16 GRIM TALES

Fear Express

Fear Express

Tonight, was a different night from all other nights and I couldn't put my finger on exactly why. Maybe it was because my cousin and I were running to catch the last train of the night, but as we approached the deck it was already off. It wasn't going to stop for us. ''Great job Flora. Now we paid for a train ticket for nothing. All because you didn't tell me the right leaving time!'' I shouted. ''I said I was sorry like a million times, Cara.'' Flora replied. ''Well sorry isn't going to get us a train ride, is it? Especially when our last train just disappeared right in front of our eyes!'' I yelled. She sighed and said sadly, ''Sorry.'' The train station was now completely empty and we were the only fools who stood there waiting for a miracle to happen. ''Should we go back to the hotel?'' asked Flora, after a few minutes. ''Go back...so we can miss the train again like the last three times before. We're never going to get a train home.'' I said. ''I remember the train time on our ticket saying 9:45, exactly.'' Flora said, thinking. I growled. ''Of course, I could entirely be wrong.'' she replied nervously. ''Look at the time Flora. It's 9:44 in the night.'' I said and tapped my watch. Suddenly the wind blew louder and turned ice cold. The train station echoed with moaning sounds from I don't know where. The lights flickered on and off. A green train rushed in and stopped at the platform in front of us. ''9:45, exactly.'' Flora said pointing at her watch.

A Train conductor stepped out of the train and shouted, "All aboard!'' He wore a blue uniform with a black coat watch hanging from his top pocket. He was honestly quite creepy looking. Pale skin, faded eyes and a sinister smile. I asked, ''Are you sure that's our train? It's out of the ordinary looking for me.'' Flora took out the train tickets from her pocket and handed one to me. ''Yep, that's our train alright, Fear Express.'' she replied. I said unsure, ''Something still isn't right here. Maybe...'' Flora interrupted me. ''There's no time for maybe. We have to go.'' She grabbed my hand and ran to the platform and before the Train conductor could even ask, she shoved him the tickets. ''Do you even know what room we're staying in?'' I asked. She pulled me into the train. ''Yes, we're in room number twelve. It shouldn't be so hard to find since we're basically the last one's boarding, it should be the only empty room.'' she replied. ''I hope you're right about that, look at this first compartment.'' I said.

We both looked around at the empty first compartment, the passenger seating cart. Rows of leather chairs with no-body sitting on them and dust. Cobwebs hanging on the edges of the mucky windows. This place looked like it hadn't been touched in years, which it shouldn't have looked like since people were supposed to come everyday. ''No-one's here.'' Flora announced. ''I can see that. Maybe they have all gone to their rooms. It is late now, correct?'' I answered. ''Yeah, maybe you're right. The compartment full of rooms is in the next one here.'' said Flora as she led me through a door. When we entered the compartment, we passed many empty rooms. No-one was here either. ''Strange.'' I mumbled.

''Come on Cara. Don't worry about it. Getting a train was a big enough problem for me and you making a fuss about no-one on board is going to give me another problem.'' Flora said as she slid open our room door. Inside was a bunk bed, a top shelf, a chair, and a chest case. ''I call top bunk.'' Flora said.

I placed my luggage down and looked around. This place was also dusty and full of cobwebs, looking old. Flora looked at a page stuck on the wall. "Dinner is in the next few minutes. The next compartment is the dining room. Spaghetti tonight.'' I was suddenly interested, "Spaghetti, yummy. Let's go get some.'' Flora stared out the window, interested in something. ''Flora.'' I called. ''Yes, spaghetti. We should go get some. I heard you. Ummm-but did you see that?'' she replied. ''See what?'' I questioned. ''See the train cra... never mind." she said then walked out the door. In the next compartment we were greeted by lots of round tables with cutlery on it and chairs by its side. Everything was also dusty and cobweb filled. ''Over here. I cleaned this one just now.'' called the Train conductor. ''Aren't you supposed to be driving the train?'' I said in panic as we walked over to the clean table. ''Oh, it's on this auto mode. It's on track don't worry.'' he replied nervously and for some reason that just made me more worried.