I board the last train of the day and find my seat, looking around at the other passengers. Or what should be the other passengers… Everyone else aboard is made of shadow, and as unnerving as it is it’s a sign I’m on the right route. One looks over their newspaper to make eye contact with me, white slits narrowing briefly before continuing to read as I pass by. The others make a point to ignore me fully. After a while I stop seeing buildings outside the window and start to take in the beautiful landscape scattered with flowers, trees, and glowing rocks under the gloriously bright night sky. My mind starts to wander, the faint chatter and slow ticking fading into the background.

After what seems to be a short time, my mind snaps back to the task at hand. I grab my suitcase and make my way across the train, going through a few different rooms, until I’m in the very back car I can get to with ease. The room is full of luggage. I leave my suitcase and climb the ladder and break the lock on the ceiling hatch as quickly as possible. I frantically start taking off my clothes, only really getting the first half off before deciding to push myself through in a half-dressed state.

My wings grow painlessly and illuminate my path as I get a running start to take off of. With an increasing sense of urgency and blood flowing down my back, I leap into the air overhead. I keep over the train a few cars ahead until I hear the explosion, and several more. I look back, surprised that there are more, and find them getting steadily closer in spite of my speed. I angle to fly up and quickly become entangled in electrical wires. Every movement I make serves to worsen my state, as even wires I’ve broken that hiss out sparks seem to replace themselves to enmesh me further. I eventually still myself, blood coming in pools, and wait for the train to finish passing. I hide my wings and fall onto my back, hitting the tracks and rolling to the side as quickly as I can.

I’m definitely asking to be assigned elsewhere after this.