(Continues from Sparkling)

An abandoned bike glints in the streetlight
behind it looms a church lit by moonlight.
Beneath my feet the midnight train alight
but empty rattles by soon out of sight. 

A flash of purple quickens my dead stride.
Did I glimpse a story catching a ride?

Down through the earth I fall, no more substantial than the air the living breathe. My substanceless feet touch the ground for an instant before I take off in a lope. There’s a fresh story on the wind, and it smells like desperation. Flashing past the platforms, I pick up images–toes overhanging a platform’s edge, a fist crumpling up a first draft and phone with a cracked screen.

Have I found a jumper? Some fool planning on taking the midnight train to anywhere but life? Unbidden Journey starts crooning, Don’t stop believin’, and my fist punches the dank air in solidarity.

Brakes squeal. I’m not going to make it. Pushing my spectral self to run faster, I dig up new reserves. Thump. Is my ticker ticking? Thump, thump. I poke my still, quiet chest. Someone screamed.

Life’s for the living. Death’s for the dying. Kids should keep on going. But this one let go, flung his body at the bullet speeding at him. Bloody pieces pelted me, passing right through me as I shook my head and turned away. A siren screamed.

This story belonged to another. It’s not the one I need to save myself. So I grab a ride on the midnight train clattering down the opposing tracks. I’m going anywhere.

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For OctPoWRiMo, 31 poems in 31 days–all part of one story. Watch me do it.

Find the earlier parts of this series here.

All 31 prompts are pictured below.

Thanks to The Writing Reader for the picture prompt.

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Love my writing? Pick up Curse Breaker: Enchanted today: 

After an enchanted tree abducts Sarn, he’s thrust into a mystery revolving around a double homicide. Can Sarn protect his son, keep his masters happy and help the dead boy haunting him?

Look inside to find out. Read the first 15 chapters for free.