"Major!" Cana yelled, pointing at the Shade across the street.
"It's here," Major Coleman said though the phone. Our pick up was still nowhere to be seen. Leo immediately trained his flashlight to the Shade.
No effect.
We all followed suit. But even with all our lights combined, it didn't harm the Shade.
The Shade took a step forward and jumped down the concrete barrier. But the lights were green. A car slammed into the Shade, dragging the Shade with its front bumper a good distance away. The driver must have floored the brakes because the tires were squealing. The car started swerving, and then crashed into the concrete barrier, pinning the Shade.
"It didn't work..." I said.
"The LRT," Major Coleman said.
"I thought we were supposed to avoid public places," Leo said.
"We have no choice. Now GO!" Major said.
We turned around and flew up the stairs. We didn't have any ticket. When we passed through the metal detectors, Major had a quick conversation with the security guards on duty. They made us use the side gate by the side of the automatic turnstiles instead. We caught the southbound train with its doors still open. There were already a lot of passengers fighting their way inside the already jam-packed car doors. But Major Coleman took us to the car reserved only for female passengers, so it wasn't as crowded and rowdy as the other cars. We hopped in as the doors were closing.
I kept my eyes on the stairs, expecting the head of the Shade to come into view as it climbed up. But the train lurched forward and I only saw wave after wave of commuters coming up. From the look of their faces, either they didn't noticed the commotion below or they couldn't care less. I leaned my back against the wall and slid down. A sigh of relief escaped my lips. The rest joined me on the cold, metal floor. Except for Major Coleman, who just grabbed hold of the handrails instead. He doesn't even look out of breath.
"Is five minutes rest too much to ask?" Cana complained.
We were so tired and freaked out that we almost didn't notice the judgmental stares we were getting from the passengers. Whatever they must be thinking about us now, I'm sure it's not nice. I'd probably react the same way if a bunch of teenagers tumbled inside, looking all sweaty and panicked. They must be thinking of not getting involved. And that would be the right decision.
But Major Coleman decided to address the issue. He immediately brought out his customer-service smile and explained that we four kids have agoraphobia. He was helping us overcome our fear by starting with a small crowd so he picked this car. Then he pulled his wallet out, flipped it open and flashed it like it was a badge.
The ladies leaned over to steal glances at us. Some offered kinds words, saying how we were all brave for choosing to face our fears. It was beyond ridiculous that we momentarily forgot the fact that the Shade was still on us.
I was startled by this development because of course, we had to act the part. Otherwise, we risk being found out as haunteds. I made a mental note to have a serious talk with Major about springing situations like this onto us.
I'm not much of an actor but we have no choice. So I thanked them in a small voice, keeping my head down and hugging myself tight that I was visibly shaking. That was the image I thought a terrified kid should look like, anyway. Leo was shaking all right, but I'm pretty sure that was because he was trying so hard not to laugh. Demi and Cana had no problem looking all scared and meek, which was no surprise considering the Shade just practically ambushed us. But Cana really sold it. She was actually crying. Weak, almost silent sobs. Real tears. Too real, that when the other passengers left us alone, I immediately turn over to her.
"Cana, hey..." I couldn't hide the worry in my voice.
In response, she looked up to me and an annoying smug spread over her face. "Got you too, huh?"
I can feel my face burning. "You're the worst," I said, looking away. But I can't stop myself from smirking.
There was still no sign of the Shade. I felt the muscles on the back of my neck loosen up. Maybe it cannot keep up with the speed of the train. But even so, all it had to do was to take shadow form and appear anywhere inside this train, then take its physical form again. Like it did last night when it withdrew its black tendrils and dropped the ceiling on us.
"Wait here," Major Coleman said. Then he walked down the aisle, weaving through the crowd of passengers and disappeared behind the door towards the next car.
"Where do you think he's going?" Leo asked.
"No idea," I said.
"Hey," Demi said. "What do you think happened to that driver?"
"I'm sure he's fine," Leo said. "Right, Vergil?"
"Um...Yeah," Was the best I could manage.
But Leo came up with something better. "He's fine. The Shade should have lost interest in the driver the moment we ran out of there," he said. I guess this is what he and Eris do best. But without Eris, he tried to bring me to it. It's just that, right now, my mind is on the fact that our lights did nothing.
I motioned for them to come closer to me. "Our lights..." I whispered. "It didn't do anything."
"Maybe because it's so small?" Leo suggested, holding his light between his thumb and index finger.
"Are there different kinds of U.V. lights?" Cana asked.
No one answered. If there are different kinds, then that would explain what just happened. Or is Leo right? Does size really matter in this kind of situation?
The P.A system chimed as it always does before making an announcement. "Thank you for riding with us today. This is an express train bound for Dimasalang. Next stop is Dimasalang station, Dimasalang station." The passengers started panicking. Some students were shocked.
"Wh-what? I didn't know this was an express train."
"Wait, that can't be right."
"That's three stations over my stop."
"Um honey, I'm going to be late. Looks like I rode the express train. Haha. Love you."
The car door slid open again. Major Coleman came back.
"A little heads up would be nice," I said.
A smile spread over Major Coleman's face. "I trusted your acting skills."
"I almost lost it," Leo said.
But Major Coleman just shrugged. "Better that than being scared."
I blinked. "You mean you chose the most absurd explanation on purpose just to make us laugh?"
"I need you kids to act normal," Major Coleman said.
"Yes, because it's normal for a group of agoraphobic teenagers to get on a train," Cana retorted.
"Fear makes people panic, lose control of themselves. Especially their mouths. Can't have you kids accidentally blurting out our situation," Major Coleman explained.
"Major," I said. "Were the lights your men were using different from store-bought?"
Major Coleman thought about it for a while. "I didn't ask for such specification so I believed them to be the same. Can't be sure, though."
"Is it weird that the Shade still hasn't come back?" Cana said.
Demi jolts straight up as if someone poke him from behind with a sharp object. Then he remembered where he was and whispered, "You think it went over to the other groups?"
"Let me check," Major Coleman pulled out his walkie-talkie and made a call.
I took this time to look around while Major Coleman was busy on the phone. "Bring them there," Major Coleman said, ending the call.
Then, I caught someone staring at us. When someone caught me staring at them, I reflexively look away. But this guy held his gaze. Yes, there was another male besides us inside the female car. Corporate attire. Neatly combed hair. And he looks young, I would guess he's in his early twenties.
But aside normal looks, he was creeping me out. His eyes were wide open. His jaw went slack. Like he recognized us and he's trying to remember from where. But that's impossible. I haven't seen this man in my entire life. I tried to break away and look at him again. And saw his eyes still fixed on me. Wait. Maybe not on me. On us. I saw his face lit up. He made his way down towards us.
This can't be good.