Read Online Shattered Girls (Broken Dolls Book 2) by Tyrolin Puxty - Free Book Online Page A

are silenced by the shaky roars of the railway tracks that speed away from the only thing I ever truly believed in.



’ve never been so terrified. I haven’t been alone in years. Gabby always takes me on holidays, excursions;
everything
. I’m like her extra limb. Yet here I am, riding a ghost train. Gabby’s out there somewhere, abducted by an imposter. I let her down…
I let her down
.
    Why
didn’t she listen to me? I told her
not
to go on the stupid train! I told her not to run up to the imposter. I even called the cops to counter this and they failed me, too.
    The sun sets, but I don’t take my eyes off the door. It has to stop eventually. It
has
to.
    I lose hope after three hours. The countryside whizzes past at incredible speed; the trees are a nauseating blur, and the hills in the distance are seemingly motionless. I glance at the walls, frustrated by the lack of maps. Where on earth am I? How can I ever get home? Where’s Gabby?
    I
have
to get back to her. I’m the only one who can help! The train isn’t stopping anytime soon, so I get to my feet, roll my shoulders, and make my way towards the end and into the driver’s cabin.
    As suspected, the train is driving itself. I climb onto the seat, which spins with only a slight amount of pressure, then onto the control panel. Navigating the buttons to reach the phone hanging by the window, I kick it off the hook and listen for the dial sound. Then, listen some more.
    The line is dead. There goes
that
plan. Staring at the controls, I consider twisting knobs and flicking switches, but I don’t think it’s worth the risk. Knowing my luck, I’d blow the whole thing up.
    Jumping down, I return to the sliding doors—where all I have left to do is sit down and curl my legs to my chest, sympathizing with my grim reflection.
    The gentle rocking and whooshing are somewhat calming, but I miss people talking. Things could be worse. I could be out
there
, in the dark, lost in the wilderness.
    “I’m sorry, Gabby.” I bury my head in my lap. “I’m so sorry.”
    The train starts to slow, so I grab onto the bar for support. The brakes squeal, and I puff out my chest, determined to stand my ground. As the doors open, I lose my nerve and hurry for cover beneath the seat.
    Peering from my position, I cover my mouth with my hand to refrain from screaming.
    The professor steps in, his hair ruffled and a smug smile on his face. He sits on the first seat by the door and rests his briefcase on his lap. He opens it, nods, then closes it. I’m tempted to burst into the corridor and demand to know what’s going on, but before I can work up the courage, another professor steps through the door, but this one isn’t wearing glasses.
    Wait. What? Does the professor have an identical twin?
    Another walks in. Okay, an identical triplet?
    “Oh my God…”
    Twelve more professors file in. Most of them have briefcases, but some are packing knives instead.
    The doors close, and the train pulls away.
    “Ah, off to Schenectady!” one professor grins, resting his hands behind his head. “I grew up there, you know. Can’t wait to get revenge on that prissy prom queen who rejected me.”
    “Knock it off, Nathan.” The professor next to him rolls his eyes. “This isn’t about revenge.”
    “Yeah!” another speaks up. “It’s about the money, money, money!” He stands up and body rolls while several professors cheer him on. “Yeah!”
    “So where are you guys heading to?” the professor sitting across from him asks.
    “Watervliet.”
    “Oswego.”
    “Back to Hudson.”
    “Hornell then Glen Cove.”
    “Albany.”
    “Haven’t got my coordinates, yet. The boss said he’d call me.”
    The professor without glasses twiddles his thumbs. “Do you guys ever regret what we do?”
    The dancing professor scoffs. “It doesn’t affect us. The world needs smarter people! It’s not like we’re killing anyone. Sacrifices must be made, don’t they? The greater good and all