The First Ride: Part 5

Through the small gaps between the scarlet curtains, a silver trail creeps into the compartment, casting a slight gleam of light onto Valeria’s overturned book; it is a full moon. She knew the second Nikki had dashed out of the compartment with an empty bottle in hand - wolfsbane potion, no doubt - that she is a werewolf. Knowing of the pain Nikki will be experiencing in a matter of moments, Valeria quickly gets up without another second to waste, and makes her way to the door. Just as she is about to slide it closed, she turns back cautiously towards Gemma and Alex.

“Please, don’t tell anyone about this, okay?”

Valeria slams the washroom door shut. Bam. Bam. Bam. She had gone through the entire carriage’s washrooms but still cannot find her newfound friend.

“Oh, Nikki, where are you?”

Frantically searching around, cupping her hands on grimy glass only to receive looks of annoyance and surprise, Valeria has never felt so out of control in her life. Slowing to recollect herself, she finds herself walking towards the rear end of the carriage - compartments that she knows to be kept vacant - just in time to catch a glimpse of a small silhouette in the compartment beside. Valeria watches as the silhouette sheds its human facade and takes on the shape of a young werewolf. Unshaken by this turn of events, Valeria calmly wraps her palm around the latch and opens the door to find a lupine Nikki staring back at her.