Press. Release. Wait.

A Pyrrhic Victory in the Staring Contest

I could feel the jostling of the subway as it travelled. Speeding up, braking a little, then coasting. It jerked back and forth as I slid ever so slightly in my seat with the rhythym of the car.

I had my eyes closed. But I could still feel Adam staring at me from the other car. I took a few deep breaths, opened my eyes and looked up.

The bright fluorescent lights flickered and buzzed at a frequency that was almost observable. I saw my reflection in the window across, barreling past the dark brown walls that I could just barely make out.

*CLINK*

The car of the train bounced with the force of whatever malformed section of track or sudden movement we had just come across. I braced up and down my seat and saw myself do the same thing in the reflection across.

Someone was still looking at me. Someone.

I glanced around. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Adam sitting down in the car across. He was holding a small notebook and staring at it intensely.

I chuckled to myself. He was as embarrased as I was.

The seats to the right of me were almost all empty. I looked down the length of the car. I wasn't quite used to it being this deserted. I could see the next car ahead shift ahead and then mine follow suit. A few crumpled papers and fast food wrappers slid across the walkway as I felt the car turn right.

I felt the eyes still. Someone. Someone still watching.

Across the seats was an older woman. She carried a department store bag and had a large handbag on the seat to her left. To her right she kept a small dog. Chihuahua... and... something? Its fur was too matted and long for a chihuahua. Its snout a little too drawn in.

It was that damn dog staring.

I glanced back to the ground, not wanting to meet the eyes of the dog. I still knew it stared at me. Through me really.

Stop. Stop staring. I thought, essentially willing it to ignore me.

I looked up.

The stare continued, unflinching and blank.

Don't fucking judge me dog. You're just a dog. You don't know me.

I looked back down and took out my phone. I flipped the screen back and forth with my finger, not doing anything. Just random movements.

All the while the dog's eyes were laser focused on my face. It took all of my strength to not start screaming at it in the middle of the subway.

The train screeched to a stop. No one got on. No one got off. I saw the dog vibrate its body a bit, steadying itself in order to continue its unwanted staring match.

The doors closed.

We were off again.

I took a few deep breaths and looked up, finally meeting the gaze of the dog.

I will fuck you up dog.

I glared at him, staring daggers into his eyes.

The train shook. I felt nothing. I did nothing. Another screeching stop and the doors opened.

No one in. No one out. Just like before.

The doors closed.

The train sped up. Even faster than before. I could feel it still accelerating despite the speeds we were already going. It wasn't going to stop for a few miles. The screeching of metal upon metal got louder and louder. The slightly misshapen track caused everyone to bounce up and down even more violently than before. I paid it no mind.

I would win. There was no question. I would show this stupid dog what's what.

The intercom came on and the conductor said something. I couldn't make it out. The noise of the train was too loud. There was a slight brake. I could just barely feel it in my stomach.

Then there was a crackling sound. It sounded like pop rocks in someone's mouth at first. But it got louder and and became a rumble above and below my feet. The car vibrated at a strange frequency that I never experienced before. I could feel my jaw vibrating. I wasn't sure if it was from the subway or from my concentration.

The dog's jaw was doing the same as it continued to stare. I didn't care. I just wanted to win.

Out of nowhere the train suddenly slammed on its brakes. The screeching that followed was the loudest thing I had ever heard.

The dog stumbled.

And for one moment I basked in my triumphant victory.

Then everything fell.

Everything fell down.

The ceiling buckled in on itself. Huge cracks formed along the length of the metal. They grew and met each other as dirt and sand and rocks and everything that ever existed began spraying itself into the car.

I felt my lungs fill up with dust and particulate as I tried to breathe in and out.

I fell down, feeling my knee bloody itself against the edge of the seat. The darkness of the ground was invading from every angle. The black rock and dirt filled every cavity of the car. I tried to cough, but just managed a slight squeak as I realized I couldn't speak or scream for help.

The black enveloped me. I felt something hard hit the top of my head. It didn't hurt but I could feel cool blood rushing down the back of my head.

"...Ow?" I murmured ever so slightly. Perhaps I just thought it. I brought my hand to my head. It was sticky when I took it out.

Oh... Okay.

I felt tired. I tried to keep my eyes open but even when I did I could see nothing but darkness.

I think the lights turned off. I thought. Why did they turn out the lights?

I grappled with this problem for a few seconds before I realized my eyes were closed again.

I tried to move but just managed to lean back. I think I was leaning against one of the seats. Wait... maybe I was lying down. I was tired. I couldn't figure out where I was. I couldn't quite remember what happened.

A last thought invaded my mind before unconsciousness.

What happened to that stupid dog?