night train

For as long as I can remember I have hated quite. When I say hated the quiet I don't just mean silence, but when places are empty of life. I don't like being in town centres when the shops are closed and the streets are empty. If I'm in the house alone the tv or radio must be on. I had been out for drinks with work friends and one drink had turned into one hell of a night. The secret life of the I.T people. Before I knew it I was stood on the train station platform waiting for the last train home on my own. I don't remember the walk here but it must have happened. My friends checked if I was ok waiting on my own and I said I was.  

The platform was completely deserted apart from me and some crisp packets. Come to think of it the whole station was dead. No security no ticket seller. The orange writing was still on the boards letting me know that trains were still running on time. At times like this, I wished I was taller than five foot ten. I wished I looked intimidating but I don't this I.T guy is thin average hight and never been in a fight. If someone wanted to mug me I would be the easiest target in the world. I reckon a ten-year-old girl would beat me in a straight fight. 

To the right of the platform was the darkness that leads down the track home with a few lights dotted about to the left was a tunnel. The air smells of diesel fumes and grease. A rat ran out of the tunnel along the wall followed by another and another. I counted to thirty and they kept coming. In a strange way, the rats gave me comfort. At the same time I was a little disgusted at the thought that one could run up my suit leg. 

I peered down the tunnel curious as to what had disturbed them. A light in the distance dims but getting closer. A train thank God for that. I couldn't see anything apart from the light at the moment but it appeared to be getting closer. A poster blew past me I wouldn't swear to it but I'm sure it looked like the one you see in the old war films. The one that said the army needs you. 

The Strange thing was if it was a train im sure I should have been able to hear it by now. It wasn't coming fast either. I started to walk to that end of the platform. Still, no sound came from the tunnel. I was starting to see the outline of the train. Only a shadow of a train with one single dull orange light on the front and still no sound. As I approached the end of the platform the noise came at me loud. The breaks screeched with metal on metal and sparks lit up the sides of the tunnel. 

The front of the train stopped level with the front of the tunnel. Through the driver's window, I saw movement. I saw the shape of a huge man moving into the cars it was towing. My skin ran cold with the screaming coming from further down the tunnel.  

"HELLLLP" 

It sounded like a woman. I pulled my phone from my pocket and pressed the button on the side. The screen didn't light up as it should. Instead, a red battery flashed letting me know that it was dead. I looked around the platform and saw nobody and no payphone  

Pulling my head out of my arse I jumped down from the platform and ran to the tunnel constantly keeping an eye out for trains. As I got closer to the tunnel the air temperature dropped I could see my breath in the air. Running towards the tunnel there was a musty smell like damp sutt. Screams of help. Echoing down at me.  

"Hellp!" 

As I get closer to the entrance my eyes start to adjust to the light differences. I can see through the train windows passengers some look to be sat perfectly still while the one's closer to the front of the train is screaming and moving in a panic. I get to the driver's door and see it is open. My heart in my mouth and sweat forming all over my body. I'm so scared my brown eyes start to fill with tears. Grabbing the handrails in each hand I pull myself up onto the first step. Trembling I force one leg after the other. The moisture on my hands making it hard to keep my grip. I get into the cab and see it is empty and the door to the carages is closed. My first impression of the cockpit is that it's old fashioned. I'm no train expert and don't even know if it's called a cockpit. But what I do know is that it looks like an old steam engines workings from what I have seen on tv not the modern train with buttons and most importantly a radio of some kind. This cabin is all black with brass leavers. The only other door except the exit is red withe brass handles and locks. 

For some reason, I am compelled to open the door even after all I have heard. I put my ear to the door. It all sounds quite. Maybe it was all in my imagination. It's possible that this is just a drunken nightmare. While I was pondering this with my ear to the door. A loud slapping sounded behind me on what sounded like the windscreen. With my eyes closed, I turned. Fear would not let me open them. With arms reaching around like a blind man I found a handle to steady myself. The wet slapping continued. Slap drag slap drag. 

The slap drag continued rhythmically. Over and over I managed to overcome my fear and open one eye. I wish I hadn't. The trains windscreen wipers were going from side to side. Hooked onto one of them was what I think was a scalp as it went down the skin side slapped on the windscreen. As it went up it dragged leaving a red smear of blood behind. Staggering back my hand already in the handle to the door it fell open. My mouth dropped open and vomit sprayed out. I dragged the back of my hand across my lips and scand the car.  

Empty. How can this be? I saw people through the window. More screams came from the next car. I noticed a red drag mark straight down the middle of the gap between the seats. The seats were not in keeping with the train the were leather wing back chairs like what you would see in a stately home. This might as well have a writing table and an open fire. In fact, it did. This was one messed up nightmare all being well I will wake up soon in my bed in a cold sweat. This did not happen no matter how much I willed it on myself. 

I looked around for a weapon to defend myself and to help whoever needed it coming from this end of the train should hopefully be to my advantage. Next to the open fire, I saw my weapon a brass poker. It was the perfect length for this confined space. As quietly as I could I walked towards the next door. I raised the poker up in front of me and could see my hand visibly shaking. There was a crystal tumbler on a small side table it looked like it had whiskey in. I picked it up and had a sniff. The alcoholic fumes went up my nostrils informing my brain that it was safe-ish to drink and I did. I don't even like whiskey but I needed something to calm my nerves. This is what people in films do and then they are fine. It didn't work for me. 

Just as I reached the door. A loud thud came from the ceiling at the opposite end of the car from where I am now. The tumbler slipped from my grasp and hit the floor smashing. Quick as I could I burst through the door and closed it hopping that the thud above me was whoever was driving the train and terrorizing the passengers. As these thoughts went through my mind I hear it. Or should I say the lack of it? I was drowning in silence again. 

I spun on my heels to see a lot of faces staring at me. They were stood back and none looked to be in good shape. All had been scalped and beaten. Their clothes were from all different eras. At guess, I would say the earliest was victorian. I raised my free hand in a tame wave. 

"Hi." 

With no warning, they fell on me like a wild pack of animals. Arms and legs everywhere I was swinging the poker wildly, I fell between two seats and felt incredibly cold. Like being in a fridge. I stopped swinging realizing that I wasn't getting hit. 

It was soon apparent why I wasnnot getting hit. The people that were attacking me were now fighting each other to get at me. I could see under the chairs and started to push myself under. My the escape plan was simple and was easily foiled. I managed to get my torso through and I was wriggling through when multiple hands grabbed my legs and started to pull me back. Frantically I grabbed for anything to stop myself stupidly I let go of the poker. Now weaponless and in the clutches of my foes. I'm not embarrassed to say I pissed my pants. Don't get me wrong I'm not proud of it either. To be honest the warm damp patch that had formed in my pants was not a worry at this time. Somehow I managed to scramble and get a hold of a copper pipe running down the side of the wall horizontally. 

"STOOOP!" 

A females voice screeched out of nowhere. I didn't know if I should be even more scared or relieved. One by one the icy cold hands let go of me. Their hands were so cold they had started to burn. When all hands had let go I stood quickly. The beauty of this woman was staggering. It was like someone had reached into my mind and pulled out my unrealistic imaginings of the perfect woman. Long straight black hair smooth shapely legs breast not huge or small and her eyes the greenest green I have ever seen. I was starring and my mouth was open. When she looked at me and then back to the others. 

"What have I told you about guests leave them alone." 

Then she turned back to me and stretched out her hand. She was different from the others she was dressed more modern and she had peasants that demanded that you pay attention. 

"Now Paul my friends here weren't expecting you and you caught them off guard. Didn't he." 

She turned and gave the other people in the car a look and they all murdered and nodded. It was really strange. All seemed to be frightened of her. She turned back to me. 

"I want you to join us. You can be with me forever if you want. It's a lot nicer for all if you agree." 

It struck me that she knew my name and I hadn't even spoken. How is that possible? Then another thought why am I only getting the option of death by choice or death by force. Where is the option of it's fine you get on your way and forget all about us Toodle pip?  

"Erm yes hi erm I'm err just wanted to check. Is there the option of living my life until. Err you know natural death." 

That was the hardest I've ever worked on asking a question. The woman was terrifying. Her eyes gave such a look I think the devil would have said sorry to her. 

"Haha no I'm afraid that's not an option. Good try though so what's it going to be. You die nice a painlessly here and have me for your bride forever. Or I let this lot rip you limb from limb." 

It was at this point I saw a door behind her and thought I've only got this chance. It was surprisingly easy to run past them all and out of the door.  

"Oh how I wish I had looked before I jumped. I didn't see the train coming. I was splattered all over bits here and there. So John you now know my story. I'm going to give you the same opinion that I had. Because I want to leave this world and I need someone to replace me." 

The end.