Somewhere, a train came to a halt, opening its doors to various passengers.
"Asael."
She tugged his shirt.
"Attention all passengers. We are now arriving at-"
"Asael."
"..?"
His head shot up from his bag, reeling in the drop of saliva that was about to fall as his tired eyes met the person standing before him.
"Asael, get your ass up!"
His sister stared at him, an annoyed expression setting in.
Messy brown hair drooped over her shoulders as a result of the train ride. Her expressive features made it impossible for her emotions to stay hidden.
Still drowsy, his expression faltered for a few seconds before finally getting up.
"You know, one of these days. I'm leaving you on this train."
"Yeah, I totally believe you."
"I'm serious."
"You say that every time y'know?"
"Bitch."
"Awww, Did I hurt your feelings?"
Asael's shoulder jolted as Mallory's fist crashed against it.
"Ow."
AsaeI stared at her.
Mallory grinned as if she had accomplished something.
Pshhh...
The doors released with a soft hiss.
Asael stepped onto the platform, a yawn escaping him as his eyes tracked Mallory in the crowd.
Mallory glanced back.
His white hair was still a mess, strands falling over his face from the train ride. It had always puzzled her how his hair never settled on a single shade. It constantly shifted depending on the light.
Then again, that's Asael for you.
An annoyed expression settled on Mallory's face.
"Y'know, sometimes I wonder if you realize how weird you look."
Asael blinked.
"What?"
"Your hair, your eyes, your fashion taste, and how girly your face looks."
"Do I have to remind you about your natural hair color? Or the fact you copied my entire wardrobe?"
Mallory shrugged.
"Still weird."
"Thanks."
"Your welcome."
".."
"I'm beating your ass when we get home."
"Wait no. Asael. Wait. I'm sorry!"
Mallory hurried after him, laughing as he walked ahead.
The station swallowed the two into the seemingly endlessly expanding crowd.
The huge room with a dome shaped roof housed hundreds of commuters, each with their own destination. Some left while others entered.
Union station. A hub that connected various trains together. It consisted of two floors, each leading to various tracks. They were even food stalls you could go to while waiting for your train.
It was considered a tourist attraction while for others it was a part of their routine.
A businesswomen rushed her way to her train.
A child licked his ice cream, while a family smiled for a picture.
Some took photos of the art covering the dome, while others texted on their phones or listened to music.
A teenager stared at the departure board, squinting hard before making his way towards said track.
"Attention all passengers! Train to [Riverside District!] is arriving at Track 1!"
"Attention all passengers! Train to [Greyhaven!] is arriving at Track 6!"
The announcement crackled.
"Attention all passengers! Train to [?#@*$^%#&@*(!] is arriving at Track 1!"
"..?" Asael's eyes found their way to Mallory's. Clearly, he wasn't the only one that felt this, as other commuters turned around to look at each other.
"Attention all passengers! Train to [------------------------] is arriving at Track 3!"
"What the hell?! Wasn't Track 1 already announced?"
"What's wrong with the announcer?"
A male in a suit walked back in forth pensively, a look of anger and panic settling on his face, before making his way towards the ticket booth.
"What train is going to Riverside?"
("Why is the announcement system is malfunctioning...?")
A worker thought to himself as he noticed the figure with a suitcase standing before him.
"I'm unsure..."
"...What?"
"I don't know."
He tried refreshing the departure board, yet nothing happened.
He chuckled slightly.
"You're joking right?"
"No sir."
"Hah... Look. I don't have time for this. I'm late to a meeting. Is track 1 going to Riverside or not?"
Muttering under his breath another worker tapped on digits of the telephone, inputting several numbers before bringing it to his ear.
("Even maintenance isn't picking up...?")
Ring...
Ring....
Ring.…
She hanged up, now going to check the train schedule on his laptop, attempting to edit the info.
("I can't edit the page...?!") She tried clicking various times.
Nothing.
She even tried highlighting the entire page to delete it.
Nothing.
Sweat dripped down her chin.
"Everyone stay calm! We're working to restore everything!" The female worker called out.
"Stop fucking around! Announce which train is next!"
He slammed his suitcase on the counter.
"I'm trying! There isn't anyone speaking through the microphone!"
"No one has time for your fucking jokes!"
He raised his fist as his knuckles crashed against the glass once again, as droplets-stained crimson dripped down onto the floor.
"Attention all passengers! Train to [█████████] is arriving at Track 11!"
"Fuck!" A frustrated yell echoed throughout the room, some began to panic, others continued looking around.
Asael placed his hand on his sister's shoulder.
"Stay close to me."
"Uh-huh."
"Calm down!" A female commuter shouted out.
"Attention all passengers!"
Various heads raised their heads. Paying attention to the upcoming announcement.
A calm voice came from the speakers.
"Please head to your assigned track."
"Assigned...?"
Everyone looked around.
Suddenly...
Vzzt!
"..?"
A commuter pulled his phone out of his pocket his eyes focusing on the notification that had just been sent.
[TRACK 3]
Vzzt!
Vzzt!
Vzzt!
More and more phones began to vibrate.
A commuter's laptop read [TRACK 4].
Another's phone read [TRACK 9].
The departure board began to flicker.
"Track 1 has been made available!"
Then again.
"Track 66 has been made available!"
And it continued.
"Track 99 has been made available!"
"Track 546 has been made available!"
The numbers climbed at a rate impossible for the human eye.
The tiled floor of the station began to stretch. The walls surrounding the station were being pushed outward, making the station even bigger. Mysterious halls were carved in the process.
"This has to be a prank! Some sort of mind game!" An old man yelled out. Chatter erupted from the station, various commuters went up to the ticket booth, clearly panicked as they went to question the worker.
Some stood in silence, as if they were beginning to accept this new reality.
Vzzt!
Mallory lowered her gaze.
[TRACK 99]
Mallory frowned.
"..Asael."
"What?"
She turned her phone towards him.
"I.. got one."
"..."
Asael took his phone out, staring at his wallpaper. A picture of Mallory and him, and as he scrolled down the notification center..
Nothing.
He tried refreshing.
Nothing.
A frown emerged on his face.
"Did yours go off..?"
".."
"No."
"Maybe it's just delayed or something.."
Around them, various other devices continued to vibrate.
Asael's screen remained dark.
"Michael!" A mothers yell echoed throughout the station.
Various commuters turned around at the unexpected call. Their eyes locking onto a women pulling her son closer.
"..Stay here. Don't go."
Now grabbing onto her sons arm.
She stares at the notification center, refreshing frantically.
Again
and
Again.
Yet the number on her screen didn't change.
[TRACK 247]
A look of despair settled on her face.
"You got.. Track 16.. right?"
He held onto the action figure, nodding.
"Mom.. what's going on? Can't you come with me?"
Her eyes began to well up, as her arms loop around her son, embracing the boy in a hug.
"Don't worry Michael. We'll stay together."
Many eyes stared at the scene happening in front of them. The station had gone silent, as nothing occurred.
"See?"
A man scoffed.
"Nothing happened. We don't have to follow these rules! It's just a bunch of crap."
Another commuter laughed nervously.
"Hah..! He's right!"
The mother lowered her phone now, relief washing over her face.
"See Michael?"
Yet suddenly..
The floor beneath Michael shifted.
His mother's grasp had loosened a bit.
Then a little more.
Frrt..
A crackle rippled throughout the station, as if a piece of paper was being unfolded.
10 Feet.
He blinked.
100 Feet.
600 Feet.
The space between the mother and son continued to increase, as space itself began to distort between the two.
"Mom!"
The clasp on his mothers hand severed immediately.
"Mi--"
Her voice cracked, before a scream tore from her throat, resonating throughout the station hub.
"MICHAEL!"
Yet her scream was silenced immediately as the announcements crackled.
"Attention all passengers."
"Passengers who have not yet reached their assigned track..."
For a moment, static pierced into the ears of everyone in the hub, before the voice returned.
"Will be removed."
...
Silence.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
They simply watched.
"MOM!"
"Stay there Michael!"
Yet suddenly, a commuter dashed forward. A full sprint towards Track [215].
"I-"
"I can't.. take this anymore!"
"Hey.. wait!"
Another commuter began running.
Then another.
Then fifty.
"FUCK OUT THE WAY!"
"MOVE!"
Commuters began shoving and pushing their ways to the tracks.
"Ackgh!"
A man fell.
Yet the horde didn't stop.
The sounds of bones cracking had disappeared in the flood of desperation.
Beneath the cries of children calling for their parents.
Nobody looked back.
Nobody stopped.
A mangled mess.
Yet somewhere in the distance..
A mother was still screaming drowned out by a current.
And Asael could only watch.
"Asael.."
Mallory's voice trembled.
"What do we do..?"