I: An Old Trainwreck

“You shall find magic everywhere once you become a dreamer.”

CHAPTER I: An Old Trainwreck; First Peculiar Experience

   I WOKE UP without knowing that this day would be different.

   Still, it was the same shards of light that blinded my view when I looked up at the sky. A little morning greeting from the heavens, I must say. I then wrapped myself with my usual dirty coat and trod out my tent, eyes puffy and hair frizzy. Yet I kept my mind refreshed. What another bright day to explore the world now.

   I caught the shimmers of the vast sea with my eye, and I breathed the air of mist. The clouds seemed to be thin and the birds were lively. The sound of waves and the salty breeze seemed to awaken me from my doze. And I gave off a smile to the horizon like I usually do whenever I get the chance to see the sun everyday.

   Everything was still polluted but this life seemed to be a little more peaceful and happy than what I had before.

   Or maybe, I just had no choice.

   I stood in front of Joel and Jones' family's door, knocking. “Hello, sir? A moment for breakfast?”

   I heard Jones groan. “Shut up, dickhead. It’s not even morning yet.”

   “Dude, it’s six-thirty.”

   “Give me until seven.” He scoffed.

   “Fine. I’ll just go get my things then.”

   I was chuckling on my way back. Whatever, he had always been like that.

   Well, if you ever wondered what life I, or Joel and Jones’ family had, we were basically squatters. I had been living my life since I was eleven in a small, crooked tent, together with some bugs and sea dirt at night. I was all clammed up inside. The place was poky and it could actually suffocate me anytime. But Joel and Jones’ family provided this for me, I knew this could be the best they could offer so I had to think I was lucky to have this rather than none. And even though sometimes I get a little damped here especially under a storm, I appreciated everything they had given to me.

   Yes, I had been living here since I was eleven and I am now sixteen.

   I don’t know man, it was a long story.

   But I remembered those times when I was only a grade schooler, I would often wipe my knees from stumbling on my classmates’ pranks. They’d throw eggs on me, coat me with paint, even hide my bag during dismissals. I realized how awful my days were back then. Yet now that I was free from those bullies, was also when it felt like I was losing everything.

   Despite me being a loser, I had the best family. My parents were the kindest people I had met in my life. They’d spoil me whatever I wanted when they saw me coming home crying. They would give me a tight hug, wash me, and wipe my warm tears dry with their soft hands. They’d tell me bedtime stories and make me milk before bed. I was basically the luckiest young boy to have ever been born. Yet life wasn’t so true to me. 

   They had met with an accident one day on their business trip and failed to survive.

   And… I became an orphan at the age of eleven.

   My relatives simply didn’t care about me at all. I was left there to die. To start with, they weren’t on good terms with my parents. How could they possibly care about me? Yet again, I thought that was too much. Too inhuman. They could have just turned me over to authorities or brought me to an orphanage but they did not. They just simply abandoned me, left me to die like a sick animal.

   It was painful and sad and wretched.

   And I began hating my life.

   I ran away from home a week after my parents passed away. Of course, I had no means of knowing where to go or what exactly to even do. I just knew I had to leave. There was no more room left for me in that place. I didn’t even care about what would happen to me anymore. I just simply left because I didn’t like it there. They didn’t see me as family. All of their hatred toward my parents was poured on me. They despised me. They wanted me dead too.

   I was just a kid back then. I didn’t know what to do.

   Until I came across this street where people and children are dirty but smiling. They seemed to be having fun. I stopped instinctively, wondering what’s in this part of the city.

   I tried approaching one of the kids, asking them for directions even though I didn’t exactly know where the hell I would go. At first, I thought they were nice, but then they robbed my bag with only crayons and two pairs of outfits inside. They were kind of disappointed but they took it anyway. And just as soon as the kids were about to ditch me, Joel and Jones, together with their little sister suddenly came up to them. And that was when they met me. 

   I got my bag back, all thanks to them.

   The story was long, but all things considered, they took me to their place. And that was when I started to live in this area. I found comfort in them. They were all nice people. They made me forget about my problems for a while. And they had such nice hospitality toward me.

   When I finally gathered myself together one night, I told them my story.

   And they said they felt the need to take me in, just as long as I wouldn’t rely on them too much. Of course, that was already too kind of them. I didn’t even think of staying but they insisted. Besides, their whole family liked me. I didn't even know but these strangers felt a little more like a family to me than my relatives.

   I worked my ass off since then. We had a small job in the market, carrying stuff for the merchants and in our free time, we would look for something good enough to sell at the junk shop. This squatter area was full of junked materials anyway and honestly, it was not really that hard to find them.

   I enjoyed my life here above all. I learned a lot about life and the world outside. I learned to survive—to stand on my own feet. For the first time in my life, I did not feel like a burden or a loser. I felt proud about myself and… I slowly learned to value the life I had again.

   Now, it has been five long years.

   I stopped education but instead, as a result, I gained bigger knowledge. Not about school but about the world. And I think I could not be more proud of what I had become.

--

   YOU KNOW WHAT, I always admired Joel. He was a kind young lad. With gentle hands and voice. Shy. Considerate. Patient. I almost thought he was an incarnate of an angel. Definitely opposite to his twin brother Jones.

   Although Jones was also nice to me, he has always been a dick. I couldn’t recollect any memory of him showing politeness or respect to anyone. Well, he respected his parents, and he didn’t hurt people. But he would always call that old lady in the market a hag. He would always scare the kids. He would tease the dogs and make us run the hell away from it. He was basically the worst. But he was also the sweetest to his siblings. He could work all day for his family. Given the fact that they struggled, he would not miss giving his younger sister gifts on her birthdays—regardless of how big or small that was. He would share his food with his twin and contribute a lot of extra money to his parents.

   I could almost consider him a grown up man. And I admired him just like how I admired Joel.

   “Bro, get this there already. Earth to Robin. Hello?”

   I blinked upon hearing my name. Jones clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “What is it again?”

   He pointed at the cargo. “Get. That. Inside. The. Truck. I. Said.” 

   I scoffed when he literally cut every word for me to understand. “Stupid.”

   “You are not one to talk!”

   I turned my back to him and just waved a hand. “I’ll get this done. You can go home. I know you miss your momma.”

   “You insolent—”

   I laughed and ran away from him toward the vehicle.

--

   WELL, TODAY WAS a heavy day. We normally go to work by eight in the morning and come home around five at sunset. Within those hours, we work—minus the breaks when we have to eat if there’s any meal, at least. I was usually fine with a chunk of bread and water—if I had intentions of saving some penny. However, despite the poor life, Joel and Jones’ family made sure everyone ate a decent amount of food. Other things didn’t matter so much as their health. And I think that’s really ideal.

   I walked home with numb legs and arms. I was tired. But this happens everyday. I’ve always known that life is like this. Problems never end. The least you can do is rest, and stand up again tomorrow. It gets a little exhausting at times but it is not like we have a choice, right? All we can do is fight.

   The street seemed eerie tonight. It was quiet, a bit darker, and more chilling. Normally, a lot of people would scram around here and exchange gossip. But I guess today, they were all too tired just like I was.

   I laughed in my head.

   Walking a couple more meters, I reached downstreet. The environment still sounded quiet and I have not reached the houses with beaming lights yet. I was about to quicken my pace, until I heard a thud somewhere near me. I halted and instinctively looked around.

   Okay, they got me a little frightened there. I don’t know if it was only my mind but I heard tiny voices along with the thump of something heavy. If dwarfs exist, then I would have believed they were the ones who caused that.

   Curious, I turned right and entered the small hallway. There was nothing but trash bins and old, junked furniture. I saw a tiny twinkle of light inside a stagnant, unused drainage. The hole was pitch black.

   I wasn’t sure—I felt scared. Yet… I also felt the weird urge to continue my steps.

   So I did.

   I kept my hands busy by feeling the curve walls, guiding myself inside. I walked and walked until I could finally have a vivid view of the light. It was small. Too small. And it was surrounded by none else but darkness. I could not help not to focus on it until it was hurting my eyes.

   When I reached it, I realized it was only a single penny coin. And it was an old coin, it could no longer be exchanged for food. It twinkled by reflecting the light of the moon passing through a small hole. What the hell.

   I grumpily threw it away. I knew I should have just kept myself out of this business. 

   I was about to march away from the area when suddenly, it reflected another light. And then, it showed me something way deeper in the dark.

   What is that?

   A train? A wrecked train.

   What the fucking hell. Are you serious?

   I ran to it, a couple of stinky water splashed on my feet but I didn’t mind anymore. I was extremely curious and thrilled that I forgot I was actually scared. Until there, I pictured it.

    A trainwreck. An old fucking trainwreck.

   “What the hell is a train doing in a drainage hole?” I initially hissed.

   One thing I could tell you about myself, I have never ridden a train before. I never got a chance to. I badly wanted to ride one but I just didn’t get the chance to. That’s why you could not possibly blame me for my reaction.

   My face beamed, my feet tapping in excitement. I circled around the object, scanning its entirety. This ain’t a joke, right? If this is then I would blame the president.

   But seriously, I just discovered something so cool. I’m going to brag about this to Jones.

    I was too happy, too amused that when I held the window of the train, I did not immediately notice that every single piece of bulb in the train lit up. And when I placed my two feet on its floor, the ground suddenly rumbled.

   My smile vanished. I heard the choo-choo of its chimney and the noise from the engine. And then before I knew it, the wheels started to roll, and the train set off, pushing deeper into the darkness. I still could not process what was happening, but I knew I got myself into trouble.

   I was alone inside a mysterious, moving train.

   Where the hell does this thing even go?!

***

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