Today I was leaving this town for good. My friend, Mary had drove me to the train station. As I was boarding the train, A feeling of doom came over me, I tried to shake the feeling as I turned to look at the town one last time. I waved goodbye to Mary and found my seat next to a young girl, she looked to be around ten years old. As the train left the station, I tried to relax. It was really dark except for the soft overhead lights. I looked over at the girl, she appeared to be sleeping. Something about this train was not right, I could feel it. I dozed off for about an hour, I opened my eyes, rubbing them fiercely. A man was sitting four seats in front of me, he turned to look at me and I could have sworn he was the boyfriend I had left behind. I got up to go to the bathroom, the girl was still sleeping. walking to the back of the train, I had to hold on, I could hardly see. I opened the door and went inside, I was in the wrong room, I turned to leave and something caught my eye, The room was full of caskets. I walked over to make sure I was not mistaken. I looked inside one of the caskets, it was lined with red velvet. Walking around to the next one, I looked inside, I screamed, gasping for air, A man was lying in the casket. I tiptoed over to the next one, I thought I was going to be sick, My friend, Mary was there inside the casket, How could this be? Was I losing my mind? I quickly left and went to the bathroom. I had to get back to my seat. I saw that the girl was awake, hello I said, I'm Rose. She did not say anything for a moment, moon shadows played across her face, she was a pretty girl. I heard her whisper something, what, I said? Vampires, this train is filled with vampires. What are you saying? My name is Tina, I am telling you the truth. Tina, I believe what you say, I saw the caskets in the back room. We have to get out of here very soon, Rose, or we will be just like them. Tina, where did the man go who was sitting in front of us? I don't know, said Tina, but he is one of them. Tina, I whispered, we have to burn this train, I saw a can of gasoline in back, can you go and get it, just be very careful. You be careful to Rose. Tina was gone about five minutes, when I saw the man coming towards me, reaching inside my blouse, I pulled out the cross hanging around my neck. He sat down a few seats in front of me. A few minutes later Tina sat down beside me, Rose she whispered, they are awake, the vampires are awake. Tina, do you think you can jump off this train? Yes, I think I can, I am scared, but I know I can do it. Ok, you get up and go to the door, open it and jump, we will be separated, I will find you as soon as I can . As soon as Tina was off the train, I said a small prayer and got out of my seat. I walked to the doorway pouring gas in a stream behind me. I lit a match, tossing it behind me, and I jumped, the train went up in flames behind me. I checked myself for broken bones, standing up, I slowly walked towards where Tina had jumped, praying, I would find her alive. I had been walking about an hour before I found Tina, she was laying on the grass, I stopped down to see if she was ok. Calling her name softly, I turned her on her back, she opened her eyes, she looked at me with a weak smile. Rose, Tina said, I am a vampire, I was bitten before you got on the train, I would say that you are a vampire to Rose. Most of the people in the town you left, were vampires. What will we do, asked Tina? We have to find a place to stay, then we will decide what to do. We cannot tell anyone what happened. We will protect each other, We will be Rose and Tina, vampires, wandering in the night.

Copyright © 2004 lois thurman