4| Westlake Station Silence

The sound of a long whistle ended the night train journey. Rain woke up from her sleep. She stretched to stretch the stiff muscles. She was exhausted from sitting on the train for nearly six hours.

Rain looked out the carriage window. She saw the atmosphere of the station, which was thickly foggy. The station in Westlake City was very different from the station in the city where she had been living all this time. Feeling the slightly different atmosphere, Rain was excited to go down and see it in person.

She stood up and took her travel bag from the upper cabin. After slinging the bag on her shoulder, Rain started walking out of the carriage. As soon as her feet hit the train platform, a thick fog seemed to part and gave him away.

The train whistle blew again when Rain was actually standing on the platform. The girl glanced around the venue. No one got off but her at Westlake station.

That dark morning the air was so cold. Even though Rain had her coat on, it felt much more chilly in Westlake than in St. Maria.

Rain took her cell phone out of her coat pocket and checked the notes stored on the phone calendar. Rain looked around for anyone she could ask. The girl decided to go to the station exit and hoped to find an officer there.

As she walked off the platform, Rain heard footsteps behind her. The girl turned around, and there was no one there.

Her neck crinkled. Time and again, she felt like someone was following her from behind. Feeling uncomfortable, she turned around quickly and found that there really was no one there. Still, she and the fog was getting thicker.

Rain continued her steps towards the station exit. Rain saw an officer sitting there taking notes as he passed the ticket counter.

Rain panicked, trying to approach the officer wanting to report the situation. Due to walking in a hurry and constantly glancing behind her, she unknowingly bumped into someone, causing them to fall.

Rain realized her carelessness. She immediately stood up and picked up the woman's bag. She handed it back while repeatedly apologizing.

"I'm fine, Young Lady. Next time, be careful when walking, especially in public," said the middle-aged woman who was hit by Rain.

"Sorry, Madam, I just had the feeling that someone was following and watching me. I was a little panicked. Since I've only come to this place for the first time. I'm worried that someone might try to do something bad to me."

The woman in the black coat narrowed her eyes at Rain's back. Faintly in the thick fog, she saw a fleeting shadow disappearing.

The woman smiled and tried to show Rain that she understood the anxiety she was experiencing right now.

"Where are you headed?" she asked. "Maybe I can help you?"

"Ah, actually, I have to attend a job interview this afternoon. Because of that, I took the night train without much preparation."

Rain took out her cell phone and showed the note to the women.

"Madam, do you know where this address is? And how to get there? Is it far and how much will it cost me for transportation to get there?"

Rain kept asking and telling about the purpose of his visit. However, the pair of middle-aged women's eyes were still glued to the note on Rain's cell phone. Suddenly her face paled.

"Sorry, I can't help you."

"Madam, wait, aren't you a resident of Westlake? You said you would help me. Please tell me, how do I get there?"

The woman suddenly backed away and ran away from Rain.

"Sorry, Young Lady, I can't help you. My advice, you should just go back to your house and never set foot in that place."

Rain gaped and suddenly became annoyed. She didn't understand what the woman was saying. She was fed up with finding the manners of the Westlake people so bad.

Rain walked a few steps towards the station exit. In the doorway was a janitor mopping the floor. The man worked calmly and deftly.

"Excuse me, Sir, sorry to interrupt your work."

The man in the hat with the mop in his hand stopped. He looked at Rain coldly. "What do you need, Young Lady?"

"Sorry, Sir, I'm having a bit of trouble finding the address. Is there a taxi or bus I can take to get to Darkwood?"

"There isn't a single vehicle that will take you there. My advice is that you find another place to have fun."

Once again, Rain was dumbfounded. "What do you mean by having fun, Sir? I came here for a job interview. Why is everyone saying I shouldn't go there? What's in there?"

"Miss, sometimes curiosity can kill you. You'd better just take my word and go back home if you want to be safe."

The man went back to his work and ignored Rain, who was very annoyed.

Rain was really confused. She was speechless. Her hands were raised in the air and then frantically fiddled with her long hair.

"He told me to come back home? Hey, I don't even have a place to stay now. Darkwood is my only goal. Darkwood is my only hope of finding a place to stay tonight!"

Annoyed, Rain turned around to show her anger. Unfortunately, the janitor had just disappeared.

Beep... Beep... Beep...

Rain's phone vibrates. She opened the message on her cell phone and scanned it quickly.

"We have provided special transportation to pick you up. We are waiting for you in front of the station."

Rain checked the number that sent her the message and felt relieved.

"Gosh, looks like the job supervisor really kept her word. She sent someone to pick me up at Westlake station. I should have called her as soon as I got there. So I don't have to feel this confused."

Rain was about to put her phone back in her pocket. That's when she realized her cell phone battery remained two per cent.

"I shouldn't have to worry anymore because someone has already picked me up. I won't need my phone for the next few hours. I can charge it at my destination," Rain thought as she put her phone back in her pocket.

With light steps and a feeling of relief, she walked briskly out of the station. In front of the station, it was as dark as on the platform. Street and park lights do not provide maximum lighting because of the very thick fog.

A few meters ahead, Rain saw something resembling a large black vehicle. She realized it was a vehicle because a pair of lights flashed.

Rain was sure a vehicle had come to pick her up. She walked quickly to avoid the freezing cold outside.

A few steps before reaching the vehicle, she suddenly stopped. She couldn't move, and her eyes seemed to be enchanted.

"That black thing with two yellowish lights isn't a car!" she screamed.

Rain's legs felt weak, and her body shivered even more, when she realized what was waiting for her there.