Late worker

As they left the station, Vincent told that the spartan look of the station was due to the fact that nobody cared that much with the cleaning, explaining the fact of the magazines being out of order:
- The locals don't give that much importance to the lack of neatness. They like to play it calmly, if you will.

It wasn't such a big station, after all. They went to a small, ivory coloured, Volkswagen Beetle that was parked at the street's corner.
- The front seat is ruined. If you don't mind, you'll have to go in the back seat. - said Vincent.
Dan saw that the front's seat stuffing was gone, probably due to the hole in the canvas. "It's no wonder, this can's older than I am!", he minded. Soon, they were in their way, through the desert streets.
As Dan commented about the fact that the town seemed uninhabited, the man observed him through the rear mirror, attentively, not missing any of his moves, making the moment uneasy and really cringe worthy.
- With the heat wave that has been felt lately, people try to find more fresh places to stay, I guess. - That explanation was a bit lame, but the air inside the car seemed unbreathable. There was something more to him than just being a low key employee, perhaps. As an observer himself, Dan reproached being stared at. There was nothing unusual about him, was there?... Dan was about 6ft, with a slender figure, despite having a bit of a belly, slightly big expressive brown eyes, a big forehead, and straight metallic gold coloured hair, he used almost always disheveled. To decrease the tension, he began cuddling the smelly Hyas, the stray.

They were arriving to a block full of two story cottages. The side walks had leafy trees lined up almost mathematically. They seemed to be orange trees, or maybe plane trees. Vincent slowed the car:
- This is the dormitory side of the complex, where we stay when we're not in the lab. This is also where we receive personal visitors, because, as you understand, there are firm policies that prevent strangers from entering the research site.
- I see.
Vincent stopped the car in front a grey-blue house:
- This is the house that five of us, the assistants of the V wing, share. Your sister, Ms Medetre, three others and myself. Your sister has an admirable and inspiring dedication, and frequently works in the complex for endless hours.
- I don't think that to be a family trait.
Vincent ignored the comment and carried on giving explanations:
- I'm going to direct you to her room; there you can wait for her; I must ask you, Mr. Medetre, for you to be quiet, since some of our colleagues are resting.

They went in, foot by foot. The house was immersed in silence. Dan expected to hear the sound of keyboard strokes, or computer noise, as one researcher should be finishing some drafts, or something else. But everything was totally still; "not much dedication going on in here", thought Dan. As they were going up the stairs, Hyas released a small growl, and halted, hissing.
Dan, very embarrassed, told:
- It's a new, strange place to him... and he must be hungry.
When they entered Autumn's room, Vincent turned the light on and excused himself, saying:
- I'm going downstairs, to the kitchen, to prepare something for the cat and for yourself, Mr Medetre.
- Oh, I didn't mean to cause trouble.
- Don't worry, it's no trouble at all; you've just arrived from a long journey - and saying that, he closed the room's door and left. Dan put his ear against the door and could barely hear him going down the stairs. He was really a careful person.

Dan went to the bedside table and turned the chandelier on the table on, then he turned the other lights off.
Hyas went to the window and began scratching the window's glass. Dan, afraid that the sound would awake the sleeping employees, rapidly went over to open the window. Hyas immediately went outside and climbed down the water drains and the first floor roof.
- What are you doing, you dumb animal ? - said an annoyed Dan.

All of a sudden, a hideous, repulsive, monstrous-like bellow, coming from nowhere, echoed throughout the street, crossing the room window and giving him the scare of his life. He backed up and fell onto the floor, trembling, his stomach aching, searching a place to hide without knowing why.

The deserted Express platforms

Unbeknownst to Dan, he would later return to Pecora family's street, tentatively named Guvaderu Street. He was now climbing the fence that separated the railway tracks from the creeping bushes that went along them, and that he had grubbed before.
Earlier, before reaching the surroundings of the rails, he was startled by a meeow coming from a car next to him. Dan suspended nervously at the dreaded sound, then began to draw back. Then a black cat jumped the driver's side window.

The stray cat hissed at Dan threatening, who sighed of relief.
- Finally, I find a native in this desert. I was starting to think that this was a ghost town. And I still do, come to think of it.
It was an average sized cat (about 4 kg, or almost 9 pounds), with his ears pointed backwards, slit irises and amber coloured pupils. Near the eyes, there was a very small tuft of white fur. Dan never cared much for animals, since he never had a pet, but he was in a way contented for seeing that cat which, like him, seemed to be alone in a scary environment.
-You don't have to be frightened by me, little guy. I arrived a few minutes ago and I already don't like this place. What, you want me to give you something to eat? Sorry, I must of have left my cat food in my other trousers - Dan chuckled. He opened his handbag and took out remains of a hot dog, which was wrapped, and threw it to the cat.

Then he turned and began walking towards the railroad. The cat caught up to him and started circling Dan as he walked.
- What? Want more food? You're out of luck. I've ran out of supply for you. You can go away now.
The cat continued to follow him. Deep inside, Dan rejoiced as he now wasn't alone for the ride to the station. As he went through the bushes, he was thinking of a name for the stray.
- I know, I'll call you Hyas - he said remembering the story he heard earlier - it was a name of a powerful warrior, I think, so it might fit you.
When they reached the fence, Dan decided to go to the other side, climbing the metal wires. Certainly, Eliah wasn't instigating him to proceed to such a nimble manoeuvre - especially since Dan was so out of shape - but since so many events had unfolded in a exceptional fashion, Dan decided that it would be best if he didn't lose the way to the station. Autumn had to inform him of what was happening. He had an uncomfortable feeling that in the day before, when she phoned him, she was trying to warn him of something.
"Parkour is definitely easier to watch than to do. Those guys really are pro's. ", Dan thought as he clumsily tried to go up. The cat, seeing Dan doing so, climbed with innate agility and, effortlessly, got to the other side in an instant. "Yeah, mock me. I should have given you my name! ", Dan minded.

They both went along the trails, as Dan thought it was safe: no train would pass by that huge crater, and the stranded train's crew must of have sent messages to the other stations preventing the trains from departing. They finally arrived at Uhra town station, in a couple of minutes. The lights were all on, but much to Dan's dismay, there was nobody to find.
The station was soulless. Not even in the cabinets there was someone. The boarding footbridges only had newspapers and magazines scattered all over. He headed to the station's gates.

There he found, out of tune with the forsaken feel of the location, he found a man. He was very slim and pale, with really short brown hair, wearing a jacket and pants of the same colour, light blue. A long nose came off his face, contrasting with his small oval eyes. The man began speaking in a formal way, as a butler addresses his master:
- Mr Medetre, I presume ?
- Yes, and who can you be ?
- My name is Vincent Sadha. I come from your sister's part. She entrusted me to come wait for you here, and to pick you up. She had a last minute tie-up. But I didn't see the train arriving, so I'm very curious to know how did you arrive.
- It's a bit long story. Why is the station so empty ? I mean, there is nobody here.
- Here, in the Interior the employees leave the office early. After 20:00 there will only be some guards. But only in some days of the week - then he saw the cat - is this animal travelling with you ?
- Yes, it is my adorable pet. - answered Dan, snobbish, not believing in his own words.