Seekl's stop

Seekl's stop
I was sitting in a new train travelling the Kairo to Tsuchu route. It was hundreds of leagues long and the trip took weeks. I was travelling to get rare and powerful artefacts for my shop as I was a co-owner of one of the best adventurer supply shops on the planet. I showed this. I wore a fire proof silk robe and a fez. I was tall and thin but not unhealthy and my short brown hair was very clean. In my hair thin strands of gold were woven in, a habit I picked up from a small tribe. I looked at my PDA and flicked through various menus, seeing things like my artefact list and my contacts. It was supposed to be night but the lava we were travelling over made it as warm and bright as a summer's day back home. I clicked my fingers and a small ball of electricity appeared and I passed it from hand-to-hand to pass the time.

"Be advised we are nearly at the Cropwell stop." The train started to slow causing me to drop the ball, electrocuting me. After I stopped convulsing I got to my feet and walked to the end of the cabin. "Seekl Kruelly." I said to the conductor, a six-armed service demon. He searched through a pile of cards so fast his hands were a blur the passed me a ticket and wished me a good day. I stepped out into the midnight air. The night was freezing after the lava flows so I took a sip from my bottle of "Miss Tabatha's flaming whiskey". It warmed me up and tasted like honey. "Delicious." I said to myself. I saw the label on the back saying that it would become deadly poison if mixed with peanuts. I went along the cold windy street to the B&B I would spend my night in.

On top of the roof a weathervane was slowly turning round and round. I walked across the garden, my feet crunching on frost. As I walked up to the door to knock the old brass knocker the landlady appeared out of nowhere. She was a short, round, kindly old woman with a large smile. She was wearing a checker apron. "Oh! Dear me you must be freezing, Deary! Do come in and I'll make you some tea." There was an unidentifiable unsettling air here but it passes soon. "Are you mister Kruelly?"
"Yes I am." I replied. "I'm sorry but I can't remember how much this will cost."
"40 Beelze."
"I'm sorry but I don't have this country's money – My business is based in the Skyline Federation."
"Oh? You don't look like a Skyliner. More like a Kairi. Oh well, its 20 sterling."
"I have been spending quite a while there." Rummaging through my coins I pass her 20 sterling's worth. "Would you just sign the Inns logbook? It is the law after all." I signed name and put the date next to it. "Thank you. Would you like some tea?"
"Yes please."
"Okay then. Make yourself at home." She walks off into the kitchen and boils the kettle. I sit in a large puffy armchair and look at a picture by the side. It's of two large boys and a tall stocky man with a woman that looked like a younger version of the landlady. I assumed this is her family. "Ah, I see you found my family portrait. That man was my husband until he ran away. He was found dead in a ditch with another woman, cruel man. My sons disappeared shortly after." She sighs heavily. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Oh it's all in the past. Here is your tea." She passes Seekl the tea and he sips it. It tastes of honey and peanuts and hurts his stomach. He puts it down and asks: "Where is my room?"
"It's on the third floor. I'll show you."

It's late at night and I'm staring at the ceiling. The moon shines bright in the night and the wind is howling outside. I can't sleep so I get up. I walk downstairs and pour myself some water. As I walk back upstairs I see one of the doors I open a crack. I look inside, my curiosity peaked, but I can barely see anything. In the room is the silhouette of a man about the size of one of the landlady's sons and that uneasy feeling came back but I brushed it off. As I walk upstairs I think that he wasn't breathing but I dismiss that as ridiculous.

Its next morning. Yawning I get up out of bed and get dressed. Slipping into my robe and weaving the gold wires back into my hair I walk back down stairs. The Landlady has poured me some cereal. As I come in she is shaking a fine white powder onto it. I feel of unease and dread again. "I poured you some cereal." I put my hand up and say"No thanks. My time is up. I need to catch my train" I go back upstairs and quickly pack. I hurry downstairs, say a quick farewell and run to my train. I don't shake the feeling of dread until I am many, many leagues away.