A JOLT AND THE TRAIN LEAVES THE STATION...

Darla struggles to move briskly across the platform, dragging the large, heavy suitcase behind her.

“Please… don’t go! I need to get aboard – don’t leave without me,” she pleads, more to herself than anyone in particular, as the final passengers herd themselves onto the train. The doors begin to close. In a last ditch effort of stupidity, Darla shoves her arm in between the doors to stop them from closing, but a man’s arm gets there before her. She breathes a sigh of relief as the doors automatically open and she heaves the bag on board, just as the businessman pushes rudely past her to enter as well. The commuters stare as she makes her way to a vacant seat close to the back, where a young lady lies asleep – a jolt and the train begins its journey.

She has finally done it. This time it will be for good. She notices her happiness is not shared by all. The faces of stone that arrive and depart from the city each day in their suits of grey, simply stare in their usual unimpressed manner. But reality hits her once more, when she realises that they are not looking at her because of her joy, they see her sadness. She turns towards the window hoping it will shield her face and watches the city drift by for the last time.

Wiping at the tears of relief, Darla gathers up enough courage to look about the carriage. Some of the commuters are still looking at her. A man pretends to read his novel after his eyes are caught by her glance. All these people are joining her on her journey out of the city. She is just glad that ‘he’ is not taking part in this occasion… a sudden jolt and the train comes to a halt at the next station.

She eagerly scans the platform – nothing but a wave of grey, as the businessmen and women descend into the tunnel and exit the station. She impatiently attempts to telepathically force the train to keep moving. The sooner it leaves the better for her – a jolt and the train departs from the station.

A smile crosses her face. It is the first time Darla has genuinely smiled in a long time; however her face returns to the usual look that time has moulded for her, because of the pain that the smile brings. She rubs her face, just as her neck begins to ache – why does it do this? Whenever the painful memories return, that is when it comes, but she can do nothing to calm it. She begins rubbing it, hoping the ache will subside. Nothing seems to work. Instead she decides it is best to get some rest. She leans her head against the window and closes her eyes. The ever present clanging of the carriages finally lull her to sleep, as the train weaves its way around the tracks of the traffic filled suburban streets.

Thoughts race through her head. She has done this many times before, but she tells herself that this is it. Every so often she shivers in her sleep as the carriage lights flicker on and off, making her feel as though she is in the midst of a storm; however no storm can be as frightening as the one that she is leaving behind – a sudden jolt and the train comes to a halt. She awakens – startled.

“Where am I?” Darla questions aloud.

She searches frantically around the carriage – some people have left. She searches the platform. Several middle-aged men and women in business suits make their way towards the exit of the station. She watches as they descend into the tunnel. They appear as one great blob of grey shades disappearing into the darkness. She notices that no one is boarding – another jolt and the train begins to slowly move on. Relief.

Darla rests her head on the window and puts her feet up onto the seat opposite. The evening is drawing to a close, but she will have to keep moving. He will be looking for her. He will not let her get away with this – not this time. She looks at her reflection in the window – the eye will heal – it always does, but what will happen now? She has no one to support her. She will be alone. Oh, god – what has she done? She has a sudden urge to return.

Darla rises from her seat and lifts the bag off the floor; it contains everything that she owns. She drags the bag along as she makes her way to the door, and waits for the next station to appear. There is no doubt that she will have to return to him – no matter what. If she is lucky, he may just want to have his way with her or she may just receive another black eye… She could live with that… or could she? A sudden jolt and the train begins to slow down. The doors will soon open and she will be heading back into the city – back to him.

The platform starts to scroll by, until the train comes to a halt. Nerves raise an alarm that makes her feel as though she needs to vomit. The doors open and she hesitantly steps off the train. She heaves her bag towards the exit. In each carriage she notices grim faces of stone that all seem to have some tale of woe – they are continuing the journey… Why isn’t she – Hesitation? Fear?

Darla leaps back onto a carriage pulling her bag in with her, just as the train warns of its departure. She cannot go back to him. It is not a choice any more. She heaves her bag over to the seat she occupied earlier and slumps down by the window. She watches the last remnants of light fade behind the disappearing city skyline. That is that – no more chances. No more going back. She continually reassures herself that she is making the right decision… it still seems wrong.

Darla looks about the carriage… An old man stares at her – she twists to hide the blackened eye from him. Two women turn to each other and appear to be gossiping about her – they probably feel sorry for her. Too many people were ready to feel sorry for her, but none were willing to help… of course ‘he’ had threatened them all.

A jolt and the train begins to pull into the station. Two more stations and she would then be on another train, to another state, to a new beginning.

Darla watches the passengers trickle out of the carriages and then pour down the tunnel, as they make their way home. This saddens her – there is no home for her any more – she will have to find a new one.

Suddenly – No, it can’t be – It’s him! She knew that he would find her – How stupid of her to feel that she was rid of him forever. She slides down beneath the window in between the two seats as he urgently scans the windows of each carriage from the outside. She holds her breath, thinking that the slightest exhale could betray her. Her eyes jump from one door to the other, just waiting for him to leap into the carriage. He doesn’t. A jolt and the train leaves the station. Relief.

Darla cautiously peers around the seat from her vantage point on the floor and inspects the carriage. The two women are observing her, probably thinking that she is some lunatic escaped from a nearby asylum. Another man watches her, but turns back to his newspaper when their eyes meet. The young lady who was curled up in a corner of the train is looking out the window with a hint of fear… she must be wondering why ‘he’ was searching the carriages so frantically. Would she know that ‘he’ was here for her?

Just then, a hand is thrust in front of her.

“Can I help you?” A man questions, still offering his hand.

Darla takes it and is lifted to her feet. She does not know whether it is the swaying of the train or the sudden feeling of warmth tingling throughout her body, but she feels as though she is about to fall over.

“Sit down, dear,” the man says, helping her onto the seat. After moving Darla’s bag to the seat opposite, he sits next to her.

Darla wriggles about nervously, all the while trying to avoid looking into the man’s eyes. After an uncomfortable moment, she turns to face him, “Thank you.”

The man smiles, “Is everything alright?”

“Yes, thanks.” she replies, “I’ll be fine once I get on the next train.”

The man nods his head and smiles once more; “It’s probably not necessary to run all that way. It’s obvious that things have been hard for you.”

“Excuse me?” Darla attempts to shield her black eye from the man; “You don’t know what I’ve been through – nobody does – so please don’t assume to know about my life.”

A jolt and the train begins to slow down as it pulls up at the station.

“I’m sorry,” The man replies, as he rises from the seat, “I just hope that you don’t make the same mistake again. It’s happened once too often and it’s time for you to do away with that baggage.” With that, the man makes his way out the door.

Same mistake? Do away with my baggage – what does he mean? The man doesn’t know her – how dare he try and tell her how to live her life! She is making her own decisions from now on. ‘He’ is not here to make those choices – she’ll do it herself!

Darla watches as the man makes his way towards the dark tunnel. She suddenly sits up and takes more notice – unlike the other people disappearing down the tunnel, the man seems to have vanished. She wants to run down the tunnel to be sure, but she needs to finish this journey. It must have been her eyes playing tricks on her. She has not slept properly for days. She would be able to rest soon. A jolt and the train moves on down the dark, lonely track. One more station, then she will be off this train.

Darla leans her head against the window again. The ache in her neck has started up once more. She begins to rub her neck and shoulders. The few faces continue to observe her, as she tries to get some comfort back into her neck. The two women continue to gossip about whatever it is that has drawn their attention for the moment. The man has folded up his newspaper and is nodding off to sleep, swaying from side to side with the movement of the carriage.

Darla closes her eyes – sleep will be good – what she would give for one good night of rest. When she is on the next train, she will sleep. The threat will be over. But then, just as she is beginning to drift into unconsciousness, a scream from the back of the carriage startles her into wakefulness. The young lady that was sleeping at the back of the carriage finds that all eyes are fixed on her.

Darla watches as the female passenger wipes at the tears on her face and apologises to the rest of the commuters. The two women turn away and begin creating assumptions about the reasons behind the young lady’s outburst. The man, who was shocked into consciousness, moves to pick up his newspaper, which dropped to the floor in response to his frightened action. Darla notices that nobody has left their seats to make sure that the lady is alright – that is how most people react. She gets up and drags her bag to the end of the carriage.

“Are you alright?” She questions the lady.

There is no response, as the lady tries to get to sleep once more.

“Look, I’ll be right here if you need to talk,” Darla reassures, as she makes herself comfortable.

The lady murmurs something inaudible, which Darla takes as an affirmative response. Darla says nothing more, as she keeps an eye on the young lady, who has fallen asleep once again. She wonders what the lady’s story must be. It is obvious that she too is running. She is glad that she has a companion on the journey. A jolt, and before Darla even realises, the train has stopped at the station.

She turns to observe the passengers disembarking. The two women make a production of their departure from the train; they look in all directions to make sure that they are being watched. One of them focuses her attention on the back of the carriage and scowls, before laughing and daintily hopping off the train. The man folds his newspaper, places it under his arm and scans the carriage. There are only two people left; the sleeping lady and herself. The man with the newspaper smiles and begins to do a little dance routine; Darla laughs and claps as he shuffles off the train. Pain fills her face. She hopes that the pain will disappear soon. She hopes that laughter will never be a problem for her in her new life away from him. A jolt and the train begins the final leg of its journey.

Darla examines the young lady with her eyes. Her hair is a mess, and the four or five bags that the lady has brought with her have been used as makeshift pillows. Darla realises that the side of her face that the lady is lying on appears a little darker, but cannot tell if it is similar to the black eye that she is sporting. Darla sighs; although the lady may be running from whatever demons that haunt her, she still appears calm and peaceful as she sleeps. It makes her feel happy once more – she has made the right decision.

Darla looks outside the window and notices that the houses are fewer and there are fields. She feels a sense of power. He could not stop her now. She is out of the city for good. Whatever happens now would be up to the fates to decide. All she knows is that she will be off at the next station and onto the next train. That is all she has to know at the moment.

The train’s horn toots as it passes the crossing. Then a jolt, as the train begins to slow down.

“We’re getting towards the station!” Darla exclaims excitedly to the lady.

To her surprise the lady had already awoken.

“Finally,” The lady mutters, with a yawn.

“I’ll be on the next train soon!” Darla tells her, “I’ll be free! Free from him! Free to do as I please!”

The realisation is beginning to sink in – she is going to be free! She will be making her own decisions. She will be making her own money. She will finally be her own person. She will be free!

The young lady gathers up her bags, just as Darla does the same. Darla wonders why the lady is not as excited as she is. Then it hits her, maybe the lady is going back.

“Are you going to be alright?” She questions the lady, as the train stops at the station.

“I’ll be alright,” the lady repeats a few times, “I’ll be fine.”

The doors slide open and Darla steps out onto the dimly lit platform, followed closely by the young lady.

She breathes in the air; “It’s beautiful.”

“Just keep walking,” The young lady says, as she begins walking towards the exit.

Darla drags her bag across the platform, overtaking the lady in her excitement.

Suddenly…

“There you are!” He steps out of the shadows, as the train slowly departs.

Darla screams. She does not know what to do.

“I… I’m sorry.” Darla pleads, dropping her bag and taking several steps back.

“Don’t try running, bitch!” He shouts, “You’ll only make it worse!”

She freezes. “I’m sorry! I won’t do it again – I promise.”

She falls to her knees as tears begin streaming down her face. Her dreams of freedom have been shattered. She will be forced to return to him – most likely beaten into submission.

“See, now that you’ve made things harder for me, it’ll be a lot more harder for you!” He threatens, beginning to saunter towards her.

His voice has always made her freeze. She can do nothing now, but wait for the inevitable pain. Her neck begins to ache profusely.

“You’re just like all of them!” He declares, “But none of you understand – you don’t leave me!”

He is only steps away. Where is the power that she felt on the train? Why has it left her? But she knows that it has not left, she has suppressed it. Darla rises to her feet, ready to take whatever blow is thrown at her; however, to her shocking realisation, he passes right through her.

Darla turns – in her fear she had forgotten about the young lady, who is now cowering at the end of the platform. The lady’s belongings have been strewn across the station. He kicks them and laughs, as he approaches her. Darla knows that she cannot let this happen – she must not make the same mistakes!

Filled with a new power, she seems to almost float across the platform. Images of a long buried past return… The station… Him… Her belongings scattered across the station floor… His smile… She is struck several times across the face… She scratches him… He bleeds… His anger… She is thrown onto the tracks… Her neck breaks… Not again – NEVER AGAIN!

He approaches the lady. She calls for help. He laughs as he stands over her trembling form.

“You know, it’s funny,” he gloats, “The other bitch came this far too.”

He laughs once more and kicks her, as if he is a cat playing with its prey before the certain final blow. The lady sobs, but she dares not move. She prays silently for a miracle.

“Get up!” He orders.

She hesitates – that is enough for him. He raises his hand, ready to strike…

Just then – a miracle!

The lady notices one of her bags rising behind him. Darla’s rage has the bag hurtling towards him. It hits him hard on the side of his head. He tumbles off the platform and onto the tracks below. Several people, alerted by the screams, run up to the lady to see if she is alright. They had witnessed the final moments. Sirens sound in the distance. His body appears lifeless on the tracks below, but nobody climbs down to check on him.

Darla walks across the platform. She has found who she is. She picks up her bag and carries it to a seat nearby… it is lighter than before. She needs to wait for the next train. Darla watches as an ambulance officer leads the young lady down the tunnel and out of the station. She notices the kindness of the few who have gathered around the lady, before following her down through the exit. Some police inspectors arrive to investigate the scene.

A loud toot heralds the coming of a train. The police and ambulance officers jump off the platform to look at the body. The train pulls into the station. Darla rises from her seat and carries her bag towards the train. A familiar man extends a hand, once the doors open. He takes her bag onto the train. Darla takes one last look out the carriage doors, says her goodbyes and enters the train. She is free!

A jolt and the train leaves the station.