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04:45 AM

[010.] Riley and the Tumult on the Train

Riley had boarded the train hours before. She was feeling impatient. Why had she gotten the commission to make a great assortment of special weapons (maces, dirks, staves, crossbows) and then been required to deliver them? And who exactly was it that wanted them made and what for? It was such a distance to Rutherford, and she hadn't much felt like going on a trip. The train itself had an interesting design, though. She studied it as it moved along.

Suddenly, the train came to an abrupt stop, or what seemed like it, anyway. A few passengers stood, some sticking their heads out the windows trying to figure out what was happening. A few uneasy moments passed and someone came running into their car shouting, "The conductor's been killed!"

Many gasps followed his frantic announcement and one man immediately shot out of his seat. The 'messenger' man moved on to the next car and fear gripped the majority of the passengers.

Riley recognized the man who had stood so suddenly. "Braeden!" she called. He turned in her direction, completely surprised. Many others were in the midst of standing and shuffling and the way between the two of them became quickly blocked.

Braeden knew what he had to do, but could he with Riley around? Why was she there? Had she somehow followed him? It didn't matter. He had to do his job, only now he had to do it making sure that Riley didn't see him. He made his way to a window.

Riley managed to see Braeden climb into and out of the front left window of the car. "What is he doing?" she heard one man say. Riley could figure what it may have been that he was up to and her heart sank.

What if what Claudio had told her was true? If it was, then it was likely that Braeden was involved in the murder of the conductor. She wanted to follow him and investigate, but the fear of discovering the truth immobilized her. She sat back into her seat, staring into space. Her mind was devoid of all intelligible thought, her heart was beating in a bit of sadness, and her eyes were empty as she silently awaited the train's impending motion. She'd deliver the weapons, but at that point it no longer mattered to her why or for whom they were needed.