The Conductor
by @mysticravenOn a train to meet her fiancé, a woman encounters a conductor celebrating his birthday—and discovers his celebration requires a passenger’s life.
MEET THE CHARACTERS
Ellen
24 years old, modest and elegant, traveling to see her fiancé. She is well-mannered, a little naive, but with a quiet desire to explore something new. Her movements are careful, and her glances sometimes reveal curiosity she tries to hide. She is used to controlling herself, but she is not ready for what she will face on this train.
Arthur
a train conductor, about 34 years old, tall and strong, with a slightly careless kind of charisma. His gaze is dark and penetrating, as if he sees more than words allow. His hair is short, a little messy under his cap, and there is a small tattoo on his wrist — a trace of a past he never talks about. Arthur is restrained and professional, but there is a hint of flirtation and control in his smile and gestures. He knows how to control space and people, and he knows how to play right on the edge of what is allowed.
EXPLORE CHAPTERS
First Encounter
The conductor paused to check her ticket, his hazel eyes warm. Nastya's gaze caught on the splash of purple against his dark uniform—a single, stubborn wildflower. 'It's your birthday?' The words left
The Conductor's Claim
He doesn't let her clean up. He guides her hand over her own stomach, smearing his spend into her skin, a crude, hot brand. His eyes hold hers in the dark, demanding she acknowledge this temporary own
Her Station
As the train begins to slow for her station, Arthur doesn't gather her things. Instead, he slides the compartment window open. The rushing air floods in, cold and smelling of fields. He guides her to
Kneel in the Dark
As the last light of her station vanishes into the dark, he turns her from the window. His hands are on her shoulders, applying a gentle, inexorable pressure downward. She sinks to her knees on the co
The Conductor's Claim
The silence after the window shuts is thick with the echo of danger. Arthur looks down at her, his gaze assessing the woman who just held on. He doesn't lift her up. He sinks to a crouch, bringing his