For as long as I could remember, Carriage 3 and Carriage 2 had been closed. Every morning on my commute to work, no matter how packed the train was, those two carriages were completely empty. I’d always wondered why they weren’t accessible, but no-one knew the real reason.
Some said they were cursed. Others said the two carriages were no longer safe, but this still raised the question as to why they were still a part of the train every single day.
Hundreds of people had tried to get in, to no avail. The doors wouldn’t budge and security guards would arrest anyone who went near them. It was useless.
Many people had accepted the fact. I had almost given up hope, realizing I’d probably never know why and that I should just forget about it. That was, until yesterday morning.
An elderly man stood on the platform next to me, a short cane in his hand giving a slight arch to his back. We caught each others eye in the reflection of the windows of Carriage 3. He winked and walked toward the now halted train. I made my usual beeline for Carriage 4, but not before I noticed the old man hobbling for Carriage 3. Incredibly, the doors rolled open smoothly, and the old man shuffled in. No one stopped him, indeed, no one seemed to notice.
“Room for one more, I think.” I heard him say. I wasn’t sure if he was addressing me, as he was staring off into space as he said it, but I didn’t hesitate to join him.
My legs trembled as I stepped off the platform into the almost empty car. The old man had taken a seat, beckoning me to sit next to him.
“No one can see us,” he began. “I’ve been standing on that platform for 20 years, right next to you, every morning.”
I startled. “So, you’ve been using this carriage every one of those days?”
He nodded. “In case you haven’t already realized, it’s a magical carriage. Well not magical, but dimensional. We’re in the future.”
My jaw dropped. “Bullshit.”
“Real shit.” The old man laughed.
The train slowly rolled forward.
“So why did you call me here?”
The old man frowned. “You’ll see.”
The train picked up speed, and I glanced around questioningly. A sudden boom rocked the carriage. The train began to feel weightless and then suddenly it lurched violently. I glanced back into Carriage 4, where I should’ve been sitting. It was careening into the air, scraping against the roof of the subway. It smashed back into the ground and clung lamely to the back of our carriage, being dragged lifelessly down the track.
“Carriage 5 was just bombed.” The old man said matter-of-factly.
“What?! You knew this was going to happen!” I screamed. “All those people are dead or dying!”
The old man stood and rested a hand on my shoulder. “Need I remind you, young man, that we are in the future. What you just witnessed is an event to come.”
I sighed. “Oh. How long have you seen this coming?”
The man shrugged. “A year or so now. I just don’t know what to do.”
“When’s this supposed to actually happen?” I whispered hoarsely.
“Tomorrow. Tomorrow!” He agonized, burying his head in his hands. “What do we do?”
The train came to a stop. I stared out of the window. Carriage 4 still lay on its side, somehow having managed to hang on to the rest of the train the whole way to the station. People on the platform rushed to help the wounded. Some cried and others stood aghast. I turned my face away.
Suddenly, the doors to our car opened and the true scene was brought to my attention. Everyone went about their lives, hurrying off to work. None of them even remotely aware that nearly half of them would be dead by this time tomorrow.
“What can we do?” I asked.
“I fear that if I do something to prevent this disaster, I’ll end up causing it. Does the future account for those who try to change it? Maybe this whole ordeal will be as a result of me trying to stop it.”
I shook uncontrollably. It was that feeling of having something so huge placed in your hands, but not knowing what to do. Or rather, that whatever you did do, it would still go decidedly one way.
“Well, I guess you’ve got to go to work now.” Sighed the old man. “Now you know what’s in Carriage 3.”
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