Page 11

I t’s uncharacteristically cold here for early November, and standing on an open-air train platform just isn’t a vibe.

I still can’t believe that old hag Jacinta has me on a train up to Scotland after she gave me a lift home from the disaster that was the party last night.

The fact that I’m a killer fleeing the scene of the crime doesn’t sit well with my stomach.

All attempts to eat this morning have led to retching and almost vomiting.

Won’t be doing that for some time now. Guilt is eating my insides, leaving my friends to deal with the death of Tim.

Oh, and because I KILLED HIM. Light-headedness takes over as I stumble backward on the platform.

“You okay there?” A feminine voice asks, holding me upright.

“Yeah. Just a bad few days, I guess,” I respond, slowly steadying myself.

Fighting my urges to find sexual partners to abate the pain in my skull from the call of the curse has led to all the bad things now happening.

My vision clears, and I find myself looking at a petite woman.

Her shoulder-length blonde hair is waving in the wind, making her seem magical.

That’s when I see them. Her piercing blue eyes are like the ocean personified.

I gaze into them, forgetting everything that seems to be troubling me.

Wisps of sound circle within my head like the sound of rolling waves towards the beach.

Hearing this sedates everything in my mind that has been a wreck thanks to Jacinta.

“Sorry, I’m staring, but you are so beautiful,” I say quietly.

All my insides stop churning, the pain in my head begins to dissipate as the sound of the water takes over, calming my inner self down. It’s like seeing this person before me has solved all my problems at once. Her cheeks redden with the softest of smiles.

“Why… er… thanks,” her voice is full of embarrassment.

“Sorry. I didn’t think! I just sort of lost control of my brain and the next thing I knew…” I begin to word vomit a way out of this awkwardness.

“It’s okay! It actually made my week. It’s been pretty awful,” she cuts in.

We both just stand there giggling like a bunch of school children over something trivial. Personally, it’s something I needed. With everything that’s happening right now, a little light distraction is a good thing. Right? She helps me over to some empty seats.

“I’m Kassius, by the way,” offering her a smile with my introduction.

“Nice to meet you, Kassius. I’m Morgan,” she replies, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her right ear.

Morgan asks if I would be okay now, as she’s going to grab some last-minute snacks from one of the stores at the station, claiming a long journey ahead. How sweet of her to check if I’d be fine before leaving. Her trip can’t be as bad as five hours to Glasgow.

Screeching to a halt, the train finally arrives and looks relatively empty.

Thank God for an early service because I don’t think I could have dealt with a busy train.

Seems pointless to have booked a seat now.

Finding my way to carriage B, I board the train, and the blast of heat is the most amazing feeling after standing out in the cold.

Navigating through the aisle, I look for seat thirty-four.

Jackpot! It’s a window and table seat! It’s no exaggeration that having a table and a window seat for a long train ride is exactly what is needed.

Somewhere to lean up against to sleep and something to put my laptop on for films or TV shows to speed the journey along.

Pulling out my tablet computer, I placed it on the table and decided to browse social media.

It’s full of tributes to Tim, as to be expected.

I’m a terrible person. Leaving them behind to deal with an autopsy of our close friend, followed by the planning of the soon-to-follow funeral.

Christ, I really am a terrible person. I know this because right now, I’m glad to not be involved.

The thought of death and dying terrifies me, so being away from those conversations comforts me greatly.

A soft judder of motion happens as the train begins to depart the station.

Looking out the window, I wonder where Morgan was heading.

The train is speeding up as things begin to blur with the motion.

My only thoughts now are of the attractive woman I just met, something about her was entirely different than everyone else.

Is this that feeling, you know, when in films people have the ‘meet-cute’ and are destined to end up together?

This feels that way. Well, it’s going to be impossible, seeing as all I know is her name and what she looks like.

Then again, I also didn’t think witches were real, and now I’m seeking to break their curse on me.

The train ride was long and exhausting. Stepping onto the platform and finally able to stretch more, I release a huge sigh of relief. Out of the corner of my eyes, I see a flash of gold, like when the sun hits blonde hair. It couldn’t be. Could it?

Dashing toward where I saw it, my stomach sinks when I realise it must have been a trick of the light.

What’s wrong with me? I don’t know this woman, but all my instincts want me to find her again.

But that can’t happen. Not yet, at least. I can’t risk killing another, especially someone as kind as her.

All that matters is finding this Clay and learning how to break my curse.

If it’s actually possible. After all, I’m trusting the words of that old hag.

She must have known I was thinking badly of her.

My phone rings.

“What do you want?” I say, skipping pleasantries.

“Did your mother not teach you manners, young man?”

“Again, what do you want, Jacinta?”

She huffs down the phone, “I want to know you made it to Glasgow?”

“I’m here,” I say abruptly.

There’s an awkward silence between us as I walk out of the station.

“Clay is waiting.”

I didn’t get a chance to reply as someone rudely walks through me, knocking my phone out of my hand.

“Hey! Watch it dickhead!”

The man turns around and I freeze to the spot.

He has shaggy, bright white hair. But that’s not the most notable thing.

His eyes. Brilliantly green. Closer to emeralds.

Flashes in my memory, and I return to that night and that wolf.

It’s like time has stopped as we stare into each other’s eyes.

No, each other’s souls. Only this time, I’m not afraid but intrigued.

Walking toward him, knowing I have the power to protect myself if needed, this time.

He’s dressed so normally for his striking features, a grey sweatshirt and matching bottoms. My eyes wander lower.

I gulp. Then, he does something completely unexpected.

He steps into my personal space and leans to the side of my head, and takes a long sniff.

I’ve watched and read enough to know this is someone scenting me.

I’m not going to lie; it turned me on. Watching him step back, he picks up my phone before handing it to me, and then he offers a devilish smile.

I’m shook. Unable to process the interaction, I lose the mystery man in the crowd of people I had forgotten about.

There’s a strange pull on my heart, telling me to find him as well. What the fuck! Two mystery people, causing my heart to want like never before. Snapping back to reality, I use my phone to request an Uber to take me to the catacombs. It’s time to meet this, Clay.