Beau blinked attentively as he listened to Sen's suggested course of actions on how they should try and get off the train, should it come to that. And, to be prepared for what they might find once they get to the driver's carriage. Even hinting that there might not be a driver at all.<br/>Was that even<span style="font-style: italic">possible</span>?<br/><br/>He'd been driven around so much that his knowledge on public transport could be acknowledged as quite expired at this point in time.<br/>He had to admit, his mind was set on<span style="font-style: italic">action, action, action</span>! At first his expression was dubious when he listened to Sen's tactical and logical advice towards managing the possible scenarios should they eventuate- but stubborness cast aside, a small part of him had to admit that they had to keep it together in this situation.<br/><br/>They were in a hazardous, accelerating and heavily 'hinted out of control' train with no one else on board at this point in time.<br/><br/>"Ok I got this!" Beau reassured her "now hold on."<br/><br/>As Sen accepted Beau's hand, he held it in a guiding and supportive manner, before turning to walk down the corridor. Having to maintain a balance of an eager, careful and practical pace.<br/><br/>They continued down the abyss of monotonous prison cell like trains. Each more worn, deprived of life and shady compared to the last. He had a morbid hope that his coffin would hopefully look better than the interiors of this train if his time was ever up.<br/>His thoughts were suddenly interrupted.<br/><br/>He stopped abruptly.<br/><br/>"...what is it?" Sen asked cautiously, nearly walking into him when he stopped so suddenly.<br/><br/>"I hear a sound..." he said, somewhat distant as he looked all around the room. Lights flickering like an old film projector. And clicking like one too.<br/><br/>"...did you hear a sound?"<br/><br/>"Nothing more than every other sound this train is making..." Sen replied calmly "did you hear anything else other than that?"<br/>Beau took a moment to listen out again. Then shook his head dismissively.<br/><br/>"Think I bumped my head really hard," he joked, but cleared his throat as he couldn't find the situation they were in very amusing.<br/><br/>"Come on, we should keep going." Beau advised.<br/>With that, the two students continued to walk through the train.<br/><br/>"I never asked for your name," Beau said to change the topic of conversation as they sailed further through the straight labyrinth of the train "mine's Beau Monash. But you can just call me Beau. What's your name? I'd hate for you to be one of those people I speak to for 2 years and just refer to as 'that girl'!" he said jovially.<br/><br/>There was a pause. Beau keeping his vision straight ahead. Some of the carriages they were passing through appeared to have more stable lights and somehow everything was feeling a bit more calm. If not portraying a false sense of security. There were still odd bumps from the train that made the situation they were in feel precarious.<br/><br/>"Normally a good place to start, I guess." Sen replied "my name is Senxiang Song. However, you can call me Sen for now."<br/><br/>Beau narrowed his eyes. He wasn't sure if he'd been untactful but for now, he'd hope there would be time beyond 'for now' if they were ever to get off this forsaken train!<br/><br/>A large screech was heard. The origins of the ambience unknown.<br/><br/>"You heard it that time?!" Beau turned around to look Sen straightly. His eyes constricted with fear.<br/>The room had one last explosive moment of glaring white light, before all fell to darkness.<br/><br/>The whining sound of a power source failing.<br/><br/>All fell to silence. The only sound being the chugging of train wheels against the tracks.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"> chug chug chug </span><br/><br/>The next few seconds dragged like torture. A void darkness but for the foreboding lights coming from other carriages that outlined the heads of the seats.<br/><br/>A crank was heard. Like an axe or iron bar being dragged across gravel. Some breathing heavy breathing following shortly after.<br/>Scuttling could be heard. Originally starting off as harmonious footsteps, before the noises quickened in frequency and volume. By now, feeling the presence right behind them.<br/><br/>"RUN NOW!"<br/><br/>Beau's chest tightened, feeling as if it was going to explode as he bolted through the narrow train passage. Sen miraculously keeping up with his pace. All he could rely on was a straight line run through the darkness.<br/><br/>"What is that thing?!" he demanded, but wouldn't pause for an answer.<br/>He would not look. No matter how close the shuffling footsteps came. He would not look.<br/><br/>He wouldn't.<span style="font-style: italic">He wouldn't.</span><br/>Breaking out in a sweat as he ran as fast as he could.<br/><br/>He was about to run through the last door when some resistance suddenly snapped him back like a rubber band.<br/><br/>Something had happened to Sen as her hand dragged him backwards.<br/><br/>"Beau... help me!" she called out. Still holding on tightly.<br/>Beau couldn't turn around. Gripping onto the door handle with one hand as he held Sen with the other. The tightrope wearing him down.<br/><br/>"...just one more<span style="font-style: italic">carriage</span>," he murmured with fear and exasperation. A bead of sweat crossing his forehead.<br/>His fingers were slowly slipping from the handle was he was finding himself and Sen pulled towards the darkness. The fear paralysing him in this position.<br/><br/>A decisive action streaked through his head.<br/><br/>And that was when he let go. Giving into what pulled him away from safety.<br/><br/>Trying to keep his balance as much as possible before he hit the ground, he reached into his pocket and grabbed the object he needed.<br/>Before his head hit the side of the chair and he fell to the floor on his side.<br/><br/>"Dammit," he gritted his teeth as he felt his head get hit harder than earlier before.<br/>He shook himself to his senses and gapsed when he analysed his free hand. Clasping a screwdriver with the other hand.<br/>He had lost Sen.<br/><br/>"Beau help...!"<br/><br/>Beau pulled out another object from his pocket. His phone. He wasn't sure about any network signals but for now, he needed light.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">But to look at that thing...</span><br/><br/>"Help me!" Sen's voice was growing fainter. She was being dragged away.<br/>He trembled as he pulled out his phone and pressed a button. The screen waking up immediately to cast some light.<br/><br/>And that's when he could pinpoint Sen's location. Shapes in the dark. Halfway down narrow train. The creature was moving fast.<br/><br/>Beau shut his eyes for a long time, before getting up promptly and running down the passage. His legs feeling like jelly and the taste of acid in his lungs occuring as his chest constricted from the chocking fear.<br/>He dared open his eyes and saw the phone screen's light reflect off of Sen's sunglasses. The being holding her being angular and muscular. He could feel its eyes burning above his head.<br/><br/>He let auto pilot mode carry out his next actions as he jumped forwards. Plunging the screwdriver above Sen's head into the creature restraining her. The gauge punctured into flesh and stopped against hard tissue. Presumably bone?<br/><br/>A clavicular area?<br/><br/>A piercing decibel level of screeching was heard like that of rabid monkey as the creature staggered backwards.<br/>Beau wasted no time in catching Sen's shoulders as she was released.<br/><br/>"Come on! I think that door locks..." he urged, taking her hand again and running forwards.<br/><br/>Not looking back.<br/>_____________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/>They passed through into the final carriage before locomotive room.<br/><br/>Beau guided Sen towards a seat to sit her down. Letting go of her hand. He turned to close the door<br/>and seal it shut with a heavy latch grip handle. It echoed hauntingly as the gears worked together to shut them in.<br/><br/>'Better than being out there.' Beau sighed. A sense of disbelief hitting him with what they had just witnessed.<br/>Had a tiger got loose from one of the local zoos and onto this train? How did no one notice?<br/>But if it was a tiger... how could it have held Sen?<br/>WHAT was going on?<br/><br/>He shook his head. The acid from poor breathing stinging his throat. This would soon pass, he realised.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">'Get it together.'</span>he scholded himself.<br/>For now, both himself and Sen were<span style="font-style: italic">safe</span>.<br/><br/>He breathed at a more rhythmic pace, before casting his attention to his current surroundings.<br/><br/>This carriage was considerably neater, and tidier than the other carriages. Well lit with the warmth of a fire lit living room. Elegant maroon chairs with intricate gold patterns stood in assembly. Some facing one another with generous sized tables. Candle-lit with neatly folded curtains against the windows.<br/><br/>'First Class.' Beau had guessed, as he took a moment to swoop his head to take in the scenery.<br/>The sweat on his back starting to go cold which made him shiver somewhat.<br/><br/>This setting hardly felt part of the same train at all. And even if it did feel so much more homely, it was still starved of life. Why would it appear so welcoming when there was no one else around.<br/><br/>The train, at the very least, continued on its course at a smoother and more rhythmic pace. A<span style="font-style: italic">clackity clank</span>resounding outside.<br/>Even if the darkness outside still suffocated any shape or form that may have been outside.<br/><br/>"Are... are you ok..?" Beau straightened up and turned to look at the seated Sen. He had had no time whatsoever to consider how she might be holding up since that assault from earlier "...I'm sorry for panicking back there."<br/><br/>"I just don't know what's going on."