The train came. Alice was standing at far end of the platform. Got into the second car. Empty. Perfect. She slumped into a seat, unbuttoned her coat, took gloves and scarf off, and tried to stretch. To relax. Blot everything out. She had twelve stops more to go. She fell asleep. Opened her eyes. No idea where she was. And saw them. Right in front of her. They were seated in the seat across her. They were looking her over. Must have been eighteen or so. Maybe older. Porker and Zit-face. Smirking brazenly. She drew her legs back, pulled her skirt down, and drew her backpack on to her lap. They were talking as if they were all alone. About all sorts of stuff. Gross, dirty stuff, that kind of thing.
— Real cute hottie.
— Yep, a babe.
— Up for grabs. Def.
— Got it right.
She shuddered. Wanted to get up. Must get off, next stop. Her legs were shaking. Her body refused to cooperate. Had been motionless far too long.
Zit-face got up. Sat next to her. Alice shrank away. Run? Where? Might be worse. He raised his right hand. Let it spread on the seat. Alice humped her body, heart pounding. She was freaking out. I died a hundred times.
— Come, join us, babe, he said, leaning towards her. We’ll have a hell of a time.
His breath stank. Booze and cigarettes.
— Lemme go. I’ve done nothing to you.
— True, that.
— Pussy, said Porker, laughing. And grabbed his crotch.
She managed to get up but Zit-face shoved her back down on the seat.
— Sit down, babes.
— Lemme go. I wanna go. I’m busy. They’re waiting for me.
— Yeah, right, sure.
Zit-face sniggered. The train was coming into the station. She wanted to scream. Didn’t make it. Alice, get a grip.
Zit-face took something out of his pocket. Something black. Something small. She caught it from the corner of her eye. He pushed a button. A blade swung free. A shiny one. Welcome to Planet Terror.
She was all choked up, her voice wouldn’t budge from her throat. Shit. The platform was empty. Nobody got in the car. Her body was limber again. And her mind raced. 100-meter sprints. The next station was coming up.
— You want it, don’t you, little hottie? That was Zit-face.
He was gripping her shoulders. He put the knife to her throat. Hot tears flooded her eyes. Fuck. Get a grip, girl. The tears started rolling down her cheeks.
Damn it, dad…
— That’s how it’s all gonna go down. You’re coming with us. We’ll get it on. All of us, all set.
— Yeah, yeah, all set.
Porker made the same gesture. And sneered. Zit-face loosened up his hold on the handle. He bent and began licking her tears. Like a dog.
Rex and Stavroula, where can they be right now? Rex and Stavroula. Like a prayer, like a magic incantation, she kept saying to herself: Rex and Stavroula, Rex and Stavroula… On and on. She shoved her right hand in her coat pocket. Felt her magic meditation balls. And the sharpened pencil. With her right hand, she pushed her backpack against her stomach. A chance is all I need. Just one.
Porker sniggered and cupped his crotch again.
Dusk was all around. The train traveled alongside the cemetery. Slowed down. It was nearing the station. Alice took a deep breath. Fresh tears welled in her eyes. Don’t back down. You can do whatever you like. The doors opened. The girl coughed. Footsteps were heard. Somebody was running. A couple approached the train car. Zit-face and Porker turned around. Now. Sprang up. Yelling. Aimed the pencil at Zit-face. And stabbed him in the cheek. Zit-face swore. Jerked his hand back and grabbed his face. Alice bolted for the exit. Got to get out. The doors swung shut behind her. She turned around. Porker’s mug against the window. Eyes starting out of their sockets, mouth agape –a carnival mask.
She slumped on the bench. Tried to slow her heart down. It was beating out of control. She was shaking all over. Felt cold. Cold, the cold was everywhere. Inside and out.
“Damn it, dad…” she said softly. And started crying. In great, big sobs.
She was crying. About everything. About people. Who break and shatter. For what they lose, for what they gain. About those jerks in the train, about her mother, about her father, about her relationship with them, about Stavroula, about Rex, about Dimos, and the other Rex, the injured cat without a name. About Makis. About the squares and the streets, about the buses and the pedestrian passes, about the stairs and the bridges. About the parks and the sidewalked streets. About the ancient stones and the monuments. About the vandalized statues and the phantom animals. About the city. About those who talk but are not heard, about those who live but nobody sees them. About the horror and the miracles. She cried until it was all out of her and the lament was lifted. The tears washed the horror away. That’s when she got up. Buttoned up her coat. Raised her head, looked at the sky. A promise of spring. The clouds were scattering. Tomorrow’s night would be a starry one. She knew where she wanted to go. Somebody was waiting for her there. She took her magic balls out of her pocket and heading down the road she started playing with them.
The end
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