The darkness pervaded every inch of the room, seeping through the windows and doorway, oozing in through the cracks in the ceiling and gaps in the floorboards. The air was silent and still, void of sound except the single heartbeat coming from the corner.
The train rattled across the icy tracks, thunking along. The swaying of the cabin did nothing to still
the thudding heart. Maybe it wouldn’t
notice, maybe it would keep going, past this small, insignificant
compartment. The heartbeat thumped. Please, oh please keep going. Don’t stop here. Please don’t stop.
The silence was broken by a soft swish of a socked foot sliding
across a smooth floor. Swish. Silence. Swish.
Silence.
The heartbeat thumped faster.
Shhh! Stay calm. Stay quiet.
Stay hidden. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Swish. Silence. The sound came closer. Swish. Silence. It was nearly to the small, insignificant
compartment. Swish. Silence.
It was here.
Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump. Hold
your breath. Don’t make a sound.
Silence.
Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump.
Stay quiet. Stay hidden. Shhhh.
Silence.
Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump.
Why won’t it go. I can’t hold
still for much longer. Go away.
Silence. Swish. It moved away, inching down the hall. Swish.
Silence.
Thump thump thump thump. It’s
going. Stay calm. Stay still.
Wait.
Swish. Silence. It was getting faint now. Swish.
Silence.
Thump thump thump. Ok. Breathe.
Quietly. Slowly.
Silence.
Thump thump. Carefully, get
up. Move. Softly.
Silence.
Thump. Now’s my chance. Slide open the door and run for
connector. There is an emergency exit
there. Jump. You’ll have to jump.
Silence.
Go! Now! The door slid open. The heartbeat stayed normal. Quickly, down the hall. The clank of the door opening and
closing. Too loud.
Swish.
Oh, no! It’s coming. Hurry!
The handle, it’s stuck. I can’t…
Swish. Silence. Swish. Silence.
It’s moving fast.
Hurry! Phhshh. Jump!
Jump! Now!
Swish. Silence.
White snow swirled around silently, softly burying the
heartbeat. Muffling it, disguising
it. Hidden beneath the cold.
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