"There it is!" The engineer shouts from behind them. Jonas grins, he can just make out the lamps on the rear of the train. It's still dark as the sun has not risen completely yet.
“Hurry,” Jonas urges, “I want to be on that train before they wake up. Eve, tell them to join me on the front of the train. Once we connect, we will cross over.” Eve passes the message and watches the Chen follow Jonas out into the frigid October air.
“You can keep me company until they return,” Stanley sneers at her.
Eve grips the dagger she stole from one of the Chen. He will not be touching her again. “You should concentrate on your task,” she snaps.
Stanley laughs and pushes the lever, giving the train more speed and taunts her, “Oh I know how to get the job done, just watch me get it in the hole.”
Inside the dining car, they enjoy a full meal, with coffee, toast, eggs, biscuits, and Chase inhales a steak while Bronnah watches in amazement. "You keep eating like that, and your horse will run from ya."
Chase grins at her and wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, “You could always help me work it off. We have two hours before we reach our destination.”
Bronnah leans forward whispering, “Do ya feel lucky, Mr. Rivers?”
“Every second I’m with you, Bronnah mine,” he replies softly. His silver eyes flash with the truth, and the words weigh heavily between them.
Bronnah's smile fades, "You shouldn't call me that, Chase. It's cruel. We will be going our separate ways soon." Chase puts down his napkin and sips his coffee while the staff clears the table. As soon as they are alone again, he leans forward.
"We should talk about that. Bronnah, when we arrive, we will go straight to the Marshall's office to give your testimony. Once that is complete you will be put in protective custody. I want you to know that your safety is my number one priority."
"I understand." Bronnah stares quietly at him. She tries not to think about leaving him, but of course, he will want to get on with his life and return home. Her stomach feels like a stone has dropped into it. Every time she thinks about leaving him, tremors start, but she makes sure he doesn't know. Bronnah wraps her arms around herself in a protective gesture.
“No, you don’t,” Chase leans forward and sets down his coffee. “Once this is over, we need to talk about us…” Chase feels the train jerk and leaps to his feet, pulling Bronnah towards him.
Stanley maneuvers the engine to the rear car where the connection hook is, but just as he eases back on the speed, Eve attacks. Hissing with excitement, she waits for Jonas to turn back and look at them through the glass. The moment his eyes widen in realization, Eve's blade slices the engineer's fat throat, spurting red, hot, blood all over the controls. Jonas screams in rage as Eve reaches up and grabs the throttle slamming it forward. Stanley grabs his throat and falls backward when the train lurches forward.
In that second Eve’s plan goes awry. The train in front of Eve begins to slow unexpectedly as it takes a turn and starts to cross a wooden bridge over a river below. The impact is surprisingly violent as metal screeches, sparks fly, and the Engine pushes straight into the baggage car.
Instead of connecting to the caboose of the train in front of them, the cow catcher on the front of the engine slices like a metal blade straight into the car. Jonas and the Chen are killed instantly, crushed in a screaming crush of metal on metal and Eve is thrown forward into the levers and panels. One axle snaps on the coal car behind the engine, causing it to leap from the tracks and slide sideways. The impact causes the main engine to slam over violently on its side and the steam boiler bursts, spraying scalding water and steam all over Eve.
Inside the train, Chase and Bronnah hear screaming and the pressure of something approaching before the dining car explodes with hysterical people and wood splintering. Chase tries to run, pulling her behind him but the car is thrown sideways from the tracks, sending bodies floating through the air. Bronnah's ears ring, and everything seems to happen in an instant. Her hand is ripped from Chase, and they are torn apart. She slams up against the bottom of the car, or is that the side of the car?
The runaway engine tears into the baggage car, tossing it from the tracks and straight into the rearmost sleeping car. Feeling the impact on his train, the conductor screams to the brakemen who immediately slow the massive train. They fight furiously, trying to stop the train from being tossed off the side of the bridge. Having just started the crossing he was already slowing down when they were struck from behind.
Chase watches in horror as Bronnah is thrown around the cabin like a rag doll. He fares no better as his shoulder slams into a wooden table and the train skids to a stop in glass and debris. “Bronnah!” He roars and scrambles towards her, ignoring the glass shards embedding themselves into his hands and knees.
Bronnah opens her eyes just as Chase reaches her. The noise comes back instantly and all around her the sounds of people moaning, screaming, and praying echo through the cabin. Before she can speak, the world tilts once more. Attached to the train in a mangled mass of metal and burning wood the contorted trains dangle and finally, begin sliding, pulling the train cars off the bridge.
Chase grasps Bronnah to his chest, and they start to slide.
"NO!" Bronnah screams, "Chase we're being dragged over the bridge!" There's no time to act, only react.
