Authors Note: I don't usually write shorts but I did and finished. I am super proud of myself and therefore am sharing my triumph with you. Enjoy ::)
It
loomed over the crowd, black as night with coal smoke puffing rhythmically into
the clear blue sky. Off to the side I could hear someone shouting over the
mulling crowd, “All Aboard!” Pushing against the endless throng of people I
made my way closer to the train.
It
looked bigger up close, suffocating me with its presence. Taking in a deep and
steady breath I stepped up onto the metal beast, disappearing from view in the
shadows of the doorway. One last time I heard the conductor’s call; though the
sound seemed closer, I couldn’t identify the source against the thick fall
smog.
Letting
my gaze fall to the boardwalk, I felt the beast lurch before steadily moving
forward along the tracks. Out
of nowhere a soft voice sounded in my ear, “We’ve been waiting for you deary.” With
a startled gasp I whipped my head around looking for the mysterious informant,
but I could see nothing past the darkened staircase leading further into the
heart of the train.
Looking
back once more at the rushing ground, I started my accent into the darkness.
The staircase broadened until the final step became flat and welcoming. The
small space was lighter on one side, opening itself up into a passenger car.
The car was empty besides the multiple rows of padded seats covered in worn
green fabric. Each seat held a dull blue glow, but was otherwise dark and
vacant.
Stepping
slowly deeper into the car I could feel a change in my surroundings. The car
lit up with the glow of candlelight bringing the space out of its bubble of
darkness. The blue glow in each seat was replaced with the warm and welcoming
chatter of passengers. “Ticket please.” Startled I turned in the direction of
the sound. Without a second guess I concluded that it was the same voice I
heard only moments ago at the base of the stairs.
The
woman was petite, almost like a child, though her skin was wrinkled with age.
She stared at me with warm brown eyes that made me want to melt with her every
wish. “Ticket please.” She said again though slightly more forceful. Reaching
into my jean pocket I brought out a slightly curved slip of paper whilst never
taking my eyes off the small woman. Taking it from my outstretched hand she
punched it. Handing it back she pointed me towards an empty seat in the back of
the car.
Taking
tentative steps down the isle I couldn’t help but look at all the people who
now filled the once vacant seats. After the third row I noticed something
strange about all the passengers though I couldn’t say exactly what. Finally
reaching the empty seat I sat, almost immediately losing myself in my thoughts.
What’s
wrong with all the passengers? More importantly, what is wrong with this train?
Smoothing out the ticket stub, after it being crumpled in my hand, I checked
over the information.
Name: Anna MacEnsure
Train: Z35O2
Departure Date: November 2, 1943
Departed: Chicago, Illinois
Destination: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Arrival Date: November 5, 1943
As
far as I could tell all the information was correct, but I could not shake the
strange feeling. Holding the ticket in my lap I tried to contemplate the one
factor I was missing. With the earlier feeling of change coming over the car I
caught a glimpse of my ticket changing right before my eyes. Now on the ticket
held a single, neatly printed sentence:
Anna MacEnsure Welcome to the Death Train.
At
that moment a dreadful realization dawned on me. The reason the passengers
struck a nerve with me was because each one was dressed from a different era.
The ticket woman looked both young and old because she was old but living in
her prime.
Jumping
from my seat I started for the doorway. Before I could even take two steps a
blinding breeze stopped me in my tracks. The woman spoke, “You can never leave,
The Death Train has your soul and it doesn’t like giving them back.”
Her
words chilled me to the core; I am forever trapped with absolutely no way to
escape. My soul belonged to The Death Train like the countless others before
me. No one has ever escaped and no one ever will. The train will forever ride
its rails collecting more souls for the journey. It will never stop or ever
slow, it will only ride on stealing the lives of unwilling passengers
as it goes.
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