Runaways on a Northbound Train

A low rumble drew Virginia from a deep sleep. She gagged at the smell of cheap plastic and coughed violently until a clump of mucus cleared her esophagus. Uncurling herself from the fetal position, she slowly sat upright and placed her feet on the floor as a thick haze filled her brain like a dense cloud.

Cramped behind the seat in front of her, she stretched her legs but could barely straighten her knees. The downside of being abnormally tall. Her body jerked when a high-pitched whistle blared above the hum of metal-on-metal beneath her. Where was she? A train?

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she fought against a rising sense of nausea. Out the window, an endless cornfield appeared to be racing in the opposite direction while a weathered red barn sat motionless in the distance atop a sprawling hill covered in clover.

There were no cornfields anywhere near her house. How long had she been traveling? And how did she get there?

Surveying the two passengers across the aisle, Virginia covered her mouth and cleared her throat. Coughing again—even louder this time—she leaned over and said, “Excuse me. Can you tell me where this train is going?”

A young girl who looked to be a teenager turned abruptly away from Virginia, burying her face in the neck of the older woman next to her. They bore a strong resemblance to one another. Pale skin. Green eyes. Dark brown hair. They shared the same surprised look and didn’t seem remotely interested in making conversation.

“Please,” Virginia persisted. “I need your help. I’m confused as to why I’m on this train. Were you here when I boarded?”

Reluctantly, the older woman spoke out. “No. You were sound asleep when we got on.”

Virginia tilted her head and blinked, trying to make sense of what was happening.

The woman’s expression softened, and a look of pity crossed her face. “My name’s Trish,” she said. “This is my daughter Rebecca.”

Virginia sunk her front teeth into her lower lip at the mention of a daughter, immediately detecting a hint of blood in her mouth. Her daughters. Alex and Sophie. Where were they? The last thing she remembered was packing their lunches—PB&J sandwiches, apples, and two Oreo cookies each. Had she walked them to the bus stop? Why couldn’t she remember?

She sniffed her fingertips and savored the lingering smell of peanut butter.

Panicked, Virginia searched for her purse, eventually finding a small brown backpack tucked beneath her seat. It didn’t look familiar, but she dug inside anyway, pulling out a cell phone that didn’t belong to her. She tossed it aside, relieved that she could at least call home when she was ready and kept rummaging through the backpack’s main compartment, praying for clues as to how she’d ended up there.

But there was no ticket, no boarding pass. No wallet or makeup bag. Only the phone, a toothbrush and toothpaste, an unopened pack of gum, and a bottle of Tylenol. She opened the bottle and popped two pills into her mouth to try and get rid of her pounding headache.

One more sweep of the backpack revealed a hidden compartment in the interior lining. Virginia tugged at the fabric, unable to find an opening at first, but finally slipping her fingers inside an obscure pocket and pulling out a wad of cash and a driver’s license.

The name on the license read “Sandra Finder,” but the picture was hers. How could that be?

With more questions than answers, Virginia grabbed the phone again, surprised that it unlocked without an access code. She scrolled through the contacts but didn’t recognize any of the names. Wracking her brain for her husband’s number, she twitched in her seat when the cell phone vibrated in her hand.

“Hello?” she said tentatively.

“Virginia,” the voice on the other end of the line whispered. “It’s me, Cindy.”

Cindy had been her best friend since they’d become next-door neighbors more than a decade ago. “Oh my God. Am I glad to hear your voice!”

“Shh,” Cindy said. “Just listen. You’re safe. Your girls are safe. You need to trust me." She paused. A slight rustling sound could be heard through the phone connection. "Ride the train to the last stop. A man will be waiting at the station to take you to safety. He’ll be wearing a Chicago Cubs cap and holding a bouquet of flowers.”

“Wait a second. None of this makes sense," Virginia said. "I don’t remember boarding this train and I’ve got a killer headache. Was I drugged or something?”

Cindy sighed. “It’s the only way we could get you to leave. Sorry about the headache. The after-effects should wear off soon.”

“You roofied me?” Virginia’s mind suddenly leaped to an image of the coffee shop in town. She and Cindy met there most mornings after the kids went off to school. “How dare you! Forget the headache, where’s my apology for rendering me unconscious and dumping me on this train to who-knows-where?”

Virginia checked the time on the phone. It was after five o’clock. The school day was over. “Who has the girls? Is Jack with them? He’ll be furious when he discovers I’m gone.”

“Don’t worry about Jack. Someone’s watching his office building and he’s still at work. The girls are with Janine. They’ll be at the shelter when you arrive.”

“The shelter? What the fuck have you done? I didn’t ask for any of this.” A tidal wave of fear crashed over her, and Virginia began to cry.

“I know,” Cindy said. “But we all agreed—me, Janine, and the rest of our friends in the neighborhood. You were never going to leave him, and we were afraid he’d kill you. We saw the fresh bruises. Enough is enough.”

Virginia wrapped her arms across her chest and gave herself a hug, listening intently as Cindy kept talking. “Everything’s been arranged, including a part-time job under your new identity. We connected with an underground network that helps women in your— situation.”

“My situation?” Virginia hollered as she wiped a stream of tears from her cheeks. She looked over at Trish and Rebecca, wondering how much they’d overheard.

Cindy interrupted. “I’ve got to go. We can’t take any chances that this phone is traceable. Please trust me. It’s for the best.”

The phone line went dead, and Virginia slumped in her seat. Tears continued to fall from her eyes as she gazed blankly out the window.

Time stood still as the train sped along the tracks. If she didn't know any better, Virginia could have sworn they were picking up speed. But that was crazy. Probably just her nerves racing out of control.

Out of the corner of her eye, Virginia noticed Rebecca getting up and heading to the back of the train, most likely on her way to the bathroom. Trish scooched to the edge of her seat and handed Virginia a tissue across the aisle.

“Thank you,” Virginia said.

They were the only three passengers in this car, but Trish still whispered. “Can I do anything for you? You look like you could use a friend.”

Ha! Friends were obviously the last thing she needed right now. Look where having those had landed her. She shook her head but eyeballed Trish with an air of gratitude.

In a hurried tone, Trish continued. “I don’t want to pry, but I caught part of your conversation. It’s okay to want a fresh start.”

Virginia sucked in a breath and held it in for as long as she could, not knowing whether to tell Trish to mind her own business or to curl up in her lap and let it all out. Her traveling companion had a kind face and a caring way about her. The green of her eyes comforted Virginia and almost made her believe she was safe.

But she couldn’t let her guard down. Her friends had placed her and her daughters in a dangerous situation. More dangerous than they’d ever been.

With no time to be angry, Virginia needed to think clearly and decide whether to carry through with the plans that had been made for her or to head back in hopes of beating Jack home.

Plan B would depend on how far they had traveled and when this train would make its next stop.

As if reading Virginia’s mind, Trish said, “Rebecca and I are getting off at the next station. We’ll be in Illinois by then.”

“Illinois? Holy shit! We’ve left Arkansas already? And traveled through most of Missouri?”

Trish nodded. The ends of her mouth turned down in a frown. “Mind if I tell you something about me? I know you’re going through a lot, but I could use a friend too.”

“Sure.” Virginia doubted whether she could concentrate on someone else’s problems but welcomed the distraction.

Trish let out a deep exhale before abruptly launching into her story. “We’re heading to Illinois so my daughter can have an abortion. My ex-boyfriend raped her, and she can’t handle having this baby.”

Virginia gasped. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright.” Trish pressed her fingers to her temples and scowled—as if warning her tears not to come. One tiny droplet escaped, and she swiped it aside before it could travel too far. “I’ve had plenty of time to think about this. So has Rebecca. We’re good with the decision and anxious to get it over with.”

“What’s next for you then? Are you pressing charges against your boyfriend?”

“I’m honestly not sure. We’re taking this one step at a time. Maybe we need a fresh start too.”

Smiling, Trish got up from her seat and sat down next to Virginia. Instinctively, they joined hands and interlaced fingers, squeezing intermittently as if sending each other encouraging messages by Morse code.

Trish’s strength was contagious. An unfamiliar power surged through Virginia’s insides as if she’d been struck by lightning. For the first time in years, she felt hopeful that she and her daughters could break away. Escape the violence…the force of those fists…and the threat of that gun.

This stranger-turned-kindred spirit on the train believed in her. So did her friends. Confidence swept across Virginia’s heart, and she was ready to move forward.

Rebecca returned from the bathroom, spotted her mom next to Virginia, and sprawled across both their seats across the aisle. Groaning, she said, “How much longer, Mom?”

“We should be there soon,” Trish said. “I’m surprised that we haven’t started slowing down.” Turning to Virginia, she asked, “Does it seem like we’re traveling at an unusually high speed?”

“It does,” Virginia said. “I’ve never ridden a train before, but this one seems awfully fast.”

“And why are we the only ones left?” Rebecca said.

Trish turned toward her daughter. “What do you mean?”

“When I went to the bathroom, I walked all the way to the back of the train. All the other cars are empty. It’s weird. What happened to the rest of the passengers?”

Virginia and Trish exchanged puzzled glances. Before they could investigate further, a deafening crackle blasted through the loudspeaker suspended from the car’s ceiling.

“Ginny,” a male voice eked through the static. “Can you hear me, Ginny? I’m here with the conductor. Come see me in the back cab.”

Goosebumps broke out on Virginia’s skin, colliding with the hair on her arms that stood at attention. Her heart pounded like a bass drum inside her chest, and she retched at the sour taste of bile erupting from her stomach.

Ginny. There was only one person in the world who called her by that name.

Jack. He must have snuck away from his office without anyone seeing him. He was there on the train. Virginia knew better than to hesitate when he called.

Pulling from Trish’s grip, she squeezed her new friend’s hand one last time before maneuvering past her into the aisle. Pleading with her eyes, she said, “Don’t move. That’s my husband. Let me take care of him.”

“Oh no, you’re not going up there alone,” Trish shrieked.

But Virginia blocked Trish from moving, extending both her arms, locking her elbows, and holding up her palms. She paused in noticing the pale shades of yellow and green circling her wrists—leftover from the last time she struggled to break free from Jack’s restraint.

“He’s dangerous,” she said. “For Rebecca’s sake, please stay put.” She walked briskly toward the rear of the car, and through another three cars before catching a glimpse of Jack’s backside. An icy cold shiver ran through her spine.

Even without seeing his face, there was no mistaking her husband’s physique. Those broad shoulders, long muscular arms, and that grossly thick neck. His mere presence warned her to flee, and she almost did.

But when he turned his head sideways, she stared at his profile—hypnotized. He removed the knit cap atop his head to reveal a fresh military-style haircut, reminding Virginia that this was war, and she had the battle scars to prove it.

Jack had threatened her life and the safety of their children for the last time. She couldn’t let him get away with everything he’d put them through. Not anymore.

Without warning, she charged at her husband, flinging the full force of her body against his as if he was nothing more than a shadow floating inside a passenger train. He laughed—a wicked laugh that cut right through her. Baring his teeth and cackling, he pulled a tiny man with a gag in his mouth, zip ties around his joined wrists, and a look of terror in his eyes up from the floor behind him.

The conductor. Oh, no. She needed to act quickly. Otherwise, Jack would kill him.

The train car door was wide open. The ground below dashed by in a blur. They were traveling at warp speed and Virginia could feel the engine continuing to accelerate.

“Ginny.” Jack sneered. “Fancy meeting you here! Too bad your grand plan was a giant flop. Just like you.”

Virginia shuddered in Jack’s direction, tempted to defend herself and explain that she had nothing to do with her escape. They drugged me, she thought.

But explaining was no use. He wouldn’t believe her anyway. Years of trying to reason with a monster had proven that.

She caught eyes with the conductor who was mumbling desperately behind the cloth stuck in his mouth and gave him a slight nod of reassurance that they’d be okay. Who was she kidding? Jack could overpower them both in a flash.

“What’s the matter Mr. Conductor?” Jack taunted. “Cat got your tongue? Say something to my lovely wife Ginny here. Tell her what I told you earlier about my plan.”

Jack ripped the gag from the conductor’s mouth, leering over him and basking in the control.

“We’re almost to the end,” the conductor cried out. “The automatic braking system has been deactivated. You must brake manually. Hurry, or we’ll crash into the end terminal.”

The urgency in the conductor’s voice alarmed her, but it seemingly had little effect on Jack. The smug look on his face challenged Virginia, daring her to storm past him to see whether she could stop the train.

But the sudden glimmer of metal pulled from Jack’s coat pocket stopped her. Immobilized, she fixated on the gun he had flashed and pointed at the conductor’s forehead.

From behind, the tiptoe of footsteps distracted her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Trish and Rebecca slowly creeping into the car. But they were in Jack’s direct line of sight. He spied them right away.

Redirecting his gun at the mother-daughter duo quickly approaching, he commanded. “On your knees, before I shoot!”

Trish and Rebecca did as they were told, crawling the rest of the way through the car and hovering behind Virginia, never looking up toward Jack. As any mother would, Trish shielded Rebecca who had latched onto Virginia’s knees, putting herself in the line of fire and attempting to save her daughter at any cost.

A sudden vision of Alex and Sophie popped into Virginia’s mind—the very last thought that she allowed herself to have. A swell of adrenaline rushed through her, giving her the courage to raise a leg and kick Jack in the balls. When he collapsed forward, she kicked him again, knocking the gun from his hand.

Clutching his groin, he tried to stand. But the conductor threw himself sideways and knocked Jack off balance. With one final kick, Virginia seized the opportunity and sent her husband flying from the train. Out the open door and into the wind…the speed…and an unknown existence beyond the tracks.

Virginia never looked down. She hugged the conductor who had quickly turned to apply the brake. Tricia and Rebecca swallowed her up in an embrace so tight she could barely breathe. No one seemed to exhale until the runaway train finally stopped. Its remaining passengers were safe, even though their futures were unclear.

Their high-speed adventure had come to an end, and Virginia walked down the stairs in search of a Chicago Cubs cap.