Carriage Paws Running Train

A meadow filled with sunshine, chocolate tea, and a bunny. Oh, no! Where did they go? It felt like a nap, but it must've been a lot longer. The last I remember was sitting in my armchair and solving puzzles with Jinx, my cat.

Everything moves around me; the view keeps changing. Not home, not visiting anyone. How did I get here?

A tiny meow lets me know I'm not alone. Jinx blinks at me, just as surprised. Where's breakfast, and where were we napping?

This looks like a train. We didn't board one yesterday, and yet, here we are. Passengers? No trace of anyone. There are a few bags and hats on seats and rails but no people moving around.

This train has to be longer than one carriage. My stomach starts grumbling, reminding me it's been a while since I had something tasty. And I don't like this quiet. The view isn't too bad, a snowy mountain range, but I remember it was summertime. Blazing hot with burnt grass and poolside drinks. My eyes must be playing tricks on me.

Snowing in August is eerie, and Jinx knows it too. He keeps trying to scratch the windows as if looking for summertime. I hug and pet him, and together, we head for the next carriage. I feel the train gathering speed. These rails must be very well-made. No hiccups and no lurching.

I go slow to keep Jinx comfortable, and finally, I reach the last door of the compartment. I pull the handle, and I see something shining.

Fangs, swords, knives are coming at me. I drop Jinx, who starts meowing ferociously and hurry to close the door. The banging continues, battering it for a few seconds. And then, it's quiet again. What is out there? Is the train under attack?

I go back to my seat, followed by Jinx. I start searching for a ticket to figure out where the train is going. There's nothing on the seat, under it, or close to the window. Suddenly, I see a bell hidden under the window sill. What if I rang? Maybe the conductor will come and make some sense of all this?

Slowly, I touch the bell with my fingers. Before I can pull the trigger, it melts. It slithers on the floor, and smoke fills the carriage. I get under a seat with Jinx to be able to breathe. A strange smell of incense floods every part of the compartment. I see movement from the corner of my eye.

The carriage is not empty anymore. Passengers are sitting in each chair. They shake hands, laugh, and talk about vacations, grandkids, and games. Those hats I saw now stand proudly on ladies' laps, and the bags reveal jewelry while they're being opened one by one.

I feel safer now; I'm not alone anymore. They should know what's going on. I get up from under the seat and walk toward the couple sitting closest.

In a second, Jinx comes out and starts clawing at them. They look surprised, but they don't see me. Jinx does a double flip, and they're gone.

And then the whole carriage is open and sunlit again, no smoke, no people, all gone in a half-breath. The bell is back in its place.

Who is alive? Me or them? If Jinx is the judge, it's probably us.

Not touching the bell, I lean closer to the window. Maybe I can see something outside to reveal where we're going.

Plenty of snow and cliffs, some gaps in the forest, all green. Gray sky, getting ready for more snow. Where could we be? Another country where it's wintertime?

The train keeps going, and it's so smooth I start to wonder what's underneath. Why no halts, no stops, or breaks? I edge to the window a second time while petting Jinx to make sure he doesn't handle the bell again.

I avoid the scenery and look down, trying to see under the train.

White moving, snow? It's fur! Running, constantly moving against the trees and lakes. I peek to one side, and I spot paws and a harness.

This train is on top of a giant polar bear! We're not using fuel. The bear is running to keep up! And those fangs ... it's getting hungry. All those passengers must have been previous meals.

How do we get out? The only door's got fangs! He knows we're here.

I look to Jinx. His eyes are shining. He's got an idea to get us out.

© 2022 Amy Christie