The silver moonlight shone down on the deserted train station where only one person sat, staring at the blood-red sky. No one else was about, and as Ann shivered on the cold breeze that stung her neck and face like knives, no one came either. The shriveled, old, tiny trees outside waved their branches about in the air.
As Ann sat on the rusted bench in the train station, dark grey clouds slowly strolled across the sky, some of them already beginning to cover the face of the silver, shining moon. Ann watched as the clouds covered up the moon completely, leaving only a magical, glowing aura around her. She looked around the now coal-black station draped in darkness, searching for the sight of someone coming through the entrance.
Time passed but no one came. Ann kept an eye on the entrance, planning to ask for a cell phone to call home in case she saw someone. The breeze got stronger, ruffling Ann’s short brown hair. As Ann searched her handbag fir her gloves, she heard a sound behind her.
Tap … tap … tap …
Ann turned toward the sound of footsteps. They were coming from the vending machine. She squinted in the darkness and saw an old man with the crutches hobble over to her. She knew that he was not coming from the entrance because it was to her right. The man had come toward her from the left. If the man had not come from the entrance, where had he come from?
“Could you help me, please?” the man asked.
“Of course,” Ann replied. “What do you need?”
“Could you please lend me some money? I have not eaten for several days. I am very hungry; please help me …”
Ann looked at the old man. His hair was matted and his eyes were bloodshot. His shirt was stained and torn and his trousers were baggy and muddy. His tie was tattered and hung loosely by his neck. Ann felt sorry for him and decided to give him some money to get some food.
“Please wait,” she said. The man nodded. Ann searched her handbag for her wallet. When she found it, she took it out a five pound note. She glanced at the man. He was staring at the sky.
Ann looked down at her wallet and took out another five pound note. Putting her wallet away, she looked back up at the man, smiling. What she saw made her breath falter. Her smile faded and her face paled.
No one was there.
