First Dream

Shem Julii had a bad dream. His steps echoed off the hard concrete stairs leading towards the platform for trains. The left side of the stairs was the path less traveled, home to dust, garbage, and stray puddles.

Not noticing anything out of the ordinary, Shem focused on the path ahead to avoid tripping and facing embarrassment. 

Reaching the platform that was oddly gloomy, Shem gazed towards the passenger information sign. The writing, displayed in dark red against the black background, instructed Shem that the train heading downtown would come in four minutes. 

Without thinking much the young man pulled out his phone and opened up a music app. Putting in the earbuds Shem glanced at the person on his left a few meters away from him.

The man to his left was tall and wearing all black; black pants, black jacket, black gloves, black hat, black umbrella. Unable to see his face due to the darkness, Shem glanced away.

'He's just a tad bit creepy! Probably shouldn't look for long incase he gets ideas.'

Looking towards his right Shem noticed a young woman about his age dressed up in high-heels and a brown dress.

The woman turned her head to meet Shem's gaze, her eyes hazel brown like the dress and features pretty. She gave him a smile showing a bit too much teeth then looked away with a blush. 

Sighing internally Shem turned his gaze towards the roof, currently shielding them from the atmospheric river savaging the city.

'Can't look right or left, great.

Two weirdos and no one familiar.'

Focusing on the roof his eyes landed on the sole light illuminating the platform, weak and flickering it gave an eerie feel. 

'Odd …'

Looking down to his phone again Shem noticed the clothes he bore. Bright red pajamas stuck to his body like a second skin allowing everybody to see what there was to display. In confusion Shem patted his body attempting to find his transit pass.

Before solving the mystery of how he got into those clothes or where his transit pass went the train arrived. 

The headlights coloured dark blood red washed over the commuters, attempting to display their facial features. The woman showed a small smirk, Shem a look of confusion, and the tall man was still concealed.

The train painted pitch black pulled into the station. Doors opening in a squeaky manner allowed Shem to glance into the compartment.

'This isn't right, why is the train like this?'

The train was furnished like it came from the 1800s. Instead of the original hard plastic chairs wooden ones were in their place, the train sported carpeted floors, and similar to the station a single light source hung in the train.

A chandelier made from crystal lightly swung from the previous movement of the train, a bright red LED in the centre of the crystal mess. 

Letting out an internal sigh of relief Shem's facial features relaxed a bit, shoulders dropped, and steps became smoother entering the train.

'At least there are others here that are just as confused as me.'

Three other individuals were already seated in the train, two of which sported unusual clothing like the other passengers entering the compartment.

'Mrs. Juno is also here too.

Thank gods she isn't looking towards me, I can sit at the back and act like I didn't see her.

She is also the only one dressed normally …'

Sitting at the back and facing the entrance of the compartment Shem saw the doors shut with a resounding thud after the tall man entered.

Once everybody was seated the train sped off from the platform, heading downtown. 

The chandelier swayed, dull red light splashing everywhere illuminating the compartment. The train dipped into a tunnel going underground for the remainder of its journey, this caused Shem's music to be cut off due to lack of service.

'This train doesn't go underground.'

A look of exasperation displayed on his face as the train noises turned audible. Shem brought out his earbud case, placing the earbuds into the case he shut it. Two decisive clicks could be heard, one for the earbud case closing, the other for the light switch.

'What?

It's dark as fuck in here.

What should I do?'

Shem's expression instantly hardened, turning serious over the lack of light. Fortunately the dull red light turned on a moment later with another click showering the compartment in a sinister glow.

*Click*

'Fuck'

*Click*

Two out of the three people originally in the compartment disappeared. The red light from the chandelier caused it to be difficult to identify the strange dark liquid adorning the walls.

Shem's head snapped towards where they were seated near Ms. Juno, his features fearful and a bit dangerous. 

*Click*

*Click*

Standing up near the entrance of the compartment Ms. Juno came into view her eyes meeting Shem's. Tensing up Shem feigned ignorance and displayed a small unassuming smile. 

"Hey Ms. Juno, how are you?"

The other two people in the compartment turned to face Shem, the girl had her eyes widened and mouth open in surprise while the man merely glanced his way before facing forwards again. 

*Click*

*Click*

Ms. Juno appeared next to his row, her face twisted to form a blank look, as if that was not her resting face.

"I'm great dearie, how are you feeling?

Before he could respond the lights of the chandelier turned off, shrouding the compartment in darkness.

*Click*

*Click*

Unable to see Ms. Juno when the lights flickered back on, Shem thought about the inky liquid running down her face. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead and his body started itching like crazy, feeling the intensity of the situation he mustered up a small grin.

"I'm okay Ms. Juno."

*Click*

*Click*

The face he dreaded appeared in front of him, upside down, neck impossibly long leading towards the body supporting it from the seat behind Shem. A look of insanity in Ms. Juno's eyes caused Shem's anxiety to rise to a heightened level, all of his muscles tensed.

Ms. Juno's mouth opened like a venus flytrap and a snake-like tongue slithered out. Feeling the cold caress of the tongue on his nose Shem flinched. 

*Click*

Before the lights turned back on the train instantaneously stopped and the doors opened with a noise similar to that of an air lock. Hearing a hissing voice from behind him Shem shuddered.

"Seems like we are out of time for today. Unfortunate."

Shem quickly got out of his seat, cutting his face on something sharp on his way up Shem didn't care. Adrenaline coursed through his body and propelled him out of the station, Shem woke up.

Sitting up in bed Shem heard the annoying alarm chime whilst clutched his face in pain, feeling the cut he removed his hand to see if there was any blood but surprisingly there was none.

Turning on the light Shem moved his hand to grab his phone and inspect the damage to his face in more detail, but a stream of blood trailing from outside of his door stopped him.