RUNAWAY

Click, click, clank the food cart echoed through the brightly lit hospital corridor. Having trouble finding a vein, a nurse finally inserts an IV. Code Red alert pealed over the Basset Army Hospital PA system.

Abby, the radiologist on duty, hurriedly finished the last bites of her meal in the hospital cafeteria.

Again, the Code Red announcement is repeated over the PA system. Sweat began to drip down Abby's underarms as she fought off an anxiety attack. Entering the restroom, Abby noticed the grinding noise from the overhead fan that sounded creepy and spooky and grated on her nerves.

Quickly, Abby emptied her bladder and headed toward the sparkling sink. She scrubbed her arms and hands thoroughly.

Before the third Code Red announcement, walking fast with purpose, Abby reached the Radiology Department. Needless to say, Abby was prepared for any emergency X-ray orders that would be given.

12:15 AM

After finishing the X-rays of the three individuals from the car wreck, Abby glanced at the clock, realizing that her shift will be over in forty-five minutes. During downtime, she checked her cellphone for messages.

At that exact moment, her cellphone chimed. Staring at the message from her roommate. Helen texted a warning, "Watch out for the train!"

Abby texted back, "What? Train? Have you been watching "Snowpiercer" again?"

"No! It's. It's one of those intuitive feelings. Be careful driving home." Helen messaged back.

From the light posts, yellow glows flickered in the dark starless sky, and the parking lot appeared to be almost empty. While walking to her parked car, Abby pulled at her lightweight jacket as she began to shiver.

Once inside her winterized SUV, Abby started the vehicle and turned on the heater. Unfortunately, the radio no longer worked. But, she was grateful that she had the heater fixed. In less than eight hours, the temperature had dropped fifty degrees.

Thinking to herself, well, it's the end of August. Sensing the dampness in the air, it sure felt like snow. No sooner than the thought, large white snowflakes splattered across the windshield.

Smiling, Abby whispered to herself, "Think of the devil and they will sure to appear!" The idiom was often spoken by her grandmother. The thought of her grandmother produced warm and fuzzy feelings.

In two miles, Abby would be home. Exhausted, she was behind the wheel. However, while trying to stay awake, her sleepy eyes blinked. The railroad crossing was open as Abby began crossing the tracks. A brilliant bright beam of white light flashed then complete darkness.

********

"Excuse me! Would you like some coffee?" inquired the male passenger seated next to her.

Heavy-eyed, Abby repeated, "Coffee?"

"Yes! You look like you could use a cup of coffee. By the way, I am Charles," the passenger confidently replied.

Abby rubbed her eyes and asked, "Where am I?"

"Why? Don't you know? We are on the Amtrak train from Dallas to Charleston, South Carolina!" replied Charles.

Scrunching her face, Abby sighed, "Charles, I don't know why I am on this train."

"Where is your ticket? That might give you a clue," comforted Charles.

Frantically, Abby checked her pockets and shrieked, "I have no ticket. I don't have my cellphone. I have NO money. HOW did I get here?"

Right on cue, the ticket inspector was headed in Abby's & Charles' direction.

Before the ticket inspector could reach them, the train began swaying, and its speed increased. a tall red-haired and freckled-faced woman entered the car and screamed, "Who can stop the train? It's a runaway!"

Making an about-face, the ticket inspector walked like a drunk, who couldn't walk a straight line. The inspector gripped the back of the seats as he made his way down the aisle and back towards the engine.

Stopping before entering the next coach, the tall red-haired woman nervously tugged at her necklace as she introduced herself to Abby and Charles.

"I am so SCARED, by the way, my name is Janie," she said.

Charles reassured Janie, "No need to be worried. The engineers can operate and will have things under control any minute."

"Are you sure? Honestly, the train isn't displaying any signs of slowing down. The man in the dining car said, 'There wasn't a snowball's chance in Hell that the train would slow down,' Janie relayed.

"Do you hear that beeping sound?" grilled Abby.

In unison, Janie and Charles retorted, "No!"

"Beep! Beep!" Abby cupped her ears hearing the sound and looking around for the source.

Nothing in the passenger car was making a distressing sound. When Abby exited her seat, the smell of Clorox enveloped her as she staggered down the aisle.

*******

While buzzing the nurse, Helen murmured, "It's good to see you are back with us."

Awakening with uneasiness and a bit queasy, Abby's mouth felt dry as if it were stuffed with cotton. She forced her mouth to move and ask, "Where am I? What happened?"

Soothingly, Helen cooed, "Hush! The nurse will be here in a minute."

A tall red-haired nurse walked into Abby's room. Nurse Janie queried, "How do you feel?"

Slowly, Abby acknowledged, "I feel funky and off! What happened to me?"

"On your drive home, you were hit by a runaway train. You were admitted into the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. You had two operations. The doctors decided to induce a medical coma," answered the nurse. Then she asked, "Do you need any more pain medicine?"

Abby responded, "No, but I could use some ice water, please."

Looking directly at Nurse Janie, Abby stroked her head. Then, Abby blurted, "You look so familiar!"

Knocking on the door, "Okay for me to come in?" asked Dr. Charles.

Nurse Janie answered, "Yes!"

Dr. Charles swaggered into the room and checked on Abby's chart notifying her that she should be able to leave the hospital in another week.

"Abby, do you have any questions?" quizzed Dr. Charles.

After a quick sip of water and looking directly at Dr. Charles, Abby exclaimed, "No! But, why do you look so familiar?"