My Imaginations: A collection of one shot stories

Track of Time

Author's Note: This piece is inspired by "jgretznerd" on TikTok. Enjoy!

There’s a world that only exists at 3:00 am to 3:30. A train goes by exactly at 2:59 am with passengers from all over the universes. Never early. Never late.
 
But such world has strict rules. Break one and you’ll never return.

Rule number 1, do not eat or drink anything from there.

Rule number 2, never take anything from there. Go by yourself and leave by yourself.

Rule number 3, wear a watch.
 
Never lose track of time.

 
“You really should stop reading those fantasy book, Aliyah” I said to my little sister as I tuck her in bed tightly.
 
“I told you, it’s not from a fantasy book!” She argues.
 
“Then where is it from?”
 
“A citizen of that world gave that to me. There’s the letter” She said as she pointed at her desk.
 
“Alright, alright, now go to bed, it’s past your bed time already.” I close the light of her room and open her night light that project little shining stars. After a few minutes, she’s already asleep.
 
I gave her one last look before leaving her room, but as soon as I’m leaving something caught my attention…

 
I sat on the end of my bed as I hold the letter. Another world, huh?
 
The envelop was filled with bright shining hues and it read;
 

“To the citizen of another world called Earth:”

“You are invited to…”

Written there was symbols I could not comprehend. I opened the envelope either ways.
 
And everything my little sister said was written there.
 
With the letter I also saw a ticket.

Name: A citizen from Earth

From: Earth

To:

Date: July 1, 2021

Departure: 2:59 am

Arrival: 3:00 am

It does not say where the train is going. Weird. I looked at the time at my phone. “9:27 pm”
 

A little misadventure, huh?
 
Game.
 

1:30 am

I looked myself at the mirror and tied my hair. I’m ready to go.
 
“Oh wait.” I took the nearest watch I can find. The letter emphasized bringing a watch. I wonder why.
 
I drove to the nearest train station in my town, it was only 15 minutes away yet it took me a whole hour to arrive at the train station. The station was empty, no trains, no humans. Only a few blinking lights lit up such a dark night.
 

2:58

Exactly at 2:59 huh? Well let’s see. I set a 1-minute timer on my watch. 57… 58… 59…
 
And in a blink a door train opened in front of my eyes. There’s no turning back now.
 
I step inside the train and sat at the nearest seat. I took a look around and there are people covering their faces with newspaper. And a voice from the speaker came out. “Passengers, remember to hold on your tickets tightly, enjoy your ride!”
 

I looked outside the window as a ray of sunlight hit my face. A few seconds the twinkling stars welcomed me.
 
We passed through a peaceful waterfall.
 
A group of pink clouds.
 
A field of dandelions.
 
And my favorite, a carnival.
 
A familiar sound came from the speakers and a lady once again spoke.
 
“Passengers, we have arrived at your destination. Please remember to go back here at 3:29 and remember, don’t lose track of time. Enjoy!”
 
I stepped out of a train and a busy town welcomed me.
 
“Coming thru!” I immediately moved to my left when I heard the voice from my right. I saw a little girl with pigtails in her hair running holding a balloon and her parents running behind her, happily.
 
“The girl’s parents are dead.” I jumped when a heard a voice so close, I can feel her breath in my ear.
 
“Her wish has always been being able to play with her parents again.”