RAILS END STREET

The train doors hissed shut behind Damien. He rubbed his temples, pulling his blazer and brief case close as he navigated through the crowded car toward the rear.

Damien spotting Johnny slouched in his seat. Johnny’s hair unwashed and clothes tattered. Johnny looked thinner, worn down by years of hardship—memories Damien hadn’t been there for.

"Johnny," Damien said, leaning heavily against the glass door.

Johnny glanced up, his eyes flickering with recognition and wariness.

"Damien? What are you doing here?" Johnny said.

"My car broke down," Damien muttered.

It wasn’t the whole truth, but it was easier than admitting he’d been searching for Johnny after years of guilt.

Johnny raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He turned away, pressing himself into the seat as if Damien’s presence suffocated him. The train screeched and lurched forward, the station lights blurring into the darkness of the tunnel.

"Johnny," Damien said again, his voice cracking.

"What happened to us? We used to be best friends." Damien said.

Johnny scoffed bitterly.

"You aban—" Johnny said.

The train plunged into darkness, swallowing Johnny's unfinished words. A man’s scream shattered the silence. The lights flickered back on, and chaos erupted as a woman’s scream pierced through the murmurs from the crowd.

Damien shoved his way through the gathering passengers with Johnny close behind. Blood streaked the Transit operators cabin window, obscuring the faint glow of the control panel.

"What's going on?" Johnny demanded.

Johnny’s voice edged with the same anger Damien had seen that night—the last night they’d spoken.

Damien swallowed hard, pointing with a trembling hand.

"Look," Damien Stuttered.

Johnny followed his gaze. His bravado slipped as his eyes locked onto the blood-streaked window. Damien hesitated, then slid the cabin door open. A lifeless hand flopped across the threshold, smeared with blood.

The transit operator’s uniform was shredded, the holes oozing a glowing blue-green liquid. The man’s face was sunken, his mouth frozen in a scream. Damien stumbled back, bile rising in his throat.

"We’re screwed," Damien whispered, clutching the doorframe for support.

Johnny grabbed Damien by the shoulders, shaking him hard.

"Pull yourself together! We need to stop this train." Johnny said.

Damien nodded numbly, following Johnny into the cabin. He pressed the large red STOP button. Nothing happened. Johnny slammed it repeatedly, panic flashing across his face.

"Emergency brake," Johnny muttered, his eyes darting around the cabin.

"Find it!" Johnny blurted out.

Damien spotted a nylon strap on the far wall and lunged for it. Just as his fingers brushed the strap, the train went dark again. The screams were louder this time before abruptly stopping, leaving the car in eerie silence.

When the lights returned, the horror deepened. The passengers lay lifeless, their blood painting the walls, floors, and seats.

"What the hell is happening?" Damien cried, his voice cracking under the weight of terror.

Johnny’s jaw clenched tightly.

"I don’t know, I’m not staying to find out." Johnny said.

Damien yanked the emergency brake again, but it held fast. He fumbled for his phone and switched on the flashlight, its narrow beam cutting through the darkness.

"HELP!" Johnny’s voice boomed, raw and desperate.

Damien swung the light toward him. A grotesque creature loomed over Johnny; its gaping mouth filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth. Johnny braced against it, his arms trembling with effort.

"Get it off me!" Johnny screamed.

Damien froze, memories flooding back. He had walked away once before, leaving Johnny to face the fallout of their shared mistakes. But not this time.

With a roar, Damien grabbed a blood-streaked baseball bat and charged. His first swing connected with the creature’s side. It screeched, its grip loosening. Damien swung again, feeling the jarring impact as bone cracked beneath the bat.

The creature scurried back into the shadows. Damien panted heavily, gripping the bat like a lifeline. Johnny staggered to his feet, clutching his chest.

"Thanks," Johnny said, his voice barely audible.

“Why did you stay this time?” Johnny asked.

“Listen, when the cops showed up, I ran,” Damien replied.

“I was scared. I’m sorry.” Damien confessed.

“I get it. I would have done the same,” Johnny said.

“If I could have anyway.” Johnny continued.

The train’s final stop flashed on the overhead display. Damien turned to Johnny.

"Open the rear doors. When I say jump, you jump," Damien said.

"What about you?" Johnny asked, his voice thick with concern.

Damien forced a grim smile.

"Someone has to keep them busy." Damien said.

Johnny grabbed his arm.

"No. I’m not leaving you." Johnny said.

"You know we’re both going to die, right?" Damien said, his voice laced with dark humor.

Johnny let go, his eyes haunted.

"Yeah. Don’t remind me." Johnny said.

The train plunged into darkness once more. Damien’s flashlight beam illuminated the swarm of snarling creatures racing toward them.

"Go!" Damien shouted.

Swinging the bat in frantic arcs. Johnny, weaponless, fought with fists and feet, his movements fueled by desperation.

The train screeched as it hit the end of the line. Metal groaned and sparks flew as the car smashed into the tunnel walls. The explosion lit the darkness for an instant before all went quiet.

When the flames died down, the wreckage was littered with twisted metal, lifeless bodies, and grotesque creatures scavenging for their next meal.