Fading Echoes of Love

Chapter 6 - Feeling Uneasy

At noon, Cheyenne is set to depart for Connecticut. After dropping off Sierra at home, she will return to pack her belongings. As she places her items in the suitcase and prepares to fasten it shut, she hesitates, feeling that something might be missing. Did she forget anything? She runs through a mental checklist: ID card, mobile phone, key, wallet, charger, contract, change of clothes… everything is there, inside and out, and nothing is amiss.

Cheyenne is an avid outdoor enthusiast, with more than ten outdoor groups in her phone. She enjoys calling up friends to venture out on holidays and has tackled many challenging adventures, such as climbing Everest, crossing deserts, and diving into the deep sea. She has amassed a wealth of survival skills in the wilderness. This week, she had planned to take some new friends mountain climbing, but an unexpected order from Delilah has forced her to cancel for the weekend.

Before embarking on any outdoor activity, Cheyenne meticulously prepares herself, consulting a checklist and carefully ticking off each item. She fears that overlooking something vital could cost her life. As she hoists her suitcase, Cheyenne surveys her room, silently rehearsing the contents of her luggage and mentally counting each item.

“I have everything, that’s odd,” Cheyenne murmurs to herself. She has developed a habit of double-checking everything, taking great care not to make any mistakes. Perhaps it’s a result of her tendency towards habitual behavior and perfectionism.

Cheyenne hops into a taxi and heads towards the Metro-North Railroad. Once there, she pays the fare and steps out of the vehicle. The driver follows suit and opens the trunk, offering to help her with her luggage. “Thank you,” Cheyenne says gratefully.

As the driver sets down the suitcase, he rubs his hands together, glances up at the gray sky, and laments, “Man, it’s really cold out here. You’re not afraid of freezing to death in all those clothes, are you, little lady?” Cheyenne doesn’t enjoy wearing bulky clothing, as it restricts her movements and can make her feel lethargic. She prefers to keep a little bit chilly to stay alert and focused.

Just as Cheyenne is about to thank the driver for his assistance, she looks up and freezes in shock.

The driver’s appearance was weathered, with slightly exposed yellow teeth, messy black hair with clear white strands, and bundled up in a black leather coat. The pristine Metro-North Railroad and two black private cars stood behind him, contrasting against the dark, impending storm clouds. The scene was familiar to her, yet this time, an unsettling feeling crept over her.

Memories flooded her mind, scenes she had never experienced, vividly flashing before her eyes: the scent of alcohol and perfume, a deafening noise, a pair of quiet eyes observing from the corner, the quiet countryside passing by as the carriage shook, panic and blood. How could these unknown and surreal scenes come to her mind so suddenly?

“Girl, girl?” The driver’s voice snapped her back to reality, and she exhaled heavily, as if waking up from a deep sleep.

Worried, the driver asked if she was alright, but Cheyenne smiled rudely and hurriedly left. As she walked through the security checkpoint, she noticed Cheyenne standing alone in the middle of the hall, looking around with a confused and uneasy expression. When Sierra approached her, Cheyenne’s eyes seemed glazed over for a moment before she spoke an alarming remark.

“Sierra, don’t you think it’s weird here?”

Sierra’s hair stood on end, and she asked what was strange. Cheyenne hesitated, not wanting to sound rude or hysterical. She eventually changed the subject and reminded Sierra to bring her ID card for the ticket check. Cheyenne helped Sierra stow her luggage and directed her to the front seat as they boarded the empty train.

Sierra tried to focus on the magazine in front of her, but Cheyenne’s earlier words echoed in her mind.

“Do you think there is something strange here?”

She couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had lingered since she woke up that morning. Something inexplicable seemed to be happening, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Frustrated by her inability to make sense of her thoughts, she scolded herself for being foolish.

Sierra’s heart was heavy with feelings of depression and disappointment after losing out on the position of general manager. However, Cheyenne’s words had been echoing in her mind, making her wonder if something strange was happening around her.

Glancing around the train carriage from behind her magazine, Sierra noticed that only half of the passengers were present. Most of them were busy with work-related tasks, either listening to music or glued to their mobile phones.

As the train sped along, Sierra’s mind began to race, and she wondered if she was being paranoid. She admitted to herself that she had been working too hard for the position that was ultimately given to someone else. However, she couldn’t let her disappointment overcome her; she had to find a way to change her mindset.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Cheyenne’s voice. Sierra looked up from her magazine to see her old rival standing in front of her.

“Nice basketball skills,” Cheyenne complimented.

Sierra responded nonchalantly, “Thanks, but I’m not really into outdoor sports.”

As she continued flipping through the pages of the magazine, Sierra failed to notice the sudden change in Cheyenne’s demeanor. Her old rival’s face turned pale, and she stared intently at Sierra, without blinking.

Sierra realized that her battle with Cheyenne was far from over, and she resolved to stay focused and determined. Despite her feelings of disappointment, she knew she had to stay positive and fight for her dreams.

Upon arriving in Connecticut, Stephen, the branch manager, and the driver were waiting to pick up Cheyenne and Sierra. After dropping off their luggage at the hotel, they were expected to start working again after a brief rest. Stephen asked Cheyenne about their dinner plans for the evening, but Cheyenne replied that they were meeting Gary and had already booked a restaurant. Cheyenne then requested that Stephen arrange for another Karaoke session.

Sierra was hesitant about the plan and questioned why they had to do it. Cheyenne explained that it was a part of their marketing strategy, and he promised to look out for Sierra and ensure that she wouldn’t be mistreated.

When they arrived at the Karaoke venue, Cheyenne noticed that Gary was a middle-aged man who enjoyed drinking with young, attractive women. He urged Sierra to drink with him, expecting her to find the experience unpleasant. However, Sierra surprised him by drinking heavily and holding her own.

As the night progressed, Cheyenne became increasingly uncomfortable with Gary’s behavior towards Sierra. When Gary started patting Sierra’s thigh and laughing, Cheyenne intervened by grabbing the glass and blocking it between them, drinking it all herself.

Eventually, the night ended, and Sierra found herself exhausted from having to entertain and manage drunk guests. As they were about to enter the hotel, Cheyenne suddenly stopped and leaned heavily on Sierra.

Pointing at a unicorn ornament in the revolving door, Cheyenne slurred out the word “unicorn.” Sierra tried to encourage her to move forward, but she was too weak to walk. Exhausted, she managed to drag her to their room and collapsed from fatigue, asking Cheyenne to give her some strength as her waist felt like it was about to break.

Sierra, exhausted, finally managed to send Cheyenne back to her hotel room. Her arm was so sore that she couldn’t lift it up. As she was about to head back to her own room to take a bath and go to sleep, Cheyenne, who was lying in bed, suddenly beckoned her with her finger.

Sierra turned around and saw Cheyenne’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes hazy with alcohol, her lips slightly parted, and her chest heaving up and down rapidly. Cheyenne hooked Sierra’s little finger with hers, but it was a reluctant gesture.

“What’s wrong?” Sierra’s tone instinctively softened as she looked at Cheyenne like that, almost as if she were talking to a baby.

Cheyenne gazed at her for a long time, and for every passing second, Sierra thought she was about to say something. But it wasn’t until Cheyenne lowered her hand that the room fell silent, and there was no sound, except for the dry air and the lingering scent of alcohol.

“Sierra,” Cheyenne finally spoke up, “good night.”

…

Sierra enjoyed a peaceful slumber that night, despite being a vivid dreamer whose dreams often plunge her into a world of panic. Each night feels like a battle, and her only goal is to escape the dream world as quickly as possible.

The following day, Sierra and Cheyenne embarked on a grand patrol of the cabinet, leaving Sierra feeling a little tired. However, Cheyenne, having shaken off her hangover, was brimming with energy, and Sierra couldn’t help but match her friend’s enthusiasm.

As they completed their half-day tour, Sierra realized that her wallet was missing before they could make their way back to New York City. She had to visit the Metro-North Railroad to reissue her temporary ID card, which caused her to miss her booked ticket, resulting in a later train.

As they waited for the bus in the station’s waiting room, Sierra put on her headphones to listen to music and glanced aimlessly at the passengers around her. It was the rush hour for weekend return journeys, with men and women jostling for space, their suitcases crammed with belongings, and children running around making a ruckus. One of the children accidentally bumped their head against Sierra’s legs, prompting her to lift them up. When the child looked up at her, Sierra was taken aback by their missing eye, and the sight of two rows of sharp teeth that suddenly emerged as the child grinned in response. The surprise caused Sierra to recoil in shock, and the child’s parents hurried over to retrieve their child. Rather than apologizing, they glared at Sierra with disgust, leaving her bewildered by their reaction.

The child lay prone on his parents’ shoulders, staring at Sierra with his sole right eye. The left eye socket was sunken and the black flesh resembled an eye shape, evoking the feeling of having had that eye gouged out. Sierra shifted uncomfortably and noticed a group of people whispering and exchanging conspiratorial glances in the waiting room.

The ticket checking staff began to line up at the ticket gate, and Sierra joined the queue, grabbing her suitcase. Two tall men with flat heads stood ahead of her, turning to mutter to each other and shooting her strange, uncomfortable smiles. Ignoring them, Sierra felt a lump in her throat and broke out in a cold sweat in the sweltering waiting room, heated by the open heating. As she looked up, she saw that the screen had changed from “waiting” to “checking tickets.” The ticket gate opened, and the crowd was gradually swallowed up by the entrance.

Just as Sierra was about to present her ticket for check-in, she was suddenly pulled back by someone. The grip was tight, causing irritation and pain, and Sierra turned back, ready to swear, only to see that it was Cheyenne holding her. Cheyenne was pale, and her facial features were tightly locked.

“Don’t get on the car,” Cheyenne’s voice was hoarse and tense, repeating the phrase twice. Her words and expression unsettled Sierra.

“Why not get on the car?” Sierra asked, confused.

Cheyenne just stared at her and didn’t seem to know how to respond, as if she herself didn’t understand why she had said it. The man behind Sierra, who was about to board the bus, shouted, “Are you getting on or not? Move out of the way if you’re not!”

Sierra pulled her suitcase and stepped forward to check-in, while Cheyenne kicked quickly in place and joined her.

The train carriage was crowded with passengers, and Sierra had just taken a seat after stowing her luggage when she was suddenly struck by a splitting headache. Without warning, a disheveled man jostled past him, carelessly clutching his suitcase, and disappeared down the narrow aisle without so much as a backward glance.

Before Sierra could even react, Cheyenne sprang into action, rising swiftly from her seat and grabbing the man by the back of his collar. Despite the man’s attempts to shake her off, Cheyenne held fast, her grip tightening until she had all but torn the man’s crumpled shirt from his back.

Startled, the man turned to face her, his neck twisted awkwardly. Sierra, too, was frozen in shock at Cheyenne’s lightning-fast response. Cheyenne stared him down with fierce intensity, her eyes blazing with a fiery determination.

“Apologize!” she demanded, her voice ringing out loud and clear through the crowded carriage.

All eyes turned towards them, as the middle-aged man looked from Cheyenne to Sierra, his head still spinning from the sudden attack.

“Sorry,” he muttered hoarsely, his words barely audible above the din of the train.

The tension in the carriage dissipated as the man scurried away, his glasses askew and his suitcase rattling loudly behind him. Cheyenne released her grip, and the man disappeared into the distance, leaving her standing there, her hand trembling slightly from the exertion.

“Thank you, Cheyenne,” Sierra whispered, her voice laced with gratitude. “But please don’t do that again. We don’t know what kind of person that man was, and it could have ended badly for us both.”

Sierra was sincerely grateful for Cheyenne’s help but couldn’t help feeling worried about her friend’s impulsive actions. In the end, she knew that it was better to be safe than sorry, especially when dealing with unpredictable strangers in crowded public places.

Cheyenne gazed at her with a twinkle in his eye and nodded absentmindedly as the train slowly departed from the station and made its way through the desolate countryside. Without saying a word, she stared out into the night, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Sierra, hoping to catch a quick nap, was interrupted by a boisterous group of college students playing cards and games nearby. She glanced over at Cheyenne, who remained silent and distant, feeling uneasy.

“Cheyenne, why don’t you turn on your laptop?” she asked tentatively, feeling a little guilty for disturbing his thoughts.

To her surprise, Cheyenne complied immediately, opening her notebook and settling in to work on the Metro-North Railroad. Sierra couldn’t help but wonder where this sudden urge to work had come from.

Despite her confusion, Sierra tried to make herself comfortable and closed her eyes, hoping to catch some rest before their next destination. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off between her and Cheyenne, but she was too tired to dwell on it.