Chapter 2: Magical Mystery Tour

Tony walked through the gate and walked quickly, swiftly, to and through the door. He now ran through the hallway and straight up the stairs, straight into the bedroom, directly at the top. One half of him didn't want to look, in case, but the other had to in order to prove his fears wrong, they had to be.

He immediately saw the red liquid on the floor and knew. He stood motionless, and yet not really thinking either, just stunned, physically, mentally. He felt a tear fall down his cheek, but pushed it back, he turned, and sprinted back down the stairs, back through the hall, through the front door, through the garden, the gate, and right along the street. If he was quick he could catch the night bus, he had to get away, just....away.

As he stood waiting for the bus he forced all thoughts out of his mind, if he thought about what was happening he just might go crazy. He didn't know what the hell he was doing, what he had done, what.... The street was very dark, the only light provided by one old, dull, street lamp up above. He jumped a little when a light speccle of rain landed on his nose, and continued to drip down his face, followed by an army of followers. This seemed to bring him back to reality, whatever that now was. He felt like he would vomit. He just hoped the bus would hurry up, but realised he didn't even know what time it was.

The bus pulled up, and the doors pulled open. He wiped the tears from his face, and tried to catch his breath. He had been standing still for a good 15 minutes, but yet was still breathless. He avoided looking at the bus driver's face as he paid his fare. Then looked up the bus, he was relieved to see there was no one else on. He went up to the 2nd row from the back, and sat again. It all seemed too familiar. He looked through the filthy glass window to his right, he could see little, the outside concealed by the cover of darkness, and grime.

Tony lay back in the seat, staring at the back of the seat in front. That's all he wanted to think about. He forced all other thoughts out of his mind, and began to wonder about the people who had sat in that very seat. All the people, their stories, their own...

"HELLO Sonny" a man stuck his head up above the seat in front. Tony moved several inches from his seat, before quickly calming down again. He looked at the man, he was clearly homeless, the typical hobo. He had long greying hair, filthy and frayed, sprouting from a face black with dirt, and with eyes appearing to be a strong yellow, piercing eyes, almost suspecting, Tony quickly pushed this thought out of his mind. The man was smiling at him with the few teeth he had, he continued to stare at Tony in silence as Tony stared back.

"I'm Jack, nice tae meet ya, where yae headin'?" the hobo sputtered, spraying Tony with whatever acid came from his yellow mouth.

"Em.." Tony hadn't even thought about where he was going, he just wanted to get...away, forever if he could, he was so confused just now. "U,Up North" Tony said quickly, stuttering slightly in hesitation. He didn't even know in which direction the bus was heading.

"Oh yea, yeah, they'll catch you though you know"

"What? Em... what do you mean?" Tony started to shake uncontrollably, he tried to hide it, but there was no need.

He hadn't noticed it, but the bus had pulled over. The old man, hobo, was already half way down the bus, this must be his stop. Tony stared at him as he went, for a split second he could have sworn he recognised him from somewhere, but he quickly dismissed it. The hobo nodded to the driver as he went, then looked at Tony one last time, and gave him one more of those toothy, or toothless, grins. This time the grin seemed more sinister, more....frightening.

Tony closed his eyes and held his head in his hands. He felt so confused it hurt. What was happening? Where was he going? Why did he feel he had no control over anything? Maybe this was still all a dream, yeah it had to be. He could feel himself being dragged through time, except time didn't exist anymore.

He felt himself being pulled, hurled, into darkness.