"I probably should've just hailed a cab," I grumbled, looking around at the barely lit streets -- dead of any activity.

Compared to other cities, I didn't mind that nothing really happened and how the economy went down the shitter. The fact that there were no large companies or major attractions caused the property value to tank -- allowing people like myself to afford the rent.

Thinking of the balance that increased after Gary deposited the money for my article, I sighed. It wasn't a good idea to already start burning through what I had available just because I was too lazy to walk to the train station.

My footsteps echoed as my feet landed on the old cobblestone, likely not having been updated since it was first built.

For some reason, the sounds of my echoing footsteps caused me to feel a sense of dread.

"Calm yourself down. It's just some crazy guy thinking he's stumbled upon some mystery. Lazy Falls may be in the process of growing -- but it's still a place where people gossip. I'm sure that this guy heard about what happened between Becky and me." I tried to reassure myself and shrug off the strange sensation that seemed to be draped over me after I decided to take the email seriously.

It wasn't unusual for me to place myself in dangerous environments for a story as an investigative journalist. It was why I couldn't help but go back to my hometown and meet the strange individual.

After walking for quite some time, I finally see the station in front of me.

"Finally." I grin.

The station was close to the edge of the small city. Still, even with the buildings on either side of it, the way it sat next to the railroad tracks made it feel like it existed outside of everything. The train cutting through the city as if going through a mist. The area just being like a haunted location where nothing felt alive anymore.

But the cheap rent and proximity to the station made it perfect for a guy like me, who didn't really feel like they belonged to any single location.

I checked the road for any sign of a car before crossing the road to the station.

Unsurprisingly, there weren't any cars. A station would often have some cars from people who left them at the station for when they returned. There were even signs to indicate where people could park their vehicles if they were traveling on the train.

I looked at the parking lot off the street, which could likely hold thirty overnight cars -- those who left their cars at the station while they traveled. There were ten more spots for people to park if they were dropping off or picking up people.

My eyes looked at the lone beat-up blue sedan -- likely the public employee of the station.

Out of habit, I tried to remember the license plate and any identifying items of the car.

"Always on the job," I grinned.

For someone in my profession where things could get dangerous in moments, I'd learned to spot anything that could help me survive. I could even imagine where the wires were located beneath the steering wheel of the sedan in case I needed to hotwire it.

I think back to when the soldier had taught me to steal cars.

"You never know when you'll be in a situation where a stolen car could save your life," The soldier grinned as he held the wires in his hands right before the engine started.

Going up the stair of the station, I opened the door and looked around. In front of me was a small counter, only able to deal with customers one at a time. Behind the counter was a slightly worn uniformed older man with a tidy mustache.

I could see the older man jump slightly after being startled by the sound of the door opening.

He looked at me with slight disbelief. The man then looked off to the side before looking at me. "Where you heading, son?"

"I need to get to Lazy Falls as soon as possible," I informed the man.

"Lazy Falls," The uniformed man repeated before rummaging through paperwork out of sight.

With how late it was, I didn't know if there was a train heading in that direction soon, but a weird feeling told me that this wouldn't be an issue.

"You're in luck," The uniformed man said, looking at me with a grin. "There's a train arriving at the top of the hour."

The hair on the back of my neck raised slightly after learning that there would indeed be a train heading to Lazy Falls so soon. It wasn't the fact that there was a train but the timing as if it was planned ahead of time by the mysterious sender of the email.

Not alerting the man that anything was strange about the situation, I walked to the counter.

My eyes glanced at the sticker that had the symbol of the digital wallet I use.

"That'll be 50 silver," The man said.

Pulling out my smartphone, I open up my digital wallet so that I can pay for the ticket.

Seeing that I was using my smartphone, the man behind the counter reached for the scanner. Before presenting it to me, the man pulled out a handkerchief and wiped it down to likely remove dust build-up.

Once the scanner was on the counter, I placed my phone near the device.

I watched as the screen changed to indicate that it detected a scanner within range. It quickly sent the information and informed me that the exchange was successful with a large green checkmark.

Even though it was only 50 silver, I felt my chest sink slightly. With me not knowing when I'd be getting paid, using money wasn't something I enjoyed. But I knew that it was necessary to find out whether the person on the other side of the email was legit or not.

"What business has you going to Lazy Falls?" The man's eyes had a twinkle of curiosity.

I knew that the man was just trying to relieve himself of his boredom, with me likely being the only person that came through those doors. "Just paying a visit to my parents, they passed away, so I like to drop in and make sure their area stays clean."

The man's eyes widened from the unexpected news, looking away, embarrassed. He tried to apologize. "I'm sorry, son. I didn't..."

I waved a hand. "Don't worry about it. They're in a better place."

Hearing the tone of my voice, the man smiled gratefully. "I'm sure they're proud to have such a dedicated son." He beamed as he placed the ticket on the counter.

"Thank you," I said while feeling a little guilty about using my parents as an alibi, though I knew both of them would understand.

Motioning to the waiting area on the platform, the man said, "The train should be here soon. Feel free to check out our complimentary services while you wait. And if you want, you can change the music." He pointed to the wall where there was a sign and what looked like a radio.

"Thanks," I nodded as I opened the door to enter the platform area.

Gentle music came flowing out as I walked onto the platform.

"Some kind of classical music?" I said, trying to pinpoint the music which had the vague tinge of familiarity that such historical music often brought.

Looking around, there was only a single row of seats up against the wall. Above it was a partial roof in case rain was an issue.

It only took moments to locate the complimentary area.

Curious, I headed over to the table. Just from the smell, I could detect that food was involved.

My footsteps echoed on the concrete platform, unimpeded by the empty surroundings. The walls were a thin metal, amplifying any sounds.

On the table were several cylinders holding some kind of drink. A piece of paper inserted into the name slot indicated what was inside.

"Water, orange juice, and coffee -- both regular and decaf," I read each paper.

Seeing the cups off to the side of the containers, I proceeded to fill one with the precious dark liquid that would help to keep me awake.

"I don't know any invention that has benefited me as much as coffee has," I joke.

Making sure to leave a third of it empty, I raise the cup to take a sip before I add cream and sugar. The liquid is still hot, though not scalding, which is welcomed. The fact that the coffee was still hot meant that I was drinking a relatively fresh batch.

The bitter taste of the coffee was familiar. Even the aftertaste of the cheap grounds used.

"I've had worse," I shrug.

Next to the cups was a metal bowl with ice. Sitting on the ice was a small metal container with the words creamer.

I grabbed the creamer and began pouring it into the coffee, the white fluid swirling and mixing with the black liquid -- turning a light brown color.

The familiar glass container with the metal covering for the sugar was quickly found before adding the sugar.

Though I didn't mind black coffee, if that was all that was available, I preferred to remove the acidic edge that the liquid had.

Grabbing a wooden stirrer, I stuck it in my cup and slowly stirred it as I moved to see what else was available.

There were several covered dishes. One had sandwiches sliced into triangles, and the other had various pastries that were familiar in the area.

Using my index finger to hold the stirrer, I took a slow drink of the coffee which tasted significantly better with the cream and sugar added.

Though the pastries looked good, likely also fresh, I was hoping for something savory.

Reaching for the cover, I lifted it and set it to the side. The sandwiches were revealed.

Picking one of the sandwiches, I soon took a bite. The lettuce, tomato, and slightly spicy and peppery sauce were immediately appreciated on top of the deli meat, likely roast beef. It wasn't a complicated dish, possibly even prepared by the lone station worker. But I still enjoyed the simple taste -- even more since it was free.

There was nothing like getting more than expected when paying for something, so I appreciated the food.

"Despite this place being so empty, they still do a good job making their customers feel appreciated," I thought to myself.

The world was a harsh place that would eat a person alive without any concern. It was why any signs of care were valuable and welcomed.

After finishing the sandwich, I grabbed another and stuck it in my mouth to free my hand as I returned the cover.

"At least I don't have to think about dinner," I smiled as I made my way towards the platform's edge.

Since I'd be sitting down for at least several hours before reaching Lazy Falls, I wanted to stretch my legs a little as I enjoyed the food and coffee.

The warmth of the coffee helped to fight against the air that further cooled the later it became.

As I ate the sandwich while occasionally taking a sip of the coffee, my thoughts couldn't help but drift as I pondered what would be awaiting me back in the place I used to live. I couldn't help but feel as though I'd regret having opened the email.