Sub Train

Army life is a nightmare. Anna Jane knew they couldn’t stay here. She looked around her tiny cell. Only one window near the top. Guards always stood outside her cell. She didn’t know where George was either. Anna Jane sat down and sighed.

“Now what?” she asked. The girl reached into her robe pocket for her radio. Still in good condition. At times like this, music calmed her down. But…

Anna Jane turned her head. She heard chatter outside her door. Noise would draw attention. But then again, she played her radio quietly in bed before. Maybe this could work. Anna Jane held her breath and slowly turned the dial. A soft crackle filled the air. What stations would she get in this land? Anna Jane softly tuned her radio. Nothing. Silence. Dead air. White noise. White noise. Dead air. Dead air. Silence.

But then, she heard a voice.

Anna Jane turned her head.

“What was that?” she asked. She pressed her ear to the radio. A child’s voice came through the speaker.

“Two. Five. Seven. Two Five. Seven. Two. Two. Two. Beep. Beep.”

Anna Jane turned to Teddy.

“What was that?” she asked. Her cell door was forced open as the sequence repeated itself. Two panadas had their spears drawn. Anna Jane stood up with hands in the air.

“What’s the problem, guys?” she asked.

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Another interrogation room. Anna Jane sat with her radio on. The numbers repeated themselves. This time, they came through louder. The leader sat across from her.

“Who do you work for?” he asked.

“No one, sir,” she said. The leader slammed his hand on the table.

“Liar!” he shouted. “Why do you have this?” The panada pointed to her radio.

“That’s just my radio,” Anna Jane said. “I got it from my grandpa last year.” The leader eyed her.

“Your grandpa?” he asked. “Is he your boss?”

“No,” she said. “I don’t know anything. Why am I here? What is Chronus? Why are you looking for it?” The leader said nothing. He turned on his walkie-talkie. The conversation was short. But that was all it took.

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By morning, Anna Jane, Teddy, and George were blindfolded and led out in the camp. Five panadas marched them through the woods. No one said a word. Anna Jane had her radio under her robe. She stayed for hours in the camp and now they left. But where were they going now?

About an hour later, Anna Jane heard chatter around her. Hm?

“Where are we?” she asked. The little girl took off her blindfold.

“A train station?” she asked. It looked like London in the 1880’s. Ladies and men were rushing around in Victorian dress. Anna Jane and George stood out in the crowd. The little girl gasped.

“Wow!” she said. “It’s like in the books at home!” A loud whistle sounded in the air.

“All aboard!” the conductor shouted. A spear to the back nudged Anna Jane forward.

“Ow,” she said. When she turned around, the panada soldiers were gone. Anna Jane tilted her head.

“Hm,” she said.

“Meep!” George cried. His friend turned her head. The creature started at her with big eyes.

“What?” Anna Jane asked. George pointed to the black and gold train on the tracks ahead. She narrowed her eyes.

“You want to get on the train?” she asked.

“Meep! Meep!” it shouted. Anna Jane put her hands.

“Okay, okay,” she said. “We’ll get on.”

“Meep! Meep! Meep!” George said. Anna Jane reached out and patted him.

“There, there,” she whispered. They walked up to the train. The conductor held out his hand.

“Welcome aboard the Aqua Sub Train!” he greeted them. “Tickets, please.” Anna Jane felt around in her pockets.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I… We don’t have any.” There was a pause.

“Meep!” George said. Anna Jane looked up at the creature.

“Hm?” she asked. A sharp crackle caught her attention. Anna Jane about jumped.

“Whoa!” she yelped. The little girl reached into her robe and pulled out her radio. Somehow, it turned on by itself. The conductor watched as the radio played.

“Two. Five. Seven. Two. Five. Sven. Two. Two. Two. Beep. Beep,” the voice said. Anna Jane had a blank stare on her face. The conductor smiled.

“Welcome aboard, little lady,” he said. He took a step to the side. Anna Jane blinked.

“Thanks, I guess,” she said. Anna Jane, Teddy, and George boarded the train.

“Off to Chronus, I guess,” she said to herself. Anna Jane sat by the window in Car Twenty-Five.