For miles and miles, Kevin anxiously wondered if he would ever reach his destination. The thought had barely crossed Kevin's mind when a voice came over the speaker, 'Attention all passengers, we have just received word that the city of Los Angeles as well as the surrounding areas have all been'�'� the voice cut off. The younger passengers pleaded with their mommies and daddies for answers. The rest of the passengers sat in apprehensive silence.

'Passengers,'� the voice began again, 'Los Angeles has been the victim of,'� he paused, 'attack.'� The train erupted in shouts and cries. Some people sat with their mouths wide open in shock. Cell phones were ripped out of pockets as confused people frantically called home to reach their loved ones. The particular sound of plastic breaking apart caught Kevin's ear. He turned to see that an impatient old women had thrown her phone to the ground.

"People please stay calm!" said one attendent from the back of Kevin's car as another tried, in vain, to stop a rather large man who insisted he be let off the train.

"I have to get off of this train! What if there are terrorists on this train? Have you thought about that at all? Of course not!" He was screaming now. "Have you personally screened all of these people? What about the Arabs? How many are on this train?" His large belly inflated as he talked.

Kevin found that rather amusing. They were in the middle of nowhere. Where would the man go? In a post 9/11 society, shrouded in fear and distrust, he assumed that the man's actions were reasonable. Especially if terrorists were staging another attack.

'All trains that departed from California are to stop at the nearest station and await further instructions.'�

Kevin pulled out his cell phone but was halted when he couldn't figure out who to call. He had no immediate family and only a handful of friends living in L.A. Most of them were out of town. He couldn't remember if his cousin Mark still lived in the area or not. They weren't very close and hadn't talked to each other in a few years, but he decided that didn't matter. He found the name on his contact list and hit the 'call'� button.

'Hello?'� a female voice answered after a few rings.

'Hi, this is Kevin Serna. I'm Mark's cousin. Is he around? Can I speak with him?'�
No response. 'Hello? Are you still there?'� Kevin hoped his damn cell phone didn't drop the call.

'Yes, I'm sorry,'� she sounded distant, 'are you calling about the blast?'�

'What blast? What happened?'� The driver had been too vague, Kevin thought, he probably didn't want to alarm anybody, but he should have mentioned a blast.

'It's all over the news, on every channel. Right after Mark left for the store it happened. They don't know what it is.'� She seemed like she was on autopilot, probably suffering from shock. 'I'm sorry, who is this again?'�

'This is Kevin Serna, I'm Mark's cousin. Look, can you please just tell him I called and to call me back as soon-'

She cut him off, 'Someone is knocking at the door, hold on maybe it's Mark.'�

It sounded as if she set the phone down. A moment later she picked it up again.

'It's him! Thank god he is alright. I gotta set you down again while I unchain the door ok?'� She sounded relieved.

'Sure, that's no problem.'� Kevin let out a sigh of relief. Mark was ok and would no doubt have some good information about the so called 'attack.'� He was jolted back into his seat when the screaming on the other end of the phone line started.

'Hello? Hello? Is anyone there? What's happening?'� Panic gripped Kevin.

The screaming stopped. He thought he heard coughing but he couldn't be sure. It might have just been his ears playing tricks on him.

'Hello.'� It was Mark.

'Mark?'�

'Hi, Kevin.'� Even though Kevin hadn't spoke to Mark in a long time, he sounded different. His voice wasn't the same as Kevin remembered. It was empty and devoid of emotion.

'What happened I heard screaming? Is your girlfriend ok?'�

'She's fine, Kevin. Why don't you come over, pal? I want to talk to you about something.'�

'What the hell is going on, Mark? What is happening over there?'� Sweat ran down his brow and dripped off his nose. The blood had all but left his knuckles as he gripped the phone.

'Nothing, pal. Everything is just fine. Why don't you come over? I have something for you.'� Kevin could distinctly hear coughing now, followed by moans. He didn't know what to say. Mark spoke first.

'She needs to be put down.'�

''� what?'�

'She's hurt bad. We'll put her down.'�

'Who Mark? What are you talking about.'�

'Mother Earth. She's got a cancer and we are going to operate. We're going to start with this bitch.'�

Another scream and then the phone call ended.

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