The Last Train

• Fiction

								
The Last Train

The sound of the train whistle echoed through the dimly lit station, a haunting note that lingered in the air. Ava checked her watch; it was ten minutes past midnight, and the last train to Millstone would be leaving soon. She was alone on the platform, the only signs of life being the flickering fluorescent lights above and the distant rumble of the approaching train.

As she waited, Ava felt an unsettling chill crawl up her spine. It was as if the shadows themselves were watching her. She wrapped her arms around herself and glanced down the empty tracks, her breath forming little clouds in the cold air. She had almost decided to leave when the train screeched into the station, its lights cutting through the darkness.

The doors hissed open, and she stepped inside. The interior was sparsely populated: an elderly man dozing in the corner, a young couple whispering in hushed tones, and a lone figure hunched over by the window. Ava settled into a seat near the back, feeling a strange sense of urgency wash over her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

As the train lurched forward, she noticed the figure by the window. It was a woman in a long, dark coat, her hair cascading over her shoulders. The woman glanced over at Ava, her eyes glinting with an intensity that sent a shiver down Ava's spine. They held each other’s gaze for a moment, and Ava felt an inexplicable connection, as if they were the only two people in a world that had forgotten them.

“The Midnight Express is quite the journey,” the woman said suddenly, her voice low and melodic.

Ava nodded, startled. “Yes, it is my first time.”

The woman smiled, a knowing expression that sent another chill through Ava. “Be careful. The train has a mind of its own.”

“What do you mean?” Ava asked, trying to sound casual.

“People get on, but they don’t always get off,” the woman replied, her gaze drifting toward the window. “Sometimes it takes you places you never intended to go.”

Ava’s heart raced. “Are you saying this train is dangerous?”

The woman turned to her, her eyes piercing. “It’s a journey of choices. Every stop is a reflection of what you want... or what you fear.”

Just then, the train came to a sudden halt. The lights flickered, and an eerie silence filled the carriage. Ava’s breath caught in her throat. The couple stopped whispering, their eyes wide. The elderly man stirred, but the woman by the window remained calm, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“What’s happening?” Ava whispered, glancing around.

“I told you,” the woman said softly. “It’s time for a choice.”

The doors slid open, revealing a desolate platform bathed in pale moonlight. An ominous fog rolled in, curling around the train like a living thing. The young couple exchanged nervous glances, clearly hesitant to leave the safety of the carriage.

“Do we have to get off?” Ava asked, her voice trembling.

The woman nodded, her eyes glinting with a strange light. “This is your stop.”

“But I didn’t ask to get off!” Ava protested, panic rising in her chest.

“You’re not here by chance,” the woman replied, her expression shifting to something more serious. “You need to confront what lies ahead.”

Ava looked toward the open doors. The fog was thickening, and shadows danced along the platform. She took a deep breath, a mix of fear and determination swelling within her. The woman had said it was a journey of choices. Perhaps this was her moment to confront the uncertainty she had been running from for years.

With a steadying breath, Ava stood and walked toward the door. The couple behind her hesitated, but she felt the woman’s presence guiding her. Stepping into the fog, she felt a strange sense of clarity.

The train let out a long whistle as the doors slid shut behind her. She glanced back just in time to see the woman by the window smile, the train disappearing into the night.

Ava took a step forward, ready to embrace whatever awaited her. In that moment, she understood: every journey begins with a single step into the unknown.
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