Bastian

Odette purchased a ticket for the first train out of the station. It was bound for Lechen. The urgency to leave propelled her onto the train without so much as given the ticket a second glance. The realisation that she was heading for a foreign country sent shivers down her spine, but she didn’t have a choice.

   And there he was.

   The scar on his cheek was very prominent. He had encountered that man on the train coming to Felia, then again not one hour ago, at the tram station. It had become very clear that Bastian had her followed, she should have realised, why hadn’t she realised?

   On unsteady legs, Odette stumbled into the compartment, the sound of laughter and gossip filled the air, along with the rhythmic patter of rain on the windows.

   Sinking into her seat, Odette scanned every face she could see. The fact that she could not see the man anywhere did not console her. She had been away for over a month and not once seen him. He was probably still watching her even now.

Gripping Margrethe tightly, she plead for the train to speed up its departure. Escaping the city, an urgent necessity, hung heavily in her heart. She has to go beyond the city bounds, to gather herself and thoughtfully craft her next move.

So, please…Odette prayed to heartless god that controlled her doomed fate. She begged for mercy until her sobs broke free.

   The platform started to drift away, it seemed like her prayers had been answered as she realised the train was moving, but then a shattering screech of brakes broke the air. The train came to an abrupt stop.

   Odette frantically wiped away the building condensation and stared out down the platform. A group of men were marching along it with determination, one particular man at the groups head. Dread gripped Odette’s heart as the unmistakeable form came toward her.

   “Over here, this way,” the man’s voice called out as he raced down the platform to the front of Odette’s carriage.

   Panic reduced Odette to frantic breaths as she looked around, desperate to find any way out. Escape was imperative, yet she felt paralysed. Margrethe sensed Odette’s panic and started whimpering. Odette held onto her, squeezing tightly as she wept.

The rainstorm grew in intensity, becoming a fierce and thrilling symphony of nature.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The train’s third-class compartment to Lechen was packed, leaving no space for any additional passengers. Bastian scanned each and every face as he walked through each compartment, but there was no sign of Odette. He had hoped to resolve this quickly, to minimize any inconvenience for those on board.

   The stationmaster had been more than accommodating with helping Bastian locate his wife, who had boarded the wrong train. Recognising him from the morning papers, Bastian had become some what of a celebrity in Felia.

   As Bastian navigated down the narrow aisles, moving from compartment to compartment, he eventually found what he was looking for. Even from behind, he recognised her and she was wearing the same blue coat he had gifted her.

He recalled the time when he phoned the wardrobe, concerned about her getting cold, eager to find her something warm to wear. And now he felt a pang of regret for  doing such a shameful thing. 

‘Because I love you, …you… who will never give me your heart. ‘

   Bastian tapped the shoulder of the man sat next to Odette and while looking put out, he shifted out of the seat to allow Bastian to sit. Bastian’s gaze remained solidly fixated on Odette, who was still staring out of the window.

   As he sat, he wished he could relinquish this intoxicating attraction toward Odette, who only harboured hatred toward him. Why couldn’t he let go of this woman? It was a frustrating and viscous cycle he regretted ever harbouring.

   Yet, the one time spark in his chest had erupted into an unquenchable blaze that consumed his life. All he could do was wait for the fire to eventually burn itself out. There would come a day where everything would burn white hot, only to sputter and die out. Then, all the hot emotions, the pain, regret and obsession, even her name, would crumble to ash.

   Margrethe, Odette’s faithful companion looked up at Bastian and started to whimper, even as Odette sat with her eyes closed tight, still attempting to deny reality. She was shivering as if she had a chill.

   “You’re on the wrong train, madam,” Bastian said in a low voice. “Our train back to Berg is on the next platform.” He spoke as if lulling a child back to sleep.

   Odette looked up at him, meeting his gaze and he could see her fear as clear as day in her eyes. There were no vestiges of animosity or fury, instead, there was a warm smile, as if he might hold a mote of mercy.

   “The train will be leaving shortly, so we best get a move on.” Bastian looked at Odette’s worn-out look, wishing instead to see her with a large packet of food. At least he didn’t need to feel guilty that his hatred for her turned her into a bum. “Please let me take my wife safely.”  Bastian looked at his watch. “If you don’t come quietly, then I will be forced to bring you along, either way, you’re coming home with me, so wouldn’t it be best to maintain some dignity?”  Bastian held out his hand in a polite, gentlemanly manner, even as his tone left an air of menace about him. Odette knew that whatever she did, she would only come off more miserable.

   Odette turned back to the window and watched the rain patter against the glass, then she turned back to Bastian. He was right, it was all going to end up the same way.

   She had enjoyed a brief period of freedom and happiness, but it was nothing more than a mirage. She thought she had tricked her fate, but she was the only one that had been deceived. Odette’s despair deepened by the fact that she had no idea what Bastian was going to do to her.

   While she struggled to control her deflated heart, she reached for Bastian’s cold, calloused hand. His hand clasped hers with fierce strength and pulled her up out of the seat.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

All Odette could do was watch him from the comfort of the private, stately compartment as he shed his coat and dried his damp hair. When he was done, Bastian stood before her and held out a fresh towel.

   “Take it off,” Bastian motioned for Odette to remove the drenched coat.

   “Why didn’t you accept the divorce?” Odette said coldly.

   Choosing not to hear the question, Bastian took it upon himself to remove Odette’s coat himself. She didn’t fight it and the coat fell to the floor with a heavy thud. Many items spilled from its pockets, scattering across the floor. There were  cheap soap, shoe polish, and crushed chocolate. These items seemed to represent Odette’s life over the last month.

   “Why didn’t you take the divorce? It was the best thing for everyone, why did you do this?”

   “I decide what is best, Odette,” Bastian said.

   Odette was soaked through, she would get sick if she did not dry off and warm up. Slowly, Bastian removed Odette’s clothes. When he tried to undo the buttons of her blouse, Odette struggled against him, in the end, torn buttons pinged across the cabin and the blouse fell to the floor.

   Bastian couldn’t help but laugh as he draped the towel over Odette and when he looked in her bag for spare clothes, he found they were all shabby and creased. There was a gold comb in amongst everything, with a large letter H engraved on it.

   “Don’t touch that,” Odette screamed and snatched at the bag. “Don’t look, go away.”

   Odette fought against Bastian, punching and scratching at him, trying to get her bag from him, but Bastian shoved her away as easily as if she was just a child and emptied the contents of the bag. Odette fell onto the seat, seized with humiliation.

Bastian grabbed her. He looked calm, hven though he had achieve his desire. Baffled by the chilly, famished look in his eyes, Odette hesitated and retreated a step.

The unlit compartment plunged into darkness as the train entered a tunnel. It was an ambushing darkness that left nothing but chaos in its wake.