[ IP ] Abandoned Train Tunnel

`` You should n't be here,'' he said, reaching out for her hand. She stared at it, shaking it off as she set off into the tunnel. `` You know this was our favourite place. Why here?'' 
 
 She stared abjectly forward, ignoring him. `` That's okay. Do n't worry. I wo n't get upset at you for being mad. Not this time,'' She froze, turning back to look for the boy. However, he longer stood at the mouth of the tunnel, causing her to sigh. She faced forward once more, almost walking through him. `` I'll wait. I'll be good. But please do n't do this,'' The boy sounded forlorn, destroyed. Her hair flew as she shook her head, distorting the image. She closed her eyes before continuing onward, almost tripping on the tracks. 
 
 Voices echoed out from within the tunnel, a feeling of dread running down her spine. She picked up her pace, gravel crunching underfoot as she ran off further into the tunnel. `` Please wait,'' the boy said, his image flickering and appearing in front of her rapidly, always leaning on the walls of the tunnel. Never standing. Not anymore. `` Do n't go back there,'' he whispered, before finally flickering out of existence entirely. The voices became louder, and she could make out her own voice. She stopped in the middle of the tracks, not wanting to turn the last corner. 
 
 `` Yeah?'' Her detached voice yelled, contempt clear in her voice. `` Maybe you should try your luck with the train. I reckon it'd love you more than I would!'' Tears rolled down her cheeks, dislodged by her batting eyelids. Her fingers shakily wiped them away, as the same boy came running around the corner, blinded by fear, anger and his own torrent of tears. She twisted to watch after him, glad he was finally in colour. Her joy was soon shattered, however, as the train got louder. The world seemed to be closing in, the noise echoing off the encroaching walls. Dots floated in front of her eyes as she screwed them shut, to no avail. 
 
 Her skin was cold as she threw her arms over her ears, drowning in a wave of regret. `` This is n't happening!'' She screamed, drowned out by the train's horn. `` This ca n't be happening! Make it stop! Please, just make it stop,'' Gravel scraped against her knees as she collapsed, her arms slowly lowering onto the icy wood. She hesitantly opened her eyes, now deafened by the silence. In front of her, rain had begun to fall outside of the tunnel, but no little boy lay broken on the tracks. The fabric of her jacket twitched as her chest heaved before she finally got her breathing under control and stood up. 
 
 She already knew what to expect before turning around, but was still shocked when she saw a slightly younger version of herself glaring at her. `` I like what they did to the place. Really gives it that abandoned look, do n't you think?'' The young version glanced around the tunnel, before noticing the speck of blood on the front of her jacket. `` How'd that happen? Pansy out of something fun?'' 
 
 `` I was too weak to just... you know...'' She made a rough stabbing motion towards her stomach, tremors tearing through her arms. `` I tried falling backwards onto a knife, but it did n't work. I was too weak. But it'll work this time. I've got to be strong, so I can see him again,'' Her younger self laughed, but the sound did not reverberate as it should. 
 
 `` Our younger brother's moved on, buddy. But go ahead. Rationalise this that way,'' There were at least 5 unique types of gravel underfoot, that she could count. It was more interesting to count them than to look at herself. She finally started shuffling forward, straight through the ethereal vision. 
 
 Their retreat had not been cleaned by the Reshapers. After the death of her brother, the tunnel had been discontinued. A team of Reshapers had made the tunnel seem long abandoned, when, in reality, it was only closed six months ago. However, as a tribute to the little boy, they had left his favourite hideaway unscathed. The pipes on the walls still gleamed, despite not being polished. There was no moss on the walls, and the already abandoned seats remained where they had been. 
 
 She sat down on her favourite couch, intently studying the grain of the wooden table in front of her. She reached into her pocket, warm fingers grasping lifeless metal. She placed it on the table, staring at it. `` What, you took Dad's gun?'' Her head snapped to the doorway, where a more modern vision of herself stood. The blood stain on their jacket stood out, bright red against a blue backdrop. `` That's not a bad touch. Ballsy, at least. You mean this,'' She turned away, not acknowledging anything her other self said. `` Here,'' footsteps echoed off the floor, filling the room. `` Let me help,'' Metal scraped against wood, and a hammer clicked into place. `` I'll count backwards from five. When I hit zero... well,'' She closed her eyes upon the laughter, images of her brother filling the darkness. 
 
 It was a long time before her eyes ever saw the open sky again. Not that she herself ever would. 
 
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