The Empty Vessel

Late again. She could hear the train rushing out of the station as she ran down the steps. Fuck. The next one wasn’t for 30 minutes, she would never make it to work by 6:30 to open the store now, ugh, third time this month, she would be written up for sure. Her frustrated sigh echoed across the empty platform as she slumped into the wall to wait. Just then she felt a subtle breeze on her face, the warm air grew into a steady wind, pushing out of the subway tunnel, she looked up and saw a growing point of light in the darkness, another train was coming!

Relief washed over her as she stepped on the train and settled into a seat. As they pulled out of the station, she realized she was the only one in this carriage, ugh, she hated that, some creepy person might get on at the next stop and start to harass her. She decided to move over to the next car but as she approached the door and twisted the handle she saw it was empty as well. What the hell, she thought as she quickly clicked the door shut again. She rushed to the other end of her car and saw the one on this side was empty too. “What the fuck!” she exclaimed to the empty carriage, how could she be the only one on this train, it was early, but not that early. Everyone must have gotten on the one I missed she tried to reassure herself as she sat down again. At that moment she heard a sizzling noise and looked up to see the marquee that displays the next stop blink out with a loud pop. She jumped at the startling sound, but she didn’t really begin to worry until the train sped through the next stop, just a blur of lights as they plunged back into darkness. She stood up.

As the next station advanced the train continued at its break neck pace. Again they did not slow. Nervously she approached the train operator’s call box and pressed the little red button, but there was only silence. She decided she would make her way up to the front to speak to the operator in person. As she neared the door to the next car she felt the train begin to slow. Oh thank goodness. The train pulled into the next station and stopped with a jolt. She ran out of the car and onto the safety of the platform as the doors slammed behind her and the train disappeared in a rush of wind back into the yawning tunnel. Her relief didn’t last long. She was in the right station, but something was very wrong, all around her rushed men in hats and women in A-line dresses, World War II propaganda posters lined the walls. How can this be, she thought, well at least I have like, what, 75 years to make it to work now.