The Wilds (Reign and Ruin 1) by Jules Hedger

sounded into the air. It was frighteningly
close.
    I straightened
up to step forward out of the underbrush and found myself by the
steps up to a train platform. There didn't seem to be any station
building or even ticket kiosk, simply a slightly raised wooden area
polished from hundreds of traveling feet. The little island shook
as a steam train came into view, black metal and old fashioned. The
smoke that rose up out of the pipes was black and thick and the
wheels ripped up trees and bushes that had grown amongst the tracks
over the years. It was like an angry rhinoceros as it charged
towards the platform.
    I quickly
crashed ungainly back into the trees. Hiding seemed the best first
move, in case the train happened to carry Cirrus. I still hadn't
thought about how to simultaneously avoid Cirrus and get close
enough to take his watch. Hell, I didn't even have a weapon yet and
this train had arrived before I had even gotten to grips with a
plan. Play it safe. I must never forget the Walk is in
motion.
    The train let
out one last screech as it came to a halt, shivering sparks rising
up around the brakes. It settled down next to the platform, heaving
and smoking as the old silence of the forest once again enveloped
the trees and the sky.
    I doubled over
with coughing as the smoke found its way through my throat and into
my lungs. I didn't even notice when the door of the train swung
open to reveal the conductor. His mustache bristled annoyingly as
he looked around the empty platform.
    "Come on then,
I know you're out there. We've looked for you at every station and
when we saw you run off the platform I was afraid we'd miss you
again. It is going rather out of our way, you know," he said
impatiently. He was dressed smartly in a fitting black suit with
gold buttons. His tie was knotted a bit too tightly around his fat
neck so that a few extra chins had freed themselves over the collar
of his white shirt. His train conductor's hat was perched smartly
on his dubious looking toupee and his shoes were polished to a
shiny black.
    When I didn't
emerge the conductor sighed and pulled out a small revolver. It was
literally the most pathetic weapon I had ever seen, all the more
for how proud he seemed to be of it. He aimed it a few feet from
where I was and spoke again to the trees.
    "Right, so now
I have a gun. Do you see my gun ?" Silence. But yes, I did
see his extremely small gun. "Come out and board the train. I have
been told to use force."
    I heard a
rustle behind me and my slight amusement at the conductor's bravado
was cut short as I felt the cold metal of a knife being pushed up
the back of my shirt. Before I could turn around a man's arm
wrapped around my waist and pushed the knife harder into my
spine.
    "Move forward.
You'll want to get on this train," a voice said quietly. I had no
choice but to walk as calmly as I could out of the forest and into
the open air. I looked down at the arm, which was covered in black
coal and bulged with cord and muscle.
    The conductor
saw us approach and shot a reproving look at the man behind me.
    "Well, nicely
done, I guess. Bring her on board, if you please. And don't touch
the necklace. The Walk is corrupt if you do."
    I was pushed up
the steps and through a door held open by the conductor. He gave me
a small smile as he slipped the gun back into his front coat
pocket.
    "Welcome
Maggie. I do apologize for the manner of your apprehending." The
conductor followed us into the first compartment and nearly
immediately I felt the rumble of the train's engine starting up
again.
    The pressure of
the knife left my back and the arm guided me gently onto a plush,
blue upholstered train seat. The man dropped down on the bench
across from mine as the conductor kept walking through to the
engine room.
    It wasn't just
the man's arm that was covered in black coal. The rest of the skin
was smeared with the stuff and his eyes shone through the dirt with
a fierce brightness that was at once intelligent and