Short Stories

Is It Cold Outside?

     The train station is as barren as a field on a cold winter night, the air equally as chilly making me shake my legs. I worked late tonight and I had to wait for the last train to arrive. I never liked staying out late, the cold grip of icy hands always snuck between the folds of my clothes and onto my barren skin. Then there was the night sky, always a beautiful sight, it felt like staring into sparkling snow that danced and shimmered on the ground. Today is the opposite, clouds of gloom covered the sky blocking out the moonlight and the dancing stars. I couldn't help but look down at my phone to check the time; '2:00' on the dot.

    'It should be arriving soon...' I thought to myself as I looked up, the soft glow of my phone illuminating my face. As I looked up and down the tracks, that's when I noticed something. It looked like someone else was standing across the tracks on the opposite side of the terminal. I'm surprised I didn't notice them earlier, I've been waiting for a good 15 minutes. This entire time I have not seen another soul in sight until now.

   I didn't want to be rude and stare but something was off about this person, something I couldn't place my finger on. I looked back down at my phone but I could never shake the uneasy feeling of a cold stare that felt like it could pierce my soul. The stare made me nervous, I tried to ignore it as much as I could by scrolling through my phone and distracting myself. I looked through Tubeyou to see what kind of discourse happened on the internet today. All of it is mindless and nothing caught my eye, nothing at all.

    Man...I really thought there would be something interesting... I thought before I abruptly stopped. It was a blacked out thumbnail that had no video title. I could feel something bore into me through the screen, but there were no eyes on the screen except mine as I stared into my phone. Grimacing, I placed it back into my pocket and looked down the railroad again so I could try to see the train arrive. Just in time as I heard the piercing whistle of the train as it sped down the tracks to its last destination of the night.

    I looked to see the smoke of the train one last time before I looked right ahead of me to see the dark smokey figure stare right back at me. I shivered, the nipping cold biting at the nape of my neck and tips of my fingers as I waited for the train to arrive at the stop. Its white dotted eyes looked like it could see more than I could as the train rushed past, cutting off my view of this figure. Slowing down to a screeching halt the lights inside the train illuminated a golden glow. The doors opened with a low hiss as it welcomed me aboard the empty passenger car. I took my seat on a nice deep red cushioned seat of a booth. Looking back up I decided to see if that weird figure followed me on, but as soon as I looked around I saw nothing. The car was empty, on the opposite side of the terminal, it was just as empty. I shook my head feeling disoriented, hoping what I may have seen was just a side effect of me being tired and working all day.

    This time I decided to bring out my phone so I could pass the time while the train left the station and bring me home. Putting my headphones on I opened up Spoonify and played some music so I could close my eyes and relax while I wait to go home. I rested my head against the window, breathing softly as I continued to wait. Slowly the air felt cold and the train still didn't move. With an exasperated sigh I opened my eyes to see if anything happened over the last couple of minutes. To my surprise I was greeted by a giant white furred dog who was so tall its ears brushed the ceiling as it sat next to me in the booth I was sitting in. I couldn't help but stare as I watched in amusement and confusion. There wasn't anyone else at the terminal, let alone a bipedal dog. Tiredly I looked around my surroundings again only to find that the train had been taken over by...creatures of all kinds. Their bodies didn't look real and I felt like I could see through them like ghosts.

    I shrunk more into the corner of my seat as I nervously stared ahead of me. Making eye contact with any of them might lead to my death, and I didn't want that! I just wanted to get home after my long day at work, I didn't want to deal with...whatever this was! I felt my heart pound in my ears as I tried to hide my face in my coat hood. I glanced out the window and I could see the small flecks of snow continue to dance down. Quietly breathing out I tried to calm my fast beating heart but it didn't work. I could hear the rustling of clothes, fur, and feathers move around the train.

    "Tom...I can't believe this train has gotten so full so quickly! I didn't expect tonight to be so busy..." A low voice purred, complaining as they sat down on the other side of the booth. "It's so early as well, I can't believe how cramped it is. Oh well..."

    From the reflection of the window I could see who was speaking...but was it really? The steady, fast paced beat of my heart continued to thumb in my ears as I slowly turned my head to face who sat in front of me. A dark blue cat with a red turtleneck sweater sat in front of me, his large eyes stared into my soul as he sat there ominously. He was nearly as tall as the damn dog, just a head shorter.

    "Oh...look at this here...a human...I don't believe we've seen many humans on the train have we?" Commented someone else I hadn't seen, their voice was soft and soothing. It felt like hot chocolate after you spent the day sledding.

    I fearfully looked over to see who spoke...why...it was a deer. Their antlers were adorned with some of the most marvelous decorations I have seen. I couldn't help but stare as I saw their beauty. I saw fireflies weaving between some purple wisteria that hung from their antlers. Moss and leaves also decorated said antlers making them look like a Disknee princess.

    "This is their lucky night then...this train is so crowded I can hardly believe how stuffy it is. Oh and look who we have here, our lovely friend Shiba over who couldn't even show any decency on this train! Shame on you, you can't let your bare fur show. Especially when there are humans around!" Scoffed the cat as he crossed his arms in disbelief.

    "Hmm? Do you really think she minds? I thought humans liked dogs...this one looks particularly nice as well." Said the dog, whose name I could only assume was Shiba.

    "I-...uhm...what-" I said, trying to speak up.

    "ATTENTION PASSENGERS!!!" Interrupted the train conductor, catching everyone's attention, "WELCOME ABOARD THE SPIRIT TRAIN!!! HOLD ON TIGHT AND ENJOY YOUR RIDE! NEXT STATION; CAEN!!!!"

    "Joy, I have to wait for so long to get to etretat..." Complained the cat as he leaned back, Crossing his arms across his chest tightly.

    "Don't be so sour, we'll get there before daybreak." The mystical looking deer said with a hint of a smile in their words.

    I continued to listen to these humanoid-animal like creatures, my eyelids started to feel heavy as I leaned my head against the train window. My adrenaline must have slowed down from the creepy figurine to talking animals, my heart got too excited. I must be dreaming, this couldn't be possible, it shouldn't be real. But...how was I dreaming...I left work only 20 minutes ago. I'm not supposed to be home until 3:45 am...last I checked it was 2:10.

    "The human is sleepy, I'll miss her. It's a shame she will be gone by the time they wake up." A soothing voice spoke, from my peripheral I could tell it was the dog that spoke.

    "You didn't even talk to her, you stinky old mutt! Besides, you can follow her off the train if that's what you really want. You're a dog after all, I'm not surprised you like this moth ball covered human." The cat scoffed annoyingly.

    It was becoming increasingly difficult to make out what they were saying as my mind started to drift in and consciousness. Slowly the darkness consumed me as my eyes began to shut. The chatter morphed into background noise just like the quiet rumble of the train as it drove along the tracks. My dreamscape became filled with thoughts of the three animals I saw playing Go Fish, Poker, War, and other fun games to pass the time.

    "KSSSH...ATTENTION!! We have arrived at Caen! Please exit the train and have a safe journey! TSSHH...." The loud, jolting sound of the intercoms above interrupted my slumber in the most unfashionable way possible.

    Tiredly I looked around, the train was empty... where was everyone? The cat...the deer...the dog...groggily I stood up, carrying my red backpack as I quickly got off the train so I wouldn't be stuck. Looking around the terminal I rubbed my eyes to get rid of the sleep that tried to keep my eyelids shut. I looked around the terminal, taking in my surroundings as I pulled out my phone to check the time.

3:45 AM