The Smiling Man

There are memories of a person. You don’t know where these memories came from, but you’re sure you’ve met this person before. They flash in your mind when you’re just at the edge of fully falling asleep. You shake awake. Maybe you haven’t met them. They can’t be real. Those eyes aren’t human.

You slide your card through the machine and walk onto the platform. The train is coming, you can hear it. As it approaches, the people around you push forward, waiting for the train to stop. As it screeches to a halt, you walk towards the open door. A scream comes from behind the train. No one seems to have noticed. You noticed.

You step into the train. The doors close. The train starts to move. You think about that scream and how no one seemed to have heard it. Maybe it wasn’t anything at all. Just a trick of the senses. You put your headphones into your ears. What the hell am I doing here? I don’t belong here.

The music seems faded, distant. Static can be heard over the tune. There’s something wrong with your headphones. You take one out, look at it, and put it back in. They will have to do for now. You put your phone onto your lap and look around. They’re staring at you. All of them. Focused on your eyes. Peering into your soul.

You look to the other side of the train car. A set of yellow-colored eyes stare back at you through the window. You realize your music has stopped playing. It’s just static. The lights start to dim. You hear a faint scream come from deep within your headphones. Panic sets in. Your eyes blur. You blink. Wait. You blink again. This time you regain focus. No one is looking at you. The lights are bright.

The train screeches to a halt. This is your stop. You get up, shaken from what you thought you saw. Your headphones still lightly producing music. You decide you’ll buy new ones on the way home. The static is just too much to handle. You reach down into your pocket for your phone. It isn’t there. You follow the headphones chord until you reach the end. They aren’t plugged into anything. You search your person for your phone. You must have left it on the train. The music continues to play lightly in your ears.

You grab the headphones and throw them to the ground. You stomp on them, breaking them into pieces. People stop to watch. Short mumbles come from the crowd. A scream breaks through the noise. You look up. A man is standing in front of you. You notice the tinge of yellow in his eyes. The grimaced look on his face turns to a smile. Something isn’t right. You turn to walk away. You can’t move. He won’t let you.

I know you. I am you. We are one.

Over and over this echoes. You cover your ears. You squeeze your eyes closed. It’s getting too loud. Where did the people go?

I know you. I am you. We are one.

It continues to get louder. You look up. The man’s eyes glow a bright yellow. You can’t look away. You become entranced at the sight. You repeat the words said to you.

I know you. I am you. We are one.

The ground opens beneath your feet. You feel as though you’re falling, but you’re not sure. Your eyes close. The voice fades into a whisper. You know that man. Your eyes open suddenly. Panic. There is pavement below you. This is it. You brace for impact. Your body only feet from the ground. You shake awake.

Your room is dark. The curtains sway as the open window lets in a cold breeze. Crickets chirp. Your heart races. Sudden realization sets in. It was a dream. A nightmare. Your breathing begins to slow. You’re alright.

You press the button to ring the nurse. The sleeping pills she gave you don’t seem to be working. The door creaks open. The nurse walks in and tells you the tests have only just begun. They need to continue to monitor your sleep. She smiles. A memory of the smiling man flashes in your mind. She hands you another pill. You slip it under your pillow.

#horror #fiction #creativewriting #flashfiction #shortstory #imagery