Boxcars and Monsters (Edward Hopper's Boxcar Painting)

Her feet thumped against the ground as gravel flew behind her. Relief flooded her once she spotted the boxcar, but the animalistic roar behind her had her heart thumping harder. She pushed herself to run faster- if she could only get to the box car, she may be safe. For a few minutes at least.

She took a running dive at the opened door of the boxcar, and quickly spun around to slam the door shut. Sunlight filtered in through an open slot on the roof, and she was grateful. She pulled her backpack off of her shoulders, and sat it directly below the sunlight. She knelt on the ground as she searched through her bag, nearly crying tears of joy as she found the wrapped vial of Greek fire.

She unwrapped it with shaking hands as she tried to think clearly. She had a plan in mind, but it could very well kill her. She decided not to dwell on that fact- there was a chance she could die every day, but that hasn’t stopped her yet. She tossed the fabric she used to wrap the vial on the ground, and a smile tugged on her lips as the silver fabric shimmered before growing in size. She reached into the fabric, her smile growing as she pulled out her favorite bow. With a sigh, she placed it next to her as she begun to work.

She had to get this monster- the Minotaur- off of her tail. The minutes past by quickly as she work, her fingers flying over the objects in front of her. Luckily for her, she was done just in time.

As the door to the boxcar flew open, she stood, and notched her arrow. She pulled the arrow back, praying that the vial of Greek fire she tied onto it wouldn’t affect her aim. Pure instinct took over as she let the arrow fly, grinning when the arrow burst into green flames- said flames engulfing the Minotaur seconds later.

She laughed without humor, merely at the sheer dumb luck she had today as the monster dissolved into golden powder. She didn’t mind that her arrow had been reduced to ashes as well, nor did she mind the fact that Greek fire blocked her exit. She tossed her bag out of the open slot in the roof, and managed to jump high enough to grab the edge. She hoisted herself onto the roof with a small smile. Glancing at the sky, she nodded in the sun’s direction.

“Thanks, dad,” she said quietly, knowing her father would hear her before continuing on her latest journey.