The Last Train - Horror

To the west of Rivu's house, a paved road winds like a giant python. To the south lies the railway line. Until recently, it was meter gauge. Lately, it has been upgraded to broad gauge.

Rivu is eleven years and one month old — just stepped into twelve. His little sister Disha has turned eight.

A few months ago, their home was rebuilt into a proper building. One room on the southern side now belongs to Rivu. It had been empty, but when Rivu insisted, his mother finally gave in and decorated it as his own room.

Rivu is thrilled. He can stay up late reading all kinds of Bengali and English storybooks to his heart’s content. His reading list has everything — from Satyajit Ray’s thrilling tales to various detective stories, horror series, Bibhutibhushan’s Chander Pahar, and many more! Both his grandfather and father have lovingly built up their library. And his friends constantly supply him with more horror books. There’s no shortage! Reading till 1 AM? Easy!

At 1 AM, when the freight train huffs and puffs with a screeching whistle and halts for a minute at the station across the house, then begins again blowing long, sharp whistles, Rivu stands by the southern window and watches. He stands still, watching until the slowly moving train passes their house. Once the train disappears, Rivu lies down. A minute of tossing and turning. Then he melts into sleep like butter. That’s his daily routine.

That night was a full moon — a soft autumn night, bright with pure moonlight. After dinner and finishing schoolwork, Rivu’s mother said,

“Rivu, Disha, go to bed. You have to wake up early. It's late.”

Rivu was deeply engrossed in a horror book. He hadn’t noticed how late it had gotten. Suddenly, a gust of wind brought the sweet fragrance of night jasmine into the room. Instinctively, he walked to the open window. What he saw left him amazed. The whole world was shimmering in brilliant moonlight. Everything was visible as clearly as in daylight. Rivu had never seen anything like it before. Suddenly, a wakeful crow cawed — ka ka ka. Rivu recalled reading something about moonlight making crows call at night — maybe that’s why they called it "Crow Moon."

Then something strange happened — a shifting shadow passed outside. He looked at the sky — clear, no clouds. Before he could process it, another shadow moved across. This time, darker. Again and again, shadows moved, growing deeper and denser. Soon, the whole surroundings were consumed by darkness. The trees and shrubs around the house started rustling like a storm was approaching. Crows started cawing frantically. A shiver of dread crawled up Rivu’s spine. He remembered the tales his grandmother told about ghosts — was this one of them?

Suddenly, a warm breath brushed against the back of his neck. He wanted to scream for his father but couldn’t. An icy cold hand clamped over his mouth.

Then a wheezy voice whispered, “Don’t be scared, son. I’m Morrison. Not a ghost. You’ll be fine.”

Right after that, a skeletal figure wrapped one arm around Rivu’s neck and the other around his body. A freezing wave, like a current from the Arctic Ocean, swept over him. He tried to scream for his parents again but couldn’t. He blacked out and collapsed.

At that moment, the train’s sharp whistle pierced the night. The familiar khoojhik-jhik jhom-jhom sound approached. The darkness lifted. A loud, blood-curdling scream echoed. Something rushed out through the window like a gust of wind. And the train sped past faster than usual.

This time, Rivu managed to scream for his parents. His cries woke them, and they rushed in. They lifted him from the floor to the bed, frantic with concern. Rivu clung to his mother and said only one thing, “Mom, I want to sleep with you.”

“Okay, son. Come.”

Both parents helped him to their room. Rivu, drifting into unconsciousness again, kept muttering, “Morrison, Morrison.” His mother broke down in tears, sobbing, “Oh, poor Morrison — still not free!” Rivu had already fallen asleep.

The next morning, Rivu opened his eyes. A gentle dawn, the scent of dew-wet night jasmine filled the air. He jumped out of bed. He remembered nothing from the night before. Only a vague feeling of having had a nightmare.

At the breakfast table, everyone sat silently. His father looked grim, Disha seemed shaken, and his mother looked like she could break into tears any moment. Rivu was confused and frozen. As he pulled out a chair to sit, Disha burst out, “Brother, what’s going to happen to you?”

Before Rivu could reply, his mother broke into sobs. His father sharply scolded them both into silence. Rivu timidly asked what had happened. His father said sternly, “What happened? Nothing! Just nonsense…”

The day passed uneventfully, though some strange-looking men came to their house. They spoke in hushed tones with his father and handed over a small bundle before leaving. Rivu was curious but didn’t dare ask. Finally, he thought, “Let it be.”

That night, Rivu insisted on sleeping in his own room. He wouldn’t give in. Eventually, it was decided his father would sleep with him. He reluctantly agreed. Around eleven, his father came to bed and told Rivu not to read anymore. It was late. Rivu had just picked up a storybook. What could he do? He lay down. His father slipped the small bundle under Rivu’s pillow.

Within half an hour, his father's light snoring began. A little while later, Rivu too drifted off. He didn’t know how long he had been asleep when someone with icy cold hands began shaking him. He sat up with a jolt. In the dim light, he looked around. No one.

Just then, the train’s whistle sounded. Rivu tiptoed to the southern window, careful not to wake his father, and opened the latch silently. He looked outside. The night after the full moon glowed in silvery light, creating a magical world. Rivu couldn’t take his eyes off it.

The train approached with its jhik jhik jhom jhom rhythm. Rivu stared.

Suddenly, his body froze in horror. A tall man wearing a large hat let out a scream and jumped onto the moving train. Instantly, his body was sliced into pieces.

Terrified, Rivu tried to scream — but no sound came out. He wanted to run back to the bed, to his father. He couldn’t move. Suddenly, darkness engulfed everything. A bone-chilling cold froze him. Those same cold, skeletal arms wrapped tightly around him. He felt like someone was cutting him into pieces with a cold knife.

As he lost consciousness again, he felt the cold skeleton embracing him, and somehow, like the wind, it was carrying him out the window...