Helluva Commute

Helluva Commute

Alison Berchold shivered while she stood on the train platform. The lighting was so low, plenty of shadows were everywhere. She thought about stepping off of the platform and going into town but it was too dark. Maybe there is no town? Nonsense.

She looked at the other commuters, they all seemed preoccupied by their own thoughts. No matter. Across from the platform, it was dark, almost formless. What is this place?

The white train with silver trim came in with a whoosh of hot brimstone smelling air. Alison was not going to wait too long. She stepped up to the doors and got in as fast as she could when they opened.

A quick look out the windows just showed a bright green bluish blur. How can there be a blur if the train is not moving and its night time outside? Alison decided to sit next to the windows and puzzle this out.

While Alison was looking out the window a fat guy sat next to her. He was huge and he pressed her against the side of the train. She could not move her arms. It was so hard to turn her head against the pressure but she did manage to see what was happening. Another even fatter man sat next to the huge guy that was almost crushing her.

Alison's body tried to resist the pressure for a few scant seconds but it was too much. She could feel her bones snap like brittle twigs and the pain was excruciating. Alison became a red smear on the window.

Alison Berchold shivered while she stood on the dark train platform. What the hell happened? Did she dream that? No! It felt so real. The train whooshed in and the doors opened. She got in and sat at an aisle seat.

The train zipped along pretty fast. Alison smelled coffee.
Well, it was kinda like coffee but there was something off with it. Someone mixed in too much sulfur and some other stinky stuff. She looked around and managed to catch a glimpse of someone spilling that noxious smelling substance on her before flames covered her vision. Alison tried to get some air but got superheated steam instead. She burned from the inside out.

Alison Berchold shivered while she stood on the dark train platform. This time she is not getting on that train. The train came in and the doors opened. She ignored it. With hardly a delay the gleaming white train left.

The platform was clear. She could hear stealthy rustlings and whispers from across the tracks. Alison was alone on the platform. A blob of darkness detached itself from the blackness on the other side of the tracks. It moved up to the platform across from Alison. Bright blood red eyes appeared. Then whatever it was leaped at Alison. The torment of being torn apart while being chewed and abused took a long time to end.

Alison Berchold shivered while she stood on the dark train platform. The commuters looked different from the last group. The train entered the station and Alison boarded. A window seat would be nice. She watched the scenery move past, it was always a blur until something looking like a train appeared. Before Alison could do anything the collision happened with screaming metal and people. She was crushed by the oncoming train.

Alison Berchold shivered while she stood on the dark train platform. The last few incidents were just too much. What was going on? Alison resolved to get some answers this time. The train is here, she got on it.

Alison took an aisle seat so she could see if a conductor would appear. A few minutes later, one did appear, he came through the train car from the other side. She got up and stood in front of him.

"Hey! What is going on? I have had visions or dreams of dying several times! Do you know what is going on?" Alison asked.

The conductor smiled, she almost wanted to cringe. That was not a nice smile. It looked like when a predator sees its prey.

"You do not remember why you are here?" The conductor replied in a quiet voice.

Alison remembered walking down the hall in her apartment with a gun and a pillow. The pillow went over the head of her snoring husband. She fired two shots into his head. Hello five million! That health insurance policy was finally going to be useful.

It was supposed to be a perfect crime but the cops caught her anyway. The trial was quick, life in prison with no hope of parole.

The guards were sloppy. Alison was able to kill herself using the bed sheets as a rope.

She remembered why she was here.

The conductor lunged at Alison with a black dagger and stabbed her in the throat. She started choking on her own blood. While Alison lay on the floor gasping and bleeding, the passengers just stepped all over her to get to their seats.

Alison Berchold shivered while she stood on the dark train platform...