A Bunch of Horror Stories

episode 20 (trans bus )

It was getting late when I realized I was at a trans bus stop. All I remember is, I have to go home because my son can get angry if I come home late again. There was never enough time for me at this twilight age to take a walk on my own, simply enjoying the changing atmosphere of the city.

Sometimes, so cool I take a walk, I forget that the night is getting late. Until my son-in-law has to pick me up downtown. I hate to make people bother. Be that day I made it clear to my daughter-in-law, so as not to pick me up if I haven't called home.

I'm used to walking alone everywhere with my late husband. We took public transport. Even at our retirement age. I wonder why young people are now so difficult to take public transportation. The facilities are getting more interesting.

Usually we would take a walk around the city and tell about our past and the buildings in the city.

“You remember right, this building used to be a cinema? We'll watch it here, you know!” my husband said pointing to a multi-storey office building.

“Where do I catch you watching with mariani, right?” I intend to tease him.

“What is it?”

“Iya!”

“Iya?”

“Iyaaa.” I lengthened his tone a sign I was absolutely sure.

“Iya deeh.”

After my husband died, I would occasionally take a walk like today. If I hadn't rushed home in a few minutes, my son would have called. Huh!

It's very difficult for an old woman like me to travel by public transport alone. Especially nowadays, it is rare for people to share a chair with me. When I was young, I used to share a chair with my parents. So I had to stand between the other passengers.

I see most of the passengers on this bus are young people.if I count, one. two. hmm. five. there are six parents besides me who are on this bus. All six sat down except me! Damnit damnit! Whereas in front of me there is a young woman who I believe will be stronger standing than me. If it had been me, I would have shared a chair with him. But I see, even this young woman never let go of looking at her phone.

The bus kept going and stopped at every stop, while my mind still grumbled regretting the insensitivity of the young man now. My knees were rattling because I stood up for so long. They did not hear it because the sound of my knees was no louder than the roar of a street vehicle.

Sometimes I grimace at the edges of my eyes because the pain is unbearable. My ringing is so soft that no one listens to it. No one cared about me, did they?

I was shocked when I saw the young woman in front of me suddenly looking at me. Her, I can't feel her gaze. That look seemed to pierce through me and reached the window behind me. Blank. I can't feel it at all. I look around. Sure enough! I don't feel their eyes. Every now and then some of them turn their eyes around, and when that gaze comes at me, it's the same! that look penetrated me!

God, I must have gotten on the wrong bus. I've read stories about haunted public transport. Whether it's a bus or a train. Usually, the bus or train must have been involved in a major accident that killed all passengers. Good Lord! Good Lord! I didn't expect to experience this at my old age.

The crackling at my feet explains that I will die if I jump off this bus. What can I count on? All these people cannot and cannot possibly hear my voice for this bus to stop. They're all dead! The driver is dead! Oh my God, how is this? I was not strong, my feet that had creaked before must have lost power, so I sat among this crowd.

Eh? I realized something! The passengers who went up or down never nudged me. It even seemed like they could deliberately avoid me so that our bodies would not get hit. How could? Is that haunted bus just my mind? Ah, it's true! Aye! I'm wrong! I just affected the mood.

While on this bus, I said steadily, their skin was not pale. Even the woman sitting at the very end was white, but not pale. The young man standing next to me is brown. Eh? Waitie? Uhh! So disgusted! This guy never shaves what, huh? Her armpits are so thick! Moreover, he wears a collared T-shirt whose arms are only limited to the shoulders.

Some passengers were talking. The curly-haired schoolboy who was standing by the door as well, he had been smiling to himself ever since. His ears are stuffed with something. Really yes, now people are busy themselves. No more caring about anyone else. If in my youth, the school children modeled him like to tease the woman in front of him. But then things get better, huh?

The young woman in front of me suddenly looked up. Our eyes met, but it was still empty. It's as if he didn't see me. Well, no problem. Typical young people now. He then stood carefully past me. I let go of my grip so he could freely pass. A few seconds later I saw him at the stop. Busy back with his phone.

I got off at the next stop. Simultaneously, the people in front of me shuffled to give me a way. Finally I was completely convinced that I wasn't riding on the ghost bus. The bus left and no passengers came down with me. I don't know what else I'm gonna do. Hah, the mind of the old man is already unreliable.

I came home when it was late at night. The sky that was once purplish red was gone. Change color of solid black. I walked quite a distance to the trans bus stop. I remember the conversation I had with Iwan. He said that if you take a trans bus at night like this, be careful.

“Indeed why?” I asked because I didn't understand.

“Begini, said. If you go on a trance, watch the floor. If the trance you are riding on has a red mark on the floor, don't step on it! Just avoid. If anyone steps on it, don't ignore it! It's ghost! Hii!” He hugged his own body as if it was cold.

“Ah, is that correct?”

“True!”

“Really?”

“True!” This time I'm sure he's serious.

“Or I'll just drive, how?”

“No, ah! Oh, this isn't just your wits, is it? Let me go home with me? Yes right?” I impute. I have a principle of not being offered to men. Anything! I am new to this city. Just week. I usually go home in the afternoon, nothing.

“Ya already, if you don't want to. Indeed, the possibility of you riding a trance that I mentioned earlier is very small. But I was just warning you. The people in this city, especially those riding trances are already on the know. Just look later.”

A few minutes waiting at the stop, the trans bus I was waiting for came. I noticed, at the entrance there was a warning not to step on the red mark. I shudder! I can't deny, I was immediately affected by Iwan's warning. I saw my watch showing at 20:48.

“This is the last bus, brother!” Kernet said to warn me. It was as if he knew what was holding me back from entering. Damnit damnit!

On the bus I saw a forty-centimeter oval mark. The seat in front of the sign was empty. There are people standing. But I saw nothing on the mark. There are no ghosts.

I decided to sit in that chair, people like watching my movements. Their eyes are watchful. Be foolish as if I passed the sign as if someone was standing on it. I sit. Ah relieved. My feet need rest. This day I drove patients from the ward to the ward. Hospitals in the city are always full. Not like the clinic in the area.

The bus stopped at the next stop. I saw a half-bent-up old granny come in. The people standing by the door simultaneously gave him a way. Troubled, he walked towards me. How surprised I was to see him standing on the sign of the prohibition. She's staring. I who was warned did not dare to look at him. I pulled out my phone and busied myself with it. Ah drat. Sometimes I have to look up to him to know where I've been. Ah shit!