Chapter One

“Come on Alexa, give me a taste of that sweet ass, I'll pay you double".

Mr Pugsley is the owner of the newspaper company I work in and this is not the first time I have asked for a raise. This however, is the first time he has said something like this to me. I have noticed the way he stares at me sometimes. Like I'm a juicy piece of meat he can't wait to sink his teeth into. At first I thought he was just a creepy fat old man but now I know he's a perverted creepy fat old man.

"C'mon Alexa. It isn't that hard" he said, giving me what I think is supposed to be a sexy smile but is actually a disgusting one. "You go around swinging that sexy ass of yours every day and you think I wouldn't notice? I want you Alexa and you want a raise. Fair trade isn't it?"

"Nothing is fair about this sir. It's my right to ask for a raise when you make me work overtime" I said.

He burst into laughter, slapping his beefy hand on his large lap. I stood there, fists balled but face neutral.

He made me sick but I need this job. I'm a photographer but he makes me do other things like run errands, photocopy loads of documents, arrange files in alphabetical order and I'm telling you that it's very hard. I also have to make him coffee every morning. Why won't he get a personal assistant for that?

Finally sobering up, he wiped a tear from the corner of his left eye. "I admire you Alexa. You're strong willed and efficient but that isn't enough for this job. If you really want a raise, you know what to do". He smiled and spread those fat thighs wide.

I could feel the anger boiling in me. How dare he say that? I hate the feeling of helplessness. No matter what he said, there's absolutely nothing I can do. I could report to the police but the chief is a 45 years old man who hates his job and cares nothing for this town.

My dad passed away when I was seven and everything went downhill. Turned out he had lots of debts to pay so we sold almost everything we had to clear it. I and my mum ended up moving to a one room apartment with a toilet and kitchen that everyone in the compound shares. Mr. Pugsley knows this. In fact, everyone in Richeville does so he's using it against me. Well I won't sell my body. No matter what.

"I won't do it Mr. Pugsley. I'm not that kind of person" I said firmly. "I'd rather starve to death".

"What a shame. You're very pretty and I'm sure that one day, you'll come back, begging for this". He palmed his crotch and smirked at me. Mentally gagging, I grabbed my camera, turned away and walked to the door.

"I assure you that I'll never want to suck off your peanut sized dick Mr. Pugsley. Have a nice day sir" I said then walked out.

Have a nice day my ass! Go jump off a cliff or something.

There was nothing else to do and my mood had dropped down to zero. I felt worthless, angry, frustrated and degraded. I knew life wasn't fair but this? All I did was ask for a raise goddamn it! The stupid old fart asking for a fucking blowjob. I should have punched his stupid face instead. Well, I don't think it's worth it though. I'll lose the job and no one else would hire me.

Sparing no one a glance. I walked out of the building. The air outside was chilly. Good thing I wore my jacket. Even though I've owned it for three years and it's got holes in it. I strolled down the sidewalk, my hands in the front pockets of my faded jeans to keep them warm. Breathing slowly, I willed myself to calm down. Anger does nothing helpful to me. It'll just lead me to making bad decisions which I'll regret for the rest of my life. That's what my dad used to say.

I gazed at the moving cars, people in front of shops, kids playing around, teenagers being teenagers. Sometimes I wish I could go back to the times when I didn't have to worry about my next meal or bills to pay. I wish I was a kid again with a loving father. I wish my mum didn't have to suffer day and night, working her ass off to help pay the bills. I wish I could just do everything for her but I can't and it's killing me.

I could feel hot tears pooling in my eyes as bit my lip and prayed they wouldn't fall. I can't cry. I'm not that weak. No way am I going to cry. I'm no longer that scrawny little kid people used to bully and look down at. I'm stronger now. I kept on mentally pep talking myself. It's something I do often to make myself feel better.

Suddenly, two police cars zoomed by, their sirens blaring. I wondered what could make the police of Richeville move that fast. Seemed like they were headed in the direction of the train station. Whatever it was, it had to be big. Good thing I knew the shortcut. Wasting not a second more, l ran.

Mr. Pugsley is going to want pictures of the scene and I'll use this to make him give me a raise. There's one thing the fucker loves more than himself and that's money. A good story fetches more readers. More readers mean more money and if I can just get close up pictures of whatever the police were investigating then I'll surely get a raise.

I went through the forest, breaking twigs and dodging branches. I clutched my camera to my chest. If anything happens to it then I'm toast. Mr. Pugsley might even rape me if I can't pay for it. Few minutes later, I arrived at the train station. The police were already there. Chief Garrison stood by his truck, beefy arms propped on his waist as he stared at the train. Some officers were scattered about, searching for God knows what. I had to find a way to slip in, take some pictures and get out. One thing that bugged me though, was that there were no passengers. How is that possible? I mean, the train just arrived and now it's empty? I could still see the smoke rising from the chimney. Chief Garrison was now talking to Mr. Breen, the station master who looked like he was freaking out.

Crouching low, I went as close as I could get to hear the conversation.

"...doesn't make sense. The train arrived a few minutes ago and it was completely empty".

"How is that possible Mr. Breen? Maybe no one boarded the train" Chief Garrison said, tweaking one end on his bushy moustache.

"Listen to yourself chief! Why won't they board the train? My own kids spoke to me this morning and told me they were in the train already and now I find it empty!"

I found it useless talking to the Chief. He didn't care. I'm sure he'd rather be at home, shirtless, a cigarette in hand and a bottle of chilled beer in the other.

"I think this is a serious case Chief" Officer Lance said as he approached them. "There's blood in the train. This means there were people in there. Have you forgotten about the missing cases people have been filing for two weeks now? This may be related".

I need to get in there.

Chief Garrison went silent for a while, scratching his beard. Maybe he was thinking of the next step to take. Well I wasn't going wait till then.

"I need a forensic team here asap" he ordered. "Make sure reporters do not hear about this. I can't have the public breathing on my neck right now. Come people let's get to work. Hurry up!"

The officers went back to their vehicles and I used to chance to quickly and as silently as possible, slip into the train. The place was clear. Absolutely neat. As if no one even entered in the first place. I thought Officer Lance said there was blood. I gazed round, checked under the seats and in between. Nothing. I took the pictures anyway. Moving on, I stepped into the next compartment and it was absolutely the same. What the hell! I expected a gory scene. Blood splattered all over the place, luggage thrown about, maybe a few dead bodies but there was nothing. It was just...clean. I walked into the next compartment then the next and the next and the one after that and the one after that too but it was all the same. Okay I'm totally confused. Why would Officer Lance lie?

"Surround the entire train! Make sure nobody goes in or out!" Chief Garrison's voice boomed. My heart leaped to my throat. If that man catches me here, I'm going to be in deep shit. He hates me because I always meddle with police affairs. Well I have to if I want to get pictures of a fresh scene.

I quickly went back the way I came, making sure no one saw me through the windows. The coast was clear and I was about to go out when I saw three strange looking people huddled up by a window. The shortest one was a dark skinned, curly haired boy wearing some sort of dark cloak which covered his entire body except his boots which were muddy.

On his left hand side was a blue skinned, blonde haired girl with some kind of golden tattoos which ran down the sides of her arms and legs. On his right hand side, stood the tallest, biggest man I've ever seen. He was dressed in a similar cloak as the dark guy. His looked much thicker and heavier though. Disheveled, shoulder length hair which was as black as a bottomless pit.

What the... Am I seeing this? Maybe I'm sick?

"How long will it take you to put the blood in the vial Ulrick" the big man grumbled. His voice was the deepest I've heard and it sent goosebumps trailing down my arms. What the fuck.

"Let me concentrate. We need to leave before the humans get here" the dark guy, who seems to be Ulrick said.

"Don't worry. I've stalled them. They won't come in for now" the blue skinned girl said.

Stalled them?

Okay. This is fucking crazy. I watched as Ulrick twirled his fingers and the blood began to move from the window. I quickly raised my camera, aiming it at all three of them, then I focused, waiting for the right time to take the picture.

The drop of blood levitated in the air and so did two other drops. Slowly, they began to enter a small bottle which looked like a test tube? Just who were these people dressed in ugly costumes and skin paint? I waited till the second drop was halfway in then clicked. I guess that was the wrong moment because all three of them froze, then slowly turned and stared at me. Shit. They heard the sound. Ah how could I be so stupid?

Ulrick and the blue girl stared at me in horror while the big guy looked mad. Like full on furious. Enraged. His nose flared and his beautiful green eyes turned dark. That was when I snapped out of my daze. I turned to run but in a flash I was caught and slammed against a standing rod in the train. I groaned in pain as I felt the steel come in contact with my back and fuck, it hurt.

"Who are you?" He growled.

I opened my eyes and gazed right into pitch black ones. My heart was banging against my ribcage so hard I even found it hard to breathe. Who the hell are these people and why is he so strong? He stared at me for a while then gasped. His eyes slowly returned to their original glassy green colour then he stared at me like he could see my very soul. What sort of shit was this? How could his eyes change colour like that? Slowly, he lowered me to the ground. I was so confused. One minute he slams me into steel and the next he's acting all gentle.

"We need to leave" the blue girl whispered. "We'll come back when the humans take rest".

When the humans take rest?

The big guy seemed to come back to his senses after he heard her voice then he let go of my shirt.

"Alexandra Hayes!"

I screamed in shock as the Chief appeared at the doorway. Oh shit shit shit! I turned to look at the three strange people but they were already gone.

"You insolent girl! Get out of the train now!" Chief Garrison barked and I did exactly that. I ran out of there like my ass caught on fire. My back hurt so bad but I didn't stop until I was in the confines of my own room. Seated on my own bed with my knees drawn up and my arms wrapped around them.

Who were those people? More importantly, what are they and what were they doing with the blood? What are they here for? Did they make all the people in the train disappear? Why didn't that big guy not kill me on the spot? I had so many questions running through my mind. I took my camera and turned it on, scrolling through the pictures I took today then clicked on the picture I took of them. Wait, where's the strange people? I'm sure they were standing there when I took the picture but what I was now staring at was a picture of the same place but no people. How is this possible! Even the blood wasn't in the picture. Fuck this is bad. So bad. Was I hallucinating? No. That's impossible. The pain in my back was real.

I tried to recall what the blue girl said. Something about going back when the humans take rest. What did that fucking mean? Humans rest anytime they want. But wait, they generally rest at night. Which means they'll be back by nightfall.

Oh I'll be there alright. I wanted answers and no matter how scary the big guy is, I'll make sure I get them. No matter what.