3. How to Build the Perfect Shelter: Just Spend Money.
17 days until the apocalypse.
Kintne Train Station, the next town over from Brunel.
I stood in front of the station, taking in its appearance.
With wooden frames filled in with plaster, it looked almost like a birdcage—a charming, old-fashioned train station.
Small and worn, but it had the same Tudor-style architecture I’d seen in Chester, England.
Last time, the phones were all broken, so I’d only been able to send letters. Fortunately, the phones seemed to be working this time.
Praying the call would go through, I stepped into the station.
The interior was simple.
There was a door leading to the train platform on the other side, a ticket booth on the right, and next to it, a stand with telephones. Rows of chairs lined the area opposite the ticket booth.
I headed straight for the ticket booth and looked for the stationmaster.
“I need to use the phone.”
After paying the fee, I stood in front of one of the telephones.
I lifted the receiver to my ear and dialed the number.
An operator picked up and quickly connected me to the Sinclair mansion in the capital.
As the dial tone rang, I brought the receiver closer to my mouth.
Rrrrr—
The line buzzed briefly before someone picked up.
Click.
[Sinclair Mansion.]
It was Susanna, my personal maid.
“Susanna! It’s me, Cherry.”
[Oh my goodness, Miss! I’ve been dying to call you, but I didn’t know how to reach you.]
“Is something wrong? You were supposed to come today, right?”
[Well, the head maid fell ill, so I’ll need to stay one more day. I’ll leave tomorrow.]
I nearly screamed. Surviving one more day without Susanna sounded absolutely miserable. But I kept my voice calm.
“That’s fine. It can’t be helped. Just make sure you come tomorrow.”
The apocalypse wasn’t going to wait.
I swallowed the rest of my words.
[Of course! I already bought the ticket, so I should arrive by tomorrow afternoon. Are you doing okay, Miss? Are you feeling well? Eating properly?]
Hearing Susanna’s worried voice nearly made me tear up. Everything I’d been through flashed before my eyes.
“Of course! What about the capital?”
[It’s fine. Honestly, it’s too quiet without you around.]
“No, it’s always been like that.”
Susanna hadn’t been with the Sinclair family long enough to know this, but our mansion had always been empty.
My parents were busy with business, and I was always out partying, leaving the house vacant more often than not.
“What about Harrison?”
[Oh dear. He’s out at the moment.]
“Really? Did he say anything? I sent him a letter, but he hasn’t responded.”
[A letter? I haven’t seen anything like that...]
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“What?”
[Oh, now that you mention it, there have been reports of mail carriers going missing in some areas.]
Wait—what?
“Missing mail carriers? What do you mean?”