Terror at the Train Tracks

No one knows why the train gates decided to stop working that day. No one knows why the light after them decided to stick on red. But whatever the reason, it caused utter chaos for one family..

Twelve year old Tess was sitting in the backseat of the car next to her two year old brother, Cole. Their mother was taking them on a grocery trip. She had other things to do as well, so she was in a small hurry.

The red light and the small line of cars waiting for it to turn green loomed up in front of their car as they pulled up. Her mother sighed as the car pulled to a stop to wait. Her fingers tapped the wheel in impatience. Tess glanced out the window, watching the still view of the train tracks ahead of the car.

Another car added itself to the line of cars waiting, the driver also seeming a little impatient. As if noticing at the last second that he had to stop, he pushed his brakes, though bumped into Tess's car. Her mother was slightly startled and let go of her own brakes. The car went over the bump that was the train tracks.

"Mom..." she started worridly.

"It's alright," her mother said with a small wave of her hand, "The light will change soon."

Tess sat back, still doubtful. The light didn't change. Her ears caught the sound of a whistle piercing the air. The train was coming. But why didn't the gates go down? 'It probably isn't coming this way.' she thought, since the gates weren't going down. The whistle grew louder.

"Mom!" Tess said, worried again.

She could see the outline of the steam emitted when the whistle went off. Her mother noticed it as well and beeped her horn. No one moved. The light still didn't change. When the whistle blew again and the train could be seen coming down the track, her mother ordered her to get her brother out of his car seat. She did as she was told, first unbuckling her own seatbelt and then getting Cole unhooked. She lifted him out of the seat, wondering what was going to happen. Her mother was fumbling with her own seatbelt, which seemed to be stuck. "Get out of the car." she ordered. Tess started to protest, but her mother repeated herself. Tess, still holding Cole, switched the car to unlocked and then climbed out of the car. Doing as her mother wanted, she moved away from the tracks. Her mother couldn't seem to get her seatbelt unbuckled.

The train was almost there, visually trying to slow down. The other cars were now moving, trying to make way for the stranded car. Tess watched it all with frightened eyes. The light still didn't change. The train was unable to stop, and as if in slow motion, crashed into the driver's side of the car. Her mother's mouth was opened in a scream, but it was muffled by the closed windows. The glass shattered, the car moved and was crushed. Cole was crying, burying his head in her shirt. Tess did the only thing she felt capable of doing. She screamed.

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