The train stopped at the base of a big grassy hill. No platform in sight, and not a single sign of civilization anywhere. I opened the door and just stood on the lowest step. examining our surroundings the best I could. Only one thing stood out in the emerald green, a black path straight up the hill, almost like it was recently burned into the grass. Along the path, on each of its sides, there were what looked like water drains, filled to the brink with running water. The drains just stopped by the path's start, pouring their water into two holes on each side. With each passing moment, its movement seemed different, slower than water, and unless my eyes deceived me, the liquid was not transparent.
As I was considering these facts, I could hear the wind blowing through the fields and realised something, one simple fact that had escaped me thus far, the bar was silent. I motioned to go back inside, but something else had caught my eye, three red headed women were approaching the path, the same group that had entered the front car. This time however, I could feel their presence and power in my mind, and was able to resist their influence. I was now able to withstand thinking and even looking directly at them without losing control over myself. I smiled and wondered if the young hooded lady had something to do with this.
The trio had stopped and were chanting something in a very low voice, almost murmuring, in unison. Two of them were carrying a lit torch and separated, each approaching one of the drains. They turned to the center and became silent, bowing towards the path ahead. The third one moved onto the path and slowly started climbing the hillside.
I dared a look inside and to my surprise, not one of its passengers were watching the events outside, and those closest to the windows were purposely diverting their eyes elsewhere. The women's pressure on my mind subsided, and I checked the hill, curious about what had changed. The torches remained lit, their women still bowing, there was only one change, the third woman had reached the hill top and continued walking, until all I could see was the red hair atop her head.
It was so quiet I could hear the water running down the drains. There had to be a water spring connected to those drains, but I could not understand its purpose. Back at the base, the torches started moving downward, towards the water, but to my surprise, when the torches touched the water, the water caught fire.
It wasn't water, it was oil and it was burning intensely, climbing the drains almost instantly.
I looked at the two women, at the red head atop the hill and it hit me, I realised what was going to happen.
At that moment, the two women started screaming loudly and I felt pain, massive amounts of pain, which I realised wasn't mine, it was theirs. The sound, the agony, it was being projected into my mind, and my best efforts could only block about half of it.
I searched for them, and found two of them kneeling, shaking in the ground. The thirds hair... was burning. The third woman was being burned alive, slowly, and her companions were suffering through her, as was I.
I withstood the agony with my eyes closed, but it didn't help, I could still see the flames and feel them in my mind. It lasted what seemed to be an eternity until she finally fell and my connection was lost.
I opened my eyes and saw no evidence of fire atop the hill. For a few seconds I stood there, shivering, trying to regain some sort of control over my feelings, assuring myself it was over. The ongoing silence didn't help me calm down, so I tried focusing on any sound, something to keep me distracted. That's when I noticed a hissing sound that got louder with each passing second.
When it almost became unbearable, it stopped, and then the hill erupted.
The shock wave shook the train and threw me back on the stairs. Later I was surprised that no windows were broken, but at that moment, all I could see were the giant flames which had dyed the sky red. The heat was intense, even from where I was standing, but fortunately short-lived. After about a minute the fire went out on its own.
I tried getting up, but found myself incapable of it, so I leaned forward, and was able to see the remaining women helping each other walk back to the train. The drains were empty, there was no smoke to be seen, and aside from the torches that laid lifeless at the beginning of the path, there was no evidence of what had just happened.
The bar's door closed in front of me and slowly, the train resumed its course.
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