, but I could feel as if there might be something that I had to avoid. I pushed the feeling to the back of my mind and opened the doors quickly. The doors slid open with a thud as they smacked against the walls. I reached into the darkly lit space, feeling my clothing in my hand. My suits had all been pressed and neatly put away before I even reached my compartment. I pulled the suit out of the wardrobe, gently unfolding the arms. I could feel that the suits had been neatly pressed and placed carefully into the wardrobe. I glanced over the pieces of the suit with caution, looking for stains or creases that were out of place. Nothing had been neater than my suits, with no creases or blemishes the eye could see. The rest of the compartment was in shambles. I had not attempted to unpack anything other than what was handed to the stewards upon my arrival. I had become content with this lifestyle, however.

The day was shining brightly into the compartment from all angles as I dressed myself. One door gently slid open, and I leaned to one side with a cautious look. “Mr. Price?” the man said.

“Yes?”

“I am here to make sure everything has been taken care of for you, sir.”

“Oh, everything is perfect, I assure you,” I said.

“Great, sir,” said the man with emphasis. He looked at me with a puzzled look, and I had to ask. “Sir, did you hear anything coming from this compartment last night?”

He began with a look of interest, “No, sir, I did not.” Upon hearing this, I quickly ended the conversation. “Sir, I am also here in case you have any other requests. Please feel free to let me know of anything that crosses your mind.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I have no other requests at this time.”

“Great, sir, thank you for choosing Northwest Rail,” the man said.

“Thank you for your hospitality. It has been much appreciated.”

“It was my pleasure,” the man said with a smile. He then gently pressed the doors back together, smiling as he went. I could not help but wonder if he had, in fact, heard anything last night. Surely there was no one that could not hear such a disturbance.

I finished straightening my tie and rinsed my hands in a nearby bowl. Today would prove to be yet another adventure. I was sure that I would make the acquaintance of the other guests. Nothing brought more pleasure for the morning than to chat with other members of the higher society. Bankers, lawyers, and wealthy merchants, all with the need to socialize—men in such a line of work would always enjoy meeting others from similar backgrounds. I glanced in the mirror again to make sure that everything was perfect. I slipped out the door into the hallway of the car. I would have to walk through three cars to get to the dining hall, and at this speed, it would prove difficult. The cars were always rocking back and forth, swinging on a balance point, and at times you would feel like the whole car would roll off the tracks. The high amounts of wind that blew against the car were not comforting either. I have never seen a train car blown off the tracks by wind, but the wind seemed determined to make that happen today.

I briskly walked to the door of the car and stepped out onto the walkway. I could see the world rushing by with a swishing noise as if someone was cutting the air with a sword. Without thinking I moved quickly across to the other door. I felt an uneasy presence at that moment as if the beast had returned. I turned and glanced back with nothing there, not even another soul. I felt as if I was losing my mind. I gently rubbed my forehead with my handkerchief and entered the car. The door crackled slightly as I shut it back. It felt in my hands as if it would simply fall off the car and onto the tracks. Perhaps it was just my nervous mind. I had not been out of my car the whole time I had been on the train. My mind had been a torrent of thoughts since I boarded.

I walked down the middle of the aisle of the car and into the dining area. The space was small yet cozy. Leather seats lined each wall with beautiful white tablecloths covering the oak table surface. The tables had been set perfectly with the finest china. I was amazed at the luxurious nature of the dining car. The lights dimly lit the space but with windows accompanying them to give the car a light I had never seen. This was truly the work of a perfectionist. I casually walked forward and sat down in the first available seat. I waited for some time before the waiter came over and set a cup of fresh coffee in front of me. I thanked him and asked for a chance to look over the menu. I sat there in the dim light, simply glancing out the window and occasionally over to the menu. Nothing could make me happier this morning than to just sip my coffee and watch the world pass. I did know, however, that my time would be well spent eating some actual food.

I looked over the menu, quickly noticing the grand breakfast menu. Scones, muffins, and roasted meats, everything seemed so delicious. I could almost taste the roasted pork as I thought about it. I sat there for a minute just thinking about my destination. I stared into the window with a slightly frightful look. I could feel the misery in that creature still. I lingered there for a bit before my food came, and I could not help but feel that somehow something did not want me to arrive at my destination. I did, however, enjoy my breakfast as the train wound headlong into North Carolina.