It was the last train out of the station.
At that time of night, it usually meant the cars would be mostly empty. The few travelers slumped in their seats all wanted one thing: to get to their desired stops without any of the usual funny stuff happening.
This was Gotham, however.
The shortest train rides in Gotham frequently turned into the longest. Who hadn't heard about Firefly and Batman setting subway cars on fire? Who hadn't watched Batman battle that huge Bat-thing on GCTV? Who hadn't read the stories about runaway monorail trains, bombs planted in subways or bodies decorated as Christmas trees?
Not that any of this shocked the citizens of Gotham.
Gothamites quickly learned to roll with the punches. They went with the flow. Most accepted taking a train in Gotham might well cost them either their lives or limbs.
In a city ripped apart by violence on an almost constant basis, it was just wise to say a prayer before leaving the house.
Not that prayers would help the people on train 402.
Nothing would help train 402.
Its fate was decided long before any of her passengers climbed onboard. She was to play a key part in the plans of a man — a supposed doctor — hellbent on showing Gotham, as well as her stalwart protector the true meaning of fear.
At precisely 11:59 PM on December 2nd, 2018, a message interrupted all television broadcasts. People watched train 402 as she slowly pulled away from the station. And listened to the words spoken by a man who wanted to terrorize them so he could document their reactions in his research.
"Gotham cannot know true fear because it has a Dark Knight who is always ready to defend her. For years, you have stopped me from teaching this city what the meaning of fear is. It is not biology, Batman. It's more than a mere instinct.
True fear is found in the hopeless desperation one feels. It is the feeling that all hope has abandoned you. Tonight, Gotham will lose its hope. Tonight, the wings of a bat spread across the sky will bring them no comfort.
Tonight, you will not be able to protect them. You will fail them. And they will finally see how at the end of fear... is oblivion."
People all across the city could only watch as train 402 continued to travel towards her destination. A mile outside of Gotham she twisted off her tracks.
Why?
Because her wheels detonated a series of bombs fixed to the track of the trestle bridge that connected downtown Gotham with the rest of the city.
There were no survivors.
A/N: Hello, all, and goodbye! I think I have officially ridden this train prompt as far as it can go! Thank you to all of you who followed, favorited and reviewed! Your support has made this journey enjoyable!
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