The Train (Short Story)

The Train

Seven-thirty the girl entered the train car. She couldn't remember why or where she was going. But the kind man greeted her on her way to seat B.

                He smiled gently, the edges of the man's face were soft. He was young, yet his dark blue eyes seemed to tell a story of many years.

A large tanned trench coat hugged the little girl hiding her frail figure underneath, her face concealed behind the hood. She placed herself across from him. They both sat in silence as her little feet swung back and forth not touching the ground. Black suit and tie, the man was stiff. He didn't look up from his paper. His breathing was slow and steady.

Inside the orange and green fluorescent lights flickered while heat rained down on the only two people on the train. The outside was hidden behind fog from wind and snow.

                The girl shifted in the trench coat. Seated closest to the door the girl felt a vibration followed by a rattle and hiss.

                The doors did not open at the stop.

                Silence and darkness engulfed the car. It was almost like ink exploded onto everything inside.

                Fear draped itself over the girl heavy like a blanket. She felt sick.

                A soft touch left a print on her shoulder creating a cooling effect, over her body when the light returned.

                He looked down at the small innocent child. Blood tracing down the left side of her face. His paper clutched in one hand.

                Shadows passed in his eyes, but he smiled again, reassuring and kind.

She shook her head. Her thick blood-soaked hair fell in front of her eyes.

It was the same as it had always been for him. One person at a time, but it was still harder when it was a child.

                It would have been easier had she been older. Or better yet a terrible person headed somewhere else.

She quickly grabbed onto the corner of his suit jacket and held tight as she looked into his eyes. He could see the pale whiteness of her skin and the scratches. The face so small and textured. Somebodies valued treasure, once. 

It was seven when the girl left for school. It was seven fifteen when the ambulance was called. It was seven thirty when they called it.

The train stopped, the hissing and rattling repeating. This time, the doors opened.

A bright light crept through the door cascading into the train. And filled it with an ever-growing piercing white light.

He gently held her hand and walked her to the door, the light beamed across her face and fear turned to total joy.

She smiled, at the man. He knelt and whipped her face, the blood disappeared, her cheeks became pink with life. Her little hand left his and she ran out into the light.

He bowed as she exited the train. A single tear formed in his eye.

The job never gets easier for him. But someone must do it. The doors closed and he was alone once more until the next stop.

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Thanks for reading, this is more of a concept story that was based on a single idea, I do have more of a broader idea but i thought it would be interesting to share this.