Night Train

A light flickers as a cold breeze runs through the subway train tunnels, and brushes onto the deserted platform. Carried by the air vents that invite the chilling night winter air. Graffiti, trash, and the smell of urine occupy this run down train stop, whilst 18 year old Colt sits patiently on the cold hard steel seats. Waiting for his midnight train to take him on an hour journey home. Exhausted from working overtime at an iron foundry, he sighs as he rests the back of his head against the cold concrete wall. Steam from his breath emitting into the air whilst he runs his charcoaled stained hand through his short brown hair. The last words of his supervisor running through his head, denying a pay rise but demanding for more overtime whilst being paid below the minimum wage. A common narrative for the low social economic areas. He pulls out his smart phone, the screen illuminating his face from his wallpaper photo of him and his girlfriend, Nicole. Arms around each other with big smiles, with the afternoon sun glistening in the ocean water behind them. A photo of happier times before the brain cancer struck and placed Nicole into a coma. And to remind him why he must work hard, as the orphaned couple only have each other and a mountain of overdue medical bills. The time is 12:01am.

“Where is this stupid train?” he mutters as he shoves his phone back into his work trouser pocket. As if the subway heard him, the sound of the incoming train echoes out of the tunnel. Lighting up the ageing brick walls as the train approaches. Colt stands up and grabs his work bag, and moves near the edge of the platform. The train speeds past, the interior lights flash onto Colt as he observes the empty carriages. Eventually coming to a stop with the dirty metal doors opening as he steps into the last carriage. He slumps down onto the train seat and scans the environment. Scratch marks on the windows, graffiti along the walls, and an old man that appears to be asleep a few seats up and across from him. His arms crossed, beanie pulled down to his brow whilst his long white beard sits over his snow jacket. The mechanics of the train door hiss as it shuts and the train jolts as it begins the journey to its next destination.

Colt's phone buzzes, alarming him from his relaxed state. Who can this be, he wonders. Receiving a text message so late. He pulls his phone out to see it’s an unknown number:

“You with the high vis jacket. We have a task for you”

He glances down at his high visibility work jacket, then down the empty train carriage. No one around. Except for the sleeping old man further up, that he again scans up and down.

Must be a scam or wrong number he thinks, whilst he places the phone back in his pocket. It buzzes again.

“Yes you on the train. Don’t ignore us”

The phone number is unusually long. He puts the number into an internet search engine which concludes to no results.

“Who is this?” He responds, whilst again looking down the carriage.

“That man sitting across from you. He has something we need. You’ll be compensated $$$”

Colt looks across at the old man, peacefully asleep in his own world. Confused, Colt responds.

“Then get it yourself”

“We are not on the train are we, Colt?”

Colt springs forward, his attention captured.

“Who is this??” he asks again.

“In his front left pocket, there is a small black notebook. Obtain it for us and you’ll be rewarded”

This must be a prank, Colt thinks. He looks to see a top part of a Moleskin notebook protruding from the old man’s front pocket.

“The notebook has vital information. You will be a hero if you attain it for us”

No, Colt thinks. As he puts his phone back in his pocket and looks at the man a few seats from him. Rob an old man of his book, this is ridiculous. However curiosity begins to get hold of him, as he wonders what the reward is. How much it could be, and if it could get him and Nicole out of the financial strife. He pulls out his phone again.

“How much is the reward?”

“100k straight into your bank account”

Again he looks across at the old man, the bumping of the travelling train rocking his limp head. Colt chuckles and shakes his head. This gotta be a prank.

“What about the security cameras? Who is the old guy? And most importantly, WHO ARE YOU?”

“I think this is more important...”

A picture message comes through; Colt curiously stares at the loading wheel as it slowly transmits to his phone. The picture appears, and Colt is shocked like a cold hand gripping his heart. A photo of Nicole in her hospital bed, as if someone has taken the picture from the corner of the room. Panicking, he immediately calls the number to be answered by an automated voice saying it is unregistered.

“What are you doing? Answer my call!” He viciously types. Another picture message transmits through; again he stares at the loading wheel. Hands gripped tight onto his phone. It’s another picture of Nicole, however closer to the head of the bed and focused on the life support power switch.

“You know what to do. Otherwise her end will be met by a flick of the switch. We are giving you 5 minutes”

Colt frantically finds the hospital number and calls.

“Hurry up” he spits out, as the hospital call center puts him on wait. Finally someone answers however static noise interferes and eventually cuts out the phone call.

“4 minutes”

Colt curses to himself and calls the police. The same thing happens; static noise takes over the call and cuts it out.

“3 minutes”

He stares across at the old man, sizing him up.

“What if he attacks me? And where am I supposed to go?”

“He’s dead”

“Dead?” Colt accidentally blurts out. He looks at the man again, and realized he hasn’t moved at all since being on the train. He stands to have a closer look, waving his hands in front of the man’s face; no response.

“2 minutes”

“Ok. Give me time” He writes back, as he justifies stealing from a supposedly dead man. Nicole is in danger, and I’ll be getting money, I gotta do this he thinks, as he takes a deep breath and places his phone onto the seat and creeps over to the man.

“Hello?” He says whilst clicking his fingers in his face with again no response. Colt holds his breath and reaches for the little book in his top pocket, his fingers grasp onto the black leather cover and he slowly starts to pull up. His teeth clenched as the jacket pocket won’t let go of the book, as it was a tight fit. The notebook pops out and Colt lets go a sigh of relief. The old man’s eyes shoot open, and he snatches Colt’s arm with his large hairy right hand. His left hand shoots for Colts throat as he drops the book in fright. A struggle follows, as the old man launches up and rams Colt into the other side of the carriage and knocking over his work bag. They both bounce off the side and tumble onto the ground, both of their teeth clenched struggling to overpower the other. The old man eventually gaining the upper hand and wrestles on top of Colt whilst pulling out a small screwdriver, making Colt realize he now is fighting for his life. Colt blocks the downward stroke of the screwdriver by clashing his forearm with the old mans, the tip of the screwdriver shaking as it slowly descends towards his face. Making him turn away to see the spanner that’s fallen out of his work bag. He releases tension from his arm and dodges the screwdriver that pierces into the ground inches from his head, whilst reaching for the spanner and delivering a fatal blow to the side of the old man’s head, smashing him right on the temple. Colt gasps for air as he pushes the old man off him and scurries back onto his seat, not taking his eyes of the old man which now lies in a pool of blood. He drops the spanner which makes a loud thud as his hands shake uncontrollably, trying to come to terms of what he just done. He curses in panic as he paces around the carriage and scampers to grab the book. He swings out his phone.

“You lied. You said he was dead” he types, his hands still shaking making him press wrong keys. A moment passes until a reply returns.

“...tired”

He rests his head on the back of the carriage again, taking deep breaths until another message comes through and interrupts.

“Send a photo of the notebook”

Colt immediately sends a picture of the book through.

“Meet here:”

Another picture message comes through of a map with a pin mark indicating the meeting spot, being the next train station. Traumatized and questioning what he has done, Colt moves to the other end of the carriage. He flicks through the pages to see what was so important. Pages of hand drawn circuit board diagrams and machine schematics, with notes of some bionic military implant.

The train arrives at the next station, and Colt steps out into the freezing night air and walks across to the deserted dark car park. Pitch black until headlights from a slick Cadillac car flash onto Colt, partially blinding him. Just making out two figures, one front right of the car, the other standing next to the driver’s seat with the door open. Both wearing long coats and a brim hat, their faces clouded by the dark of night whilst staunching a stigma of authority. Colt goes to walk over, but the man holds up his hand in a halt motion.

“Stay there. Now, Colt. Let’s make this transaction quick and easy. Hand over the book” The one in front of the car directs, voice of a middle aged man. Colt hesitates.

“Don’t worry. Nicole is safe, she’s quite a looker” The man says with a happier tone.

“What about my money?” Colt shouts, his voice shaking with adrenaline. The man pauses until responding.

“The book first” He commands.

Colt reaches into his work bag and throws the book, it lands a few feet away from the man. He hesitates before taking some slow steps to pick it up. He flicks through some pages and gives the other man a nod. A message comes through Colts phone, a bank notification that $20,000 has entered into his account.

“Hey! Where’s the rest of it?” He shouts. The man turns around.

“Agent twenty four, what’s the bail for manslaughter?” He asks.

“Forty thousand dollars” The second man responds.

“What about robbery and carrying a murder weapon” He asks again.

“Both Twenty thousand” The second man responds again. Colt feels his heart sink.

“According to my calculations, that’s eighty thousand dollars. You should be lucky you’re standing here and not locked up” The man says as he opens up the passenger door. Whilst the other remains sentry.

“But you told me to get the book” Colt pleads.

“We never told you to kill” The man responds as they both slam their doors shut after getting in the car. They speed off, leaving Colt stranded, shocked and bewildered in the freezing winds of the night whilst the sounds of his last train leave the station and sirens of police cars echo into the night of the crime stricken neighborhood.