Dualism

[Liddo-kun]

Crap crap crappity crap crap!

Oh, it's a right sickening lump that forms in the pit of my gut on seeing the woman and the smile she graces me.

I'd have to make the best of the situation and play as good a game as I could manage.

I follow the stream of people like a well-trained salmon and enter one of the train cars, being mindful to position myself near the door.  If the woman makes haste to enter then it'd give me a chance to get off the train with her still on.  Failing that, it'd provide me an opportunity to make a quick escape once we reach the next stop.

[Carthrat]

It's funny, but most people are, in fact, coming *out* of the station, rather than heading in. It makes it kinda tricky to push your way to a carraige- but you get there, shortly.

You don't see the woman around, though.

[Liddo-kun]

It may have been an upstream struggle, but at least now I was a step closer towards home and putting this all behind me.

But can you so simply put it behind you? my mind was asking now.

The realization of what the answer to that might be was disconcerting, but unfortunately it was all I had to work with.  Just get home and from there... something.  She'd have to come up with something.

But first thing first.

I kept an open eye around me as I waited for the train to depart the station.

[Carthrat]

After a few moments, the carriage doors slide shut, and the train starts slowly accelerating out. There aren't many other people in the carraige- one guy reading a newspaper, and a couple of women talking.

"This train is a service to Sandringham," announces a pleasant, female voice from the train speaker. "Stopping all stations."

The train soon pulls out of the underground station and starts speeding you along your way home, the grungy city centre of Melbourne soon speeding behind you.

Until the train slows down, and eventually stops, with a slight shudder.

[Liddo-kun]

I still look around warily for the woman as I wait for the doors to open.  My nervers are already frayed and it's uncertain how much more I can take, if the shaking of my hand was any sign.

A deep, shuddering breath and the wait for full stop and the doors to eventually open.

[Carthrat]

It's not your stop.

"Richmond Station," announces a pleasant voice over the intercom, as the carraige doors slide open. A tired-looking kid in school uniform staggers in, looking a little hungover.

[Liddo-kun]

I quirk my head this way and that, looking out for the woman.  I momentarily entertain the thought of getting off now, but decide to at the very least wait one more stop before giving my stalker the slip.

[Carthrat]

No sign of her. Where'd she go?

"East Richmond Station", blurbs the speakers. Nobody gets on, or off the train.. you *think* your stop is the one after this one, but you're not sure.

[Liddo-kun]

I sag against a flat area just to the side of the door itself.  I run a hand over my face tiredly.  I'm getting off at the next stop no matter what.  With that firmly in mind, I wait for the next station, but I also give the compartment I'm in a once over for any familiar faces.

[Carthrat]

"Arcyle Station," comes the next voiceover. The train slides to a halt, revealing, well, your station, with significantly more people around at this time of day, now.

[Liddo-kun]

I hurry out of the train, quickly trying to blend myself in among the mingling crowd.  There's the faint entertainment of hope that the woman wouldn't be able to track her within the throng.

[Carthrat]

You can't spot the woman anywhere. Well, maybe that means she can't spot you?  

Your apartment isn't that far away. There's a small shopping district a short way away from the station, too, along with a park.

[Liddo-kun]

I turned, making a beeline for my apartment.  The idea of trying to lose myself among the crowd there did cross my mind, but I... just wanted to get home - lock myself away in a safe place....

Code Select Expand


...hide...
     ...if only...
...for a short while....


With that decided, I try to pick my way through the crowd to my destination.

[Carthrat]

You manage to find your way to your apapartment without any trouble.. though you can't get over the feeling that you're being watched, no matter where you go.

The lobby to the apartment is empty- even the cafe towards the side is closed, with nobody around. Eerie..