Cursed Woods: Chapter 1

Elaine wrapped her hands on the metal pole. It was cold. The blue line was filled to the brim. The train was a boiling teapot ready to overflow. Countless bodies pushing and nudging. All for a little more space. With every stop, the passengers would all jolt together and she would hear grunts.

She tightened her grip as a man pushed her. She would normally hold her ground regardless but today she needed the support. Her body was slower in healing. The music in her ears almost drowned the voices. The train entered the tunnel and her surroundings went black. She was sleepy and in need of a warm bath. All the dirt under her nails and on her limbs needed to be washed. The moment her denim jacket shifted, she pulled it down. The lady in front of her stopped scrolling and stared at her instead. The blood was hard to wash away.

Elaine shifted on her feet. She stared at the dark mirrors in front. Her reflection stared back. Her face, that she had washed in a hurry looked tired, with dark bags finding their way below her eyes. She had bangs that covered the side of her face. Her hair hadn’t seen a hairdresser in the past year. She had meant to carefully snip it herself. Instead now she had short and dark uneven hair that covered the sides of her face. Her lips were chapped. She looked horrible. The lady would’ve grimaced at the sight of her. 

“I can’t.” A voice behind her said. “You don’t get it—it’s insane but I want to go out at night. It’s so quiet—”

The rest of the conversation drowned out. She closed her eyes. She couldn’t lose control. She was almost home.

“Move along,” An old man pushed a boy from his path as the metal gates opened. The boy grunted as he stumbled on his foot. 

Elaine was enveloped in the underground scent of people. The gust of air that rushed inside the train was faster than the people leaving. She rolled her headphones and stuffed them into the front pocket of her jacket.

The clock on the wall was stuck. She checked her phone. The screen blared to life. Four-fifty. She was late. It wouldn’t make her owner happy. She was notorious for docking her pay over everything and anything. It hadn’t even been a week since she had lost half her monthly pay over a prized ceramic that she swore Janice hadn’t even cared about before. 

The automated voice announced the delay of the next train to Yarese. She made her way to the exit, passing food stalls with stacks of old books, newspapers and candies.

She swiped her commute card at the automatic door. A buzzer went off in her head. She couldn’t remember the last time she had put money in her card. To her surprise, the door unlocked and she was able to pass.

The good thing about the cafe was that it was near the train station. Today she would get her awaited monthly check—it wouldn’t be much but at least it would cover her groceries and electricity. The sky outside was darker than she had expected, the clock showed five. She didn’t like cold weather. It costed too much to stay warm. It also meant fewer working hours. 

The man sighed.

Elaine watched his squared jaw and black hair. His eyes were darker than hers. He wore a plaid shirt, brown puffed jacket and blue jeans. His grown-beard covered his neck. His folding skin moved as he spoke.

“Would you get on already?” 

She stepped aside. The man clicked his tongue and walked away from her. 

Elaine watched his back and then remembered his eyes again. It was only when he was at a distance—she realized. Before she knew it, she was running in the same direction as him. The man was nowhere to be seen. Her phone pinged.

"You’re about to be fired." Aria’s message brightened up her lock screen. Elaine sighed. Even if Janice was a complete pain in the ass, she had enjoyed the job. 

She switched off her phone and walked towards the narrow street. People went past and pushed her. She watched four people lean over a booth expectantly. The man behind the counter announced the number. 

In this city, the futile promise of a better future kept many alive.

Was that why they were always ready to give it away?

The man was not heading home. She knew that. She saw him gaze slightly towards the back. 

Of course, they could always sense her.

At last he stopped and faced her. His features had started changing. His eyes had dark slits and his skin was pale green. She could smell the woods. Where they all would return one day.

“We’ve been waiting.” The man smiled. 

In the dark, the eyes multiplied. The stench filled her eyes and throat. She could barely breathe. There were limbs surrounding her. Nails tearing her skin. Hands enclosing her throat. She was being devoured.

Then it was finally quiet.

The light came through.

The center of her world was this truth: Nothing that touched her remained.