Tunnel Vision

The sudden swerve of motion jostled her from a deep sleep. Darkness. She was moving. Her head felt as if it were entombed in a mass of cotton wool. She felt sick. She opened her eyes, but her vision only provided a blur of watery haze. She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head in an attempt to remove the grogginess that seemed to have overtaken her. She opened her eyes again. A sudden intensity of brightness filled her dilated pupils and shot a surge of adrenaline through her body. She turned her gaze to the right. Tiny pictures flashed by; much like an old film reel projecting images on a screen. Frame...by frame...by frame. She was on a train! A fast moving train! What in the world was she doing on a train? More importantly, HOW did she come to be on this train and WHY?

She surveyed the compartment as the flickering images of trees and landscape passed. There was a man, slumped in the seat opposite her. His head rested on the bolster cushion that leaned against one of the windows. He looked as though he was sleeping. At least she hoped he was sleeping. She stood, steadying herself against the train's motion. Still feeling a bit woozy and disoriented, she grasped the handrail fastened on the wall. She glanced once again at the man opposite her. She could see the rise and fall of his chest and hear the faint murmur of his breath. Okay, so he was breathing. And, yes, he was sleeping. From what she could see of his face, he was also strikingly handsome.

Taking her eyes away from the stranger, she looked more carefully at her surroundings. A small, but elegant table stood underneath the middle window of the three large ones that occupied the compartment. She observed that, rather than seats or chairs, there were two settees comfortable enough for two people. Each appeared to have the option of being converted into a lay-down bed. To her left was the door to the compartment that led to what she assumed to be the train car's corridor. To the right of this door was another. She steadied herself and stepped to open the second door revealing a small but well-appointed washroom complete with a shower. Clearly, she was in a sleeping compartment. A very spacious and elegant sleeping compartment she observed. But why? And why was HE there?

She looked again at the sleeping man. She felt as though she had seen him before but the fog that still occupied her mind clouded her memory. In some vague way, his countenance gave her a feeling of recognition. She shook her head at the absurdity of it all, sat back down on the settee and closed her eyes.

After collecting her thoughts for a while, and feeling a bit more clear in the head, she determined to get answers as to why and how she was here. She glanced around for her purse. It was nowhere in sight. She turned and caught a glimpse of her disheveled reflection in a full-length mirror, which hung between what appeared to be two wardrobe lockers. She opened the first. Hanging inside were some articles of men's clothing. A man's shaving kit and briefcase were situated on a shelf above the clothes. Behind the second door she found some women's outfits that, although appropriately sized, were not hers. On the shelf above the clothes she found her purse and a small cosmetics case. She took the two items from the shelf and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Rifling through her purse in search of some sort of clue as to what was going on and why, her efforts produced nothing...not even a train ticket. Angry, frustrated, and confused, she tossed her purse and the cosmetics case back onto the shelf in the wardrobe. Looking again at herself in the tall mirror, she smoothed the wrinkles in her cocktail dress that she was still wearing from the night before, tousled her hair, and stepped out of the compartment.

The corridor outside was empty, save for the steady droning and clacking noise of the train reverberating between its walls. She began to move down the corridor in the direction of the train's heading. She passed through the gangway connection leading to the next car...empty. It occurred to her that both the first car in which she had awakened and this one were sleeping cars. She counted the number of compartments in the second car. Ten. There were five on either side of the corridor, each separated by three large windows showcasing the quickly passing landscape of thickly wooded forest. She continued toward the next car, a sense of bewildered anxiety building through her.

As the door to the third car began to open she heard, for this first time on this train, the sound of people's voices. She stepped into what she presumed to be the lounge car. There, she found people gathered in small groups, some were mingling about the car, while a couple of men were seated in lounge chairs and staring blankly out of the windows. The sound of the train's movement was suddenly replaced by the sounds of lively conversation, laughter and the tinkling of ice in cocktail glasses. A familiar jazz tune played in the background. As a matter of fact, some of the faces in the small crowd appeared familiar as well. She stepped further into the lounge car, grateful for the ambient noise of actual people rather than the monotonous droning of the train. But that music...what was it? It was lively but in a way, hypnotic.

"Dave Brubeck!" She blurted, causing a few people near her to cast a surprised look in her direction.

"Oh... you know...Dave Brubeck and his famous 'Take Five' number? I love this piece." She said nonchalantly to the group. They nodded, smiled and returned to their conversation.

"Isabella? Isabella Russo? Is that you? Oh good. It is you!" An excited female voice startled her by the mention of her name.

Isabella turned to see a well-dressed woman in her late fifties approaching her with a broad smile on her face and a Bloody Mary in her hand.

"Oh good! I'm so glad to finally have caught up with you! I wanted to chat with you at last night's reception but, well...you know how it goes at those things. Always someone grabbing onto you trying to introduce you to someone or another." She waved her hand in a dismissive motion while accompanying the gesture with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh yes, of course..." Isabella's response hung in the air as the woman continued.

"But now, maybe you and I will be able to have a decent conversation with so fewer people around. I'm Deanna, by the way. You know, I've been wanting to..." Isabella interrupted her in mid-sentence by a soft touch to the woman's forearm.

"Yes, that would be wonderful, I'm sure. But first, can you tell me when the next train stop is? I seem to have misplaced my schedule." Isabella tried to hold back the pleading sound in her voice.

"Next stop?" The woman laughed. "The next stop is our final destination. Surely you saw that on your invitation included in your conference welcome packet. There are only a few who were invited. And we happen to be the lucky ones! So, there are only twenty or so of us and, there are no stops aside from that of the final destination; and no one knows what that destination is. That is why its called the Mystery Train! Isn't it a thrill? Cheers to the Mystery Train and to those few who have been invited on board!" She raised her glass to her lips, finished off the remainder of her brunch cocktail, and glided back into the small assembly of "lucky" guests.

Now, with a little more to go on, Isabella began to try and piece things together. The mystery man, the mystery train, the clearly chosen group of people who had been invited on some lunatic trip to an unknown destination, the inexplicable reason for her presence here...

A single chime, followed by a pleasant, but automated female voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Attention dear guests, we hope you have enjoyed your brunch. Please be advised that we will be approaching a tunnel in approximately 10 minutes. As per safety requirements, we remind you that all guests must return to their compartments until the train has passed safely through the tunnel. A second single chime will sound indicating that it is safe for you to move about the train once again. While between tunnels, we encourage you to take advantage of the wonderful on-board amenities. These include an exercise car, a spa car, the bistro car, and the two-story observation lounge where you can enjoy the magnificent scenery.

Please keep in mind that two chimes will sound at 6 o'clock indicating the beginning of our evening dining service. Pre-dinner cocktails will be served in the lounge at 6:15 and dinner will follow at 7 o'clock in the dining car. Please indicate your choice of entree and place your menu selection placard on the outside of your compartment door. Thank you."

The pleasant female robot's voice was punctuated by the last saxaphone notes of Take Five as the occupants of the lounge car exited through the gangway connection.

**********

Isabella followed the last of the so-called guests through the car connection and observed as each approached their respective compartment door, opened it, and disappeared inside. The sound of mumbled words and softly closing doors reminded her of a 'lights out' policy at summer camp. She passed through the connection to the second sleeper car and found the door of the compartment that she had exited a short while ago. She glanced at her watch. It was 1:15 in the afternoon.

She opened the compartment and breathed a sigh as she rested her back against the compartment door. She was just turning to fasten the lock on the door when a second door from within the compartment opened abruptly. A startled gasp escaped her lips as she swung around, nearly crashing into the man emerging from the washroom. Both stunned, they stared incredulously at one another.

"You!" They said simultaneously each pointing a finger at the other.

"Isabella!" His exclamation came out as a loud whisper. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing, Dr. Kovaleski. As for me, I have no idea what I'm doing here, nor do I know how I got here! Unless you had something to do with it!" She hissed a suspicious whisper, her eyes narrowing to an angry stare.

"Unless I had something to do with it?" He tossed his towel with a frustrated gesture back onto the wash basin.

"Yes! YOU!" She raised her voice. "How else would I have found myself in this place...on this train! You were the last person I remember speaking with last night at the reception! And then, suddenly, I find myself on this train, in a sleeping compartment, with a man I had only just met! I think you might..." Her tirade was cut short by the softened look on his face as he moved a finger to his lips.

"Shhh. I don't know why I am here either." He whispered. "I don't remember anything except that you and I were having a wonderful conversation last night. Since then, the only thing I remember is awakening in here. My head was throbbing and I went to splash some water on my face. Then you came in and...now, here we are. That is all I know." The sincerity in his voice calmed her.

"We need to talk about this." She said as she moved to the settee she had occupied earlier. She sat down. He took a seat opposite hers.

"Listen, Dr. Kova..."

"Please. It is Alexander...uh...no. Call me Alex. We dispensed with the formalities last evening. Don't you remember?" He offered a gentle smile.

"Oh, uh... yes, of course. And I'd prefer if you call me Bella." She nodded, realizing how much closer they had become last night.

"Okay then Alex." She continued with an emphasis on his name. "All I know is that I woke up in this compartment with a very strong feeling of nausea. My head was swimming and I couldn't make sense of anything. I didn't know where I was. Then I saw you. I thought you looked familiar, but I couldn't remember. I was so confused and disoriented that..." Her voice trailed off with a hopeless sigh.

"Bella." He said softly as he reached out to her, gently laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We're going to be alright. There is a reason why we are both here. We just need answers. But we will be alright. We have to believe that." He reassured her.

"I know. But none of this makes any sense. I mean how is it that we both came to be here without any memory of how we got here?" She demanded.

"I believe we were drugged. It was probably a strong dose of a powerful sedative. That would explain our symptoms of nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, and confusion. I think it must have been in our drinks during the reception." He surmised.

"But WHY? Why would anyone want to do such a thing? I mean, you're right. It does explain how we got here without knowing and it explains our symptoms. But, again, why?" She gave an exasperated sigh and placed her head in her hands.

"It is because of me, Bella." He said in a low, regretful voice.

"You?" She raised her head abruptly and stared at him. "What are you talking about? Because of you?" She didn't know whether to be furious, terrified or both.

"Listen to me." He said softly.

"Why should I? If all of his is because of you, why would I even THINK about listening to you? What are you? Some kind of a madman?" She shot up from her seat and began to make her way to the compartment door.

"Wait!" He called out as he jumped to his feet to pursue her.

She whirled around when she felt his hand grasp her arm.

"Don't you touch me!" She hissed, trying to rid herself of his hold.

"Isabella, please, I'm begging you. Listen to me, please. You will understand when you have heard me out. Please." The calm, soothing voice that she had come to know took on a frantic, pleading tone.

"You have five minutes." She minced out the words as she shoved his hand from her arm.

"Thank you." He whispered as a look of relief spread across his handsome face. "Come, sit down and I'll explain." He motioned to the settee.

"I'm fine where I am." She said defiantly. "Well, you'd better get on with it. Time's ticking." She tapped her watch. He took a seat while she stood, crossed her arms in front of her and glared at him.

"Okay. Do you remember, it was a little over a month ago, do you remember calling me one afternoon?"

"Yes." Her answer was curt.

"Okay, good. You had received your conference packet in the mail and you noticed that I was scheduled to be one of the keynote speakers."

She waved her hand in a rolling 'get on with it' gesture.

"Right." He nodded and continued. "You said that you had been following my work and that you would like to discuss something with me. Something about how my work was right in line with what you were trying to achieve with your cosmetics line, Bella Botanicals. You said that my research and discoveries in cellular re-generation and with your work as a medical cosmetologist, and C.E.O. of Bella Botanicals, you expressed an interest in discussing how we might combine our efforts in some way."

"Yes, yes, yes. I remember. So?" She was becoming more annoyed.

"That was not our only phone conversation. We had several phone conversations after that and we become more and more comfortable with each other. The last time we spoke was 10 days ago. We were both looking forward to the conference and excited to finally meet each other in person. Just outside of Rome, no less." He smiled at her. Her demeanor softened.

"Yes, of course I remember." She said softly, allowing a faint smile to cross her lips.

"Good. I'm glad you remember." He said, returning her smile with a faint one of his own. "Then you recall, during our last conversation, I told you that I had discovered something so unbelievable, so sinister; and that I wanted to share it with you. I told you that I couldn't talk about it over the phone but, in 10 day's time we would meet and that I would tell you privately, in person." He stopped and watched her as she moved to the settee, sat down, and leaned forward, lessening the space between them.

"Okay. Well, we're in private and in person. You can tell me now." She said expectantly.

"No, not now. Not until we have a better understanding of what is going on. We need to find out why we're here and where they're taking us. But, I believe they learned of my findings and want to silence me somehow. That is why I believe the drug was meant for me. I also believe that our phone conversations were being monitored. They would have known that we were considering working on a collaborative project, and that we had built quite a friendly phone relationship." Do you see how it all comes together?" He asked.

"Well, yes. I guess I do. But why would they drug me too? After all, you hadn't yet divulged your findings to me." She replied.

"Yes, but how would they know that for certain? Besides, it was clear from our conversations that we were becoming close. We confided in each other. Then, when we finally met last night, it was obvious to anyone that ours was becoming more than just a business relationship. Even from the first moment I saw you, I knew that too. But beauty, grace and love mean nothing to them. They don't care and they take no chances. They don't tolerate the possibility of their goals and methods being brought to light. They only want power and total control over all of us. This is evidenced in what I found in my research and through close colleagues of mine. And now, because of me, you are here. I'm so, so sorry, Bella. But I promise you, we will get out of this. If it is the last thing I do, I will make sure that you are safe." His eyes met hers and she saw in them a deep plea for her forgiveness.

She leaned closer toward him and touched his hand gently. "No, Alex, please forgive me. I should never have reacted the way that I did. I apologize. I understand more clearly now. And, you are right. We will get out of this." She resolved.

"Thank you, Bella." He said as he gave her hand a tender squeeze. He cleared his throat and stood. "Okay, let's review what we do remember. I think we've established the how and why we came to be here. But when did it happen? I think that the reception ended at about 9:30." He began to pace.

"Yes, it did." She confirmed. "But you and I had stepped away from the crowd and went out onto the balcony. The first sessions were not scheduled to begin until Wednesday. So today and tomorrow were meant to be free days. We chatted about sightseeing or taking part in the various pre-conference activities. You suggested sightseeing."

"Yes, I though that sightseeing would give us a chance to be alone, away from the conference, so that I could share with you my findings." He added.

"Right. And then a waiter brought us each another glass of..." She stopped and stood. He stopped his pacing. They stared at each other.

"Wine." They said in unison.

***********

The train swerved sharply to the right. Alexander caught her in his arms as she stumbled toward him.

"Thanks." She said, feeling a bit flustered by their proximity.

'DING' A single chime sounded.

"Another tunnel." She said, regaining her composure.

"Another tunnel? What makes you say that? We're not in a tunnel." He looked out the window.

"No, but I suspect we should be in about ten minutes." She said matter-of-factly. He gave her a quizzical glance.

"Oh, Alex! I'm so sorry. But after I came back in here and we startled each other, and..."

"Wait." He said, interrupting her. "Yes, you had just entered the compartment because you weren't here when I finally awakened. I thought I was alone. Where did you go? Did you see anyone? Tell me." He questioned excitedly.

Isabella recounted her foray into those areas of the train she had been. She told him about the people gathered in the lounge car after having been served brunch, about the flamboyant woman who said this was the 'Mystery Train' and has only one stop...that stop being an unknown destination, and she told him about the chime prompt.

"That is how I know we're about to enter a tunnel...by the sound of a single chime. That's weird in itself, but a 'Mystery Train'? That is just bizarre." She stated, wrapping up an abbreviated version of her investigation.

"Did you not read the invitation?" He asked.

"What invitation?"

"One moment." He said as he removed the briefcase from the shelf in the wardrobe just as the train sped into the darkness of a tunnel. The interior of the compartment grew dim and Isabella patted her hands around to find a light switch on the wall next to one of the settees. He sat next to her and opened his briefcase, removing the conference information packet from inside.

"Look." He handed her an elegantly embossed invitation addressed to Dr. Alexander Kovaleski.

"You are cordially invited, as an honord guest, to join us for a fantastic adventure aboard The Enigma Express..." Isabella read the invitation in a hushed voice. She looked up at Alex. "The Enigma Express?" He nodded. She continued reading, noticed the unanswered RSVP card, and handed the invitation back to him.

"Bella, I believe..."

"We're on The Enigma Express." She finished his thought.

Another single chime rang as the train emerged from the tunnel into the brightness, continuing at its relentless speed. Alexander looked at his watch. It was nearly 3:00.

"Bella, we need to go have a look around. We need to see what our options are and make a plan. You said cocktails were at 6:15 and dinner at 7:00, correct?" She nodded. "Okay, do you have something else to wear?" He asked, appraising her rumpled, but enticing cocktail dress.

She walked to the wardrobe where she had seen some women's clothing. Inside were two sundresses, two elegant, un-rumpled cocktail dresses, a pair of leggings with matching top, and a spa-type cotton robe. All had footwear to match.

"Is this okay?" She asked, holding up one of the sundresses.

"Very nice. It suits you." He said approvingly.

"I'll go change." She said as she took the dress, the matching sandals, and the cosmetics case into the washroom. She emerged ten minutes later to find him looking out of one of the windows. He turned to her. He was now wearing a pair of khaki trousers and a white cotton shirt with the sleeves turned up to his elbows.

"Perfect." He said with a broad smile.

"Not so bad yourself, Dr. Kovaleski." She assessed.

She took his arm as they exited their compartment.

**********

Isabella pointed to the right. "The lounge car is that way, and I'm guessing the dining car is beyond that. I don't know what's in the other direction. I didn't get that far." She shrugged.

"There should be a train map. It is typically located near the gangway connections. Let's go this way." He suggested. As they approached the connecting door he spotted the train map on the wall. "Here it is. Yes, you guessed correctly. The dining car is the one beyond the lounge car." The gangway connection where they stood led to the exercise, spa, and bistro cars. The two story observation car was the last car shown on the map.

"I want to go to the observation car. From there, we can get a better sense of where we are." Isabella agreed as she pushed the button to open the connection door.

The exercise car was well equipped for much more than the two people who occupied it. One man was wearing what appeared to be a virtual reality visor and was attempting to do what Isabella thought was a poorly executed tai chi move. The other person was a man on a treadmill who was racing on a journey to nowhere. He was wearing ear buds.

"Ironic." She mumbled.

"Ironic? What is ironic?" Alexander looked at her as they passed the man on the treadmill.

"That man. He's running but going nowhere...kind of like us. We are seemingly going...well, we don't know where we're going and neither does he." She stated as Alexander glanced back toward the man.

"That's Ivan Erickson. I know him. We've met a couple of times. He's a renowned microbiologist. We should say hello to him." He took her hand and led her to the man on the treadmill.

"Ivan!" Alexander smiled and held his hand up in a greeting. Ivan did not respond. The man simply stared into what seemed to be oblivion...his eyes un-blinking...running on his treadmill...going nowhere. Alexander's demeanor intensified.

"Observation car! We go now!" It was an order, not a request.

*********

They raced through the spa car, ignoring the automated voice prompt to enter a spa appointment number on the keypad of the kiosk, the bistro car was more difficult to navigate. People were milling about and ordering various and sundry food and beverages from yet another automated kiosk.

The gangway connection led them to the final car. It was, indeed, a two story train car with magnificent picture windows and luxurious swiveling club chairs. At the end of the car rose a staircase leading to the upper deck. Seated in one of the club chairs was a woman.

"Alex!" Isabella exhaled an excited whisper. "That woman there!" She pointed. "In that chair. She is the woman who approached me in the lounge car earlier. Her name is Deanna. She wanted to talk to me about Bella Botanicals. She's the one who was so thrilled to be on the 'Mystery Train'. He was absorbed in looking about the observation car and paid little notice to what Isabella was saying.

"Alex! Look! LOOK!" She prodded his arm. "Look at her. Look at her eyes!" He turned his head to the woman. Her eyes remained staring...un-blinking...as if in a trance. She was staring into nowhere...out of the picture window...staring into nothing.

"Up there! Now!" He pointed, grabbed her hand, and pulled her to the staircase.

The upper deck of the observation car gave a spectacular view. Not only in the picturesque sense, but in a life-in-motion sense. The scenery was majestic. The mountains relinquishing the harvest of the snow, falling in life-giving blood to the valleys below.

"Linz!" He whispered a shout as he began checking each of the upper-deck windows.

"Linz?"

"Yes. We have just passed Linz. We are in Austria."

"How do you know that?" She asked.

"I saw the hill known as Postlingberg. There is, on the top of the hill, a church called Pilgrimage Church. We are in the direction of Czech Republic." He began studying the windows of the observation car.

"There is one here somewhere." He examined the windows as she watched. "Yes! Here! This is the one." He removed one of the shoelaces from his newly-rationed docksiders and tied it on the latch that opened the observatory window.

He turned from the window and walked toward her, he touched her face and moved his hand gently across her jaw, bringing her face closer to his. She shuddered slightly as he brought his lips to her ear.

"We will say nothing of importance to each other aloud. Nod your head if you understand." He whispered.

She nodded.

"Wear the dress from last night. We have three hours." He said.

"What? Why should I wear..."

"Because it is not fitted with a bug." He clasped his hand to her mouth, and whispered again into her ear. "We will go back to the compartment, change into what we wore last night and return here." He indicated the shoelaced window on the second story of the observation car.

**********

5:25 pm.

A single chime sounded. It was not yet time for pre-dinner cocktails, but time enough to indicate that another tunnel was near.

10 minutes.

He grasped her arm and motioned toward the compartment door. She nodded, acknowledging in silence.

They moved through the gangway connections...beyond the exercise car, the spa, and the bistro car.

They entered the now empty observation car as he pulled her along up the staircase. There, he found the shoelace that he had placed on the window.

He thrust the escape window open. "We've got to go! We've got to go NOW!" Without a second thought, he grabbed her around her waist and hurled both of them out of the train and into the waters of Prehrada Lipno.

The sudden flush of ice-cold brought back a sense of knowing. They looked at each other, in a watery gaze, to see the train enter the tunnel and disappear into the darkness.

"I have you." He said.

"You are safe."