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Chapter 1
Chapter 1
🚂 THE LAST TRAIN
Chapter 1 — 11:47 PM
Eli checked his phone for the sixth time.
11:47 PM.
The screen was almost dead, showing only 3% battery.
He sighed and shoved it back into his pocket.
The station was empty.
Not “quiet because it was late” empty.
Completely empty.
No passengers.
No staff.
No cars passing outside.
Not even the usual buzzing of the fluorescent lights.
Eli looked down the platform.
Nothing.
He had never liked this station at night.
During the day, it was ordinary. People rushed through the gates, trains arrived every few minutes, and the platforms were packed with commuters.
But after midnight?
It felt like the entire place had been abandoned.
Eli walked over to the electronic timetable.
The screen flickered.
11:48 — EASTBOUND — CANCELLED
Then the screen went black.
“Great.”
Eli pulled out his phone again.
3%.
He opened his messages.
Nothing.
He tried calling his mum.
The call failed immediately.
He tried again.
NO SERVICE.
Eli stared at the screen.
“That’s weird.”
He looked around.
The station clocks all showed different times.
One said 11:48.
Another said 12:03.
The clock above the ticket machines said:
3:33.
Eli frowned.
He walked closer.
The second hand wasn’t moving.
It was stuck.
3:33.
Then he heard something.
A distant rumble.
Eli turned toward the tracks.
Two headlights appeared in the darkness.
A train was approaching.
Eli smiled.
“Finally.”
The train slowed as it entered the station.
But something immediately felt wrong.
It wasn’t painted like any train Eli had ever seen.
The windows were completely black.
There were no advertisements.
No route number.
No railway logo.
Just a single destination displayed above the front window.
Eli stared at it.
LAST STOP: UNKNOWN
The train stopped.
The doors opened.
Eli looked inside.
Every seat was empty.
The lights were dim.
And there was no driver visible through the front cabin.
Eli hesitated.
He checked his phone.
2%
“Whatever.”
He stepped inside.
The doors closed behind him.
DING.
Eli waited for the train to move.
Nothing happened.
He looked around.
“Hello?”
No answer.
He walked through the carriage.
Empty.
Another carriage.
Empty.
Another.
Empty.
Then he noticed something.
A piece of paper was sitting on one of the seats.
Eli picked it up.
It was old and yellow.
Written across the top were four words:
RULES FOR THE LAST TRAIN
Eli read the first rule.
1. Do not pull the emergency brake.
He laughed nervously.
“Obviously.”
The second rule was stranger.
2. If the lights turn off, close your eyes.
Eli stopped smiling.
The third rule:
3. Do not speak to anyone who boards after midnight.
He looked toward the doors.
“Okay…”
Then the fourth.
Eli’s stomach tightened.
4. If you see yourself, do not follow him.
Eli slowly lowered the paper.
“What?”
The train suddenly jolted.
CLUNK.
The carriage lights flickered.
Eli grabbed the pole.
The train began moving.
Slowly.
Then faster.
Eli looked through the window.
The station disappeared behind him.
The city lights vanished.
Buildings disappeared.
Streetlights disappeared.
Everything outside became completely black.
Eli pressed his face against the window.
“What is this?”
Then he saw something.
A tiny light in the distance.
Another.
Another.
Thousands of lights appeared.
Eli realized they weren’t lights.
They were windows.
Thousands of windows floating in the darkness.
And behind every window was a person.
All of them were staring at the train.
Eli stepped away from the glass.
“Nope.”
The train accelerated.
The windows disappeared.
Then—
DING.
The speakers crackled.
A voice spoke.
“Next stop…”
Static filled the carriage.
“…will be…”
The voice stopped.
Eli waited.
Then it whispered:
“The Town With No People.”
The train entered a tunnel.
The lights flickered.
Eli remembered Rule Two.
If the lights turn off, close your eyes.
He looked up.
The lights flickered again.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then—
CLICK.
Everything went black.
Eli squeezed his eyes shut.
The train continued racing through the darkness.
Then he heard footsteps.
Someone was walking through the carriage.
Slowly.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Eli’s heart hammered.
The footsteps stopped directly in front of him.
He didn’t move.
He didn’t breathe.
Then someone whispered:
“Eli?”
His eyes snapped open.
A boy was standing directly in front of him.
Same height.
Same clothes.
Same hair.
Same face.
Eli stared at him.
The boy smiled.
And whispered:
“You’re not supposed to be here.”
The train suddenly slammed its brakes.
SCREEEEEEEEEECH!
Eli was thrown backwards.
The boy disappeared.
The lights came back on.
The carriage was empty.
Eli scrambled to his feet.
He looked toward the windows.
The train had stopped.
Outside was a completely dark platform.
A sign hung above it.
WELCOME TO THE TOWN WITH NO PEOPLE
The doors opened.
Eli stared outside.
And somewhere beyond the platform…
a church bell rang.
DONG.
DONG.
DONG.
His phone buzzed.
He looked down.
The battery had somehow returned to 100%.
Then a message appeared.
From his own number.
DON’T GET OFF THE TRAIN.
Eli looked at the open doors.
Then back at the message.
Something moved in the town.
A silhouette.
Then another.
Then hundreds.
Every single street was suddenly filled with people.
All standing completely still.
All facing the train.
And every single one of them slowly turned their heads toward Eli.
The speaker crackled.
“ Welcome, Eli. ”
The doors began closing.
But just before they shut, Eli saw one final person standing at the end of the platform.
The boy from the train.
His exact double.
The boy smiled.
And mouthed four words.
“I’ll see you later.”
The doors closed.
The train started moving again.
Eli looked down at the paper.
There was now a fifth rule.
It hadn’t been there before.
5. Never trust the conductor.
Eli looked toward the front of the train.
For the first time…
the cabin door was open.
And someone was standing inside.
End of chapter one. 4 more chapters and about 4,881 words in the full book.
Swipe or use the arrows to turn the page
What's inside: 5 chapters
- 1. Chapter 1
- 2. Chapter 2
- 3. Chapter 3
- 4. Chapter 4
- 5. Chapter 5
About this book
"The Last Train" is a general book by James Warner with 5 chapters and approximately 4,881 words. It covers key insights and practical takeaways on the topic.
This book was created using Inkfluence AI, an AI-powered book generation platform that helps authors write, design, and publish complete books.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "The Last Train" about?
"The Last Train" is a general book by James Warner covering key insights and practical takeaways on the topic.
How many chapters are in "The Last Train"?
The book contains 5 chapters and approximately 4,881 words. Topics covered include Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, and more.
Who wrote "The Last Train"?
This book was written by James Warner and created using Inkfluence AI, an AI book generation platform that helps authors write, design, and publish books.
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