The station clock showed 11:48 p.m.
Daniel was the last passenger waiting on the platform.
The final train arrived without much noise.
Its doors opened.
Daniel stepped inside.
There were only four other passengers in the carriage.
An old man sat near the window. A woman stared at the floor. A young boy slept with his head against the glass. At the far end, a man in a dark coat sat completely still.
Daniel took a seat.
The train began moving.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then the old man looked at Daniel.
"Where are you getting off?"
"The final station."
The old man's expression changed.
"You shouldn't."
Daniel smiled.
"I have no other way home."
The old man leaned closer.
"When the train reaches the final station, stay inside."
Daniel thought he was joking.
Before he could respond, the lights inside the carriage flickered.
The train entered a tunnel.
For several seconds, everything became completely dark.
When the lights returned, the woman was gone.
Daniel looked around.
The other passengers were still there.
He assumed she had moved to another carriage.
Then the train stopped.
A voice announced the next station.
Daniel looked outside.
There was no platform.
Only darkness.
The train moved again.
A few minutes later, the announcement came again.
"Final station."
Daniel stood up.
The old man grabbed his arm.
"Don't get off."
The doors opened.
Outside was a railway platform covered in fog.
There were no signs.
No lights.
No people.
Daniel looked at the old man.
"Where are we?"
The old man whispered, "Not where you think."
Daniel stepped onto the platform.
The doors immediately closed behind him.
The train began moving.
Daniel ran toward it.
"Wait!"
The train disappeared into the fog.
He stood alone.
Then he noticed something strange.
There were dozens of people standing on the platform.
They were all facing away from him.
Every person was wearing the same dark coat.
Daniel slowly stepped backward.
One of them turned around.
It was the man who had been sitting at the far end of his carriage.
Daniel looked toward the tracks.
The train had disappeared.
Then he heard the sound of another train approaching.
A bright light appeared through the fog.
Daniel waited.
The train stopped.
The doors opened.
Inside the carriage, the old man was sitting by the window.
He looked directly at Daniel.
But this time, the old man was not alone.
Every seat was occupied by people Daniel had never seen before.
Except one.
There was an empty seat beside the window.
The old man pointed toward it.
Daniel heard a whisper behind him.
"Your train has arrived."
Author: Asadullah Galib Al Sadi