You Are Alone on the C Train

You are alone on the C train. The fluorescent lights do nothing to dispel the dark patches within the subway car— if anything, they [[exaggerate the shadows. ]]

we're here but now we're [[going home->Begin]] (set: $man to $man + 1)

You tip your head backwards. With your eyes half-lidded, you catch your reflection in the subway car’s window. The weak light settles only on the highest points of your uptitled face. Darkness floods the hollows of your cheeks and eyes—it much resembles rats eating away the flesh of a corpse. [[Your reflection looks very dead,]] you decide. That’s when [[you notice.]]

When you were maybe four, maybe five, you had asked your father about this particular trick of the light. He had rattled off something about how it’s just the shadows, kiddo and that you’re very much alive. You, who take after your father in your general indifference towards the otherworldly, had thought nothing of it [[then.]]

On the same bench, separated by three seats, is [[a stranger.]] They weren’t there a moment ago. You are sure you have been alone in this subway car since you first got on.

But now, you think maybe there’s a certain amount of significance to seeing your dead-self reflected on the subway window. Maybe this is the universe’s way of reminding you of your impending doom. What a nice thought. You roll your eyes. That's when [[you notice.]]

You pick a two-seater with your back to him. You turn around, once, to check that he hasn't moved as well. But, he is gone. You are once again alone

This person is wearing a mask— based on some type of animal skull, perhaps a deer’s. The mask sports a long snout, two gaping black eye-hole’s, and, most impressively, a pair of antlers that sprout from the forehead. The stranger faces straight ahead. You cannot see this person’s eyes. But you are sure they are watching your reflection in the window. [[you move seets, so you're at the opposite end of the train car]] [[you pretend you don't notice the stranger]] [[you turn to the stranger and speak]]

You put your headphones on, and look down at your phone, in the hopes he won't speak to you. He doesn't. When you look up again, the stranger is gone. You stand up, your eyes doing a quick sweep of the subway car. But you are once again alone. This doesn’t make any sense to you. He couldn’t have gotten off. The train hasn’t stopped once since he first appeared. And you would have heard him move between cars. Once again, you are alone

[["Hello,"]] you say. [["Good evening,"]] you say. [["What's with the mask?"]] you ask.

"Hi," the stranger responds. [[ask him why he's wearing a mask->what's with the mask]] [[show him a picture of your dog]] [[ask him how his night is going]]

“What?” a voice responds. It’s low, breathy— a male voice, for sure. He turns his head to the left, just enough to face you. [[You very much regret opening your mouth.]] [[ask him how his night is going]] [[ask him why he's wearing the mask->what's with the mask]]

“The mask, oh?” he asks. "Yes, the mask." You find yourself gazing into his black eye-holes. You can see no eyes. “I wear it so you wont be afraid,” he says. There is no irritation to his tone now, just a dull weariness. [["the mask is pretty scary,"]] you say [[regret speaking to the man]]

“Oi. Come on, now.” You almost don’t hear him. His words are soft, as though he is only voicing an afterthought. “Don’t get all butt-hurt on me.” [[ask him why he's wearing the mask->what's with the mask]]

The man sighs. "Eh, fine," he says.

“You think the mask is scary, oh?” He hums. “You wouldn’t, you know, if you saw what’s underneath.” [[Ask to see what's underneath]] [[Don't]]

"I could probably drown that dog, and it would still wag it’s stupid tail while it died," the man says. A small breathe comes from his beneath his mask. A laugh. He’s making a joke. A strange, off-color one. But a joke. [[Laugh.]] [[Get offended]]

You check the time on your phone. When you look up again, the stranger is gone. You stand up, your eyes doing a quick sweep of the subway car. But you are once again alone. This doesn’t make any sense to you. He couldn’t have gotten off. The train hasn’t stopped once since he first appeared. And you would have heard him move between cars.

You laugh too. [[ask him how his night is going]] [[ask him why he's wearing the mask]]

He opens his eyes and you see nothing. No eyes. Not even eye-sockets. Just a deep black. You scoot away from him. He immediately turns his back to you, pulling the mask back over his face. “I knew you’d be afraid.”

"Why are you wearing that mask?" you ask. “The mask, oh?” "Yes, the mask." You find yourself gazing into his black eye-holes. You can see no eyes. “I wear it so you wont be afraid,” he says. There is no irritation to his tone now, just a dull weariness. [["The mask is pretty scary,"->maskgood]] you say [[regret speaking to the man]]

“You think the mask is scary, oh?” He hums. “You wouldn’t, you know, if you saw what’s underneath.” [[Ask to see what's underneath->endgood]] [[Don't]]

The stranger lifts the mask. He has a very ordinary face. Pale skin.He keeps his eyes closed. But you presume he probably has a tired pair of eyes. The skin underneath them is almost grey. When he opens his eyes, you see no eyes. Not even eye-sockets. But, two deep holes with no bottom. They are like warm space, you think. They are as daunting as they are tender.