“I’m done.” Bree cursed under her breath. She’d just left her parents’ chaotic party, her balloon dress clinging like damp plastic, curls unraveled by the rising wind.
Mona yelled on the other end of the line. “We’re in the same boat, babe.”
“Can’t hear you.” Bree grunted at her friend, who sat safe and dry, up on the train to Amsterdam.
“Was your dad acting strange again?”
“He took out his runes.” Bree battled the headwind on her rusty bike. “Said to my Gran she’d pass over soon.”
“Damn. What did your mom do?”
“She threw a fork.”
Mona’s bitter laugh crackled through Bree’s earbuds. “Your folks are still better than mine.”
“Wait for it. Mom yelled about divorce.”
“That sounds messy.” Mona’s voice wavered. “Was your brother there, too?”
“Nope. I picked up the pieces.” Tears mixed with rain stung Bree’s cheeks.
“Hey, that’s intense.” Mona was silent for a minute. “I got an e-mail from James yesterday,” she finally said.
Nearing the level crossing, Bree picked up speed to get through the barriers. “What’d he say?”
“He said he dreamed about a train accident, warned me not to go.”
“But here you are!” Bree’s voice blared over the railway bells. She rose from her saddle, legs burning as she cranked the pedals.
“See you in twenty…” A stale roar drowned out her words as her phone jerked free when the train braked. Shrill screams erupted as she was flung onto the tracks––the crash looming, unstoppable.
Flash Fiction. The challenge was to craft engaging characters in a tense setting, concluding with a dramatic final line, all within 250 words.
