Chapter 1

“Hell hath no fury”

[ Prologue ]

Pell Station was just like any other bustling trainstop-turned-city in the Imperium: the wealthy markets, businesses, and aristocracy all lived and worked within a mile of the station while those less fortunate were continually forced to live on the outskirts of the city proper, creating a dichotomy of existence for all who lived in the empire known as The Imperium.

Trains in The Imperium ran like clockwork. Because they were a giant clock, in a sense.

It’s said that the creators of this megalopolis engineered the railways to match the system of gears of a clock or the movements of a solar system to ensure that it ran as smoothly and chronologically accurate as possible.

One can set their watch or phone to the second based off a train’s schedule.The trains are the lifeblood of this world, providing transit of goods, people, and livestock from station to station on a daily basis.

The poor travel by train to the cities, and the rich travel to the countryside for wine and merriment and life goes on like this for generations to the point that most economy lives and dies by train schedule. Skyscrapers pierce the sky right near the stations, allowing the wealthy the easiest transits when and if they need to travel. The rest of society had to build and survive around the scraps from the rich. Roads stretch out from each Station in wide circles where the poorest of society were unlucky to exist at the very end of any point. Where trains didn’t go, and where the cost of living was basically free.

There were only a handful of people at the station at this time of night, as most had already traveled home or were still working, unable to enjoy the luxuries of a night out on the town.

Those lucky enough to be out and about on their own terms were few and far between and most of those were already at parties or private engagements at one station or another.

The cool evening air seemed to sting as the few travelers waited on the platform. A couple clutching each other against the threats imagined or otherwise, an old man dozing off on the bench, and several constables on patrol were the only people

An announcement blared over the speakers:

“Good evening, Ladies & Gentlemen. Today’s early evening train at Pell Station is set to arrive in precisely five minutes: 5:05 pm.”

Three young men in nice suits, expensive haircuts, and flashy jewelry excitedly jumped through the gated entrances to the platform, laughing and shouting at each other as they went.

“Yah gonna love this place, Johnny! I’m tellin yah buddy, smokin’ hot babes from wall to wall and drinks on a dime EVERY time, sucka!! HAHA!!! We’re gonna have THE BEST time for your bachy bachy partAY!!!!”

“Yah man!!! Imma telescan Benji and Scoobie to see if they can meet us there!”

“Oh oh yeah yeah man! And tell them to bring those super sweet honey bunnies they was tripping with back at Salsberg’s mansion.”

“BROoooo, yessss, Fisher coming through with the IDEAS!!! BROOOO”

“Ah man, Johnny, you’re gonna have to call those guys, you know those idiots are gaming right now and won’t hear a text, lucky if they even answer the damn phone!”

The boys laughed, tossing joking insults at their absent friends knowing full well they were likely glued to their flatscreens in an online tournament even as the thereto leaveaiting for the train.

“Good evening, Ladies & Gentlemen. The time is now 5:03 and the evening train will arrive into Pell Station in precisely two minutes. Thank you.”

Johnny couldn’t hear his phone over the commotion, so he ran to the edge of the platform to try to leave his friends a message. The lights from the train flashed ahead as it was arriving into the station, a speed train screaming as the brakes hammered against the rail line.

He saw something down on the loading tracks a few feet away from the edge of the platform. It looked like someone was asleep on the tracks or between them. He couldn’t see well in the evening light but the oncoming lights grew stronger as the train slowed into the dock next to them, illuminating the area in a wash of yellow light.