local writer cat

Project Evolution by @sam-i-am-27 : THE fic. Sam and I have been coming out with most of the concepts together (both for the comic and the fic) but this is their own work so go check them out! Since we draw/write each at our own pace some stuff are/will be different.

Your Graceful, Neighbourhood Spiderman by @var1an-onl1n3

Friendly Neighborhood Star-Spider by Daisy_yellow

Uncover: to lay bare, disclose, reveal by @foxinsheepsclothing-ao3

Darn it, let’s do this one final time! By @therivergirl

One and Only Star-Spider by Finding_7th

All I've managed is a few hours of shut-eye, which were for the most part separated up into short naps plagued by strange dreams.

This whole situation feels like something out of the start to a horror book. Yes, I am aware that I chose to be here willingly, but I didn't think it would be this weird. Sure, I didn't exactly expect it to be Polar Express, though I would very much appreciate less Hell Train.

And the conductor was... strange. That's not even the best way to describe him, but it's the only word that comes to mind. From his demeanor to his warning, even simply his stature, he freaked the hell out of me. Despite that, there is an... otherworldly charm that keeps making his image return to my thoughts and warmth creep up my neck.

His warning has been bothering me since he left. If anything, it only fuels my curiosity. It's just a window, how bad could it possibly be outside. Unless we're passing through some pretty weird and fucked up areas. Even after he left I've had to stop myself multiple times from reaching out for the curtain. Just a little peek outside wouldn't be that bad right? No one would know. I can hear it calling to me—

...that's not something a sane person would think.

Maybe I need to go stretch my legs for a moment. Calm myself down. Stop my mind from racing. Hopefully a walk tires me enough to finally get me to fall sleep. And also, I might be a bit curious about the other cars. The train seemed pretty long from the outside.

The bed creaks as I pull myself up and step into the tiny one-person bathroom connected to the cabin. The reflection in the mirror does not look pleased at all. In my defense though, the past few weeks haven't really treated me kindly. And there wasn't really any time, or will, to take proper care of myself.

Displeased but satisfied for now, I step back out and move towards the door. A quick pat down of my pockets reminds me where I've put the key to the cabin. With that check done, I'm out in the hallway without much of a second thought. The door slides shut behind me on its own.

The decor is... grand. It's really the only description that comes to mind. Perhaps royal would be another. It feels less like a train and more like a hotel hallway. One of the fancy ones, themed like a Victorian mansion. It's mostly the closed curtains that give it that feel.

Walking is... easy. The train's shaking doesn't affect my ability to move as much as I thought it would. I pass by what I assume are more cabins. Most of them have their curtains drawn so I can't tell whether they're occupied or not. Strangely, the thought of there being more people here never crossed my mind.

The door to the next car slides open on its own when I reach for the handle. Is this train alive or something?

The next car is lined with booths and tables. So it's likely safe to assume this is the dining car. The seat and armrest covers look to be a kind of fabric. I can't tell what kind. But they look comfortable. Between every booth itself there is a lantern, glowing a bright green. Odd choice of lightning. Each one has an... eye? Looking at the whole car, the eye motif seems to be a strong point of decoration.

There are some people at the end of the car, but I don't feel like socializing just yet. They're too far away for me to listen in on the conversation. And it seems they haven't noticed me yet either. Probably for the better. I imagine I look like an absolute idiot, gawking and staring at every corner of the space.

And like a proper idiot who doesn't watch where they're going, I bump into someone. Someone pretty sturdy, actually. I brace for the pain of the fall which... never arrives. It takes me a second to process the long arm wrapped around my waist, holding me away from the ground.

"Goodness! Someone should pay more attention." The voice is cheery and teasing, a carefully placed undertone of concern present. They help me get back on my feet and only once they're certain I'm stable do they remove their arm and dust themself off. I take the chance to look at my savior.

Another animatronic. I should probably be getting used to that.

Just like the conductor, they tower over me by a great amount. The next thing that captures my attention is the faceplate. Rather, the rays lining it. If I had three guesses for this one's name, I feel like I'd probably get it on the first try.

"It's rude to stare you know." I'm snapped out of my daze. Deja vu... They straighten up and bow in my direction. "Well then, let me introduce myself! I am the overseer and the head of service. If you have any troubles or requests, I'm your guy!" Well, my guess was correct. Automatically I bow back and share my name. He repeats it cheerfully.

"You must be our newest passenger! Welcome to the dining car! Are you looking for some late dinner? An early breakfast? Or perhaps simply something to drink?" Immediately I'm overwhelmed by his energy. His rays spin with every question he asks. That's... kind of cute. "No, thank you, I'm just... taking a walk I guess."

"Oh, would you like me to give you a tour then? There are many entertainment activities available! I could show you the library car, and we also have a bar in case you would like your drinks served in a less claustrophobic space, and we also-" I raise my hand before he can continue his ramble, apologetically shaking my head. "No, no thank you, I honestly just couldn't sleep, so I'm taking a walk to tire myself out." I wonder if the sag of my shoulders or the dark circles under my eyes is the reason he's staring me up and down so intensely. "I'm... not really sure it's working to be honest."

"Well that's not good then, is it? I've been told rest is very important for the human body, though I personally can't experience it." He stretches his arm out, motioning towards a booth. "Please, have a seat and I'll bring you something warm to drink." His invitation is polite, but a strange twist in my gut has me feeling uneasy. Taking a step back happens out of instinct, my head bowed slightly. "I'm fine, don't worry about it. I'll just do another lap and then return to my cabin-'

"Please. I insist."

The hairs on the back of my neck raise as the urge to run overtakes me. Refusal has stopped being an option. My legs move on their own and before I know it I'm sitting down, the overseer's rays doing a full spin in satisfaction. I don't even hear him say anything else before he walks off.

The ringing in my ears stops after a minute and the heartbeat threatening to break through my ribcage slows down. Two words. That's all he said. And yet, it was enough to make me feel like I was hanging off a cliff, gripping the edge for dear life. The uncanny feeling which subsided after the conductor showed me to my cabin has returned.

A teacup being placed in front of me shouldn't have made me jump this violently, but it did. I should stop zoning out in this place.

"My human staff had told me multiple times that a warm tea with honey and milk used to help them fall asleep easier. Perhaps it won't do the same for you, but please do drink it anyway! It still has a calming effect... or so I've been told." The overseer looks excited as he stands next to my seat, effectively blocking me from standing up. Making me feel like a caged animal. I take the cup and bring it to my nose first. There's nothing unusual. Though I wouldn't know anything about it if there was anything odd. My hand shakes as I take a sip.

It's... bitter. But at the same time comforting. My muscles and nerves relax, making me almost drop the cup. I think my reaction is satisfactory, seeing as he leans down inches away from my face.

"Is it enjoyable? Is it to your taste?" His bright glowing green eyes stare into my own. That primal instinct screams against the confines of my skull. My voice is quiet once I finally push it out. "It's a little bitter..." He hums, nodding his head slightly. "Noted, noted, I shall take it into account."

We stay like this, face to face, my breath bouncing off his casing. It's an uncomfortable feeling as he's scanning every detail of my face. Like he's looking for something. My stomach twists and my feet itch to stand and flee. I'm frozen where I sit. A sickness climbs up the back of my throat, staying there as I can't swallow it down nor cough it out. Tension rises and the screech of the train is the only thing I hear. This close, I notice the lines across his faceplate. Does it open? Is there something hiding underneath? Did... did something just move-

He straightens up suddenly and sharply, clapping once. "I'm glad to know it's at least enjoyable! Sadly I must go back to work now. Once you're done, leave it on the table and someone will come clean it up later. I hope to see you here again!" He's off before I can say anything back. The world around me starts moving normally again and the breath I've been holding burns my throat once I exhale. I need to leave.

I take a few more sips out of the cup, more out of politeness, and stand up, leaving the half drank tea waiting for someone to throw it out. My legs shake and stumble a few times but I manage to reach the car door. The feeling of eyes lingers against the back of my head.

The walk back to my cabin is a blur. All my energy and strenght is focused on not tripping over my own feet. I think I pass a few people on the way back, but they don't acknowledge my sorry state. I don't remember walking this long to the dining car earlier. Was there always an extra car in between them?

Somehow I manage to get back without falling once. The tension and fight-or-flight releases my muscles. Breathing has never felt this safe. From the distance I can see the door to my cabin opening. The conductor steps out- huh? Conductor? Coming out of... my cabin? All the tension returns almost immediately.

He turns his head in my direction. There's an easily missable jolt in his shoulders, like he's been caught red-handed. He bows his head as I approach.

"I imagine this didn't look flattering." Well he's aware of it at least. Still, I don't get the feeling he was up to anything wrong. "I came by with a change of clothes, as I promised. You weren't answering when I knocked. Then I noticed the door was unlocked so I just wanted to check everything was alright."

The bundle of different colored fabrics in his arms confirms it. "Ah, thank you very much. I was having trouble falling asleep so I went to stretch my legs." I feel warmth in my cheeks, as if I just made up an excuse to a teacher for being late to class. He nods in acknowledgement. "That's a relief. Please, could you try the clothes on? I would like to check if they fit while I'm still here."

He hands me the clothes and I step into my cabin, closing the door behind me for some privacy. The fabric already feels soft to the touch even before I unravel eveything to look at what I was given. There's a shirt, pants and a vest. Looks kind of like the conductor's own clothes. The pants fit well once I manage to pull them on. The shirt is a little big, but once I roll up the sleeves it's manageable. And the vest helps make it look less baggy. Overall it's... comfortable. Though other passengers might start mistaking me for staff.

I open the door again to show him. With a cute little pose, just because I felt like it. His expression is, well... unreadable. It's like he's frozen into place. His one visible eye is locked onto me but I can't tell where exactly he's looking. There's a strange noise coming from somewhere. Maybe his fans whirring faster?

It takes him a minute to compose himself. He lowers his hat with a... clear of his throat, if he can even do that. "I'm glad to see it fits." I wonder if the small smile I give him is the reason his shoulders tense up. "A-Allow me to take your other clothes, I'll send them to get cleaned." I didn't know there was such a service on the train. That's pretty useful. I don't think twice before folding up the clothes I've been wearing until now and handing them over. He takes them almost delicately.

I reach for the handle and start pulling the door closed, thanking him with a 'good night'. His hand stops the door halfway. "Just... one piece of advice. Do make sure to lock your door, both when in and out of your cabin. It's very easy for pests to get in otherwise." Ah... we're back to being ominous.

He steps back with one last bow of his head and then leaves. Once again I'm left alone with my thoughts. The tension has faded but feeling of unease still lingers. All of the adrenaline and panic from earlier disappeared, resulting in a complete physical crash. At least I'll hopefully fall asleep now. Closing the door and double checking it's locked uses up the last of my energy.

The plush bed feels like heaven and the blanket's warmth is shooting. Despite the horror I've experienced earlier, I met someone new and found out a tiny bit of information about this train. And the conductor's kindness cheered me up a little.

The trains shakes and rumbles as my eyes fall closed, the softness of the bed pulling me into slumber. The feeling of eyes on me and the faint stench of burnt carpet are pushed aside to be worried about later.

———

Chat, I don't think I'm getting those clothes back.

(also description for the dining car was heavily inspired from art made by @sinnabee :3)

The ticket... well, firstly, I couldn't tell it was a train ticket at first. It's primary colors were black and purple. Looked more like an invitation to a halloween party. Then there was the contents. The starting point clearly read as my town's central station. But the date, time and destination were hard to make out. Sort of... muddled. As if every time I tried to read them, my vision would cloud up.

I left it where I found it. For the next few hours at least. My mind wouldn't give me rest until I picked it up again to inspect it more. There was text at the bottom I hadn't noticed.

"What have you yet to lose?"

...cryptic.

It honestly freaked me out to the point I hid it away in an old album and forgot about it.

A week passed. Two weeks. A month. The whole time, it was sitting in the back of my mind. Making me lose sleep and focus.

I started slacking at my job. Got into a minor car accident. Barely left my home after that. Eventually, I got a call that I was fired. Right after my insurance dropped me. As if the whole universe suddenly decided to give up on me.

Last evening in a wave of, I don't know, nostalgia or something, I pulled out an old photo album. Worn out images of my younger self were smiling at me. Surrounded by family and lost joys and colors of my childhood. Some have started fading. This voice in my head reminded me of what's lost. My parents are long gone. I haven't been in touch with my siblings in years. I've even stopped talking with my friends recently, being too occupied with work.

...do I have anything to lose?

As I turned the page, that dreadful slip of black and purple paper fell on my lap. All of my senses screamed at me to tear it in half and throw it away. And yet... I was curious. So curious of what could happen if I took the opportunity. Maybe it's a new chance. A solution, a salvation. Once again, I picked it up to inspect it.

The destination was still hard to make out. But the date and time were clear as day.

--

And, well, that's why I'm here now.

Standing on the platform in the late evening. People around me boarding and leaving trains, coming back from work or going on overnight trips. The security guards are chasing away the drunks who are trying to stir up trouble. So, surprisingly, it's crowded for such a late hour.

I look down at the ticket in my hand. Reread everything on it. As a way to convince myself this is real, I guess. That I'm really doing this. The destination still isn't readable. So wherever this thing takes me, I hope it'll be good. Someplace I can get away from all of my worries and problems. Or at least take a break before coming back. I haven't brought much stuff with me anyway. Just this ticket, my phone and my wallet. The only necessities I really need. I wonder if anyone else will be boarding. Maybe I'll find some new friends, someone I can relate to.

I raise my head back up.

I'm alone. Completely.

All that clamor, the passing conversations, echo of footsteps. It's all gone. There's suddenly not a single soul in sight. The clock above me strikes midnight.

I hear it before I see it. The loud whistle of the locomotive and the screeching of rails. A strong gust of sudden wind almost rips the ticket out of my grasp. The train just... appeared? Out of thin air? I didn't even see any lights in the distance.

While I'm still trying to process whatever just happened, the door in front of me slowly opens. A figure steps out in front of me.

They're... tall. Freakishly tall. My head barely reaches their shoulders. That's the first thing I notice. The second is their face. Well, their whole head. It's flat and round, a disk. I can't say I've never seen robots and animatronics before, I have. But never in my town. No one here was rich enough to afford one of these.

They clear their throat rather loudly, pulling me out of my daze.

"Your ticket, please."

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I zoned out completely." I hand them- him my ticket. At least I feel like I can safely assume it's a him.

He accepts it with an amused little hum and punches a hole into the side with his... claw. Okay, that's kinda neat. And terrifying. After handing it back to me he looks around, seeming confused for a moment.

"Your luggage... do you not have any?"

I shrug at his question. "I assumed I wouldn't really need any. Carrying a heavy suitcase around is never pleasant anyway. It's just me and the clothes on my back."

He hums again and looks me up and down, like he's planning something. Then he bows, hand outstretched in my direction.

"Allow me to escort you then."

I'm not sure how, but it's like I can feel a mischievous glint in his one visible eye. Fighting off the warmth creeping up the back of my neck proves to be difficult as I take his hand. His long metallic fingers wrap around my palm, further reminding me of the sheer difference in size. I imagine the blush on my face doesn't lessen in the slightest.

He leads me in and the door closes behind us. The train starts back up almost immediately, but it does not shake much. Meaning I won't be tripping over my own feet every few minutes.

We walk down a few cars until we reach the cabins. He opens one for me and ushers me in. It's pretty spacious. For a train cabin. There's a bed and drawers under it, probably for clothing and personal things. Which I have none of.

The curtains are drawn tightly, not allowing even a peek outside. Well, there's no daylight out currently, so it would make sense. But looking at the world passing by outside feels calming. I reach out to pull the fabric back, already wondering about what kinds of places we'll pass—

A hand slams down on the curtain before I can pull it, keeping the window concealed. I'd lie if I said it didn't make me jump. A sense of dread washes over me as I turn. He's leaning over me, arm holding the curtain down and his one eye glowing. I can feel a shiver run down my spine.

"Don't. Open. The curtains."

I'm nodding before the thought about nodding even reaches my mind. So there's rules. Got it.

"Right. Now then..." he steps back with a roll of his shoulders, like he's fixing his composure. I'm pretty sure he sighs. I don't know how he's even able to do that. "This will be your cabin for the rest of your stay. I'll see to it that you get at least some change of clothes, seeing as you brought none of your own."

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small key. "This is the key to the cabin. There's only one copy so make sure to keep it on your person at all times."

It rests in the palm of his hand, waiting for me to take it. There's a weird feeling in the air as I reach for it. The moment my skin touches against it, his fingers wrap around mine, more forcefully this time.

"Do not lose it. At any cost."

Okay, is it his mission to just scare the shit out of me?

Before I can complain, he brings my knuckles to his mouth, leaving a kiss.

"I forgot to mention. I'm the Conductor of this train. Though you might've already guessed it. If there is anything you need, feel free to seek me out."

My hand is released, the key left hanging off of my finger. With one last bow, he steps out and closes the door behind him.

and also, here's the original photo