She Took the Last Seat Beside a Scarred Stranger—Then the Whole Train Fell Terrifyingly Silent
Chapter 2
Emily could hear her own heartbeat.
Nothing else.
Not the wheels.
Not the engine.
Not the rain against the windows.
Nothing.
She reached for her phone.
The screen illuminated her hands.
The scarred man immediately grabbed her wrist.
“Turn it off.”
His voice was barely audible.
Emily pulled away.
“Why?”
“Because they can see it.”
“Who?”
He didn’t answer.
A faint sound came from the corridor.
Three slow knocks.
Emily froze.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound came from the door separating car six from car seven.
The scarred man looked toward it.
He slowly lowered himself into his seat.
“Whatever happens, don’t open that door.”
Emily stared at him.
“You clearly know what’s going on.”
“I know enough.”
“Then tell me.”
He hesitated.
“My name is Daniel.”
“Emily.”
“I know.”
She frowned.
“How do you know my name?”
He pointed toward her ticket.
It was still in her hand.
She looked down.
Her name was printed clearly across it.
“Right.”
Another knock.
This time louder.
Emily looked around.
Nobody moved.
The entire carriage seemed frozen.
Then the door handle began to turn.
Slowly.
Daniel stood.
He placed one hand against the door.
The handle stopped moving.
A voice came from the other side.
“Conductor?”
Daniel didn’t respond.
The voice came again.
“Conductor, we have a medical emergency.”
Emily recognized the voice.
It was the conductor.
But something about it sounded wrong.
Daniel looked at her.
“Don’t answer.”
The voice continued.
“Please open the door.”
Daniel remained silent.
Then the voice changed.
It became deeper.
Almost mechanical.
“Daniel.”
Emily’s stomach dropped.
Daniel’s face went pale.
The voice said his name again.
“Daniel.”
He whispered:
“Don’t listen.”
The handle stopped.
Silence returned.
Then the lights came back.
The passengers suddenly moved.
The woman across the aisle continued drinking her coffee as if nothing had happened.
The elderly man turned his page.
The baby cried.
The train was moving again.
Emily stared at Daniel.
“What just happened?”
He sat down.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You heard that.”
“Yes.”
“You heard someone say your name.”
“Yes.”
“And you’re telling me nothing happened?”
Daniel looked at her.
“I’ve been on this train before.”
Emily felt cold.
“What?”
“I’ve been on this train before.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
“And?”
He looked toward the window.
“I was the only person who got off.”
Emily stared at him.
“Where did the others go?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
She waited.
Finally, he said:
“They didn’t.”
A chill ran through her.
“Are you saying everyone disappeared?”
“Not disappeared.”
“What then?”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“They were taken.”
Emily looked toward the other passengers.
“By who?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“But you will.”
The train suddenly passed a small station.
Emily looked outside.
The station sign was visible for only a second.
She read it.
Then her blood ran cold.
The name was Blackridge.
Her destination.
But the train didn’t stop.
It continued through the station.
Emily stood.
“That was Blackridge.”
Daniel grabbed her arm.
“Sit down.”
“That’s where I’m going.”
“We aren’t stopping there.”
“Why?”
“Because this train stopped there six years ago.”
Emily stared at him.
“And what happened?”
Daniel looked at the dark window.
“Nobody got off.”
