In her mind, Naomi hears the roar of dragons. She knows it’s only the approaching train. Still, a picture forms in her mind – a gigantic creature with iridescent gray skin, fiery eyes, furious and leering, its large flared nostrils spewing sulphur and smoke, a double pronged tongue darts as its mouth breathes out fire, sharp pointed fins on its back that extend to the end of its tail.
The sound becomes louder. She walks closer to the wall, the padded shoulders of her winter coat rub against the white tiles, her palms flat against her ears. A gush of cold air slams at her and she sees the dragon slithering fast into the station, roaring as it screeches to a stop. She covers her face with one arm, her eyes shut tight. She hears the far away sound of bells as she crouches beside the red bench, then small thuds of metal doors opening.
“No,” Naomi says softly. “Bad dragon. Go away.”
She doubles over some more, trying to make her body as small as possible so the dragon won’t see her, won’t take her. It hisses a few more times before she hears again the far away sound of bells and the small thuds of closing doors before it roars away.
She brushes the hair off her face and turns to see the tail of the dragon. The station is once again empty and dark except for the muted fluorescent lighting.
“Are you alright, madam?” A female voice, although soft and soothing, almost caressing, startles her. First she sees a pair of very red shoes, their toes pointed with long thin heels. The legs attached to them are equally long and slender, smooth and elegant with tiny ankles. Her gaze sweeps upward at the figure in a shiny red leather coat which must be new, she could smell it.
“Are you sick?” the voice asks again. Naomi sees her: young, face framed in golden locks of curly hair, an elegant dark grey boa wrapped around the slender neck. “Should I call an ambulance?” The woman starts to bend and her red-gloved hand extends toward Naomi.
Naomi shakes her head. “No, no,” she says. She waves the woman away. When she looks up again, she sees a small red dragon disappear towards the escalators.
Her eyes widen in panic and she holds her breath as she sits on the bench, her back rod straight, her head perfectly still, hands clasped on her lap, knees together and feet flat on the damp subway floor.
She clutches her chest which feels as if a heavy slab of concrete has been laid on top of her. Tears start to well up in her eyes but she fights them. She takes in five deep breaths, closes her eyes, stretching her neck up and pulling her shoulders towards the bench. The soreness then slowly eases.
-o0o-
to be continued.
part 1
part 2 is here:
http://365project.org/summerfield/365-still/2014-07-06
