The Bridge
There she was lying in the back of the train, severally beaten up. Nobody could hear her moan or swivel for hope of crying out for help, for life. I could see a pool of blood on the train floor, a pair of legs painfully spread apart. I shuttered in horror, and tried to explain to the couple in front of me, that there seemed to be a dying person. They recoiled and brushed me off. I persisted, amazed how uncaring people seemed to be. They eventually muttered that she probably was a druggy (from Dandenong) to leave her alone and keep my distance.
I stood up and approached the other end of the train, swaying I tried to keep my balance. I could hear her now. She appeared to be talking to someone, but as I neared I realised she was alone. I felt the blood surround my Gucci shoes and grunted in remorse. I could see that she was severally beaten, a woman in her thirties. I tried to pursue her, but I couldn't move. Her hair was covered in dry blood, her lower lip cut. Two bruised eyes rather than one. A very sickly woman, her skin was dirty yet extraordinary pale. Her jeans were torn and left on the floor beside her, drenched in a bloody like display. The stench was unbearable, almost as if a creature had died. I recoiled and felt my stomach churn. I knew I was about to throw up.
She pointed a sore finger towards me, almost edging me closer. Taking a suggestive look around me, I was frightened and saddened to realise that I was alone with her in the carriage. The train halted at Richmond Station. "Do you want me to tell the drive and call the police?" was all I said looking away. By the time I reached the door, the train began moving and I found that I lost my balance. I collected myself in a heap and tried to take control of myself. I edged my over to the woman once more, afraid that I had failed her. She began crying and it appeared now that she was dying and the odour was increasing. I held my nose and steadily glanced around expecting her attackers to come out from any corner. I spotted a group of people through the next carriage door. I leapt over the woman, who begged I didn't leave her. Turning the door handle I realised it didn't budge, and I began knocking hysterically at the glass of the door.
Two men stared back at me, and I felt relieved that someone could help. Instead one of the men had a horrific smile and fixed stare on the woman lying behind me in a bundle. The other held the door shut and refused to look at me. I froze in astonishment realising that these men were in fact her attackers. Their faces were masked by their large collars of their coats, and their sunglasses. Further up I could see two men handling a package, in a cloth. Another man revealed a garbage bag and placed the contents inside.
I felt a tug at my leg and wondered how long the woman had tried to get my attention. She pulled me closer to her face, I could see her throat was cut, she whispered hoarsely. I couldn't make out the words. I was powerless. I felt that I had died instead, tears steaming my eyes. "Baby", she managed to scramble the word, and I felt my heart stop. My tears evaporated and I began screaming in rage. I started at the men in the next tram, and caught the attention of passenger's boarding the train. Instead of coming to assist they approached another carriage.
I noticed the men were heading out the train. It was the North Melbourne stop. I tried to get my feet to peel off the blood, realising I left prints of bloody shoes around the floor. I finally sped to the door in time to see the men just a meter ahead. They weren't running they waved satisfied as I tried to step onto the platform the train began to close in. I couldn't leave the woman. I cried as profoundly as the doors closed in on me.
I jolted back to the woman, at this instant chocking on her blood. "Find my baby." She coughed up blood, pressing a necklace into my palm. I could feel the coldness of her skin against mine. She grasped onto it with all she had, "Promise me. You will find my..." She collapsed without finishing. I let go of her hand, and shut my eyes sensationally harsh tears flow. I promise I said and began repeating it, I promise, I promise. I was rowing back and forth and stared down at the necklace. I didn't realise how hard I was holding onto it, as my hand bleed. I jumped up, placing the object into my coat pocket.
I jumped out of the train at the next stop. I called out to the passengers and told the driver. I remember someone pulling the emergency stop. The last thing I recall was the ambulance carrying me out. I budged and asked how long I'd been out. The paramedics forced me to lie down. I tried to explain that the men took her baby. I recollect they had laughed me off and placed me into a recovery program for suffering from hallucinations after a mild fall.
With everyone telling me I was wrong I began to believe it myself. There was no proof that anyone else was on the carriage and no one was reported dead. I could never forget her word though they were so real, "Find my Baby." I promise, I promise. I muttered bolting out of bed in a fury full of sweat.
I pulled myself out of bed and headed towards the closet, dragging on a coat. I needed to go for a walk. The weather was appallingly cold but it didn't bother me. It was that dream for the last couple of nights that began to haunt me. It was troubling as this dream first appeared seven years ago to this day, and I though would never be on my conscious again after my two year recovery program. I was dubbed completely cured. I shook my head. The reality of the dream was fierce. I was reliving a past that really never existed.
I saw Shirley the neighbour's cat prowling the streets, her tail raised and she ducked behind a shrub as I approached. I saw my reflection in a puddle as the rain came pouring down and shifted in unease. I hadn't worn the coat in years. The last time was the night I collapsed on the platform. I shuddered in fear. It must be a coincidence I told myself. A car with its head beams on raced past, a mask of gravel flung across my clothes.
I dug my hands into the pockets of the jacket. My heart stopped as I felt my way around a familiar object, I retrieved it and pulled it out. I couldn't believe I was staring back at a gold necklace that wasn't mine. I opened the oval shaped broach and inside was a small photo covered by a dark stain. The rain washed the dried blood away and I could see a woman staring back at me.
The memories came flowing back. The broach fell to the ground. What was it trying to tell me? What was the course of these days trying to say, after seven years why now? I fell to the ground, not aware that I was covered in dirt and the rain was poring down on me. I recovered the necklace. The woman was speaking to me. I could hear her voice, "Find my baby." Followed by my words "I promise, I promise."
I felt faint, and realised that either I had gone insane or this really did happen. I decided if I was insane I could live with that, but I couldn't live with having lived a life with the possibility that a child's life was in danger and I did nothing to prevent that, in the call of a dying woman's wish. I knew I had to do something. If I was insane I needed to find the proof that this really never happened for myself.
***
Author:
Calliope Alexandris
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