Someone's text message thread at around 12:30 am...
Gabe
Hey you there?
There's seriously something strange
happening to me right now!
Saito 12:35am
Gabe? What's wrong??
Gabe
Man I'm glad you texted me back!
So after work, I walked down to the train station like always and got on like normal.
I don't know what happened, but I've been on this same train for almost 20 minutes now... And we haven't had any stops or anything yet.
Saito
What?? What your saying doesn't make much sense? How can that be possible? Are you messing with me right now Kid?
Gabe
No old man I'm serious!
This is really freaking me out right now.
I need your help!!
Saito
Ok I believe you kid calm down. Listen you need to give me some information, if you want me to help you. Are there other people with you on the train or are you alone?
Gabe
No I'm not.
There are like 6 more people on here with me, but all of them are sleeping...
I tried waking one of them up and he just looked at me, with a kinda scary look and went back to sleep.
There's seriously something wrong with them.
They kinda look weird to...
Saito
That's very unusual. You said that they look weird? Like how?
Gabe
Well like there dead...
Like they're too pale and cold to the touch.
I don't know, it's just all very strange.
Saito
Have you tried contacting the driver with the call buttons? Or walking up to the driver's cabin and knocking on the door?
Gabe
No! I haven't!
I'll try that now.
Gabe rises from his seat and walks over to the train's, driver call button. As he does, everyone who had seemingly been asleep suddenly looks up at him in unison, their eyes tracking his movements as he approaches the button. "What the hell guys!?" He exclaims, clearly distressed by the sudden, collective attention his actions have garnered.
He hesitates for a moment but ultimately extends his finger to press the button anyway. CLICK... CLICK! CLICK!! CLICK!!! "What the fuck!? Is this thing broken or something?" With the button failing to respond, he turns around and heads toward the driver's cabin. The other passengers continue to stare at him as he walks, never breaking eye contact for even a second. He notices their gaze but tries to ignore it as much as possible.
To avoid revealing that he is unsettled by their unwavering stares or feeling intimidated, he continues down the car toward the back, where the driver's cabin is located. The lights outside the train illuminate the walls of the tunnel they have been traversing for the past 40 minutes. These lights pierce through the windows of the car as the train speeds by. He pauses for a moment, gazing down the car toward the door at the back. In the pitch-black darkness, the only illumination for his path forward comes from the flickering lights outside streaming through the windows.
The swaying of the cars as the train moves along the tracks makes him feel dizzy and slightly disoriented. The long, narrow car he is walking through begins to resemble an endless, continuous corridor. He tries to push that feeling away and continues to walk forward; each step feels like another descent into madness. Now only a few feet away from the cabin door, he can sense everyone's eyes on him.
His gaze is fixed on the door ahead as he breaks into a fast walk, bringing him right in front of the cabin. Without thinking—almost as if his survival instinct has taken control—his arm raises overhead. BANG! BANG! His hand clenches into a fist as it slams against the door, reminiscent of a cop making an unexpected visit. "Yo is anyone in there? Stop the train! Stop it now! I want off!!" But there is no answer—nothing. He tries looking through the cabin window, but to no avail...
It was a two-way window; visibility was limited to the inside of the cabin. With the door locked and no one responding, Gabe found himself back at square one.
He pulled out his phone from his jacket pocket once more.
Gabe 1:05am
No dice.
The call button wasn't working and I knocked on the driver's cabin door, but no one answered. The window is tinted or something... So I couldn't see through it.
Also there really is something wrong with the people on this train with me.... They all have been starting at me for the past few minutes, without breaking eye contact!
It's really freaking me out!!
Saito 1:07am
Well that's very strange. If your not trying to play a prank on this old man. Then I'd say that your in one hell of a your fucked, kinda situation.
Gabe
Thanks... That really makes me feel better😑
Saito
Oh hush, you got to admit that this is a very unusual scenario. For someone to help out with and over some cellular messages no less.
Gabe
Dude just say texts you're not that old man.
Saito
I'm 75 kid.
Gabe
Damn really? How you still alive! Don't people die like around 60?
Saito
I hope you're joking...
Gabe
Seriously tho! What am I gonna do now??
Saito
Calm down, we'll figure out something. Like where are you? Can you look out the window to see where you might be?
Gabe
Yeah maybe.. I know that we've been in a tunnel for almost an hour now. But I can feel the train slowing down slightly, so we might be coming to the end of the tunnel or something. I'll go have a look.
Gabe puts the phone back into his jacket pocket and turns around to walk toward the train car's window, hoping to see what might be outside and possibly recognize a location as he passes through the tunnel. However, when he turns around, he is greeted by a startling sight: everyone in the train car is now standing up just a few feet in front of him, all staring at him in silence. They are as still as statues.
"What the hell is wrong with you people?!" Gabe exclaims, frozen by the scene before him, beads of sweat form on his forehead. A sense of dread wells up in the pit of his stomach, quickly morphing into fear as one of the passengers begins to move toward him. The man maintains eye contact as he approaches, while the others continue to fix their gaze on Gabe.
Gabe moves backward, trying to create as much distance as possible between himself and the man approaching. Unfortunately, he is unsuccessful, as his back meets the door to the driver's cabin. With nowhere to escape and his back against the door, he faces nothing but impending doom. "Wait hey man!,are you ok?Come on, Stop! Stop it! Don't come any closer " The man now within touching distance. Moments later, Gabe's screams echo throughout the train cars...