Ride of a Lifetime - Chapter 3

Hi all!!! I didn't had much time to write since serving national service. But now, I am able to come up with some time to continue to write. So, here's Chapter 3!!!

Story 1: Ride of a Lifetime

Chapter 3

The train continues to travel at full speed towards Dover. In the meantime, more people were getting concerned and worried that the train is experiencing problems and could not stop.

“The train better stop at Dover. If not, we’ll really miss the whole lesson.” Hazel said, as worry start to show on her face.

As the train travelled along the bend, a structure that has a metallic roof and a futuristic feel appeared. The station of Dover was built many years after the original MRT system was opened; therefore the station has a different design altogether. The station was also unique in the sense that the trains are operated during the whole course of construction without any interruption. The most unique part of Dover is that instead of one island platform like the other older stations, two side platforms are built.

“Okay! We’re reaching!” Hazel said, with some optimism in her voice. They moved towards the door with some difficulty since the train was quite packed. 

The train shot into the station like a bullet, with no intention of stopping. Since the both of them were standing at the doors, they managed to see glimpses of shock and surprise on commuters’ faces at the platform before being replaced by bright sunlight and trees.

“What the heck? The train just drove off like there’s no station there.” Hazel said, now sounding more worried than a while ago. “Something must be wrong. Now we’re really late, really, really late.”

Noises of people talking and complaining filled the whole train and some tried to force open the doors to the driver’s cabin to see what’s wrong.

“Let’s hope the driver can fix it in time.” Andrew replied, with his usual relaxed voice despite having a worried expression on his face.

The noises in the train began to grow louder as the train continues travel to Buona Vista with a speed of a rocket.

Suddenly, a voice start to broadcast on the speakers and the whole train became quiet in an instance.

“I am Alex Chan and I am a terrorist wanted by your government for years! I have hijacked this train and I am going to crash it into Changi Airport! Muhahahaha!!!!” the voice said with a strong Russian accent. “Do not try to force open the doors as I have installed a bomb on it. If the doors are forced open, we will all die together! Wahahahaha!!!!”

The whole train suddenly filled with shrieks and cries of panic and people calling for help. More people start to use their phones to get help from outside. Andrew said with an annoyed yet sarcastic tone: “Great! Just great! I’m not even 21 yet and I’m going to die! Worst part is I’m still a virgin! Crap shit!”

The train continues to travel without stopping and it just zoomed past Buona Vista station within seconds. Meanwhile, Hazel has been quiet after the terrorist’s announcement. She just squatted down and stared at the floor, with tears dripping down from her face.

Andrew noticed that she was crying and decided to comfort her. He said: “Come, I help you to get up.”

She grabbed hold of his right hand and then stands up slowly. Tears were still flowing down from her cheeks and her eyes were red and teary. “Okay! We’ll be fine. Don’t cry.” Andrew said with assurance while wiping the tears off her face.

She managed to calm down after a while. She said softly: “I don’t want to die yet too! I haven’t told you that I love you!” Her teary eyes locked with Andrew’s, even though her face was already blushing red.

Andrew, who was still frozen with shock and surprise at Hazel’s confession to him, continued to look into her eyes. He then grabbed her around the waist and hugged her passionately, her head resting on his shoulders. He whispered into her ears: “Actually, I had a crush on you for a very long time and I just did not know how to confess my love to you.”

She smiled at him after hearing that and said: “Now you’ve done it!”

The train whizzed past Commonwealth station again without stopping and heading straight for Queenstown.

“Wait a sec! I can call my dad for help! I actually had forgotten that my dad works in the army!” Andrew exclaimed with excitement.

“Your dad’s a company commander in the army’s commando unit, right?” Hazel said, with a sigh of relief in it.

“I call him and tell him that we’re stuck on a hijacked train.” said Andrew, as he whipped out his iPhone 6 from his pocket and start pressing numbers.

Meanwhile, at an office somewhere in Hendon Camp in Changi, a man in a military uniform is typing out a report on his computer. The name tag on his uniform shows: “ANTHONY TAN”. On his rank holder at his chest, there are three solid black bars and the word “SINGAPURA” below it – the officer is a Captain.

Suddenly, his phone rang and the display shows “Son”. He quickly picked it up and said: “Son! What’s the matter?”

Andrew then said calmly: “Dad, Hazel and I are trapped on a train that is hijacked by a terrorist. You need to come and help us!”

He continued: “He’s going to crash the train into Changi Airport!” However, the call ended all of a sudden. “Dad! Dad! Can you hear me?”

Back at Hendon Camp, Anthony Tan had already run out of the room the moment he heard his son say that the train has been hijacked. “John! Get everyone into the briefing room now! There’s an emergency!” he said.

“Yes sir!” said Lieutenant John Ng, a colleague of Anthony and primary school friend. He ran off towards the operations centre.

The train, in the meantime, has just passed Queenstown station and heading to Redhill. “Great! My dad just hung up on me!” Andrew said.

“Don’t worry. I think your dad will definitely come and rescue us.” Hazel said softly.

Meanwhile, at the police headquarters at Cantonment Road, a few dozen of police officers were in a briefing room, being briefed on the rescue operation.

“Currently, the train is heading full speed towards Redhill station as we speak. The target of the terrorist that hijacked the train is Changi Airport. We have diverted all the trains on the track to prevent any collision. All stations on the East West Line have also been closed and evacuated. The airport has also been closed off as well and currently a team of police officers are there to control the situation.” the police officer at the front said.

He continued: “We have also contacted the commando unit of our army and we are going to collaborate in this operation. From what I have heard, an officer’s son is on the train as well. Now, let’s proceed further regarding the rescue operation. Since the train is currently going to move underground, we cannot do any pursuit until the train comes back to the surface at Kallang. So, once the train reaches the surface, the commandos will deploy their soldiers from helicopters onto the train and try to unlatch each train car so that the civilians would be rescued before we intercept and take down the terrorist.”

The officer finally ends the briefing and said: “Everybody clear? Then, let’s move out!”

Police sirens rang on the streets as dozens of police cars set off for the rescue.