Love In A Sinking Realm ⊰BTS⊱ Steampunk

CHAPTER 6 ➣ Clandestine Train

The faint shrill blow of the train's horn echoed from a distance.

Hoseok, Jungkook, and Yoongi gathered their belongings and stationed themselves on the concrete platform of the watchtower.

"I hope you know what you're doing, young lads," said the old man.

Yoongi shrugged, "You said it was a good plan, why are you having second thoughts, old geezer?"

Hoseok rolled his eyes at his brother.

"Because you sound like you have some kind of a grand death wish if you ask me!" replied the man irked.

"There! I see the smoke!" exclaimed Jungkook, spotting the steam of the train zooming in above the forest.

The boys prepared themselves to board. Hoseok felt his nervousness growing.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Cain," Hoseok shook the old man's hand, a few minutes before the train's arrival.

"The honor was mine, lad."

"If I ever meet any of your family members, I promise to inform them of your location," asserted the boy with an impatient smile, "I swear to you."

Mr. Cain pressed his lips and lowered his gaze, "You give out hope to people, don't you, boy? I thought it was too late for me..."

The long conversations in the past three days had breathed a few years of life in that man's body. It was impressive how he was rejuvenated, his voice was louder and clearer, the color of his complexion restored.

"It's never too late, sir," Hoseok beamed kindly, cupping his handshake with his other hand.

The rhythmic chuf-chuf of the train grew louder and the railroad tremored. The three brothers saluted the train engineer.

"Remember, this is a clandestine train, managed by the gangs and gypsy clans of the continent. There's no stopping this train unless you blow it to the heavens with dynamite. They may transport some of it, as well as other contraband, like liquor, potions, and weapons, even refugees. So, if you're fortunate you may pass on as one of them---"

"It's not refugees we wanna pass on as," Yoongi corrected him, "But as bounty hunters."

The muzzle of the train appeared, followed by the tail of wagons. The wind carrying the screech of the brakes disturbed the peaceful angle of the forest. The train cut through the pendant branches of the trees and raised a tornado of the autumn leaves that rested on the rail tracks.

With the air disheveling his hair, Jungkook hopped on first on the moving train, followed by Yoongi. Hoseok jumped last, watching the image of the wretched, solitary figure of the old engineer and his rundown watchtower waste away and eventually disappear.

"Come on, Hoseok!" Yoongi pulled him in, through the gap of two wagons.

Jungkook kicked a door open and entered a container chamber full of crates, barrels, and wooden chests. Hoseok inhaled the scent of illegal goods like tobacco, alcohol, and, of course, gunpowder.

"Well, gents, I believe we hit the jackpot," commented Jungkook triumphantly, while searching around for revolvers, dynamite, and swords.

He handed some to Yoongi but purposefully gave Hoseok just a small automatic pistol.

"Hey! What am I supposed to do with this tiny contraption? Hunt rats?!" whined the boy, holding it with his thumb and index finger.

"It's a woman's gun, lighter and easy to use."

Hoseok glared threateningly.

"Yeah, try saying that to Selenya...I mean Y/N...and she'd smack you like a fresh octopus!"

"I didn't mean it as an offense to women. Sele...I mean Y/N is a badass with her customized dart-gun," affirmed Jungkook, "It's you I'm worried about, that you'll be more of a threat to yourself than you'd be to others! No offense, brother, but you are no fighter."

With the same purple flare swirling in his irises, Hoseok stepped forth, ready to assault his little brother, who smirked tauntingly. Yoongi came between them before they could rip each other apart.

"Quit it, both of you! Behaving like tinkers! Now wear the masks Y/N gave us and bloody focus!" he commanded sharply, but for a moment he was more worried about Hoseok thrashing Jungkook, and not the other way around. Since he started showing signs of magical abilities, Yoongi felt strangely nervous around him.

They wore their breathing masks and moved from wagon to wagon, coming across cannons, machine guns, and folded four-seated airships.

"What's with the heavy artillery?" wondered Jungkook, slipping his head under the cloth coverings and wrappings.

"Stolen by both armies to sell to the WRA or other gangs," replied Hoseok, passing under the drifting ray of light infiltrating the ceiling window. Then he whispered to himself, "And now we know how the WRA gets their weapons...I wonder who commission's these bargains..."

The noisy shudderings and creaks of the train overlayed every other sound, making it impossible to distinguish any human presence.

"Jungkook, can you get to the roofs? Maybe you can spot these arseholes from above," asked Yoongi after opening the opposite door.

Jungkook nodded enthusiastically, as though expecting to be requested to do something reckless, or life-threatening altogether. He thanked the heavens that Y/N nor Seokjin were there to witness his acrobatics. So, he exited the weapon's wagon, wall-climbed on the next one, ignoring the tunnel formed by the trees, and started peeping down every roof window, until he sighted their targets.

Meanwhile, in the weapon's wagon, Hoseok and Yoongi leaned against the walls, fallen in awkward silence. The eldest could feel the hostility emitting from his brother, who kept a steady glare fixed in front of him.

And I thought I was the moody one in the family, Yoongi thought to himself.

"So...," he began tentatively, "You and Y/N were taking magic lessons together?"

No answer.

"I thought you were afraid of breaking the austere regulations of the Western Kindom. Magic is, well was, forbidden..."

Still no answer. Hoseok was adamant in his resentment.

"Are you any good at it, or...?" Yoongi had the suspicion that he was provoking him further still, so he chose to subdue to the painful silence.

To his relief, the door barged open letting a glimmering Jungkook inside. The bitter wind had stiffened his facial muscles, but the excitement was as evident as the sun.

"I found those idiots, two wagons from here. They're all gathered on a round table, playing cards. Probably half-drunk!"

"Who are they?" asked Yoongi.

"The first lot of bounty hunters that joined the party," Junkgook scoffed and then his expression hardened, "I will never let them lay a finger on Selenya...I mean Y/N..."

Yoongi shared his feeling, "Very well, shall we?"

Hoseok sighed and followed them half-heartedly.