Baratrum - 1

Willow did not realise that she had fallen asleep throughout her journey. A sudden stop the train made jolted her forward, awakening her from her sleep. For a second she forgot that she was travelling in the train until she looked at her surroundings. She quickly fixed her baseball cap and straightened her position on the seat.

Cautiously, she looked through the window. She noticed an old building standing on the platform. Her eyes fell on the bulky man that stood in front of the gate. The bright neon above the gate shone above the bulky man and it brought Willow to the realisation that the day had turned into night. She frowned.

How long did she sleep? How long had she been travelling? She rummaged her bag for her watch that got the straps missing a few years ago. Once she held the face of the watch, she looked at the time but the time was incorrect as the needle for the second had stopped moving. Willow tried to shake the watch, hoping it would work again. Her eyes frantically searched for the clock around her carriage. Instead of finding the clock, Willow was surprised to find a man hovering over her from seat behind.

A loud gasp escaped her lips and she jumped. Her back hitting the back of the seat in front of her. Her eyes warily watched the man who leisurely rested his arms on top of her seat. His hair was as dark as the night, showing a great contrast with his pallid complexion. His green eyes stared back at Willow as his full lips pulled up to the side in amusement.

"It's quarter to midnight." Stated the man. His eyes held amusement as he glanced at the strapless watch between the girl's fingers. It made the girl frowned but Willow was too shocked to reply. She continued to stare at the man. "I hope you've enjoyed your journey." The man bowed at her and stepped on the isle, walking towards the door. Before he got off of the train, he remarked aloud, "This is the last stop. Unless you plan to go back to where you're coming from."

Willow's mouth fell open and she rushed towards the door. As soon as she stepped out of the train, cold wind blew hitting her face and blowing away her baseball cap away. She tried to to reach for it but it was too late. Her baseball cap flew back to where the train was and fell to the rail underneath the train.

Willow cursed mentally. Not only she had no jacket to protect her from the cold but she also lost the only thing that had help her covering her face. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she closed her eyes, wondering what other series of unfortunate events that will fall upon her?

"Hasn't anyone told you how windy and cold this town is?" Came the remark from the same man.

The girl turned on her heels and her eyes met the man that seemed to be not going to leave her alone. "Is there anything you need from me?" Irritation was clear in her voice which only amused the man further.

Standing right in front of the man made Willow found a few things about him that she failed to notice while they were in the train.

The man in front of her dressed so formally: white shirts underneath a grey vest, with a long black coat hanging on his wide shoulder. He was a couple of inches taller than Willow who had to crane her neck to look at him in the eye. He appeared to be much older than him and his demeanour screamed authority. Not to mention, he also looked arrogant.

The man chuckled lightly. "I haven't decided if there is something I need from you. After all, what can a girl like you offer to a man like me?" He tilted his head to the side, gazing at her green eyes that he found surprisingly interesting.

"Nothing." Willow muttered. Not willing to deal with the man some more, Willow walked pass the man towards the bulky man she saw earlier who stood still at the gate. Her hand fished for her ticket on her back pocket and pulled it out, in case the bulky man asked her for it. She noticed that there were not many people getting off the train. It was probably because it nearly midnight but she wondered what kind town this place was.

When she arrived at the gate, the bulky man looked at her from head to toes. A subtle frown was on his face as he questioned her, "What business do you have in this town, young girl?"

it caught her off guard. She was not prepared to answer such a question. Willow did not even know what town she was in. She opened her mouth to say something but another answer, that came from someone else, beat her to it.

"She's here as my company, John." As if his voice was not irritating Willow enough, the man put his hand around her shoulder as he stood next to her. "She's with me."

The man named John looked at the girl suspiciously. He wanted to argue but a hard look from the man next her shut him up. He stepped to the side and let the couple go. He bowed at them, "Welcome home, Mr. Creed."

Keeping his hand on Willow shoulder, Mr. Creed nodded at the bulky man and dragged the woman out of the station with him.

Willow kept her face straight as the man led her to the main road in front of the station. She made sure that they were far enough from the gate and away from the eyes of the gate keeper's eyes. As soon as she thought it was safe for her, she shrugged Mr. Creed's hand off of her shoulder.

"I appreciate your help but if you could keep your hands to yourself, that would be great." She sneered.

Mr. Creed lower his hand from her shoulder and let it fall to his side. "You could at least thank me, Miss."

"Well, thank you." Said Willow. "I think this is where we should part our way."

This earned a laugh from Mr. Creed who had been amused with the girl's stubborn character. "Are you sure you won't be needing my help for something else? I am very familiar with this town."

"No, thanks." Came a firm answer from Willow. Her eyes looked left and right, waiting for any taxi she could hop onto to get away from this man.

"Are you waiting for someone to come and collect you?" Asked the man, watching her movement.

Willow turned to look at Mr. Creed. His green eyes mirrored hers. "Yes." She lied. But the man was no fool. He knew when someone told lies on his face.

Playing along, he nodded at her. "Well, Miss, I hope the carriage that will come for you will arrive soon. It is not safe place for a young woman like you to stand here by yourself at this time."

"Carriage?" Willow gazed at the man, bewildered.

"Yes, carriage." Repeated the man. "What are you expecting?"

She looked away from the man and stared hard at the ground. Her eyes narrowed as she realised that the road in front oh her was no more than dirt road. As she looked up and paid a closer attention to her surroundings, she noticed lantern was hanging in a set of wooden pole on the side of the road. She then turned to the man and looked at him closer.

"Where am I?" Asked her in a low voice.

"Baratrum."