The jackbooks were pushing everyone down towards the front end of the train, chaos erupting apparently towards the tail end. Audrey felt her stomach flip, as she stood in the quiet confinement of the night car… where was Allie? Was she safely on board yet? Her belongings were waiting in the engineer quarters and later they would all move into their new home in first.
What had Melanie’s parents been thinking? Audrey felt herself seethe with anger towards them, glad in this moment that they hadn’t chosen to come, because she would have flung them out of the train herself. Melanie had it under control – right? Everything was ok. The nerves were just a reminder that life as they knew it was no longer viable, that all those outside of this vessel would perish.
‘Don’t think about it.’ She forcefully scolded herself, trying desperately to concentrate on taking stock of the bottles that were due to go up to first once they had departed. It had taken months of arguing, convincing, anticipatory grief, and still, she knew she hadn’t come to terms with it; but she was better than where she had first started, fighting tooth and nail with Melanie.
Melanie was in the engine room now, preparing for departure along with Wilford. ‘Stop thinking – sixty-two bottles.’
‘We have chosen to stay here, and we think Alexander will be better off with us.’ The voices echoed in her head. Audrey had looked at Melanie incredulously who also looked as if she was too stunned to speak; she never wanted to see her wife look like that again; and so the last-minute, yet well, thought out plan was to retrieve their daughter from Illinois.
“I can go and get her Mel, I will feel better knowing that I’ve got her.” No, Melanie decided on the plan and Audrey trusted it, but she wasn’t here yet. ‘We have time.’ She whispered to herself, taking a deep breath, while trying to get her breathing under control.
As Audrey placed the bottles on the trolley, the familiar voice pinged an announcement and she briefly felt a comfort in it before the words settled upon her. “All aboard, all ticketed passengers please board. Snowpiercer will depart in precisely 0 hours.” What? Brows furrowed and the anxiety that had been stewing, now began overflowing. “No.” She said, It wasn’t time. “Melanie! It’s not time.” Shouting, she glimpsed at her watch, their daughter wasn’t here. Panic, and as Audrey braced herself as to not faint from the sheer terror, the train jolted, it’s breaks loosening. “Melanie, Melanie. No! No! Allie – Where is Allie?!” Another jolt and the un-secure champagne bottles fell to the ground, smashing as gold liquid poured onto the floor.
Down train, chaos ensued in the tail, while the ticked passengers sat almost silently, an acknowledgement of what was about to come, some of those in first, celebrating. Pushing her wrist to the doors for them to give way, she made her way to the front of the train. Allie was here, she had to be here, she was just in the engine, right? Safe with Melanie. Of course, she had no idea why she was worrying so much.
When she finally made it towards first, she was stopped on going any further towards the engine room. Brows knit together - her access had been revoked? What was going on?
