Pocket Tales: VoidView

A shaggy man raids the train, taking a seat right in front of me. I look to my left and right. Faces are all in disguise, moving away to the other carts. But I stay. I stay and watch the man.

Something about him has my heart pounding in my chest. I don’t know what it is, but something is off.

Before I can get up from my seat and leave the cart, I hear a “POP.”

What was that? Did I break something?

My ear is killing, and I’m wet, somehow. How?

From my face to my white flower dress to black flat shoes, I’m covered with something.

I look around. No shaggy man in sight. No passengers in sight. I’m alone in this cart.

I’m clutching my backpack until my knuckles are white.

Where did everyone go?

The doors are closed. I can’t get out.

The wetness is sticky now. My clothes are stuck to my skin.

I’m locked in this cart.

I try banging the windows, desperate to be free.

“Let me out!”

Chills run through me, making the stickiness on me more apparent.

No one can see or hear me.

The train starts to move.

The world moves and spins too fast for me to catch up with it.

Where am I going?

The train stops with no warning.

My body slams against the door. I crack a rib.

I tug my body off the floor.

My beautiful white dress is now crimson red.

The doors of the train open.

I muster enough strength to walk out onto the platform. “Voidview,”

Where am I?

The train starts to leave, and before it does, I see the words “Soul Express.”

A voice behind me speaks to me. “Welcome to Voidview. We weren’t expecting you to come so soon.” I jump and look at the man, puzzled, and say, “Expecting me?”

I should have stayed home today.