11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AjVbv9sLnA Short Story By Pallavi Das
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GgT9qDFF7
A cold winter night. Sitting alone on a bench at a platform, waiting for the last train of the night, hearing a horror story and sipping my last coffee of the day. Not noticing that there was no one else on the platform except me.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mIOOgcGvc
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio32g5jfln
As a writer, I tend to travel to different places to learn new things, which helps me write new stories. Unusual places have always fascinated me. Empty streets, forgotten buildings, and abandoned stations—they all seemed to hide stories waiting to be told.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSnduQptO2
When I arrived at Ravenshire Station that morning, nothing about it seemed unusual. I stepped off the morning train, and the platform looked completely normal. People were walking around, waiting for trains that would take them to their destinations. At that moment, I wondered how people could believe in superstitions about a haunted station or a train that carried souls instead of living passengers. I chuckled to myself.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIfoVsirnf
That night, my journey led me back to the same platform.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMjdw1i54o
Before leaving the hotel, the receptionist asked me one question.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiyWzEC4PZ
"If the last train arrives... don't get on it."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdXUeWgRKh
I smiled, thinking it was nothing more than a local superstition.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVt3sOXekY
As I was busy listening to a spooky story, suddenly I heard someone calling my name. I had forgotten to bring my headphones with me today. So when I heard someone calling my name, out of habit, I looked up, but there was no one. Thinking maybe I was imagining it, I ignored it and kept concentrating on the story.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa4ZZQjsj2
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSqpw9u2rO
I placed my paper coffee cup on the bench. A few minutes later, I noticed another paper cup sitting beside mine. It was warm, and steam was rising from it. I thought to myself, it was strange that no one had walked past me, and there was no one else on the platform except me.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrh9gmmpoR
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUVXEcMZsz
A few moments passed. Suddenly, I felt someone breathing on the back of my neck, and I jumped to my feet. There was nothing there. Feeling uneasy, I started to get scared.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87GiERgi1P
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabGHC9Tbha
Wondering when the train would come, I stopped the podcast. My surroundings suddenly felt eerie. I could hear a wolf howling somewhere in the distance.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJQHiuOT7a
After a few moments, I heard the whistle of the train coming from afar. The train emerged through the fog and stopped with a metallic screech. I hurriedly put my stuff in my bag. It was already midnight, and I was feeling really tired. I barely looked at the train. Exhausted from the day's travel, all I wanted was a seat.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHjbuuqLiA
No one stepped out of the train. As I was about to get on, the lights flickered. I got on the train. A few passengers were scattered throughout the carriage, sitting so quietly that the gentle rattle of the train sounded louder than their presence. At the back, a woman sat quietly, staring out of the window while an old man read a newspaper. I decided to sit at the back of the train, where the woman was sitting. Not sitting beside her, I chose the seat opposite her. There was a businessman holding a briefcase on his lap, a mother gently rocking a child asleep in her arms, and an elderly couple sitting side by side without exchanging a single word.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQZzEBJHlR
Strangely, they all wore vintage clothing.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHpfPDF3kf
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnIc2EWmnF
"Hi!... Is this train going to Millbrook Station?" I asked, trying to start a conversation. No reply came from anyone.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zxN9I220w
With a shake and a whistle, the train started moving. Being ignored, I opened the train app to see if this train was going to my destination or if I needed to get off at the next stop. Apparently, there was no cell service. Therefore, there was only one option: to wait and see whether the train reached my destination or not.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8uviNVWnO
As there was no service, I couldn't continue listening to the horror story anymore. Therefore, I was bound to do something else to pass the time. I opened my trusted white Book Lover tote bag, which I take everywhere I go. It has everything in it. From there, I took out my journal, where I write things that inspire me, new ideas for my upcoming book, and my favourite vintage fountain pen.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgDXchzFnJ
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX60tqlWvHo
As I was writing, I glanced at the newspaper the old man was reading. The newspaper caught my attention. Its pages were yellowed with age, and the headline was printed in thick black letters unlike those in modern newspapers. Curious, I leaned forward just enough to read the date.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjcKPSu6PC
16 September 1920.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz1eMdauoL
That was the date printed on the paper.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoPIYlezOJ
"That's strange... How can that... why is he..." I murmured, wondering why someone would be reading such an old newspaper.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWj4Q9ywUc
Then my eyes drifted to the bold headline.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHBb9gaEAc
"Train No. 1317 Derails Near Ravenshire Station.”
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFT95ly9VM
A chill ran down my spine.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqXxOeyORa
That made something stir in my memory. The hotel helper's warning before I left echoed in my mind.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u6D9rvrpC
"Whatever you do..."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl83yqIZlXg
"...don't board the last train."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIMZtknxxt
At the time, I had laughed it off as another local superstition.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHacxD96Mf
"Hey!... That's not today's newspaper," I said to the old man.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GN0r1yvaR
I looked towards the woman. She was still staring out of the window with a deadpan expression. I asked her, "Why is this man reading such an old newspaper?" It didn't feel like she could hear me or anything.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PTXZPaVll
All of a sudden, I heard the old man say, "You should have listened."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsMxbcVkN0
"Huh!?"
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2eaEk2sgu
Then he slowly lowered his newspaper. Without looking surprised, he said in an eerily ethereal voice,
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaFPPFKLtX
"You should have listened to what they all said about the last train."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy6b2DM2gl
"What!?”
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv91Y0h7ZTD
The whole carriage suddenly felt eerie. I looked around the carriage. Only then did I notice the smooth wooden frame around the window. The seat beneath me was covered in deep maroon velvet instead of the usual fabric. Above my head, a brass luggage rack reflected the warm amber light. The carriage looked as though it had been preserved from another era.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTN9I8HE7M
I looked around again. The carriage felt fuller than before. I couldn't remember seeing so many passengers when I first boarded. One by one, they all slowly turned their heads towards me. No one blinked. No one spoke a single word. They simply stared at me.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MmChTljHz
The old man slowly folded the newspaper, looked directly into my eyes, and said,
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxQyyngI2V
"The last train isn't for the living... It's for those who never made it home."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqsK9LGpAD
A few seconds later, the old man stood up. Then the others followed, one by one. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Unable to understand what was happening, I stood up trembling. They all started walking towards me.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8usTJHyoYb
I started to run, but there was nowhere to escape.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYsd4b88pL
They all began whispering over and over,
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsQ0HeqBMO
"The last train isn't for the living... It's for those who never made it home.”
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6ul2sxaJ8
With a shriek, I closed my eyes and crouched down, not knowing what would happen to me.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngXyUdpPVG
Then suddenly, someone jolted me.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vMvopDhy0
"Ahhh!" I woke up with a shriek.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyYjfwclDy
"Hey!... Hey!... Ma-am…. Ar... are you all right?" the auto driver asked. "We've reached your destination."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYteTYLR8b
"Huh?... What?"
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwG1xxEV2y
"Ravenshire Station," he replied. "We're here."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDtP19P3n9
I looked around in confusion, trying to catch my breath.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38G8lKH7es
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuH4hdmj55
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XN1oYeDZ1
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK8f4pdsEx
"Bad dream, huh..." he said with a small laugh.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02olaEpJF3
Not knowing what to say, I just stared at him.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFBZMVzaT4
"You were talking in your sleep all the way here."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCWqRlN7Qn
Then I suddenly realised maybe I had been having a nightmare.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC0XJxG3Ho
The thought kept running through my head. How could it be a dream? It felt so real.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEjX5L8Hug
To reassure myself, I went through my bag, taking out each thing one by one.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6qCua2zI2
"Phone... Journal... Fountain pen..."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkms7IVkFi
Everything seemed to be exactly where it should be.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQCvIzZ2jB
"Gosh..." I let out a sigh of relief.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGspzVYP7z
Finally, I reached for my wallet.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70aYLcF0ls
"How much?" I asked, still trying to steady my breathing.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5JMqNoQE5
The driver told me the fare.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQp70GE5tq
As I pulled out a few notes, something small slipped out of my wallet and landed on my lap.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMhml8WGhs
I frowned.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR4mpN5ZWf
It wasn't money.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoYgAaXFzH
It was a small, yellowed newspaper clipping.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEYAJwIy1K
My heart skipped a beat.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtVazYj9WT
Slowly, I unfolded it.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtfQcGd1Tz
Train No. 1317 Derails Near Ravenshire Station
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQTe90HYMc
16 September 1920
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjWKhLffXi
I stared at the clipping in disbe
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2aNgA0Z1B
lief.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedDGq69NxC
I had never taken it.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UZLWjxr5u
Slowly, I looked up at Ravenshire Station.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaT3ULMA14
Somewhere in the distance...
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPV00H2CWA
A train whistle echoed through the morning mist.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrF3p8CN0h
and then Add to home screen.