Missing
The air in the train car is thick and uncomfortable. Windows rattle and clack with each turn and jerk of the cab. Jean clasps something small and metal in his right hand, holding it tightly to his chest. He's wondering how it came to this. How after such a short time things could have gone so, so wrong.
The military had kept him away from his family and their shit hole of a town for four years, but he'd written, called, kept in contact. Until last week everything had been normal. Everyone was safe.
He was home as soon as he'd gotten the grief stricken call from his mother. His younger brother Adam had gone missing. After the first 48 hours there were still no clues as to his whereabouts, and Jean decided to take matters into his own hands- ultimately leading him to the train out of town.
"Where are you headed?" he finds himself asking the only other patron in his car. He himself was hoping to get off at the next stop, visit some of his brothers friends in the town over. Perhaps get some answers. Twelve year olds rarely went missing in the middle of the night, by their own accord, without informing some friends first.
He hopes this trip will be fruitful, because his venture home has been anything but. In fact, something was very, very wrong with the entire situation, but the sandy haired boy couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.