The Last Train to Somewhere ...

[Yesua888]

Care to go on an adventure?

Interactive and creative
​

We begin with a short cryptic and compelling story ... that must continue on:

The Rules:

1. Add 1–2 paragraphs to continue the story.
2. Do not dismiss the main character or end the story.
3. Keep it consistent with the mystery and tone.
4. Don't try to solve the problem.
5. Build upon it, and let it continue to grow.
6. Twists and turns will lead us where ...
7. Have fun!

Lets Begin:

The station was empty, save for the dust motes dancing in the single beam of moonlight. Elias checked his watch; it had stopped exactly at midnight, just like every other clock in the city. The ticket in his hand bore no destination, only a date: Tomorrow. As the train screeched into the station, the doors hissed open to reveal not a carriage, but a dense, glowing forest. A voice whispered from the shadows said "Care to step in?"

Current Status: Elias is standing on the threshold, no suitcase only a book.
What does he do next?

How it works:

Write the paragraph (following on from the one already written), and then post a question, for the the next person to add to, who then asks a question for the next person, to continue on ...

Ask the next person: What does he do next?

 

[bobinfaith]

The station was empty, save for the dust motes dancing in the single beam of moonlight. Elias checked his watch; it had stopped exactly at midnight, just like every other clock in the city. The ticket in his hand bore no destination, only a date: Tomorrow. As the train screeched into the station, the doors hissed open to reveal not a carriage, but a dense, glowing forest. A voice whispered from the shadows said "Care to step in?"

Elias could have played it safe and stayed behind but his spirit prompted him to "cautiously" but "curiously" step in and is mesmerized by the dense glowing forest. He overcomes his fear while taking one step after another in faith. In this forest he sees what looks like a bright door way at the end of the forest. Then next to one of the trees is what appears an electric guitar. Elias grabs the guitar and without "composing" he starts playing and improvising whatever his fingers are led to play. Suddenly the sound of musicians can be heard accompanying him as he plays guitar. This goes on for 5 minutes and 19 seconds...As Elias goes to his book, what does he come across next?...

 

[Yesua888]

Gripping his Book, Elias gazes down for a moment, as though mesmorized, smiling all the while.
Suddenly, he looks up, and the light in the distance seems to be beckoning him.
Elias is hesitant, yet he knows that he is not alone.
He does not quite make it to the light, something catches his attention.
What could that be?

 

[bobinfaith]

Elias stops because something seems to be pulling him closer to the light at the end of the forest. He is thinking, "is this a good thing or should I not respond and remain still?" After a moment of pause, Elias begins to hear a quiet whisper but cannot see who's speaking. It's not the kind of whisper that one cannot see that would startle and bring fear, but a sense of peace and listening. Elias' encounter makes him grip his Book even tighter while the light is still far off, but doesn't realize it because the whisper has caught his attention. What's going on?

 

[David]

Before Elias can understand the whisper, the Book begins to tremble in his hands. Its pages turn by themselves, faster and faster, until they suddenly stop on a page that appears completely blank. Then, as he watches, a single sentence slowly forms across the paper: “Do not follow the light until you know what is casting it.”

Elias looks up. The light at the end of the forest is still glowing, but now he notices something he had missed before. Every tree casts a shadow away from it, except one. The shadow of that tree stretches toward the light, and something within the darkness appears to be moving closer.

What does Elias discover beneath the tree?

 

[Yesua888]

The shadow of that one tree seems to be pointing towards the light, or something!
Lurking in that "pointing" shadow, that something draws even closer now, he can almost feel it's breath
Elias holds his breath!
He is moved, curious, yet not so sure whether to move or even take a breath again
Then beneath the tree, there it is ... a deer, with big beautiful eyes
The deer is clearly visible because the shadow has flipped the other way.
But wait, something else is stirring ...

What could it be?

​

 

[David]

Elias first thought the deer was what had been moving in the shadow, but something about it did not feel threatening. It stood there quietly, watching him with those big eyes, almost like it was waiting for him to notice what was right in front of him. Then the Book in his hand grew warm again, and Elias knew the deer was not the answer. It was pointing him to something else.

He stepped closer to the tree and saw the ground beneath the roots begin to move. Not like an animal was under the dirt, but like something buried was trying to come up. The roots slowly pulled apart, and beneath them was a narrow stone path that had been hidden the whole time. On the first stone were these words: “The light is not always the guide, and the shadow is not always the enemy.”

Elias looked back toward the glowing forest, then down at the hidden path. For the first time, he wondered if the train had not brought him there to find a place, but to learn how to tell the difference between what only looks safe and what is actually true. He gripped the Book tighter and took one slow breath.

Does Elias follow the hidden stone path, or does he open the Book again first?

 

[Yesua888]

Elias reads the inscription on the steps one more time, and wonders whether this message is for him.

He is betwixed and between ...

​

There is a strong message inscribed in Stone. Who wrote it he wonders ...
Could this message really be meant for him; could it shape his future!?

The deers presence is somewhat comforting, and it is as though it is waiting for Elias to make a choice ...

Elias is filled with awe; he has never experienced anything like this before.

Will anything else come up ... it is as though the forest is alive, and everything in it is stirring!
His mind is swirling ...

He wonders whether to follow the steps and go down into the immediate unknown, where it looks quite dark, or whether he should press on into the distant unknown, where there is Light?
Surely the Stone bears a message for him ...

​

Elias is feeling so tired, and does not want to make that choice on his own.
Gripping his Book, he decides to turn the pages ...

Sleep takes over, what will transpire when he awakens?

 

[Yesua888]

Elias wakes up or is he dreaming ...

He steps over the stone inscription and finds himself in a room, filled with books.


what is this?

 

[David]

Elias stood in the room of books, but something felt off. There were thousands of them, yet the Book in his hands felt heavier than all the others. Some of the books whispered his name. Others promised answers, shortcuts, and easier roads. One even opened by itself and showed a bright road with no thorns, no sorrow, and no cross.

Then the Book in his hands opened, and the words on the page shone brighter than every shelf around him: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Elias knew then that not every book in the room was meant to guide him. Some were only meant to distract him from the one Book that could.

Across the room, a narrow door appeared between two shelves. It was plain, low, and easy to miss. Above it were written the words, “Few there be that find it.” Elias looked back at the fallen book on the floor, then at the Book in his hands. This time he did not reach for the louder voice.

 

[Yesua888]

Elias's Book was with him all this time!

He has had some amazing experiences, and seen such beautiful things along the way. He has made some good choices from his Guide Book.

Elias is learning to Trust The Book ...

Will The Book shine more light along his journey through the forest, teaching him how to more than just "survive"?

​

 

[David]

Elias started toward the narrow door, but before he reached it, the Book opened again in his hands. The room was quiet. Even the whispering books on the shelves seemed afraid to speak. A soft light rose from the page, not enough to flood the room, but enough to show Elias the next step. He realized the Book was not showing him the whole road at once. It was only giving him enough light to walk by faith at this moment.

Then Elias bent low and went through the narrow door, he found himself back in the forest, and noticed something had changed. The trees no longer seemed only strange and threatening. Some still leaned over the path like dark watchers, but now Elias could actually see the small marks that were carved into their bark. Each mark looked like a word, and each word looked to be waiting for the light from the Book before it could be read.

When Elias lifts the Book toward the nearest tree, what word appears first?

 

[Yesua888]

Elias reflects on the journey that he began, when he stepped off the platform, and into the unknown.

He realises that his journey is a spiritual adventure of self-discovery and enlightenment that clearly combines elements of spirituality and personal growth, which has tested his faith. He thinks to himself, this is "magical" yet so very "real" ...

​

Elias knows that his Book has helped him get this far on his journey, and through situations that he never dreamed he would be facing. The still quiet deer that he saw along the way, comforted him, and gave him courage to take the next step.

Gripping the new Book of "Light" that he took off the shelf deep beneath the earth, Elias steps closer a tree to read it's mark; the Light of the Book dimmed.
He took that as a sign, then turned in the direction of another tree; the book of LIght lit up brightly.

The mark etched into the tree had a Crown over the words "Trust, Trust"

Yes, this is the Way he knew in his heart ... I will Trust!

What happens next?

 

[David]

Elias stepped toward the tree marked “Trust,” but the light did not move with him. He looked down at the Book in his hands and finally understood that it was not just another book written by men. It had been given by the one true God. Yet carrying it would do him no good if he refused to trust what it said. He could not change its words to fit the path he wanted, nor ignore the parts that made him uncomfortable. The Book was not meant to follow Elias. Elias was meant to follow the Book.

He opened it and read, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Elias placed one foot upon the narrow path, and at once the false lights around him began to fade. But farther ahead, the path divided again, and both directions looked equally dark. Then a new sentence slowly appeared upon the page. What did the Book tell Elias to do next?

 

[Yesua888]

When the path of life divides, the Bible teaches believers to trust in God’s guidance rather than relying on their own understanding, and to choose the narrow, righteous path that leads to eternal life.

The Book is new to Elias, but it has given him guidance and hope!

The pages of the Book turn on their own, and rest upon Matthew 7:13-14 where Jesus commands believers to "Enter through the narrow gate."

Elias thought, 'the path to the left looks more beaten '; does he have doubt?

 

[David]

Elias stood staring at the two roads before him. The left one was wide and well-traveled. It looked as if many people chose that road based on how smooth it was. The other road was small and gravelly. It was hard to even tell it was a road at first glance. He stood there contemplating the two for a minute. If there were that many people taking the broad road, how could they all be wrong?

The Book opened in his hands and Elias read, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. Elias began to see that this was bigger than just two roads. He was being asked to decide whom he would trust. One road was simple and seemed to have many people taking it. Yet the Book laid right there in his hands telling him to walk another road.
He stared down the narrow path again. It was rocky and he still could not see very far down the path. But now Elias knew something he did not before. Because many people walked one path did not mean it was the right path. Jesus had told him which path would lead to life.

Elias stepped towards the narrow path when he heard something behind him. At first it was hard to make out, but there was no denying it. He heard the faint whistle of a train in the distance. The sound of that train broke through the stillness of the forest. Elias froze and turned his head. Was that train coming to take him back? If it was would he listen or keep walking on the path that the Book had shown him?

 

[Yesua888]

That sound of the train in the distance was familiar, but somehow it did not hold the same attraction to him now.

Elias's adventure, had changed him ...

The train could be a "distraction" to get him to return to where he stepped into the "unknown", this incredible adventure.

He knew that he needed to get through this Book, and learn more about Jesus's journey on Earth. He wanted to know more about the "New Life".

Elias remembered a part in his amazing Book that said: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world." 1 John 2:15-16

He had come a long way, and was intrigued with the promises that he had read in his Book, he wanted to know more.

Elias felt like he was at The Most Important Crossroads of his Life ... did he really want to go back to the train and his past life?

​

 

[David]

Elias stood there listening as the whistle faded into the distance. For a moment he thought about turning around, but then the Book opened again in his hands. His eyes fell on the words, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Elias read it twice. Maybe this “New Life” he had been wondering about was not about making his old life a little better. Maybe following Jesus meant he could not keep one foot on the narrow path while still looking back toward the train.

Then something strange happened. The rails behind him began to tremble, but the train never appeared. Instead, Elias noticed something lying beside the narrow path that he was sure had not been there before. It looked old, worn, and strangely familiar. As he stepped closer, he realized it belonged to his past. Something he thought he had left behind long ago. What has appeared beside the path, and will Elias pick it up or leave it behind?

 

[Yesua888]

Elias had made up his mind to take the narrow road.
He looked down at the old familiar bag from his past.
Memories came flooding back into his mind, some of them were good and others not.

Elias was not sure whether he even wanted to open the bag, the memories were so vivid.

What if opening the bag was a distraction, and it took him off his new path.
He started to feel remorse for the things that he had done in his past.

Elias loved his journey and did not want it to end, and he did not want to be distracted by his past, and he knew that he had to do something about this new realisation of how he lived his old life.

Elias wanted to learn more, and to experience more; mostly he wanted to get to know Jesus!

How did his journey evolve, going forward?


Jeremiah 6:16
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,
and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

 

[David]

Elias stared down at the old bag for several long moments. He did not reach for the drawstring. Something was different inside of him. In another life he may have rifled through that thing looking for ways to explain himself, excuse himself, maybe even forgive himself. But he opened the Book instead. His eyes were drawn to words staring back at him from the pages, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Elias knew that following Jesus wasn’t about acting like none of that ever happened. It was about bringing the truth of it into His light and trusting God with what he could never take back.

He knelt down next to the bag. Before his fingers could brush against the coarse material, something clenched tightly inside shifted. Not spasmodically by any means, but with enough force that Elias jerked his hand back. Suddenly, the clasp clicked open, freeing the strings without Elias even touching it. He braced himself for the memories of his former life to spill out before him, but there was only one solitary item tucked away inside, bundled up with an old rag. Elias lifted his gaze to the Book once more, then set it back down on the ground and looked back at the bag. Whichever sin followed him this far seemed tied to his next step.

What lies hidden inside the old bag and why has it haunted Elias this far?

 

[Yesua888]

As a young boy Elias had gown up with few material "riches". He remembered envying other children in the playground, proudly playing with their new and expensive toys. They would compete with each other about which was the Best. He so wanted to be one of those "privileged" children, and to have what they had.

One day after school, he noticed that one of the toys that the others were proudly displaying, had been left on a desk in the classroom. This was in his opinion the Best Prise ever, and he had to have it.

He took his opportunity, snatched up the object, wraped it in his old dirty hankey, and tucked it away in his satchel.

When he got home, he felt really guilty, as he knew enough to know that he has stolen someone's pride and joy.

He decided to keep it a secret, and put it away out of sight!

What are his thoughts about this "object" now?

​

 

[David]

As Elias unfolded the rag he saw what once thought was the greatest thing in the world. Now it appeared very small and meager. He couldn't understand how this small item had stayed in his mind for so long. However it wasn't about what he had. It was about what he felt when he took it. He felt as if he wanted what others had and when the chance presented itself he stole it.

The Book laid open in front of him and he read "Thou shalt not steal" (Exodus 20:15). There was no mention of why he may have stolen. Being poor or wanting what the other kids had or even that he was little. He hung his head low. Of course God forgave him once he told Him what he did but just because you are forgiven doesn't mean its okay. He flipped the item over and noticed something he never knew was there. Two initials and a name was scratched on the bottom.

He continued to look at the name. After all these years do you think the person he stole from would know? What would Elias do?

 

[Yesua888]

Elias's journey in the forest had served it's purpose, so he decided it was time to head back home.

Elias looked up his long lost "friend", to whom the initials belonged. He remembered this girl well, as though it was yesterday, when he envied her amongst the other "privileged" children.

He realised how he had changed, and wondered whether she had too.

He had to right the wrong, one way or another!

Should he just drop a parcel off at the door ...



or



should he face his "long lost friend" from so long ago.
Would she even remember?
How awkward this could be ...

What did Elias do, and how did this impact on his life going forward?