THE OTHER WORLD

CHAPTER FOUR: MEETING NEW PEOPLE        

     "All aboard the Highland Express!", John yelled, at the top of his lungs. George was the first one to get aboard the train; Alice followed him. Fred patted Molly's back reassuring her that everything will be fine, and got up. Lastly, Molly got up the train, slowly. The four of them were awestruck. The inside of the train was nothing like they had imagined. It was very homey and comfy-looking.

      John got in after them, and led them, to what he said, was the visitors' compartments. "Here, these three compartments are reserved exclusively for visitors. Take your pick", he instructed them. As soon as they entered into one of the three compartments, and prepared to take a seat, they saw John enter the compartment. He slid the door of the compartment, halfway close. 

      "Hey! What are you doing here? Are you going to sit with us now?", Alice asked, voicing the question that had arose in all their minds.

      "No. I am not going to sit with you NOW. I am going to sit with you throughout the WHOLE journey", John answered, winking and sitting down comfortably, taking out a chocolate bar and starting to munch on it.

      Open-mouthed, the four of them looked at him, as if he'd gone crazy. "What? Oh! You want a bar of chocolate? Wait", John said, when he noticed their looks. 

      "No! We don't want chocolate. First of all tell us, if you are sitting here, then whose going to run the train. Is someone there already?", Molly asked. 

      "No. Of course not. Why would someone have to operate the train?! Oh please! This is Highland Express. It runs on magic", John replied to Molly, with a disbelieving expression on his face. Molly pursed her lips in frustration. 

      "Are we the only travellers then?", George asked. "For now, yes. Soon, a few more people will be joining us", was the answer John gave. 

      There was a whistling sound, and all the boarders felt the train starting to move. Molly sat there, distressed, her head in her hands, her face pale. George looked out of the window. Alice closed her eyes and threw back her head on the headboard of her seat. Fred sighed, murmuring, "Finally...", and sat silently, his arms crossed over his chest. 

      John looked at all of them. They had tired, resigned, dejected looks on their faces. But that wasn't the way one spent the train journey to Tinworth Highland! The journey must be fun-filled and cheerful, with lots of fun and laughter. But that wasn't happening right now. So what?! John Abott wasn't worthless. The journey should be enjoyable for everyone. And John Abott would make sure of that! It was his promise to himself. And when has Mr. Abott ever broken a promise? Never!

      And so, he kick-started his personal mission to cheer them up. And he thought he was failing spectacularly. But he was wrong. He had managed to ease everyone's tense mind. 

      As for the teens, their panic and fear had turned into their anticipation, which had then become their curiosity. And now, they had slowly and steadily started feeling comfortable with the idea of going there and maybe even they were excited in their subconscious mind. 

      "You can eat it, by the way. It won't kill you, you know. It's not poisonous", John said to George, who was holding the piece of chocolate that he had finally accepted from him. 

      "Is that chocolate going to help me stay calm? If so, then I'll take one, as well", Molly said, with a sigh, taking the bar of chocolate from John's hand, and Fred and Alice did the same.

      "Okay, so if you have magical abilities, as you claim, don't you have a magic wand?", Fred asked John. By now, the five of them were having pretty decent and probably interesting conversation. Even John thought that he had been able to break the tension, and was quite pleased with himself.

      "Well, everyone has abundant power, energy, or stamina or anything that you may call it, within them, don't they? Now, magical ability means that one would have the capability to channel that power or energy, out in the form of magical power. A wand is a medium which helps transform the concentration of energy within us, into magical power and apply that magical power. So, it's you people who would be needing a wand, because in this place, visitors like you, are the ones, who need a wand to channel their magic. The magic wand is just a medium of energy transformation. We, the human race of this world, do not need a wand. Yes, some are born with magical disabilities that hinders their magic. They use wands too. I hope I have been understandable?", John finished his explanation. The four nodded their heads in a yes.

      It had been around half an hour or maximum forty-five minutes, since the beginning of the train journey. All five travellers had been having an unexpectedly great time. The teens saw a good friend in John, despite their differences. At this point, the train suddenly stopped with a jolt.

      "What's wrong? John, hadn't you said that the train was running on magic?", George asked. "Yeah, is there something wrong with the train or what?", Alice asked. Before all four would start showering him with questions, John silenced them and answering their query, said, "We have a regular visitor who comes here every year around this time. And I think, she will be a great company for us all". 

      They heard footsteps approaching towards the compartment and saw the half-closed compartment door, swung open fully, to reveal a woman in her twenties, with shoulder-length dark hair. A soft smile adorned her face, which was calm and serenely pretty, much like a spring night. 

      "Hey John! How are you?", she greeted John with an enthusiastic handshake. John offered her a small chocolate bar, which she accepted with a little laugh. She then looked at the four unknown boarders and smiled at them, plopping down on the opposite seat, beside John. 

      "So, new visitors, are you excited to see this new world; to visit a magical city?", she asked them in a friendly tone.

      "Excited? I would rather use the word unexpected", Alice replied. "By the way, are you also magical?", she asked after a slight pause. 

      "No. I'm not. I would require a magic wand like you people, because I am a visitor as well. A regular one. And I know, that it must be surreal and unexpected for you. But trust me, you surely are going to enjoy yourselves", she answered.

      "How can we be enjoying ourselves, while our family is there, being terribly worried about us? And we know absolutely nothing and no one in this whole place. How do you think we are going to cope? We don't even know whether we can go back or not!", Molly said, her voice cracking, her lips quivering and she was trying hard to control the tears that threatened to flow out.

      "Oh John! You are so silly. See what's happening! They are so frightened. Why didn't you tell them about the time system?", she admonished him.

      John simply answered back saying, "I knew you would be coming. So I just thought that you would be able to explain these things very well, seeing as you have plenty experience of both the worlds".

      The young woman, looked at the curious teens and proposed that they should probably introduce each other first. After which, she started explaining the time system.

      "And I am Lily Goldstein. So my dears, please listen to me carefully. Actually, this is very confusing and paradoxical, but, the time systems of this world and our world are not same. One hour in this world equals one second in our world. So if you have spent a day here, then it means you spent twenty-four seconds in our world. So being here for a few days, would make a difference of only few minutes, actually. I know, confusing, but I have experienced it first hand", Lily explained.

      "How can we believe that? Maybe it works differently for everyone. What if something goes wrong?", Molly questioned and the others nodded vigorously. 

      "Okay, you are right. You should never believe in whatever your mind and heart doesn't want you to believe. You must have enough proof to trust anything. So, I can see that you have got a watch. I would request you to check the time", Lily said, grinning slightly.

      All of them checked the time by their watches, except Alice, who hadn't got her watch on her right then. As the four looked at the three watches, they kept staring at the watches, open-mouthed and wide-eyed. They had thought that whatever Lily said, was untrue and utter rubbish. But the time by their watches told them otherwise. The time hadn't changed at all! 

      "And if you check it after one day, then twenty-four seconds would have passed. So, tell me, was I right or not?", Lily asked smiling triumphantly.

      The four still didn't believe, but they had no other choice. And now that they got the proof, they couldn't deny. Also, this piece of information was somehow relieving for them.

      The train came to a halt once again. This time, all six travellers heard someone running into the train and someone shouting. Through the open compartment door, they saw a young boy with purple dyed hair run up to the compartment door. As soon as he saw the passengers inside the compartment, he rushed inside.

      "Hey! Hi there! Hello Lily! Hello John! Hello Unknown Four! Lily, John, remember me? And hey, unknown four, you probably don't know me, right? No worries! I'm here! I'll introduce myself. It's me, Edward Bay, nine year old, school student. Although it's a humble request, please don't call me Edward. Just don't. Please don't. Never. Call me Ed or maybe Eddie, but not Edward. Edward seems so boring, doesn't it? At least for me, it is. And tell you what...", Edward... uh-oh... sorry... Ed said, all in a rush, but stopped midway due to someone's arrival, who dragged Ed outside the compartment. It surprised not only the little boy, but also John, Lily, Molly, Fred, George and Alice. 

      Up till now they were witnessing the adorable antics of the kid with amusement. But all of a sudden, he was dragged away outside by a woman who had covered almost all of her face with a veil. They could hear the angry reprimands of the veiled woman.

      John got up sighing heavily and walked up to the woman standing a bit away from the compartment. "Spare your brother Brenda. He's just a kid", he said exasperatedly to the veiled woman, Brenda apparently

      "And kids do like to socialize. Just because you prefer being aloof from the world, doesn't mean that you are going to force your preferences upon others. Especially not a kid", Lily explained gently to her.

      "Well! that's none of your business, Mister Saviour of Humanity and Miss Perfect Angel! Eddie is MY responsibility and I will raise him in whatever way I wish. Do you think you care for my brother more than me? I don't love my brother?! Raising him, is my responsibility. HE is my responsibility! Who gave you the right to interfere?!", Brenda yelled at them furiously. Though John and Lily seed unfazed and unaffected as if habituated to such behaviour.

      The woman the stormed into the next compartment, with Edward giggling and shouting behind her, "She's like this. An Angry Bird. Never mind her. See you later!". And the door was slammed and closed.

      The four teens, meanwhile looked at the whole scene, flabbergasted. Huh? Weird woman! This day couldn't get any stranger!................

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Notes (A/N): Hello lovely readers!😇... Did you like the chapter? Yes? No? Maybe? Whatever be the case, do comment and let me know your views about this chapter 😉. And do give your valuable suggestions and advices as well☺️

So... finally, they are aboard the Highland Express 😁... Are you liking how the story is progressing? What do you think, is going to happen when they reach Tinworth Highland?😉 Did you like Lily Goldstein? Isn't she lovely?😍... What are your thoughts about Brenda?🌝 What about little Eddie?He's such a cute chatterbox😍...

Why do you think Brenda is like this?😬 Is there a specific reason?🤔... 

Do ask me if you face any confusion anywhere, throughout the story 😇

COMING UP NEXT: End of the train ride and reaching Tinworth Highland 🤩. Let's see what's going to happen there...😁

Love you loads 💙💛...