The Midnight Bullet Train

Fiction

Writer’s Note: This is a short story inspired by my travels in Japan on Shinkansen rides, the Jake Gyllenhaal classic, Source Code, and a tiny bit of Black Mirror. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this piece and am planning on developing more chapters.

Please let me know if you liked my work and want more of this!

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Chapter 1—Tokyo Bound

"Ehemm, tickets, please."

I jolted in response as the uniformed man shot me a stern look. A chuckle escaped from the lady on my right as I wiped the drool from my collar. I sure hoped she hadn't noticed.

"Yes, of course," I replied confidently in passable Japanese, relieved that my 40 hours of revision had paid off.

Mildly disoriented, I fumbled in my pockets for the one object that would not get me thrown off the train. I pulled out a light green piece of paper marked with "東京"—actually, two of them. It's strange in Japan.

"Please follow me, sir", requested the conductor, his expression neutral. I held my breath and conjured up a million and one worst-case scenarios. This can't be right, I've done everything by the book.

He gestured again, more insistently this time. I'm sure it's nothing. I followed the stocky man to the carriage ahead. I might've swallowed a tiny gulp of fear.

The doors opened to a brighter compartment. The walls are baby blue, adorned with posters of what seems to be a uniformed animal. Oh, Japan.

He directed me to an empty row. "This seat will be available from the next stop; I had to move you as the one you were on was already reserved.¹"

I gave the conductor a courteous bow as he strode away. That was close. Safe to say, nothing's been disrupted. But why does his voice sound so familiar?

I grunted as I shoved my luggage up the overhead compartment. Hands-free, I caught my scrawny reflection in the mirror. Suit and tie, drool-filled collar, topknot hair. I was a salaryman this time. Neat.

Beep beep. Beep beep. Beep beep.

I glanced at my Casio watch—black rubber strap, bomb-proof². The beaten-up display read 1:45. No time to lose.

I looked leftwards at a sophisticated woman in a tailored blazer—a pink handbag with a flamingo charm, negative. I craned my neck towards the older man in a rumpled jacket; he was sound asleep. These restless teenagers behind me don't look the part either.

I proceeded down the aisle, scanning the surrounding passengers as I anxiously fidgeted with my hands. Bento boxes, magazines, tablets. Not exactly what I was looking for.

Entering the private cabin section, a door unsettlingly creaked open ahead of me. I gave its insides a curious peek and found a plump-faced youth with fuzzy eyes greeting me with a raised fist.

"They close by?" I questioned. She gave me a curt nod.

"Everything's in place then?" I asked. She winked back. I mouthed a thank you and hurried off.

Two rows down, I spotted a couple. An exact match from the description. As I approached cautiously, I peered over the man's shoulder and saw it.

There it was, in all its glory—wrapped in a thick seaweed, with rice as fresh as if harvested that morning—I saw it all right. All this time, all the suffering generations had to bear for... an onigiri.

I crept closer, feeling my blood pumping through my veins. The pounding of my heart was now unmistakable. It's within arm's reach. All I have to do is...

"You know, Ren, chase all you want. In the end, it’s the darkness that consumes us all."

Wait, I know that voice… A different time… A different place…

In an instant, the lights went out, and my world collapsed. My body crumpled to the ground like a marionette with its taut strings severed.

As my visions faded, all I could hear was the distant, mocking laughter of the conductor echoing into oblivion.

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Footnotes

¹ This happened to me when I was onboard a train to Tokyo. On trains with both reserved and unreserved seats, passengers with unreserved seat tickets are required to find a seat in the designated unreserved areas on a first-come, first-served basis. I got lucky as I chanced upon a helpful conductor that day.

² Casio F91Ws. They really are.