You feel the ground below you slowly lurch to the left, as if the car is rolling onto its side. The metal gives a groan, as if it were a creature suffering from a deep wound. Just as it hits one side, it swings back to the other even faster. There’s a split second where you think it may just roll the whole way around, but instead it tips back again. For a few moments it sways like a pendulum, bobbing up and down in a way that almost feels like you’re sitting on water. The passengers that were frozen have remained as such, even though it looks as if time hasn’t completely stalled anymore. Their bodies seem to emit a strange blue light. While it isn’t a harsh projection, it’s enough to tint the space in a hazy mist. The compartment has now become dreamlike with the surroundings almost vibrating at the edges, bringing a certain life to the dull standstill before.
Something flutters in the corner of your eye, bright and vibrant like the color of the sky. Almost quick enough to miss entirely. At this point, you hope you imagined it.
Suddenly, a noise snaps you back into the rest of your surroundings. It’s faint and high pitched, almost like a whistle going off in the distance. The noise is followed by a rumble that echoes through the tunnel. The metal underneath your feet tremors and no doubt, if you manage to reach one you are thankful for the overhead clutches. Whatever it was, it definitely came from something massive and alive. The train begins to speed up, faster than before. The whistling starts to close in and upon further inspection, it sounds like a high pitched scream.
Bursting through a wall, a small blue light phases through the door closest to the stern of the train, incorporeal until it passes through it. It shoots through the air like a bullet, leaving a streak of sparks behind it. As it draws closer it screams again, its high voice nearly drowned out by the crackles of light flying from it’s body.
“Wh- hey! Watch out!!!”
One member of your group was not lucky enough to avoid it’s path. The silver haired boy tenses and bends as if preparing to dodge, his red eyes wide as he moves to duck out of the way. But he’s a second too late. The shock of blue light pummels him right between the eyes, slamming him onto his back at almost record speed.
The little light meanwhile, slides across the floor. Now that it isn’t flying at warp speed, the creature’s small form is now apparent. Palm sized and shivering, it shakes its head which dances like a flame from a candle. It’s large eyes widen and glow a brighter cyan than its body. It blinks, still taking in its surroundings.
“… humans-? Oh- oh no! You guys can’t be down here, it isn’t safe-” it says, voice cutting off with a squeak as it notices the damage it has caused to one of the members of your group who, still hasn’t risen from the floor. It covers its mouth with its tiny pawlike hands, expression mixed with guilt and fear. “I… I’m so sorry, I couldn’t stop in time! Is he-“
The little ghostlike figure runs across the surface with a patter, its fingers hovering over his throat, clearly intent on feeling for a sign of life. Just as it makes it across the distance however, another quake causes the train’s body to jump and knock the creature off it’s feet. Giving a sharp yelp it flies up, tucking into the jacket of the nearest person. Once it feels as if the coast is clear enough to leave, it leaves its hiding spot and returns to where it once was, it’s fire blue eyes flicking between up at you and other the still conscious passengers as it feels for a pulse. “Thank goodness,” it sighs, a tiredness settling into its features. “I… How did you all get down here in the first place? You all don’t look like you’re…”
It trails off.
Member
The Underworld could always use a little