The Never Ending Train

4 Struggle

My mind panics as thoughts fly as fast and endless as the tools and supplies from my duffle bag. I don't have time to stay still in one place and think, as those supplies meant for survival have become deadly projectiles, hitting and knocking into people scrambling to get to the cars in front of us.

There's no time to access the damage, I try to hoist crying man up. He struggles to get up through the pain and the constant trembling of the train. What is happening to this train? Are we really in an earthquake?

Slowly, I drag him and myself on the floor towards the door, which is attracting a bigger and bigger crowd of panicking people every second. Someone trips over my form on the floor and they land in front of us in a heavy thud. "Are you ok-" My sentence is cut off as another tremendous quake rocks the train and I'm thrown into the leg of the seat to my left.

The person that tripped over me goes silent. Peering at them, I see she stays motionless and a pool of blood flows from her head. I shiver. Looking away, I focus on surviving myself.

This earthquake isn't going to stop shaking the train and I can't afford to keep losing time trying to get up everytime I lose my balance. I try as fast as I can to center myself into a crouching position, the best I can do while dragging crying man behind me.

And a sudden thought pierces my mind as I slowly make my way forward. Why am I risking my butt to save this random guy I don't know? I was able to turn away from the bleeding woman on the ground so easily, but the thought of letting go of the guy dragging himself behind me cramps my heart, so I don't. Maybe it's because I would feel alone without him, he's the only other person who really realizes the situation we're in.

I hold on tight and soon we're at the crowd of people at the door. They're all so panicked, they can barely get anyone through. Two people are fighting at the door, shouting and shoving each other. I shove me and crying man to a seat with it's back up to think of a way to get out of here without being run over by people coming up behind.

And it's one of the luckiest decisions I've ever made in my life as the biggest tremor yet strikes the train and with a thunderous clank, the entire back wall of the car detaches itself, leaving behind the other cars that were behind this one. The crowd suddenly narrows to the two at the door as they grab a hold of each side of the doorframe. Everyone else flies backwards from the sudden opening and gust of wind, their screams quickly fading away into the distance.

The back of the seat I'm on holds me in place. I'm able to see clearly outside and the sight that greets me is only something that would appear in nightmares and so unholy I thought I was in the underworld for a second.

A great big black mist chases the train. It's huge, I can't see the top, and it never ends to the left or right even though it's still so far away. The mist is thick and I can't see through it. It's like a black hole is sucking away the entire planet, and it's terrifying. Sudden tears slip down my cheek.

What is that? How is this possible? How did my life end up like this? I had a perfect life, a good husband, cute children, stable job, and amazing friends. Now, I don't know where I am and I'm going to die by the world's biggest blackest hole ever. The thought is so insane I faint for the briefest moment before the shaking of the train quickly knocks me awake.

My head smashes against the guy I'm trying to save. Right, I have to focus. I have to survive. I have to survive. I look at the two people still clinging on to the door frame. Without thinking, afraid I might chicken out, I lunge at the guy closest to me. My arms wrap around his skinny frame and hold on tight.

"What the! Hey! Let go!" I ignore his protests and look back at crying man.

I shout at him. "Hey! You! Use me like a rope and climb out!!" He lifts his head lazily to look at me. Recognition barely seen in his eyes. He's lost too much blood. "Hey!" I'm talking to you!" The windows and sides of the train start to fall apart, making it harder and harder to stand as more wind fills the car.

The guy I'm holding on to still protests, but is soon dissolved into a scream as he suddenly let's go of the doorframe. Before I can properly register what just happened, another hand slips into mine and holds on tight. I jerk to a stop and grasp it with both hands like I'm clinging on to life, which I am. The girl on the other side of the door pushed the guy and grabbed me instead.

I don't have time to ask what she's doing before she's screaming at me to pull myself up and through the door. Another shake knocks me into her and gives her enough leverage to shove me through. I stumble on the little platform connecting the two cars. It's still dark outside and I'm barely able to make out what's happening as the door in front opens and a man with dark skin appears. "Come on!" He waves me forward.

I take a step before the sight of crying man sitting on the chair with dead eyes flashes through my mind. My feet automatically turn around but before I can even take a step, a strong arm wraps around me. The guy pulls me back and runs past me. He helps the girl pull up crying man. I had no idea a girl that skinny could be so strong.

The platform cracks underneath me. My eyes widen. "Hurry!" I shout, my throat already sore from all the screaming and shouting of the past 10 minutes. They struggle with carrying the guy I was trying to save, and I don't understand why they don't leave him. Maybe they're friends.

I run and help pull him out of the door. Now the four of us are cramped onto this little platform that's going to snap at any second. I turn around so fast I almost give myself whiplash. I run through the door and turn around the exact second the platform gives way and the two jump with scared and shocked expressions.

Time seems to slow down as I stare wide eyed at them. As the dark skinned man throws crying man just far enough for him to knock into me and land inside the car, but the other two don't make it and fall.

Even though I don't know them, they saved me and crying man. They put their own life at risk when everyone else thought of nothing but themselves. "No!!!" I rush to the edge. Everything stops for a second.

A clank of chains that was used to connect the cars. A piercing scream. I can barely register what I'm seeing before the girl comes flying at me and knocks me further into the car. We both sit up, gasping for air. The adrenaline softening the blow. I stare at her, alive. How? Does she have wings? I wouldn't be that surprised anymore considering this turn of events. But another scream tears my gaze away and brings me to the door.

The guy is holding on to the chain, his body being dragged on the ground like he's kiteboarding, except on his back. He bumps over the tracks repeatedly. His screams are ones of agony and I cringe at the sight of his clothes ripping, revealing red, chafed skin beneath. I can see it even in the darkness.

Still screaming, he pulls himself. I can't do anything but watch as this amazing man who so desperately wants to live pulls himself, even scraping on the ground at speeds of at least 100 miles per hour. It's inhumane. It's impossible. But he does it, when he's in reaching range, me and the girl and, thankfully, several other passengers help us pull him up.

Even when he's on the train and I close the door, he still screams. Someone scrambles to him and starts examining him. Probably a doctor from the looks of things, lots of people patched up and exhaustion set into his motions.

I stand there in shock, finally able to breathe. Everything starts to sink in. The dire situation I'm in. The life threatening situation that can take my life within a second. The black mist outside. I stare wide eyed. I look at the girl also gasping for breath next to me. She turns her head to look at me. I drop to the floor and blackness overtakes me.

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Cosmic here,

What would you do if the world was being sucked away by a giant black mist hole? Do you think Scarlet will survive in the end?

Don't forget to check out my insta @cosmi.xx!!