Vicky Shi (9) | STAFF REPORTER
The platform was empty, saved for the soft whisper of the wind humming a song of forgotten memories. Haruka stood at the edge, each breath coming out like puffs of smoke. The air was frigidly cold and there was a soreness to her neck that she couldn’t seem to place the origin of.
The ancient speaker crackled to life and the grating voice radiated off of each surface.
“Last stop, Krisagi Station.” There was a pause and the train roared into the stop, the headlights creating eerily inhumane shadows on the walls. Haruka jumped in surprise- the train seemed to have just materialized from the darkness beyond the tunnel. She hesitated. Should I board?
She couldn’t understand why she felt compelled to do so, but as she stepped forward, the doors slid open with an eerie silence. As she stepped inside, her heart skipped a beat. Silhouettes of people filled the train, but they were just made of shadows. They made no notice of Haruka and continued about. Some sat along the rows of seats, some moved along the train, bringing along the same eerie silence. She glanced around and as the train finally took off once more, she finally found one that was made of shadows. The other women wore a lavender kimono with a intricate gold hair pin keeping her hair in a neat spiral.
“Oh, there you are. I’m Rei. I’ve been expecting you. Please, come here, and pay no mind to them,” as she gestured at the shadowy figures. “They prefer to not be bothered.” The women lead Haruka to a more secluded area and sat her down along the soft, red velvet seats.
“I didn’t know that a train could be so luxurious,”
“We wanted the utmost care and comfort for our passengers, even if it’s merely a train. Before I forget, here take this clock,” the women held up a clock and pressed it into Haruka’s palm, “See how the hands have stopped moving? They will start again once you’ve stepped off this train, but do be careful. If you miss your stop, you won’t have a chance to go back. You won’t be allowed to stay on the train either.”
“But what if I don’t want to go back?” The words flew out of Haruka’s mouth before she could stop them.
“Then there would be no stop for you. Don’t worry about it.”
“When can I come back to the station?”
“Oh my sweet summer child, you don’t. Not for a long while yet. I must take my leave soon. Are there any discomforts that you have?”
“Well, my neck is really sore. Could I get a ice packet of some sort?”
“That is to be expected, coming someone like you-”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Take the ice-packet. It should be better soon. But, it really should’t hurt anymore. Perhaps your clock will start ticking again.”
“How would that work?”
“You will know when the time comes,“ Rei sighed as she stood up and dusted off her kimono. She patted Haruka’s shoulders. “Maybe you shouldn’t have bought your ticket, my dear. It seems like it calls to you,”
***
“Rei, I don’t want to be on the train anymore.”
“Oh that can’t possibly be right. You bought the ticket yourself. Why the change of mind?”
“It’s just- Everything seems to have knives embedded within. Everywhere I look, I see someone with a knife. I look again and it’s gone. I can’t, please. Let me go. The air is suffocatingly warm, the food is disgustingly bland. The colors are starting to fade…” Tears streamed out of her eyes, “Let me go, please. I beg of you. I promise I didn’t buy the ticket. I would’ve never wanted to be here.”
“I could adjust your living quarters if you would like, but I’m afraid this is a one-way ticket. You cannot leave the train unless your clock starts ticking again. See the minute and hour hands? They stopped when you arrived at the station and they will start ticking again once you are meant to leave.”
“I’ll do anything. I can pay you 2 million, no 5 million. Just, please, let me off the train.” The dull sore on her neck erupted into a searing burn. Haruka clutched her neck, hoping her icy hands can melt away the fire scorching upon her very tendons. Unfortunately, nothing worked.
“Miss, are you alright? Is your neck hurting again?” Haruka heard the faint swoosh of heavy robes and the thin rustle of a syringe being filled, “This will ease the pain, I promise. Just bear with me okay?”
Haruka felt a rush of icy calm and her vision blurred, from her tears or the medicine of the needle she did not know. Once the pain finally drained out of her veins, she saw Rei’s concerned features staring back at her.
“It looks like you haven’t decided yet. Maybe a bit longer.”
“Wait, what do you mean?” Haruka sat up, ignoring the pounding headache stabbing her head, “What haven’t I decided yet?”
The women in the lavender kimono had disappeared, leaving behind only an echo of her presence.
You will know once the time comes, my dear. Your clock won’t start ticking again if you haven’t decided yet.
