The Children’s Train

Inside the apartment, Eddie hid in a dumbwaiter, wrapping his small uncoordinated body into the small space. Scrunched up like an accordion, he rocked his head back and forth. “Scared. Scared. Scared,” he muttered to himself.

Footsteps entered the apartment. Eddie whispered almost breathlessly. “Dead. Dead. Dead.”

It was Michael, the guard who resembled a complaining rodent. He stomped around, searching the apartment, his mouth twitching.

Eddie held his breath, and his face turned red. His head still bobbed. He strained, listening for Michael’s footsteps, his eyes opening wide.

Michael looked in every room. He stopped.

Eddie grabbed his head, forcing it to stop moving. All was quiet.

Michael took one last look around the small apartment and left.

Outside, the trucks were opened, ready to be loaded. Jacob helped Nora and Anna climb into the truck.

Suddenly, Eddie ran out of the apartment building and into the street toward them, his arms and legs flapping. “Wait for me! I changed my mind. I want to go!”

Victor raised his rifle and aimed it at him, not recognizing the running, flopping boy as Eddie. “Halt! You are not authorized!”

Jacob lurched, grabbed the rifle, and pulled it down. Eddie awkwardly jumped up and flung himself into the truck.

Victor kicked Jacob and jerked the gun free from his grasp. The gun exploded, shooting Jacob, ripping his stomach open. His intestines hung out like spongy springs. He was propelled back and fell to the ground dead, not far from the other dead bodies waiting for pickup beside the curb.

Victor stared at Eddie. “Oh, it’s you, the moron.”

A man shoved the door closed, and the truck sputtered and took off.

Nora and Anna sat shaking with terrified sorrow. Eddie’s hands flopped, and he screamed as he rocked back and forth. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m a moron! Poor Dr. Levy!”

Anna and Nora hugged Eddie as they sobbed.

“Dr. Levy won’t be coming back, right?” Eddie asked.

Nora nodded between grief-filled gasps.

“Is he like Oma Greta?” Eddie asked.

Anna nodded.

“Oh, no! Oh, no! Not again!” Eddie pulled at his hair. “I wish Hans and Stephen and Otto were here. I’m not good at this.”