Realms of a Dream Engineer

Railroad Guide

CONTENT WARNING: death, blood

     I was on one side of a railroad track that sat about seven feet away. A small crowd surrounded me; they all seemed to be waiting on something. Their figures became less blurry the longer I focused on them. Someone carried a crying baby that was flailing its body so much it nearly fell out of the person's arms. A trio of young teenagers stood nearby, looking rough around the edges and keeping their heads down. Someone was holding an expensive-looking briefcase, looking down at their watch every few seconds. There were more people that I couldn't quite make out.

     I finally started looking around to observe my surroundings. We were in a trench several yards deep and so long that it looked endless. The sun was trying its best to provide light, but the shadows in the ditch persisted. The sand that engulfed us told me we were in a desert-type biome. I felt stuck without knowing what was beyond what I could see.

     On the other side of the track, someone held their hand to the group. Was it to tell them not to cross? No words were spoken, but I could tell some of them had started to get impatient. I watched as a person from the group tried to cross over when it wasn't time. There was a white glow around their figure, causing everyone around me to become uneasy.

     The glow caused a brief ripple effect on an invisible barrier that lined the railroad. The person was about to step onto the other side when their legs kicked into yet another barrier, leaving them stuck on the tracks. They panicked and tried to run back, but both transparent walls had solidified. I watched with wide eyes as a train made its way over.

     Nobody was yelling or audibly reacting except for the baby. I stepped forward as if there was something that I could do, but the person had stopped struggling. They turned to face the train and accepted their fate. Blood splattered everywhere and I could feel the thickness of the blood on my face. I felt the warmth of every drop on my arms and stared at the scarlet mess.

     But why? Why the separation? Why the urgency? Many more questions flooded my head. I lifted my head, deciding I would get to the other side with the help of the railroad guide. Perhaps they had answers. I wiped the blood from my face and waited patiently for the guide to give us a sign. The second they gave us a thumbs up, things got chaotic.

     I started heading over the tracks and nearly fell because I was being pushed around. Everyone seemed to be running as if time would soon run out. I regained my balance and picked up my pace. Thankfully, most of us got to the other side successfully. I turned around only to see that another person had gotten stuck on the tracks. They banged their fists on the barrier frantically while the group watched with sad expressions.

     The window for them to cross was limited. That must have been why they rushed over so quickly. The sound of the train caused me to look away as the second person met their end. It was going so fast that it was gone right after taking another life. The guide turned to the group and became the first one to speak. They explained how we needed to hop on the next train at a specific time, just like how we crossed the tracks.

     When the railroad guide finished talking, I sensed an opportunity to get real answers. I had barely opened my mouth to ask them what was happening when the dream came to a stop. The realm became black, leaving me with another unfulfilled dream.