in a jam-packed Istanbul cafe. Only occasionally did he abruptly get up and leave, sprinting from a particular individual or group.
Their journey had normalised till Limassol. After a seaside stroll, they’d returned to their hotel where the clerk, key in hand, wondered whether they’d caught up with their uncle. They’d fled to the airport and hadn’t stopped since.
She turned to look out of the door-less carriage where a few people stood, risking life and limb for a little extra air. Vashi, painted on a sign, marked the halfway point on their journey. There were few tourists on the train and none in their carriage. They could scarcely have been more conspicuous.
Thank goodness no one’s bothered us.
The train jerked and tugged out of the station. Beth released the grip on her small bag just as two Indian men jumped through the moving doorway and looked directly at her, no masks this time to hide their intent.
A jet of adrenaline hit her heart with a bang, defibrillating rage through her muscles. One stinking attacker squeezed next to her and the other leaned close to Galen. He allowed Beth to see a polished blade before pushing it into a pocket close to Galen’s torso.
No!
The scream filled her head but her lips didn’t move. Her breathing sharpened as red mist tinted her vision. Galen closed his eyes and the wrath came. It exploded out of nowhere and took her as much by surprise as it did everyone in the carriage. Her boot kicked high just missing Galen’s head. The knife-man reeled to one side, but her heel slammed his bicep.
In one move she grabbed Galen and ran for the open doorway. She pushed past bemused passengers as the men shouted close behind, knives flashed sunshine around the carriage. Beyond the doorway lay nothingness.
What the hell? Open ocean lay hundreds of feet below, the view broken only by steel girders flashing past.
A sea bridge…shit.
‘No use in it, mahilā. They are waiting for you at the next stop.’
She glanced back. Malicious grins fuelled the fire in her chest and darkened the strange red hue. She lifted Galen; his pale features were composed.
Please let this not be the mistake of my life, Beth begged. She kissed him hard on the lips and with every ounce of strength threw him off the train, over the railings and out into the open air.
Shrill screams filled the carriage and Beth realised hers were amongst them. The passengers pressed away from her, inadvertently knocking back the gaping attackers.
Her quaking heart flew out the door with Galen. She suddenly had every formula clear in her head, instantly calculating the probable velocity and impact force of his trajectory. She swallowed a wrenching sob back down and slashed at the thought that she could have miscalculated.
Gritting her teeth, she took three steps back and ran at the opening, flinging herself into the void to a fresh chorus of shrieks. A loud crack accompanied the snap in her left arm. No pain, just the rush of an endless plunge. The air was loud and twisty. Her clothes crackled in the icy wind as it blasted her skin. Long seconds stretched on. Her stomach writhed with the knowledge that death was imminent. Her body flailed uselessly.
What have I done?
Then quiet.
*
Beth drifted in the murky water. She was about three meters away, and could see her t-shirt had been ripped off her body. It floated next to her naked torso. She watched a giant hook on a stick lower from a boat above. It caught her jean-clad leg.
Hey, be careful with that.
Beth noticed the broken arm, white bone protruded above her elbow, but she could see no gush of blood.
That can’t be good.
‘Mum, wake now… Mum!’
Galen’s yell cut through her head like a hot knife. Searing pain burned her arm. She cried out, but instead of sound came water. There was so much she couldn’t draw breath. She retched, then vomited again. Finally, her lungs sucked in a loud gulp. Confusion and the putrid stench of rotten fish filled her head.
Their journey had normalised till Limassol. After a seaside stroll, they’d returned to their hotel where the clerk, key in hand, wondered whether they’d caught up with their uncle. They’d fled to the airport and hadn’t stopped since.
She turned to look out of the door-less carriage where a few people stood, risking life and limb for a little extra air. Vashi, painted on a sign, marked the halfway point on their journey. There were few tourists on the train and none in their carriage. They could scarcely have been more conspicuous.
Thank goodness no one’s bothered us.
The train jerked and tugged out of the station. Beth released the grip on her small bag just as two Indian men jumped through the moving doorway and looked directly at her, no masks this time to hide their intent.
A jet of adrenaline hit her heart with a bang, defibrillating rage through her muscles. One stinking attacker squeezed next to her and the other leaned close to Galen. He allowed Beth to see a polished blade before pushing it into a pocket close to Galen’s torso.
No!
The scream filled her head but her lips didn’t move. Her breathing sharpened as red mist tinted her vision. Galen closed his eyes and the wrath came. It exploded out of nowhere and took her as much by surprise as it did everyone in the carriage. Her boot kicked high just missing Galen’s head. The knife-man reeled to one side, but her heel slammed his bicep.
In one move she grabbed Galen and ran for the open doorway. She pushed past bemused passengers as the men shouted close behind, knives flashed sunshine around the carriage. Beyond the doorway lay nothingness.
What the hell? Open ocean lay hundreds of feet below, the view broken only by steel girders flashing past.
A sea bridge…shit.
‘No use in it, mahilā. They are waiting for you at the next stop.’
She glanced back. Malicious grins fuelled the fire in her chest and darkened the strange red hue. She lifted Galen; his pale features were composed.
Please let this not be the mistake of my life, Beth begged. She kissed him hard on the lips and with every ounce of strength threw him off the train, over the railings and out into the open air.
Shrill screams filled the carriage and Beth realised hers were amongst them. The passengers pressed away from her, inadvertently knocking back the gaping attackers.
Her quaking heart flew out the door with Galen. She suddenly had every formula clear in her head, instantly calculating the probable velocity and impact force of his trajectory. She swallowed a wrenching sob back down and slashed at the thought that she could have miscalculated.
Gritting her teeth, she took three steps back and ran at the opening, flinging herself into the void to a fresh chorus of shrieks. A loud crack accompanied the snap in her left arm. No pain, just the rush of an endless plunge. The air was loud and twisty. Her clothes crackled in the icy wind as it blasted her skin. Long seconds stretched on. Her stomach writhed with the knowledge that death was imminent. Her body flailed uselessly.
What have I done?
Then quiet.
*
Beth drifted in the murky water. She was about three meters away, and could see her t-shirt had been ripped off her body. It floated next to her naked torso. She watched a giant hook on a stick lower from a boat above. It caught her jean-clad leg.
Hey, be careful with that.
Beth noticed the broken arm, white bone protruded above her elbow, but she could see no gush of blood.
That can’t be good.
‘Mum, wake now… Mum!’
Galen’s yell cut through her head like a hot knife. Searing pain burned her arm. She cried out, but instead of sound came water. There was so much she couldn’t draw breath. She retched, then vomited again. Finally, her lungs sucked in a loud gulp. Confusion and the putrid stench of rotten fish filled her head.
Similar Books
