Chasing the Subway into the Endless Hallway of Orion Express

Chasing the Subway into the Endless Hallway of Orion Express

I was late for the subway, sprinting down the hallway of my apartment building, but the hallway kept stretching forever. When I finally reached the platform, the train was a sleek silver capsule with glowing runes on the side, like something out of a space opera poster. I shoved my hand into the door, but the handle was a holographic wristband that wouldn't recognize my fingerprint. A woman I hadn't seen since high school—she was wearing a captain's uniform and also my coworker’s face—stood next to me, tapping the console and saying, "We're boarding the Orion Express, hurry!" I tried to explain I was supposed to be at work, but the announcement overhead said, "Next stop: Earth Orbital Station, final boarding call." I fumbled for my keys, but they turned into tiny star maps that floated away. Panic rose, then the train doors hissed shut, and I was left standing on the platform, hearing the distant hum of engines, wondering if I’d missed my shift or just missed the train.