The Last Train Passenger

The Last Person on the Train Rahul looked at his wristwatch. 11:45 PM. He arrived late. The last train would leave in five minutes. He would spend the night in this deserted town if he missed it. His frantic sprint through the dimly lit platform echoed in the eerie silence. Except for a few flickering tube lights and an elderly station master resting at his desk, the station was empty. Unusual stillness permeated the air. There were no passengers, no announcements, just an unsettling silence. He heard the distant horn of an approaching train as Rahul ran. The final train. The train's wheels were slamming into the rusty tracks as it sped into the station. With a loud creak, the doors opened.

Rahul looked around and hesitated for a moment. There was no one else boarding. He went inside, ignoring his nervousness. Strangely empty, the compartment was there. There were no passengers. There were only rows of worn-out seats and dim yellow lights above. With a jolt, the train began to move after the doors closed behind him. Rahul settled into a window seat after taking a deep breath. The gloomy countryside outside was hard to make out. Although the wheel clatter should have been calming, something seemed... off.

He realized that he wasn't the only one after a short while. A man was sitting facing forward at the far end of the compartment. When he got on the plane, Rahul hadn't noticed him. The man had a long black coat on, and shadows covered his face. His hands were resting on his lap as he sat perfectly still. He remained motionless and unfocused. His silence was unnatural. Rahul made an effort to forget his discomfort. He might just be another weary traveler. To distract himself, he took out his phone. No sign. The display went black after the battery indicator showed 1%. Dead.

He looked back at the man with a sigh. However, he was sitting closer now. Rahul's chest tightened. He was certain that the man had just left the far end. He had not observed him moving. However, he was now only a few rows away. He remained seated. He is still hiding his face. Rahul took a big inhale. He managed to say, barely raising his voice above a whisper, "Excuse me..." No response.

The train shook a little. The lights were blinking. The man moved once more. He was now in the row with Rahul across from him. As if observing him, his head was slightly skewed. However, the shadows still obscured his face. Rahul's body ached. It felt colder in the air. He weighed his options while grabbing the armrest. Should he move to another compartment? Request the conductor? However, the man then spoke. "You shouldn't be here," I say. His voice was hollow and distant, sounding like a distant whisper. A shiver ran down Rahul's spine.

"What... what are you implying?" Rahul mumbled a lot. The man didn't respond. He did nothing more than extend a hand and point to the window. Rahul paused before turning his head. He saw something that chilled his blood. The scenery outside had changed. The lush landscape had vanished. There are no towns, no roads, just an interminable stretch of night. It appeared as though the tracks vanished into nothingness. Stations were not present. No evidence of life. Only the depths. Rahul jumped from his seat out of fear. He rushed to the next compartment, but when he got there, it was empty. He rushed to the empty one that was next. Everyone of them. His breathing became more rapid. He knocked on the door when he got to the conductor's cabin. No response. When he opened it, it was empty as well. The engine was still and the controls were still. But the train didn't stop moving. Rahul was gripped by fear. This train was what kind? He froze as he turned around. He was standing directly behind the black man. Heart pounding, Rahul stumbled back. "What are you? What's going on?”

The individual slowly raised his head. And Rahul saw his face for the first time. or, rather, its absence. The figure was nothing more than a featureless void with no eyes, nose, or mouth. Rahul yelled. Everything went dark at once as the train lights flickered violently. ---

Rahul was lying on a cold, hard surface when he opened his eyes. He got up, confused and hazy. On the platform, he was. The empty train platform where he had boarded. He was being watched with concern by the dozing station master who was standing nearby. "Are you okay, son?" Rahul got up quickly to stand.

"The train—what went wrong with the train?" The head of the station grinned. "Which train?" "The final train! I—I got on it! A black man was there— The elderly man gave a head shake. "Son, the final train did not arrive tonight. Years ago, the tracks beyond this station were abandoned. Since a long time ago, no train has passed through here. Rahul's breath came together. As the realization dawned, his body began to shake. Where had he been, if the train had not arrived? He turned to face the railway tracks. Weeds were growing on the rusted rails. There was no trace of a train anywhere. However, Rahul could swear that he heard the train's distant whistle as the wind howled through the empty station.

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