meetings

She was like a star at night whose shy light was cast to the ground.

She seemed so much off this place and at the same time this woman looked at everything with such authority that Audrey, watching her for several nights, couldn't quite understand who she really was.

They were on their tenth day of the endless journey and the Nightcar became a place for people of different classes, professions and nationalities. They all were survivors now, most of them had works, families and they came here at night finally to rest. The weariness of the disappeared world was on everybody's shoulders and the need to breathe freely was on edge.

The Nightcar became the shelter and salvation Audrey was glad she could offer to people in such a short time.

Yet, that woman was different.

The woman dressed in black jeans, grey hoodie and the cap attracted her attention at once as she stepped in the Nightcar. Somehow people who wanted to visit the show were wearing their best clothes, a lot of makeup, their hair had been done, but she - on the contrary - looked like a shadow in the darkness. It seemed that she didn't want to be noticed.

But Audrey, even for 10 days, had learned her audience and spotted the unknown woman every time she was in.

Today was not an exception.

From the distance Audrey watched as the woman was going through the crowd of people on the dance floor. They appeared not to see her all. It was definitely what she wanted.

She was calm as if the loud music wasn't affecting her. She seemed to look far ahead not paying any attention to people moving around her. Audrey rarely saw people with so much restraint, persistence and calmness at the same time. She didn't look like anyone she'd already met on this train, and there were definitely a lot of people there. Absolute individuality.

Pure interest and curiosity played in Audrey’s mind.

The woman went straight to the bar and sat it one of the empty chairs for a minute. She ordered a drink and went to the farthest place of the night car the lonely table and sets of chairs that nobody seemed to want to occupy.

Her place.

She quietly sip her drink and put the glass down on the table. Audrey saw her looking at everything in front of her with such ease that people used to have in the old world. Seldom such an expression was made here after everything had happened and still this woman had it. Like a stone that still remained hard even after hundreds of waves trying to destroy it.

“Miss Audrey, it's time,” her friend’s voice drew her attention from the woman and she looked at him in question.

“Oh, right,” understood she. It was high time for her performance. Today was the show of live music and her performance was always saved for last, when everyone else had already performed. The cherry on the cake that everyone would like to taste. The audience adored her and she was willing to give yourself to the love of the public.

Still, what else do they have left from the old world?

When Audrey stepped on the stage, she was met by hundred eyes, but her gaze stayed on the woman who had been occupying her mind for the last couple of days. She smiled hearing the music. Their eyes met and she started singing. Audrey could swear that she saw the sparkles in those dark green eyes. They played with the lights from the stage. Although she was sitting very far away, Audrey could see the reflection of bright colored flashes in her dark eyes. And she liked the tone of that insistent gaze, looking straight, open, unafraid.

Say it ain't so, Joe please, say it ain't so

That's not what I wanna hear Joe

Ain't I got a right to know

Say it ain't so, Joe please, say it ain't so

I'm sure they telling us lies Joe

Please tell us it ain't so

Melanie loved being here the place where nobody knew her or preferred not to notice as she was not in her usual blue outfit and people didn't recognize her. People were always expecting something from her and she was relieved to find one place where she didn’t have to pretend just listening to the beautiful voice of the mistress of the night car. Melanie felt safe and as herself again, she liked that forgotten emotion. She imagined the night car in such way but her expectations were even better in reality. It was worth every dollar. And the head of it, Miss Audrey, drew, everybody's attention by her talent, humanity and honesty. And, of course, beauty. The loud applause was the reaction and proves to everything that Melanie herself was thinking about the woman.

“Am I not interrupting?” the sudden question made her look up crashing with the blue eyes that were addictively attracting her attention during every visit.

Miss Audrey appeared just in front of her, her head was slightly tilted and she was holding a drink, probably a glass of water. Melanie couldn't be sure in the darkness, but she saw the unspoken question in blue eyes and nodded her head inviting the new guest to sit in the chair next to her own.

“Not at all,” Melanie shook her head a bit and returned to her drink. To tell the truth, she didn't have the normal conversation like for 10 days (work, engine,  people in needs) that she didn't know what to say or if she should say anything at all. Lack of human contact. Blame nobody but herself.

“I'm Audrey,” the woman next to her seemed to feel the little tension and awkwardness between them and decided to speak up.

Melanie only smiled.

As if nobody in the Snowpiercer knew her.

“You sang beautifully,” instead of usual introduction said Melanie, smile never left her lips.

If Audrey understood that she had changed the topic from herself so quickly, she didn't show it. The smile on the woman's face was so genuine and honest that she couldn't help and smiled back.

“Thank you.”

For a while they sat in silence that was filled with quite music sounded from the stage. Surely, Audrey wanted to ask her  a lot, starting with the name, her job if she had it, she had her questions but looking at the sincere smile and knowing everything look in woman's eyes she just realized that any attempt to find out more would be futile. Audrey was sure she saw such expression every night and now was observing it right in front of her.

“You are not much of a talker,” Audrey said grinning.

Melanie chuckled. Definitely, not her strongest side if not saying that attention all passengers’ speech or giving the instructions and orders from Wilford Industries.  Fortunately, it's not the time for it.

“I think so,” accepted she and raised her glass of whiskey. “For the life of humanity, then.”

Audrey laughed as if it was the silliest thing she had ever heard. This was an ironic situation, considering the fact that they were on the last train of humanity, and outside of it the earth literally froze, hiding people, cities, all life under the ice and snow. No life at all.

“Really?” she asked, voice full of amusement but the woman’s gaze was so convincing with light sparkles in it so Audrey raised her hands in surrender and took her own glass.

“For the life, then,” she repeated with enthusiasm.

They cheered, clinking glasses.

Melanie stood up to go but the sudden grip on her wrist that disappeared at the next moment stopped her.

“You never said your name, what is it?” asked Audrey connecting their eyes again.

“Do I need to?”

“No,” Audrey paused for a second, “but I see you every night from the start. So I thought we could be friends or…”

“Or?” Melanie raised her eyebrows, surprise written across her features.

“Get to know each other, you know,” Audrey was smiling. Her eyes never left the green orbs that were staring at her so defiantly.

“See you later, Audrey,” said Melanie and walked away, a wide smile spread across her lips.

Audrey didn’t know what to think.