As I boarded the train the engineer winked and smiled in my direction, which comforted my nerves. I made myself a promise that I would not partake in the downright awful “pleasures,” only the harmless ones for a short while. I passed through one of the alcohol cars and grabbed a drink as I headed for the gambling car. I had no other option but to walk through the drug car and saw the car full of souls strung out on all sorts of drugs. The car that made me most nervous was walking through the prostitution car. These men and women had the physique of the Greek gods and goddess. I passed through both cars without stopping to take part in their activities.
I finally made it to the gambling car, where a man promised me an enormous amount of wealth if I was able to beat him at a simple card game. I didn’t hesitate to play his game. He was good at his game but I was better, at least he made me think I had him beat. I quickly began to acquire a vast sum of money only to watch it disappear after betting all I had on a single hand when I thought I couldn’t lose.
Depressed, I walked back to the alcohol car and grabbed another drink. Then I headed for a car that other passengers were claiming brought them great fame. I thought if I couldn’t be rich, fame would be the next best alternative. I could use my fame to become wealthy.
When I found the car offering fame, it was exactly as everyone had promised. I simply walked into the car, signed a contract, and then I was famous. My was known to everyone on the train, yet I still felt lonely inside.
I trudged back to the alcohol car to get another drink, which turned into three then four and on and on until I talked with another sitting at the bar next to me. He told me that the prostitution car had treated his loneliness with sex. The sex had cured him of loneliness.
Drunk, I stumbled towards the prostitution car to see if this loneliness could be cured. After a lust-filled momentary indulgence in pleasure passed I only felt worse, even more alone. The drug car appeared inviting as I passed through it on my way back to the bar to tell the one at the bar, the prostitution car only heightened my awareness of my loneliness. “One joint won’t hurt” said a lady as I passed through, so I tried it.
It eased my pain for a short while. It didn’t take long for me to try the other drugs they had to offer, yet all of them eventually left me feeling empty, broken, and alone. After the high came crashing down, I realized I had become the very person that had disgusted me just a few days prior.
Sick to my stomach once again, I asked one of the staff members when the next stop was, and she responded with a grim smirk of a smile; “Don’t worry. We will reach our destination shortly.” Sure enough, it was not long after that we came to a screeching halt. The train staff ordered everyone to exit immediately. We had reached our destination. Thankful, I stumbled off the train only to realize that we were in the middle of nowhere.
The engineer sneered as he pulled off down the tracks. Everyone began chasing the long black train wanting to board again but no one was allowed. The train picked up speed as it barreled down the tracks. Eventually, it disappeared out of sight.