12 Days of Writing

Day 11 - action

Prompt: While seated on a train, you catch someone staring at you. There's something about this stranger that seems familiar to you. You get off the train when you reach your stop. You don't think anything of this mystery encounter until you realise the stranger got off the train as well and is following behind you ...

~~~

Full, full also full... free!

Relieved I sit down at the last empty space in the train compartment. Putting my briefcase on the ground, I unfold yesterday's newspaper, left by a fellow traveler between the folding table and the seat in front of me.

Since all of it is old news, I just let my eyes skim over the articles, not really paying attention to what I'm reading. The crossword has already been filled in, so that's no fun either.

After putting the paper back where I found it, I lean back in my seat. With nothing better to do, I look out of the window at the passing trees and plains, sometimes spotting sheep or horses grazing. The train entered a tunnel and my view disappeared, the only thing still visible being the inside of the train reflected in the window.

The compartment I'm seated in is absolutely stocked and again I'm happy that I came across an empty chair. The women next to me seems to be fast asleep, still clutching her purse in her fist, so it can't be stolen. On the other side of the coupé, I see a man daydreaming, his eyes looking in my direction. I recognise this all too well, being somewhat of a daydreamer myself.

I move a bit and his eyes seem to follow me. I move again, and his eyes follow me once more. It's making me uneasy. Do I know him? I don't think so, but then again, I'm horrible with faces.

At that moment, the train exits the tunnel and I squint my eyes at the sudden bright light.

"Dear passengers, we have arrived at the next station. Please think of your belongings and mind the step between the train and the platform. Thank you for choosing us and have a good day."

I pick up my suitcase, squeeze past the sleeping woman and make my way to the doors of the slowing train.

~~~

The station seems to be even more crowded than the train was. Everywhere I look I see businessmen shouting into their cellphones, foreign families on holiday, trying to keep their children together, and people like myself, who have come from work early for the holidays. I also spot the man from the train, again looking straight at me. His hand is resting on his hip, but not in a casual way. He seems ready for a fight.

I quickly continue walking. This stranger is getting on my nerves completely now. Why does the exit have to be so far away from the platform?

I don't look back, not even once, on my way to the exit, but in the reflection of the tiles and the glass windows of ticket boxes I can see the man following me.

Stairs down, stairs up, a turn left and then straight ahead, almost there.

I wave over a cab, but the line is way too long and it will take ages before there's one free. A bit further down the line, I see a cabdriver smoking a cigaret, probably on his break. The man from the train is still following me. My decision is quickly made.

"Sir, can you drive me to the city? I'll pay you double if we leave right now."

It's five minutes later, and I'm sitting in the backseat of the cab, trying to calm my nerves, only succeeding half. Finally we make it into the city, immediately getting stuck in traffic.

"You can stop here sir, I'll just walk the last part, thank you."

I pay him, double the amount as promised, and make my way to the side walk while trying not to get hit by angry motorists. Once there, I check if I have all my stuff, while slowly making my way home.

"Hey, you!"

I look up. On the middle of the road, between the honking cars, stands the man from the train. His right hand is at his hip, ready to grab something that looks an awful lot like a gun. Without wasting any time, I make a run for it.

I know he's coming after me when I hear people on the sidewalk behind me shouting. I'm not going fast enough. Then I see an unlocked bike standing next to a lamppost. I take it and, hoping the owner will forgive me, I start pedalling as fast as I can.

The avenue is a long one, without any turns or side streets, except for the many dead ends. There is nowhere for me to go except straight ahead, without any cover.

The man pulls out his gun, aims, shoots and hits. The bike sways to the left, a bullet stuck in the back tire, and eventually falls to the ground, taking me with it.

"Shit, this ain't good."

My wrist hurts badly and my guess would be that it's bruised, at least. The man is coming closer and with the final bit of energy I have left, I crawl from underneath the bike and run towards an ally.

Okay, what do I do? One lesson in self-defence most definitely didn't prepare me for a gun fight. Or maybe it did. Lesson 101: surprise is key.

"You can't run anymore. Now stand still, hands in the air and tell me how you knew."

Okay, there went the element of surprise, time for plan B: doing exactly as he says.

Slowly, I raise my hands above my head, still holding my suitcase.

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about", I try.

"Liar!" He puts the gun to my head. "I'll give you three seconds, two, one..."

Okay, plan B failed. It's time for plan C. I swing my suitcase at him and hope for the best. Turns out he definitely did not see that coming. He stumbles, but before he can get back on his feet I swing my suitcase again. He's unconscious.

I carefully step over his body, hoping he's not dead.

Then, I start running.

1000 words