Nightmare Train

It's easy to get lost in a dream, most people visualize winning the lotto or the usual waking up naked in front of the whole school scare. I just wanted to escape whatever this nightmare was, I just wanted to wake the hell up.

*THUD*

"You alright there miss?" I awoke to an older man standing over me. Why was I laying on the floor of this train? How did I get here? I thought to myself, the old man’s face becoming clearer amidst the bright ceiling lights. "You had quite a fall just now, that must've been some dream you were having" he said in a concerned but kind way. "Yeah, I'm fine thank you, I guess I was a lot more tired than I thought" I let out a small chuckle as I picked myself up and back onto the seat. "Wh-where are we?" I asked the man as I peered out the windows that raced passed concrete walls and darkness outside. "You mean besides this rat’s nest of a subway car?" He laughed. "I would say probably Brooklyn. The next stop should be approaching soon, where ya headed anyways?" I took a minute before answering, hoping he didn't notice the confused look on my face. "Oh, umm yeah Brooklyn, I think my stop is coming up next" I tried saying this in a convincing voice hoping he wouldn't notice the fear I was holding inside.

The truth was I didn't know where I was heading, or how I got here. I checked my jacket pocket "hmm no wallet, no ticket and no phone, this is not like me" I thought to myself as I looked down. "What the hell am I wearing?" I mumbled under my breath so only I could hear as I noticed the blue and white hospital gown that was hidden underneath my black oversized zip up hoodie. "At least I didn't forget to put my shoes on" my chucks were a bit old, but they were still my favorite and most reliable pair.

I tried to remember, anything, any reason why I would be on the New York subway at night, in a hospital gown, ALONE. The last thing I remember was sitting in front of my tv, my boyfriend on the way with food and looking for a good movie to watch when he got there. "I didn't even feel tired I-" my thoughts were interrupted by the bright lights from the next stop illuminating the subway car for a few seconds. "Hmm that's weird, we didn't stop" I thought as I looked around to see if anyone else shared my concern.

Not only did the train pass the next scheduled stop but it seemed like the speed was increasing exponentially. I decided to take action, since no one around me seemed to notice or maybe they just didn't care. I stood up and started making my way to the front of this subway car, while almost to door that connected this car to next in front the lights flickered and stopped me in my tracks. I don't know what it was about that flicker, but I got the most eerie feeling that sent shivers down my spine.

I took a deep breath and proceeded to open the first door, so far all normal. As I stepped through the second door and into the next subway car the door behind me slammed shut and this time it was not only a flicker but a full power outage. All the lights in the car turned off for what felt like hours but in reality, was only about ten seconds. When they finally turned back on, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. This room, this place was the thing nightmares are made of, my nightmares to be specific. It was the exact scene from my dream the one I was having before I woke up on the floor of the train.

One very dim light was visible at the end of the car, it almost looked like a flame the way it flickered. Then I noticed the blood, splatters all over the room that filled it with an eeriness of misery and fear. Outside of the windows I could only see what looked like a dark and foggy night. "What happened to being on the underground subway in New York?" I thought as I saw HIM. The same old man from the other subway car, except his face was... distorted. Eyes icy white and empty like his soul was nowhere to be found, his skin was necrotic and the bloody gashes on his face and neck looked coagulated like the wounds had been sitting for months.

His head turned slowly to me, eyes still empty and said in the most gut-wrenching evil voice "WE'RE COMING FOR YOU". I jumped back, startled. I didn't waste another second, I turned to the back of the subway car and attempted to run. I was stopped in my tracks by something pulling at my arm, it was him. His hand held onto my wrist like a heavy anchor, his eyes staring past me like he was in a trance. There was no way this fragile old man had that much strength, not the human version of him at least. I tried to scream, I tried but nothing came out just empty powerless fear. I closed my eyes and whimpered, paralyzed in the fear of what was to come next. It was in this moment I felt his grip unleash as I fell to the floor, eyes still closed and then I heard it.

"You alright there miss?" I opened my eyes, my vision still blurry but getting clearer amidst the bright ceiling lights. It was the old man, normal and human like again. Everything was normal again like nothing happened, but the fear was still there "Wh-what the hell was that?" I thought to myself as I heard his voice fading in "You had quite a fall just now, that must've been some dream you were having." My eyes widened, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up "I need to get off this train" I said loudly as I peered over and saw the doors sliding closed...