Running away on the wrong train:

It was colder then she thought it would be outside. She stood in the dark alley waiting, peaking through the fence cracks at dark back yard... Would he really do it? Would Angel really come? He had laughed when she suggested it..

Cleo stood there pensive, wary. She was running away, at 18 she had already gotten married... now 6 months later she was running for her life. Her best friend of 13 years Angel had said he would come, that it wasn't safe for her alone in the world... It wasn't safe at home she thought again looking through the fence cracks.

Finally she saw Angel walking across the yard. He had a back pack on. He was coming. She felt a wave of relief sweep over her.

She studied her best friend trying to see in him what the other girls all saw... A tall, dark, handsome and mysterious stud. She couldn't see it, At 6'3" he was tall yes, his long dirty blond hair swept across his forehead making it hard to see his big blue eyes... those eyes always watching, always aware. He was built well, not from sports or working out, but from farm work and a harder life. She sorta saw it now... She sighed it didn't matter, he saw her as a kid sister, someone to watch-out for and protect.

Cleo herself was shorter only 5'2", her bright blue hair flew wildly in the nights breeze, only to her ears and baby fine it was never styled for long. She wore her makeup dark and her clothing lose. Not quite goth, not quite hippy... somewhere between. The two made an odd pair as they walked silently down the alley, but no one would see them to notice.

Angel slowly came to a stop as they made their way to the train station. He out his hand up signaling Cleo to stop, she peeked past him... ahead of them sat the train station, historic and massive. The parking lot busy despite the late hour.

Once clear they ran to the building and once inside used a kiosk to order tickets. " Where are we actually headed?" Angel asked as the ticket options popped up...

Cleo looked at the computer screen, so many places to go, options for days. "Lets get as far as we can, look this one is going to Montana." she pointed at one that said overnight trip on the screen. It was far away from where they were, it would work. They could figure it out when they got there.

Once safely on the train Cleo started laughing. " Whats so funny?" Angel looked at her with annoyed face. "WE ACTUALLY DID IT" she squealed.

The last 6 months had been a nightmare, her husband a mean and controlling man. He had put her the hospital last time, 4 broken ribs and a fractured collar bone. As she lay there in the train car watching the world slowly pass the memories all crept over her. What would he do when she realized she was gone?

She did not know, but this was a small concern... compared to the dangers that would await them down the tracks. it was 3 am when she finally drifted into sleep, a nightmare instantly plaguing her slumber. Her husband was always a monster in her nightmares, as ugly outside as in... in this one he had her pinned to the living room wall... holding her by her collar bones with one arm... holding her hair tightly with the other. "Look at me Cleo... Tell me why you still talk to him? I found the messages in your phone. I TOLD YOU TO STOP TALKING TO ANGEL!" his anger turning into bellows as he slams her again into the wall... she woke up then, she always did... in a cold sweat and trembling she got up and walked to the bench Angel slept on... she laid down and got as close as she could without disturbing him... her guardian, the man that had been like a brother since 1st grade. AS if he could her need for comfort he rolled over in his sleep and wrapped his arms around her... "It's only a dream, I won't ever let him hurt you again." His voice far away and sleepy as he drifted back to sleep.

Sleep would be short lived... as the sun was coming up she felt the first jolt. waking up just as the second rocked the train car. "Somethings wrong, get up. We are moving faster then last night." She stammered as she traded her sweat pants for jeans and threw her hoodie on. Angel was up in a flash. "Stay here until I come back. I will go see whats going on." His voice leaving no room for argument Cleo remained in their cabin and gathered their lose things. As the backpacks sat ready by the door she again looked out the window. Green fields rushed by them as the train wildly sped down the track... Where was Angel? It had been almost 30 mins since he told her to stay put...

Angel ran as fast as a man can run on a wobbly, rocky train. He jumped over the gap that separated the last car before theirs. "CLEO WE HAVE TO GO" he shouted down the hall. He frantically flew into their cabin relieved to see she had already packed... " The conductor is not on the train, I looked everywhere, no one is driving it. The second in charge doesn't know how to stop it."

Cleo laughed... she laughed so hard she started to cry. " Figures I would run for my life on a train with driver" she howled into the early morning. Angel took her hands and led her to the back of the car... "We have to jump, and we have to jump soon." He spoke firmly, yet comfortingly. She looked and saw why, a river with a wild rapids ran under a bridge, the sharp corner was sure to cause the train to come off its tracks. Behind and next to them lush meadows led to a forest beyond...

Her choice was made for her, they clasped hands and jumped. Once on the ground Angel starting looking them over for injuries, finding none they stood and looked back, the train was coming to the corner... she closed her eyes for a moment hoping to miss the disaster. She failed, as she opened her eyes the train hit the corner and came off the track, the engine flying into the river below dragging the train behind it. The water was deep enough, and the current strong enough it was quickly swept down the river rapids and away from view.

She started to cry, large loud sobs came from somewhere deep inside her... As Angel wrapped her in his arms he whispered " You are alive, we are safe"

As they wondered into the woods they found the train around a bend in the river, stuck on a massive boulder in the water. Running to it they saw people coming out, bruised and shaken... But somehow alive...