The Wayman

He opened his eyes. Sitting up he sees that he is on the floor of the caboose. The train is moving quickly. On the floor around him he finds his guns, a silver cross pin, splinters of broken wood, and a piece of paper that has 3 times written on it, 1pm, 2pm, and 2:30Pm. On the bottom of the page beneath the time was written “PONRE”. He felt a sharp pain on his head as he stood up finding that his head is bleeding. What happened? Why am I here? He asked himself.

He picked up the guns and holstered them. He put the cross and paper in his pocket. The door opened behind him and another man dressed like he was came out. He had a long brown coat with a badge that said “Moderator”.

“There you are Deacon, that was intense.” he said smiling.

“Deacon” huh? “What exactly happened here?” asked Deacon.

The other Moderator laughed and said;

“Got some memory loss, I get it, after a hit like that it makes sense. Maybe you should go down to the infirmary and get checked out. Just make sure you get back to your place before “PONRE”. Oh, and the Conductor is looking for you”

Deacon didn’t know what “PONRE” was but, his head hurt too much to care. He walked into the caboose. Immediately to his right he found a chair up a small flight of stairs that reached the top. He saw people crammed together in what looked like a cage. Two cages, one on either side of the room. They scowled at Deacon and some looked afraid. He must have done something to tick these people off.

He walked through the caboose to the other door. Above the door a sign read “Passenger Car”. Next to the door was a stool inside a red circle. Deacon scrunched his face at the seat and then walked into the passenger car.

He instantly grimaced at the loud sound of talking and kids screaming. There two rows of bench seats on either side of the aisle. He saw families, people reading, talking, a few sleeping although he couldn’t understand how. This was definitely a crazy car full of hustle and bustle.

Deacon walked through towards the next car. The sign above the door read, “Quiet Car: Passenger B”. “Hallelujah!” thought Deacon. His head was already pounding he could use some quiet. He opened the door and look over seeing a little girl smiling at him. He pressed his lips together and nodded at her. He saw yet another stool inside a red circle this time with another Moderator sitting in it. This Moderator nodded at Deacon and said;

“Hey there, you better get back to your place before PONRE.”

Deacon opened the door. Again with this PONRE thing. He should really ask what that is, but after some pain killers. Deacon closed the door behind him. This car was quiet. There was no movement what soever. This car had a section of tables and chair on the right where he saw everyone with their faces glued to their phones and tablets. One man had a bible laying out on the table however the man was watching a cat video on his phone..

The left side there was a few rows of bench seats where he saw one multi colored haired woman glued to her laptop. She had marijuana, rainbows, and other various stickers on her laptop including one that read “My body My choice.”

In the corner, by the next door, was a set of two large televisions with a group of kids sitting on the floor in front of them. They were gazing listlessly at them. Each had their own pair of headphones.

Deacon thought the quiet would be nice but this was just creepy. He nodded to yet another Moderator on a stool in a red ring. He was guessing this would be a thing in each car. This next sign read “Dining Car”

Deacon perked up. He could eat. He walked into the dining car and looked around. On the right he saw 3 tables full of men and women in suits and ties. They were drinking champagne and toasting to the good life. The table behind them seated some older men in suits talking about the other “suits”. Apparently they were not good enough for each other. On the left Deacon saw two portly folks at a table with a large spread of food. It looked good but it also looked as if it was made for a crew of sailors and not only two people.

Behind them were people fine dining and then people gambling. Thye were shooting dice and playing cards. One woman on a slot machine in the corner hit the jackpot and began throwing money into the air in celebration. Deacon continued to the next door. He heard one of the “suits” call out to him saying he needed to bring more champagne. Deacon stopped walking, turned and glared at the man shaking his head. Deacon ignoring him turned back to the door and of course the Moderator sitting next to it. Before the Moderator could speak;

“Let me guess, hurry to my place before PONRE?” Deacon said.

The moderator nodded. Deacon sighed and read the sign above the door. “Kitchen”

Finally, some food. Deacon walks into the kitchen car through the saloon style doors. He sees several kitchen workers speedily preparing their dishes and various beverages. Deacon grabbed a sandwich that was sitting on a plate. He didn’t care who it belonged to. He had to admire how hard these people were working. They seemed really into the job. All but the chef whom was perched a top a stool that was, of course, inside a red circle.

The chef seemed depressed. He watched the staff working with tearful eyes. All the Moderators, thus far, have seemed quite content however the chef was unhappy.

“Do you know where the infirmary is?” asked Deacon.

The Chef shook his head.

“Can you not read monsieur?” he said pointing towards the next car. The sign read “Infirmary/Barracks”

Deacon nodded in gratitude and stepped into the next car. There he was greeted by the medic. She wore white scrubs with an apron. She examined Deacons head and cleaned up the small gash.

“You really did get hit hard din’t you?” she said. “

Any memory loss, blurry vision, or headache?”

“No, it feels like tickles and rainbows.” replied Deacon. “Ow!”

The Medic slapped in the back of the head.

“More answers and less sass please.”

Deacon held his head.

“Ok, vision no, memory and headache yes.”

Medica gave him some pain killers and told him to lye down for a few minutes. But she was adamant that he be in his place before PONRE. He didn’t what was worse, his headache or hearing that over and over again. Deacon left the infirmary and walked to the barracks next to it. He saw small rooms with name plates next to them. He saw Conductor, chef, Medic, then He saw his.

It read “Deacon Wade” He went inside and sat on the bed. It was a small room. It had a small bathroom, a window, and a strange glowing stone on the wall.

“What is that?” Deacon said aloud.

“That is an anchor. As long as yo have your badge your anchor will bring you back here.” said a voice from the hall. A tall thin, very regimented, man entered the room. On his chest was a badge that read “Conductor”.

“I heard about the save you pulled. Thanks to you we still have the baby. “

Deacon just nodded his head, he had no idea what he was talking about. The conductor congratulated him again and then reminded him of PONRE. Then he left the room. After a while the headache was manageable. Deacon left his room and decided to check out the engine room. He had come this far why not. He walked through the door under the sign that reads; “Engine Room”

Inside he sees two engineers. For a steam train, there sure was a lot of buttons and bells and whistles. The engineers greet him.

“Hi ho there sir! Shouldn’t you be getting ready for PONRE?”

Deacon shook his head, “yes I am aware. Where exactly is our destination?”

The engineers laughed. “Oh your serious? Ok, this is the final one. You know, we go straight to the dragon himself. They get their fill and we work closer to leaving this train each run. This baby is a real find. We like get bonus points or something”

The engineers chuckled and Deacon heard a coo. He turned to see a bassinet with the little baby girl inside. Deacon thought it strange to have a baby in the engine room.

“Gentleman help me, I got hit in the head and I’m a little unsure what is going on here.”

“Oh, ok. To spell it out. Our passengers are riding their last ride. When we reach the pit of Zephon the passengers will die. Sacrificed basically to the dragon. It’s funny that these people have been riding this track for so long they don’t even know it.”

Deacon felt sick. How could he be a part of this? He looked at the baby and then he had a flash in his mind. He could see a man with a scar on his eye and a silver cross pin on his shirt. He could see a board from an adjacent train connecting the two and people crossing it. The board was destroyed while the scar eye man tried to cross with the baby. The scar man fell, and pieces of the board hit Deacon in the head.

He remembered what happened but still fuzzy about everything else. Then the door opened behind and the Chef tells the engineer it’s chow time. The engineer clicks a button labeled “message all” stating that dinner is served. Their last supper.

Deacon began to walk back, “to his place”. He passed through the kitchen, now understanding the Chef’s demeanor. He passed through the dining car. He saw the passengers so differently now. Everyone enjoying the “good life”. Gambling and showering themselves with money. It all seemed pointless.

He couldn’t shake how clueless these people were, in the quiet car, spending their lives in their devices. The train rides around them and they will “live” in their shiny boxes until they die. The Main passenger car didn’t seem so bad any more. It was full of life. People interacting and “being” together. Even the sleeping guy was peaceful.

Now in the caboose. Deacon steps up onto the stool inside the red circle. “His place” as it were. The people were yelling at him in their cages. Calling him a traitor for some reason. They were exclaiming, “Don’t you know we are going to die?” This must be where those who are “awake” go.

Deacon heard the horn of another train coming up on the adjacent track. Deacon took out his pocket watch, It was 2pm. The other train rode parallel with theirs. Deacon heard a loud bang like the sound of a board hitting metal. Then two men came inside the caboose, each wearing a silver cross.

They look at Deacon and say, “Ok, we are ready for the next load.” Deacon didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t remember what he was supposed to do, or why these men would treat him this way.

Deacon stood up from the stool and raised his guns towards the men. The men looked confused.

“Who are you? How do you know me?”

One of the men said, “ You don’t remember? We were told you were the “Wayman”. That you could help us save these people from the inside. We have been doing this for months.”

Deacon’s mind flashed. He could see himself leading people over boards. He could hear someone calling him “The Wayman”.

Two Moderators came into the caboose. They commended Deacon for yet again another save and capture. The people began to cry out. They knew they were going to die. They began to plea and beg. Deacon held his breath. He then pointed his guns at the Moderators.

“What are you doing Wade?” said one of the Moderators.

“I don’t know.” Deacon replied.

Deacon reached over to a lever and pulled it. The cages opened up and the people swarmed the exit. One Moderator fired at the crowd. Then one of the”intruders” lept in front of them and was shot. He then disappeared.

The people make it onto the other train. They retract the board, and the other train disappears behind the mountain.

Deacon lowers his guns.

“I’m sorry, they were going to die.” he said.

“Everyone is Mr. Wade.” said the Conductor as he entered the caboose.

“You let loose a large amount of people. A very notable amount. Why? Have you been helping them? Are you a traitor to your brethren?”

Deacon holstered his guns.

“I don’t know.” he said.

“He was hit on the head. He is unwell. You just need rest Mr Wade.” said the Conductor. The Conductor then shot Deacon in the face. Deacon can feel the heat and searing pain on his face. He felt his back hit the hard floor and then he felt nothing but air. The world seemed to flip upside and then right side up. The world changed from red to gray and he felt like he was falling.

Deacon fell into his bed. He could see the anchor on the wall in front of him. His small bathroom and Window. He stood up out of his bed and examined himself. He still had his clothes, and his guns. He heard his door latch and he tried to open it. He was shocked and the door was locked. He heard a voice say; “this door has been placed in detention mode. Be aware of kinetic electric shocks.”

Deacon started hitting the door, each time shocking him. Each time stronger than the last. Deacon was fed up. He stood by the window and ran into the door shoulder first. This sent him flying out the window and then falling back into his bed.

“Stupid thing killed me.” he said.

Deacon hits the door with his lamp. It bounces back shatters on his head. He falls back into his bed. He breaks up the bed frame (but leaves the mattresses be) and makes a thin battering ram. He charges the door with gusto. The door has been absorbing the kinetic energy from his attacks. The ram busts into tiny pieces and go through Deacon sticking into the wall behind him. He falls on the bed. He jumps up yelling and firing his guns at the door. They ricochet off the door and hit him. He falls back onto the bed, which is much lower now.

He gets up shouting “Stupid door!” throwing his gun at the door which then is electrified and sent back at his head. He falls into bed again. Deacon lays in bed his limbs sprawled out, his guns lying haphazardly on the floor.

“Ok, I get it.” he exasperates.

He walks into the restroom and splashes water on his face. He stares at himself for a moment. Then it all starts coming back. He was a Moderator, an officer among them. He helped hundreds, maybe thousands of people be lulled into their death. Until he became the “Wayman”.

He knew what he had to do. But it would definitely end his life on the train. Deacon gets himself composed, picks up his guns, and holsters them. He takes out the paper in his pocket. He realized that this was the times the train was coming. At 1pm, 2pm, and 2:30 before PONRE, whatever that was. He looks at his pocket watch. It is 2:15pm. No time to waste.

He starts for the door but then turns towards the window. He carefully opened it. He guessed they didn’t think anyone was dumb enough to climb out of the window.

“Guess again suckers.” said Deacon.

He grabbed the Anchor from the wall and climbed out of the window. Just then they passed through a tunnel. He carefully inched himself over. He knew that the engine room had a large vent above it. He knew he had to get that baby and find a way to tell everyone.

They exit the tunnel. His bedroom door opened. In came two Moderators and The Conductor. The Conductor pulled out a retractable metal stick that was electrified.

“Get him, we need him for questioning.” commanded The Conductor.

Deacon throws his anchor on the roof of the train. He cannot let them take him, there is no time. Deacon closes his eyes and lets go of the train. Pain shoots through his body as he slams into the mountain rocks. The world begins to spin. Then he sees the sunlight and feels wind behind him as he hits the roof in true super hero fashion; like a pro. He looks up and immediately lays down as they enter into another tunnel.

He takes out his pocket watch, 11 minutes until the train comes again before PONRE- whatever that is. He gets up and over hears the conductor tell the others to kill on sight. His life on this train was officially over.

Deacon fastens the anchor to his belt buckle. He walks over to the large vent above the Engine Car and opens it. He drops his club on on engineer and then jumps down into the car pointing his gun at the other.

The engineer put his hands up. The gun shone with a red light. Deacon rubbed the barrel of the gun causing the light to turn blue. No sens on killing him he’ll just respawn. Before he shoots him Deacon asks.

“What is PONRE?”

“You’re kidding right? No? Ok, PONRE- Point of no return.”

Deacon felt sick. This would be the last chance any of them had to get off.

“Thanks.”

Deacon shoots the engineer. He picks up his baton and walks up to the bassinet. He sees duct tape on the floor.

“I must be crazy.”

He picks up the baby, facing him, he duct tapes her to him. The baby coos and smiles. Why would anyone want to hurt something so precious. Deacon walks to the com and hits the message all button.

“Hopefully this will get their attention.”

He sent everyone on the train a message.

“If you don’t want to die, get on the other train.”

Every rider received the notification. Some shook their heads and went back to what they doing. Some laughed. Others looked up and around. The man with his bible, closed it and looked around. The families in Passenger became quiet and watchful.

Deacon draws his guns, sets them to red, and stands in front of the door.

“Let’s do this.”

Deacon kicks open the door and begins shooting everyone in sight running through each car. He passes the dining car, the elites, he fights off other Moderators in the passenger car shooting the ones on their stools immediately as he enters the cars. . Some passengers are waking up and now watching for the train which is quickly approaching.

Deacon reaches the empty caboose. He takes the electrified baton he has on his belt and wedges in the door. He turns and between him and the exit is the Conductor with his baton out.

“You know Mr. Wade, it’s nothing personal. The Dragon and his things just like babies the best. This baby is my ticket of this God-forsaken train. Hand he rover to me and we can forget about all of this unpleasantness.”

“I may not remember everything just yet. But I know that deceiving and killing innocent people is wrong. “

The conductor smile and shakes his head.

“I’m going to enjoy this.”

He approaches Deacon. Deacon draws his guns but then hears banging behind him. The conductor laughs and says;

“It is inevitable. Stand down.”

Then the others break down the door sending the baton flying. Deacon ducks and turns facing them. Firing at the others while the baton flies just over him- he can feel the heat of the electricity on his face as it passes by and then strikes the conductor sending him flying off the train.

The other train docks and boards were placed at the caboose, the passenger car, and the dining car. Many passengers left the train and tried to cross into the other train. Moderators started shooting at the runners. The silver cross people then returned fire for cover.

Deacon turned and ran out of the caboose towards the board. Before Deacon could cross the board is blown into pieces. Deacon stops himself before falling off and then looks over seeing the man with the silver cross and a scar on his eye.

“That’s impossible.”

Deacon blocks the door with The conductor’s baton lying on the floor and climbs into the tall chair that allows someone to view the cars ahead of them. He puts his guns in the viewing window cubby and attaches his anchor to the bottom of the roof access door. He then climbs out onto the roof of the train. He puts the silver cross pin on the baby and when he fastened it to her a green light shone from the back of it.

Deacon is on the roof. He looks over and sees a tunnel with a skull as the cornerstone. They have reached PONRE. It’s now or never. The other train begins diverging down the other track around the tunnel.

Deacon runs towards the tunnel. Jumping cars until he gets close. He turns towards the other train and jumps from the roof of the train towards the other. He nearly makes it but falls onto the caboose’s porch sliding across it. The Scar man runs to catch them but misses. Deacon and the baby fall off into the mountain.

The Scar Man held his breath, the baby was gone. He reached out his hand towards where they fell and a tear trickled down his face. Then he heard a baby crying behind him. There on the floor was the baby with a silver cross on it’s clothes. “Smart son of a gun” he said aloud.

Deacon respawns on top of the caboose. He reaches into the door and places the anchor on his belt buckle. He turns when he hears the Conductor. Deacon stands and faces him. A hot gust of fowl smelling wind hits him. Brimstone and ash is floating in the air and he can hear terrible screeches above him.

“You hear that! Remember the screechers? They are why you need to be in your place!” shouted the Conductor.

Deacon sees a winged lizard creature fly over them. It let out a terrifying screech-like scream before attacking them. Deacon opens up his baton to fight it off and is also attacked by The Conductor. He tries to fight both of them off. The screecher didn’t seem to care which one of them it gets.

The Conductor gets an opening an strikes Deacon in the leg causing him to fall and slide towards the back of the caboose. A screecher picks up Deacon but drops him after he strikes it with the baton. It screeches and flies away, taking his anchor with it.

Deacons heart began to race. The Conductor smiled and pulled out his gun.

“No more safety nets.”

He shoots the screecher causing it to fall on the other side of the mountain with Deacons anchor.

“Ha ha, we can’t be stopped Deacon. Don’t you see? This is how it ends for everyone! Everyone in the world will take their ride!”

Deacon stands back up and faces the Conductor again.

“Moderator! It’s time you learned your place.”

“I’m not a Moderator; I’m a Wayman.”

“So be it! Get your gun!”

Deacon grabs his guns and holsters them. He faces the Conductor. They stare at each other for a moment.

“Draw!”

The Conductor laughs and points his gun at Deacon. Then a screecher grabs the Conductor and carries him away screaming.

Deacon knows that he is a dead man no matter what. He also knows that the Conductor will just respawn and come back to kill him. The only way to save these people is to stop the train, even if it will only postpone the inevitable.

He sees a steep hill like a roller coaster coming up. At the end of it is a smoking pit and a giant fire breathing dragon. It was black and it’s massive body billowed like a black smoke stack. He gets to the end of the caboose when other moderators climb out and also the Conductor.

“Will this will never end?” said Deacon.

“You need to get your mind right son. You will soon understand. However short that time is.”

The Conductor then pushes a button separating the caboose from the train. They continue pressing forward as Deacon glides to a stop. He can hear the passengers that remain screaming as they plummet down the steep track and towards the dragon.

The train stops abruptly in front of the dragon. The dragon looks inside the train and roars loudly, the baby is not there.

Then screechers fly inside and pull people out dropping them in the pit. Then the dragon blows fire into the train finishing the job. Deacon could not save them. Then he hears a beep and the caboose begins to move forward. They are bringing him to the dragon.

The caboose plummets and Deacon holds on tight. When he reaches the bottom he is headed straight for the dragon. Deacon closes his eyes and takes a breath. He pulls out his guns and makes them red. He will stand face to face with the dragon and his screechers. He will not relent, he will not comply.

“I will go down fighting!”

As the caboose approached, Deacon jumps off the caboose towards the dragon firing wildly and flying through the air. He hits it in the neck, the nose, the eyes. It roars in pain and then blows fire onto Deacon.

Deacon can feel himself burning. He can smell burning flesh and cloth. Then he sees black. He hears a thunderous roar and then silence. There is a cold chill on his back. Everything seems calm, seems peaceful. All but the sound of a train whistle.

He opens his eyes and grimaces from the bright light in his face. He then sees a hole in the roof revealing a blue sky. He sits up. He sees people sitting down around him, and some kneeling over him. He sees passengers from his train.

The Scar Man reaches out his hand; smiling at him. Deacon notices an anchor next to him on the floor underneath the hole in the ceiling and a dead screecher lying next to it.

“Where am I.” Deacon asked.

The scar man replied.

“You’re on the right train.”