Train to Infinity

Train to Infinity

It all began almost three years ago, when the three of us came together. Three perfect strangers. I still to this day think of it as a miracle. I'm the youngest of the three, being twenty, and Parker and Inigo in their late twenties. It was April 7th, my uncle, and caretaker, had another episode. I ran from the house when the abuse became too great. I could hear him stumbling after me, his slurred curse words just behind me as i ran into the darkness of the night. I ran into a nearby field and thorns tore into my bare legs and arms. Finally after what seemed like forever i arrived at a road. It had rained earlier and the air around me was chilled as he called my name. i looked up and down the streets, looking for any signs of protection.

I still to this day think of this as a miracle. I was desperate and saw no signs of anyone on the long road. I was frustrated and scared as the sounds of my drunken uncle started closing in on me.

"You look like you could use a lift."

I gasped and looked up. There right before me was a man. His passenger door was open and he looked at me through it.

I didn't hesitate to think hey, maybe this guy is a murderer.

No, i ran and jumped into that man's car. I closed the door and he was off, leaving behind my uncle who was just walking onto the street from the field.

"Do you have somewhere you'd like to go" he asked.

"Somewhere far away, please. As far away as you can take me."

"What about your parents?" he asked, "You don't look like you're old enough to travel the world just yet."

I turned and looked out the window, trying to calm down my frantic breaths, "My parents are dead, sir."

"Okay, sounds like you're a-ok for traveling the world then. I'm Parker." he reaches out his left hand leaving his right hand on the wheel.

I take it, "Lillian."

"It's very nice to meet you, Lillian. I have one last question to ask you."

"What is that"

"You planning on traveling the world with your hello kitty pajamas on?"

Bringing myself back to reality i giggle at his question. He was being serious when he said we were going to travel the world. In the last couple of months i've seen more of the world than i have in all my life. We've traveled from europe to canada, from canada to Hawaii, from Hawaii to japan. We went everywhere. I never questioned why he saved me that day, for some odd reason the question never came to my mind. We never asked questions from each others past. we always lived for the future, only asking questions for what we were going to do next.

It was in Canada when we found Inigo.

it was the 16th week after I left with Parker and we were driving from the Niagara falls. There he was on the side of the road, in rags. He stumbled through the snow, no shoes were on his feet.

Before I knew what happened Parker stopped beside him and had the window rolled down.

"You look like you could use a lift."

It was the same words that saved me that night that seemed like forever ago. Those same words that seemed like a divine miracle sent from above.

Inigo looked at us for a long moment, his eyes weary. I reached into the back and pulled on the door handle, making the back door open for him. He didn't give it a second thought. He was in the car in seconds and with trembling fingers he pulled the door closed.

He was thin, like he hadn't eaten in a very very long time.

I pulled off my large warm jacket and handed it to him. He put it on instantly.

"I'm Lillian and this is Parker." I said with a smile.

"In-in-inigo" he stuttered through his chattering teeth, "Th-thank y-you."

"Want to go on an adventure, Inigo?" Parker said, excitement in his eyes.

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"Have you not read the Hobbit? Nevermind, what i mean is, you're never going to spend another night out there in that cold."

I watched as hope filled his eyes as did the tears.

Again, we never questioned each others past. We always lived for the future.

Over these last couple of years we've grown closer and closer. They are my friends and my family. I truly couldn't imagine living my life without them.

So as I search my memories of the past couple of days I can't seem to figure out why Inigo is mad at me. My brows knit together as i think harder. When was it when he started acting this way? How do i even know he's mad?

Well he wont look at me for starters and he keeps avoiding me.

What in the world. It's making me so angry. Parker KNOWS he's angry too. He's been deliberately putting us together, making us do things together and then laughing about it as he runs away.

Now we ended up staying in the same room as each other, well connecting rooms.

A loud noise shatters the room and I sit up quickly, only to realize a few seconds later when i hear it again, that it's him snoring.

HE NEVER SNORES. EVER. How do I know that? Well, after many nights of sleeping in a car with him these past couple of years, I’ve never once heard this loud dangerous noise that could wake the dead.

I get out of bed, furious. He has to be faking. I walk past the open door connecting our rooms and I poke him on the nose, making it bend backwards. Nothing happens. I poke him again, and again, and again.

The snores continue.

"OH MY GOSH. Shut up!" I throw a pillow over his face and it muffles the sound.

His snoring continues and I can't help to turn from angry to laughing as the loud snores continue. I peel the pillow from his face. I prop myself up on my elbow from the side of the bed and look down at him. Maybe he isn’t faking. How could someone that is faking look just that peaceful?

My straight blond hair falls out from behind my ear and reaches down towards his face, tickling his straight nose. I watch as his nose crinkles in his sleep and his eyes scrunch up. I watch, trying to hold back from laughing.

I was trying to hold back from laughing so much that I didn't notice that his snoring had long stopped. Suddenly, big brown eyes are staring up at me. My breath catches in my throat and everything isn't as funny anymore.

"Lillian." he whispers my name with his accent lacing that one word heavily.

I feel my face becoming super red and I sit up hastily, "I-uh- sorry-you were snoring"

I stand up and go to leave the room.

"I used to fly planes, " he says behind me, "Planes were my life. I'd fly really awesome planes in the army. There was just something about planes, the noise of them, the way they shook houses when they passed over. I was just in  love with planes-"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I was flying a F22 raptor one day, but something went wrong. I never really knew what it was that went wrong, I didn't even have time to do anything. We hit the ground before I knew what was happening. There was no way I could live through that crash. I was a disappointment, being the pilot that crashed a very expensive plane and too injured to fly anymore. Then I was out in the world and I didn't know what to do. Somehow I ended up in the streets."

I froze in my spot, "I'm telling you this because I want you to know about me. I want you to know about my past."

I'm silent for I moment before I turn back to him, "My parents died when I was twelve. It was in a car accident. I was shipped to the only family member alive, my uncle. He was in his late forties. He seemed able to take care of me, being rich and all. He-he was abusive, really abusive. I was home schooled by  a teacher hired not to ask about the bruises and cuts. One night when he got too drunk, I became scared for my life. I ran and right before he caught me, blessed Parker showed up like a miracle. I was so sure I was going to die that night."

We are silent for a long moment.

"Parker is a miracle to us both," he says and then whispers so that I have to strain to hear it, "but you are even a greater miracle to me."

Inigo. He makes me feel so...I'm not sure what the word is for it. I've never really felt it before. It's warm and nice. It makes my heart constrict painfully sometimes, but a good pain. He makes me smile and laugh. When he is upset so am I.

Tears begin to flow from my eyes, "We aren't really going to New York are we?" I ask.

He shakes his head, "I don't think so. I died in that plane crash, Lillian. I died there and been wondering the earth looking for you. Parker brought me to you."

"And my uncle really did get me that night, didn't he? Parker wasn't really there. He wasn't there until I was already gone.Where are we going then?"

He stares at me for a long moment, "I'm...I'm not sure."

Right as he says these words the train jerks to a stop and a bright light comes through the cracks of the door to the hallway. we take a long look at each other before going to stand before the door.

"I love you Lillian," he says facing the door, "I've loved you ever since I've laid eyes on you."

I reach over and grab his hand, "I love you too."

Then he opens the door.