Where Have the Children Gone

He promised her a ride she would never forget!

A man dressed all in black arrived on the old steam locomotive in the town of Windy Glen. Curious, Bella snuck down to the rundown station to get a firsthand look at the mysterious man that struck fear in the hearts of the townspeople. She questioned his motives and taunted him, causing the quick tempered man to become angry, but he kept his anger in check and his eye on the prize. Luring Bella inside, he promises her a train ride she will never forget.

***

Dakta had lived there for a while now and he owed the man he knew as Miles. Abandoned, he had been alone when the older man took him in and gave him a place to live. Miles had asked only one thing of him. Dakta would ride the old train into Windy Glen. As he sat in silence, he thought about the list he had brought with him. Bella was not one of the names on the list and he somewhat feared the result of his impulsivity. Miles was looking for someone in Windy Glen, though he would never admit it, and Dakta had not the slightest hint of who that person might be, though he had his suspicions.

Bella came across a news clipping about the death of Miles’ wife. Not only had she been killed by an oncoming train, but the train was being driven by Miles. Oh, my God! The mystery surrounding the woman’s death was never solved and after several years it was ruled accidental. It was believed that Miles had not returned to Windy Glen after that. Bella knew the truth. Miles drove the train into Windy Glen, with Dakta doing his dirty work.

She heard a noise coming from outside the door so she hid in a corner of the room. She couldn’t hide her allergy to dust, however. She sneezed into her shirt, hoping not to be heard. After a while, the voices ceased and Bella resumed her sleuthing. She had to know about Dakta. Miles had hurt him and then he had taken out his rage for Miles on her. She picked up an old book and an envelope fell to the floor. Bella skimmed it quickly, reading the remorseful words of the man’s wife. Bella was deeply engrossed in her reading when she noticed the shadow of a man standing over her. She looked up to see Dakta standing behind her with his arms crossed and a stern look on his face.

“Bella, get up.”

Bella stood slowly, turning slightly toward him. Forcing the papers from Bella’s hand and watching as they leisurely floated to the floor, he grabbed her wrists and held them as tightly as he could. Standing over her, Bella could smell the liquor on Dakta’s breath and the manly scent that emanated from his body.

“How did you get in here?”

“I was looking at the photograph of Miles and the door opened.” Tears began to well up in her eyes and she tried to fight them.

“Looks to me like you hit the jackpot.”

“Why did you stay with him, Dakta?”