Welcome to the Bakery!

The prompt was “train”.

(Accidentally switched the prompts for the 7th and 8th.)

                  Crossing the threshold of the multi-dimensional portal was a bizarre feeling. Ariadne struggled to find words to describe the sensation despite it not lasting long enough for there to be a reason to articulate such a thing. While the pair of Hunters had crossed the threshold together, the narrow corridor and seating on either side forced them to walk single file. Elithia had taken point, but left her fingers interlocked with Ariadne’s so she was twisted slightly to one side.

                  While the train car had not been moving – how could it smashed as it was against a cliffside with no means of locomotion in sight – the lights and sounds flickering around them sought to prove otherwise. It felt very much like they were hurtling through space and time, which was more accurate than either understood. Music hummed softly, just loud enough to be perceived, but not loud enough to be named. Neither Ariadne nor Elithia knew much music, so knowing this track was unlikely. But the feeling that if they could just hear it a bit better that they could then somehow name it sat in the back of their minds.

                  Moving down the center aisle of the train car felt like navigating the deck of a boat out to sea. Combined with the rocking motion and the bright lighting, the two felt disorientated. “This is certainly not my ideal means of transportation,” Elithia stated flatly as she sat in one of the seats on either side of the aisle they had been traversing. Ariadne plopped down next to her and replied with, “I don’t think anyone would like this. How could they?” Ariadne’s Ghost materialized in front of her and from its shell came Lodi’s voice. “Actually, this was how many people traveled back in my time or place or, well, you get the idea. Of course, trains didn’t take people through rips in time or space like this one seems to. They also weren’t managed by The Nine but instead local transportation agencies.”

                  Elithia shot a look at Ariadne that she couldn’t quite see thanks to the helmet she was wearing, but the message was received. “So, the trains of your time where essentially nothing like this at all?” She deadpanned. Despite Lodi’s communicating through Ariadne’s Ghost, the two could hear his exasperated pause. “Sure, yeah. That’s actually accurate. Just, uh, be safe.” Her Ghost dematerialized and Elithia continued with, “At least we got our history lesson for the day.” Ariadne giggled, more so because it was rare that Elithia ever made any kind of quip or retort. It seemed she only spoke when she felt it extremely necessary, which wasn’t often at all. Ariadne didn’t know if it was her having lived in solitude for so long that informed this behavior or if this was just her personality which had driven her to find solitude. Either way, Ariadne had learned to embrace these moments.

                  The two sat in companionable silence, still holding hands despite the perceived danger being gone. “Where would you like this train to take us?” Ariadne asked. Elithia didn’t respond right away, and Ariadne feared she’d pushed her luck, that the moment for brevity had passed. Finally, she responded with, “Not into danger and somewhere with good food.” Elithia patted the hand she was holding with her opposite hand and stood up, drawing Ariadne to her feet. “Sadly, I fear there will be no good food and only danger,” She added as she led Ariadne down the length of the train car.