Now what I mean by train station is an abandoned building it a state of ruin with one working teller that looked like it was made in the 60s and when I say train what I really mean is a run down flatbed locomotive that’s held together by super glue, zip ties and sheer force of will.
Just riding the beaten tub of lard involves putting your life in gods hands and hopeing like hell this is the one time you actually make it there and back alive.
Go figure.
No upper class uses it since why the hell would they.
So the state figured if we’re crazy enough to ride it we deserve a day in paradise.
The very paradise in question that required two check points and the occassional anal blockage as someone shoved thier hand so far up your arse you were seeing dasies for the rest of the day had it’s fair share of, “why the fuck was that necessary!”
A feat that usually resulted after an upper class decided you just didn’t quite fit the bill so a firm rectal examination might be just what the doctor ordered which of course only resulted in said person legging it out of there with a bow legged shuffle at the speed of a snail as various forms of excrement trails behind you because of course you didn’t think to extract what they had just sifted through with the force of a 1900s hysteria before leaving home that morning.
Suffice it to say it was a hit or miss as to what misfortune might befall you when travelling to the upper suburbs.
And they had the hide to call us the slums.
Go figure right.
“You ready for this?”
“Right as rain boss man.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Ok Fido.”
His ensuing glare in my direction as the train slash death mobile lurched forwards like it had every intentions of taking us out with it, all while sparks flew in every direction careful to aim directly on the skin of your arm like it planned to do that.
The fact that it was a machine run by uppers who didn’t trust anyone in the slums with the only mode of entrance into thier fair city made me think they had control over it’s firey projectiles.
My now sizzling apedermis only made the look on Seth’s face feel all the more mancing considering his former status in societies ranks.
“One day you’ll run out of names to call me if you keep it up.”
“I highly doubt that Beethoven there’s no shortage of clever dog movies out there.”
“So you think I’m clever then? That puts all new meaning to the names. I take back what I said.”
“Did I say clever? What I really meant was disobediant.”
“Too late now Rexy. I can’t wait to tell Milly you think I’m clever.”
Crossing my arms while pouting my best, “you win this round.” Stare of, “but you won’t be so lucky next time.” I ignored his laugh of triumph as the train jolted along the rickety tracks of rusted metal hell bent on throwing us overboard into what can only be described as a rocky plunge into the bowels of hell itself complete with jutting out metal star pickets at regular intervals wrapped with barbed wire thats sure to scrape every deathdefying layer of skin as you rolled your way over the edge of a hundred meter wall that seperated the scum from its more dignified elite.
“How long has it been?”
Blue eyes stared my way the depth in them only deepening with a shadowed errie sense of something more then he’d previous let on.
“Too long.”
Ok clearly not the day for sharing.
I wasn’t about to be the one to pry open that can of worms.
“Fair enough. Guess we both need to keep our wits about us if we’re to survive what the uppers have in store for us.”
“Guess so.”
Moving forwards Seth leaned against the railing as the wind from the barrel of bolts blew in our face with the force of a turrential hurricane.
“There’s something I need you to do when we get to each check point.”
His serious tone peaking my interest had my ears on alert for the inevitable Seth rule that was about to be enforced.
“What’s that.”
Pupils diluting as the steel in his eyes brockered no arguments.
“Keep your mouth shut no matter what.”
“Fine.”
Rapid fire.
3-4 my lead.
“You’re not going to argue?”
Considering the before mentioned 50/50 chance of happening scenerio I was in no way taking the risk that any upper class hands invaded my rear ended orifice even without the added bonus of poofing the upper armada into whatever grusome demise thier souls had in store for them if thier touch ever did meet mine.
“Not this time.”
“Wow I’d expected at least some push back. Are you sure your Rexy and not some doppleganger that’s switched places?”
“I’m not about to risk you getting hurt in the process if one of them decides I sneezed the wrong way.”
“Awe you care about me.”
My seething scowl meet his puppy dog eyes at his teasing tone.
“Not what I said.”
“It’s what you meant.”
“No you don’t you love me.”
“You’re incorigable.”
“And you’re adorable.”
It was good to have the old banter back.
It’d been way too long since we’d teased each other playfully like this.
Even if it was completely immature it still felt great.
Check point one in T- 2 minutes.
“Here we go. Just remember stay behind me. Just let me do the talking.”
“Roger that le capitaine.”
Topped off with a salute that earned me a Seth equivalant to, “you promised you’d behave.” Look.
Lifting my hands palms up in a contrite shrug of, “I’m sowry.” Complete with my best baby voice.
When the train didn’t slow down as we’d expected it to the exchanged look of, “what’s going on?” Passed between us when a loud speaker annoucement chimed in from every direction.
You are attempting to pass through check point one.
Destination grand shifters station.
Standby for scanning.
Terrified to speak, I mouthed the words, “What’s happening?”
Seth’s blank stare telling me that he was just as clueless as I was.
Scan complete.
Seth wolffang.
Detective
Homicide division.
Wolf shifter
Upper class citizen
Alrexia Silver
Assistant detective
Homicide division
Shifter form unknown
Lower class citizen
Standby for next check point in T-minus 10 minutes
“Assistant detective!?”
The words were out my of mouth before I could stop them.
“Put a cork in it would you!”
“Oh no way, nah ah buddy you ain’t getting off that easily.”
His hand snapped towards my mouth. hovering just millimeters away from my skin stunning me into silence from sheer horror that the trains unstable tracks dislodge his steady hand enough to touch me.
Effectively shutting me up instantly with a sharp intake of breath.
After what felt like the span of an ice age Seth finnaly lowered his hand to his side as my heart restarted with a resounding thump.
“What the hell was that?”
“I honestly have no idea.”
See now I would have believed him except for the easily missed eye divert to the left that unless you knew him would have been passed off as a whimsical sceanic route stare.
“Come off it Seth there’s no way that wasn’t your doing.”
Sighing heavily he explained his voice a mixture of, “it’s no big deal.” And, “don’t read too much into it.”
“I did it the same day you told me you wanted to become a PI.”
“Did what? Assistant detective is a far cry from a PI.”
Here was where it got interesting turns out Seth left a few things out when recounting his decision to move to the slums.
“Well, technically speaking. I didn’t leave my job as a detective in the uppers. I just relocated it.”
“I know! That’s why I never told you. If you knew they might think you were in on it. I just couldn’t risk that.”
“So this whole time you’ve been working for them! To what clean us out from the inside! Seth. How could you hide this. From me!”
“Rexy,”
“Was I a part of your little under cover operation. Part of your plan to keep an eye on me in case I went on an out of control killing spree!”
“No!”
I tried to turn my back on him only to have him follow my direction keeping himself infront while I desparately tried to avoid facing him.
“Rexy please you have to believe me. What I told you was true. I relocated to the slums to help the people there not control them. Keeping my position as a detective gave me the resources I needed to do that.”
My head still spinning I started cursing the fact that we were stuck on a train where there was no way out.
No place to run.
No space to gather my thoughts.
All that was left was Seth and the bombshell he’d just dropped between us.
Taking a deep breath my composure in need of some much sort after therapy from this I meet Seth’s eyes with a camler more mature demenour.
“So let me get this straight.”
Another deep breath.
“You’re still a detective.”
“Yes.”
One quick inclination of his head with each statement I made.
“You relocated to slums.”
“Correct.”
Another dab.
“Do you still report to them.”
“Yes.”
Here’s where I noticed a slight flinch at my questions proving he was telling the truth.
“Because you’re helping us.”
“That’s correct.”
“This isn’t some elabarate plan by the uppers to finally be rid of us?”
“No. I did this because I wanted to not because I was order to.”
My next question spoken with a quiver in my voice petrified of what the answer was going to be.
“What have you told them about me?”
I swear my heart just stopped.
“Nothing.”
“Seriously? Not one thing about what I can do?”
“All they know is that you work for me as my assistant. That’s it.”
“How do I know your telling the truth. Especially after all this?”
Stepping closer Seth hand reached for my cheek that ever so teasing almost touch a new trick of his he clearly planned on continuing with.
“I once asked if you trust me. Do you remember?”
“Yes.”
“I’m asking you to trust me now. Trust that I wouldn’t lie to you. I might keep information from you for your own safety but I have never and will never lie to you.”
Quietly stepping back, his hand returning to his side while his eyes delved into mine.
He stood ramrod straight patiently waiting for my answer.
I already knew what I was going to say.
What I would always say.
“I trust you Seth. Now and Always.”
His crooked smile, one reserved for times just like these when he was truly unequivocably happy.
“Good girl. Now brace yourself for the next check point.”
Check point two in T- 2 minutes.
Prepare to be boarded.
I cracked myself up at this one. lol