Loch Eilt

He woke to a gentle rhythmic clack as a breeze spilled through the curtains of the window. Its cold embrace weaved through the blanket and caused his body to involuntarily shiver. The blankets velvety touch caressed his cheek and arms as he pulled it tightly around himself. As the warmth returned to his body, penetrating deep, the shivers died down. The numbness in his limbs and chest broke with needle-like pricks as Lachlan shifted atop him and nuzzled into the crook of his neck and pulled him closer. His lungs filled with a fresh and brisk cold that pushed him from the state between sleep and wakefulness he found himself in. Too cold to have the window open. Bailey opened his eyes and looked down to where Lachlan lay. She wasn’t there.

He propped himself up, pushing against the blue felt cushion of the couch with an elbow. His heart pounded like drums deep in his chest as he looked around the compartment. The only lights, golden sconces mounted on either side of a mirror, reflected sunlight onto the purple-brown wooden walls. The luggage remained untouched atop the chrome wireframe racks that protruded from the wall above each side of the couches. As Bailey unfurled the blanket from around him, he heard footsteps moving down the corridor toward the compartment door. The person stopped at his door, appearing from the left, blurred and misshapen by the frosted glass and fumbled with the door latch. After several attempts it slid open. Lachlan stood with a smile on her face and a plate of sweets balanced in her hand.

“Oh, you’re awake! Fancy some?” She walked over and knelt beside the couch, balancing the plate on the edge while the sun shone off her warm walnut skin. She turned and looked out the window, her vibrant green eyes captured the suns light. “Such a… beautiful place.” Bailey rose and looked out the window with her, careful not to knock the plate to the floor. It was breathtaking.

Green fields stretched across miles, dotted with small clusters of trees and rocky outcroppings; flowers of purple, blue, and yellow were interspersed throughout the landscape. Everything rolled over and stretched to stony mountain tops reaching to touch the clouds. This is beautiful. Bailey looked to Lachlan as she continued to take in the landscape. He gently guided her to look at him, her eyes soft and caring as she clasped his hand in her own. Their lips met as he pulled her close and, for a moment, she melted into him until he slowly pulled away. They both chuckled as the plate slid off the couch. With a muffled clang the sweets were strewn across the dull gray carpet.

With a soft smile and heavy breaths Lachlan asked, “Oh my. Where is this coming from?”

“Don’t like it? You did say to be a little more spontaneous with the romance.” Lachlan stood and walked over to the wooden door and slid it closed. She turned around. With two steps she was at the end of the couch. She leaned on one hand as she placed it on the cushion and began to crawl over him, her eyes locked with his own.

“Never said I didn’t like it.” A small smile broke her lips as her nose hovered centimeters from his. She pushed him against the window and kissed him. One hand slowly slid from his forehead to his neck as she straddled him; he heard a dull thud as the other slammed against the window.

“Woah.” He nodded with a smile to the other compartments “Our neighbors might hear.”

“Those are empty.” Lachlan kissed him again as she pinned his hands to the wall and, with a coy smile, added. “I checked.” Empty? On this route? Bailey looked into her eyes, full of mischievous excitement and… Is that another pupil? He froze as she leaned in and her lips pressed against his cheek, soft and warm. Her hand slid beneath his shirt. Long and slender fingers firmly pressed against his abdomen, as her lips moved down his neck. His heart slammed against his chest and everything in his body screamed warnings; every muscle tensed, ready for action.

A nervous laugh escaped her as she hesitated. “Hey. Relax a little.” She looked at him again. The mischievous twinkle left her eyes, only the light from the sconces shone in them. He smiled and sat straighter. Damn it. Am I seeing things? “What is bothering you?”

“I feel exhausted. I’m sorry.” She sat straight, hands on his stomach. Her eyes looked him over like a lioness watches a gazelle.

“Later then?” After a quick peck on the cheek, she stood and grabbed a small purple suitcase from the luggage rack, unzipped the front pouch and pulled out a book, then pushed the suitcase back. Her index finger slid between the pages where a white bookmark stuck out as she lay beside him. Nestled between him and the back of the couch she opened the book. Its spine pressed against his chest as her eyes flitted across the pages and her free hand reached up to play with his hair.

Bailey stared at the light mounted in the middle of the ceiling and traced the gold trim around it. At least the only source of light isn’t too intrusive. He turned his head and looked to the dull gray carpet. While clean and new, it made the area feel gloomy. He inhaled deeply, more aware of the book’s spine as his stomach rose and fell. I might paint this scene with a nice… patterned carpet; purple diamonds outlined in gold on a sea of blue. A little derivative, but it works. His thoughts wander as he stares at the ceiling. What route are we taking? Come to think of it… how did we get here and where are the other passengers?

Bailey listened for some time—there was nothing. Not a sound from anywhere other than outside and the clacking of the tracks. No one else could be heard, and he couldn’t recall the last time someone came to check on them. I did hear Lachlan’s footsteps. Can’t be this empty. He readjusted himself and propped himself up on one elbow, careful not to disrupt Lachlan’s reading, and listened. He strained to focus on the outside. The only sound he heard was of the book being closed.

“What’s the matter dear.” He turned his head to look her in the eye.

“Isn’t it odd how quiet it is?” She smiled.

“I enjoy the quiet. Besides, I think we lucked out and have the entire car to ourselves.” He attempted to recall where they were but couldn’t. He looked out the window for clues. As the bush moved from view it revealed a viaduct, the bending stone bridge reached over a creek, standing before a large green covered hill. Glenfinnan? This route is hardly this quiet. Even now.

“When did we arrive in the UK?” Lachlan looked puzzled. Her hand pressed against his chest as her eyes filled with worry. He allowed her to guide him down. Once his head hit the cushion, she closed the book and rested her head on his chest.

“You must be really exhausted. We should get you checked when we arrive. You know how long this train ride is.” He stared at the ceiling, his hand idly stroking her head. Perhaps a quick walk at the next station would do me well.

“Let’s get off at the next station, then. Just a minute down the track. We could both use a stretch.” Lachlan rolled over and rested her chin on his chest with a smile on her face.

“I’m feeling tired myself now. Resting here with you seems like a better idea. We can stretch when we get to our destination.” Her hand reached out and held his head, then her index finger traced his jaw line and tapped the tip of his nose. There was very little he could do but smile. Outside he could hear voices. A deep voice spoke; though muffled he could hear something about tickets, wished whoever they were speaking to well on their journey, then a few footsteps to the next compartment—the one adjacent to theirs.

A few knocks on their door then the deep voice spoke again. “Ticket check.” A soft and muffled voice responded.

“One moment." Bailey listened as someone walked to the door and slid it open. The two spoke about the weather and where they were headed; couldn’t quite make out the last part. The ticket man, once again, wished them well on their journey. The door slid closed and the footsteps continued to their compartment.

The individual stopped outside the frosted glass and, with three knocks, once again stated his intentions. Bailey looked to Lachlan, who sat up, allowing him to stand. He stood and grabbed the phone form the left-hand pocket of his pants as he walked to the door and slid it open. A short, brown-eyed man waited in the corridor, a bushy mustache was attached to his upper lip and a scanner held in one hand. He tipped his hat in greeting and waited as Bailey opened the National Rail app and scrolled to tickets. There was nothing. His face flushed of color, and he looked to Lachlan; her expression was somewhere between confusion and worry. The short man looked to the blank screen and looked back to Bailey. His features remained emotionless. The mustache flapped as he spoke. “Alright, boy.” After a quick pat on the shoulder Bailey watched as he walked down to the next compartment and repeated the process.

Bailey slid the door closed as confusion flooded his mind. When did those compartments fill? From the other compartment came a ruckus; laughter, a few things hitting the floor, and sounds of pleasure. As he walked over to sit beside Lachlan, attempting to ignore the sounds as his cheeks warmed. He leaned forward, his forearms rested on his knees to support his weight, then stared at the blue carpet. This day feels weird… So very weird. He followed the golden trim around the purple diamonds, each connecting to the one adjacent, until the pattern stopped at the base of the wall. He looked out the window and watched the sunset shine off the loch. Then he paused.

The sun was held between the mountains on either side of the loch, the left one bulbous while the right had a gradual incline. Calm waters created a mirror-like reflection as the clouds rolled over head. As the train continued his mind felt as if it were folding in on itself. That bulbous mountain… we should be wrapping around that. And when did we stop? He couldn’t take his eyes off the mountain on the opposite shore. Memories of earlier trips floated through his mind as Lachlan twirled her fingers through his hair. I don’t recall the view being from this angle. Though… it has been some time…

“What is wrong, Bailey?” His eyes shot to his wife who smiled at him. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple while a concerned frown contorted her face. Her hands clasped around his as she stared into his eyes. Her voice soft and comforting. “This is why we took another vacation. You are too stressed. Relax.”

Her hands released his and rested on his shoulders. She maneuvered around him and began to rub his shoulders. “You are tense!” She said with a giggle while her fingers dug into the muscle. Slowly she pressed the pain away as he listened to the world outside their compartment. The corridor filled with childish laughter from a few compartments down and the adjacent couple had grown quieter.

Suddenly he shot up. His voice filled with fear and rage. “No! This isn’t right!” Lachlan pulled back into the couch, her eyes wide. “We didn’t stop, and the train is on the wrong side of the loch.”

Her voice trembled as the words slipped from her lips. “Wh- what do you mean? It has always been on this side.” He looked to her and then out the window, then back to her.

“What do you mean?” His breaths quickened and head began to spin. Bailey pointed, frantically, to the mountain “That mountain is on the south shore of the loch.” She looked out toward it and agreed, with fear.

“And your eyes.” She flinched as he moved in close, his arms pinned her against the corner of the couch. Every muscle tense as he stared into her eyes. The same vibrant green as always. Still… He leaned in closer.

“You’re scaring me.” She tried to look away but he shouted for her to look him in the eye. She obeyed.

Tears began to swell in the corner of her eyes as he stared into them. Vast and condensed. Deep yet shallow. The longer he stared the more it felt as if something stared back. His eyes bounced between the blackness of her pupils, now as mirror-like as the calm waters of the loch.

“I swear there was someth-“ His words caught in his throat as her pupils both filled and emptied the sclera. They split then reshaped, multiple times, into incomprehensible forms barely visible as if just beneath the surface of water. Each shade swirled with the others. Though defined in their own darkness, they merged, melded, and swirled through, in, and around one another. The darkest most portions ceased movement. They floated, stationary, as four oval slits like eyes.

An indescribable presence poured, invisible, into the space and gripped him tight. With hands pressed firm against the wall behind her he resisted. His gaze fixated, even as he wished to pull away and close her eyes forever. A thud echoed throughout the corridor and his heart felt as if it would tear itself from his chest.

The pull became determined, and his shoulder popped with a sickening crack. Bailey twisted to escape but it seemed futile. Fear gripped him and he struck Lachlan in the chest and the invisible force released him. He turned to the door, though there was nothing but plain wall. He looked around for a way out. Four walls. A floor. Couch. Mirror. His eyes fell to the window. He reached toward the luggage. He ripped the first thing his fingers grasped from the rack and tossed it at the window. It shattered—easily.

Gray clouds float in the reflection of the loch with white dots of stars dispersed through the darkness. He burst toward it then stopped. He fell to his knees as the invisible force grabbed him again. He stared to the loch, to freedom. Then noticed the clouds moved into and around four oval sections of the loch. They were surrounded by an even darker mass that never ceased in movement, though floated centimeters below the surface. This must be the creature that desired him, had stared back at him through Lachlan. Though, perhaps only its head, it was massive in size. It stared into and through him. Everything melted away and left only him and the floor suspended in a vast darkness. Any desire to look away had been washed from his mind, even as the floor creaked under pounding footsteps that echoed behind, in front, and around him. As the sound closed in the presence of whatever the being was sent a wave of shivers up his back as if he could sense its proximity. The footsteps grew to a deafening crescendo then ceased. His body shook with increasing violence as long and slender, yet formless fingers wrapped around his head. His screams were nonexistent, though his internal voice was deafening, as claws and protrusions dug into his skull.