The Train Driver

Ally has waken up, but for some more time lay with her eyes closed. It was sound and feeling of running train. But she could not call to mind where and why she was going. Ally opened her eyes at last only to find out that she was alone in the compartment. There was no luggage, no tickets, nothing. Only a playing card was on the table. The card with beautiful train on its back. Ally picked the card up, but it was only two words on its face: 'Train Driver'.

What does it all mean? Should she go to the cabin and talk to the driver? Or is it better to stay here and wait while conductor comes? She waited for several minutes, but realized that there were no evidences of conductor or anyone else coming. So Ally put the card into back pocket of her jeans and went outside her compartment.

The first thing she notices was that all the windows were covered so it was impossible to see where the train was going. She came to one of the windows willing to look outside and get at least some clue on where she was. But at that exact moment she touched the curtain the train shook. The girl had to grab the handrail to stay on her feet. So she left the curtain started to the direction of trains cabin while shaking did not repeat. On her way she looked in other compartments but all of them were totally empty: no people, no belongings, no even dust. Ally decided to try looking outside one more time as she reached the last compartment. But another shake occurred and she finished sitting on one of the seats. Moreover noisiness from train running started to increase.

Ally ran forward. To her surprise the cabin was right behind the next door. No locks, no checks, nothing again. And no train driver as well. Ally was totally confused. She never had been to train cabins before, but she was sure this one was not right. It had all windows covered as well, and there was only large display and several large buttons with numbers below it. Warning was blinking on the display: "Attention. Decision is needed from the Train Driver: to continue ride press 1, to get off press 2". Buttons with numbers one and two also blinked. While she was thinking what it all should mean and how she could call for this mysterious train driver, train shook for the third time. This time is was much stronger than before. Ally fell on the floor, her heart was pounding. When rose to her feet she saw that warning on the screen had changed and blinked madly: "Attention!!! Decision is needed from the Life Train Driver: to continue ride press 1, to get off press 2 (default value)". Train joggled more and more, like it was going downhill with increasing speed and was going to go off the rails... Ally started to panic and did the only thing seamed to be right: she pushed button with number 1...

Ally has waken up, but for some more time lay with her eyes closed. She could hear two men chatting nearby, "Look, is she alive?", one voice asked. "Impossible", another person replied, "you saw, medics tried to start her heart for three times". Something bad seemed to happen here. She started to distinguish other voices and sounds around. And they did not sound good at all. Ally opened her eyes and sat down trying to understand what had happened here. Two men stared at her as she was a ghost. After opening and closing his mouth for several times one of them said with first voice, "I told you, she is alive". The older man goggled at her for a couple more minutes and then started to shout, "Doctor! Doctor! Come here! She is alive!"

Ally was looking around and then her memory refreshed. She was going to another city by bus. She tried to imagine consequences of possibly most important decision in her life so far. And then it was suddenly bright light and then it was dark. And then it was the train. And the choice. And now there were crashed bus and eighteen wheeler on the road... And a lot of people, injured and dead... And she sitting in the middle of all this mess almost unhurt. Ally put the hand to the back pocket of her jeans, and felt the card. The card with beautiful train on its back.