Death Ride

"Can I get a window seat?

Don't want nobody next to me."

Leesa was grooving to her favorite artist, Erykah Badu. The soothing vocals from her Bluetooth earbuds calmed her nerves as she glanced around the outside platform of the Pennsylvania Avenue 3 train stop, absorbing the perfect bright sunny afternoon. The warm breeze grazed Leesa's mocha-kissed skin. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. Days like this, Leesa opted not to wear sunglasses. She was a Leo - a true Sun Baby!

Leesa tried to live her life as quietly as possible. She was a Case Manager for one of New York City's well-known housing organizations. She was a reliable advocate, with a 95% approval rating amongst staff and clients alike. She was well on her way to becoming a Case Supervisor. While many people saw Leesa as a formidable woman, she viewed herself as...

Just another girl on the IRT, Leesa thought, as the red line 3 train headed to Manhattan - more specifically 145th Street - rocked gently on the tracks, gliding to a smooth stop.

Leesa stepped gingerly onto the train car, scrunching her nose as she was assaulted by the smell of Ms. Mary Jane. The odor annoyed her, but it wasn't going to deter her from getting an orange or red seat on the unusually busy train.

She knew she was slim and could fit in any available seat, but there was not a single seat to be found. Leesa rolled her golden chocolate eyes.

Dayum, she thought, I have to stand?! It's only the third stop along the line!

Leesa took out her cell phone and checked the time.

2:52pm

She knew it would take 75 minutes to get to 145th Street, plus 10 minutes of walking to get to the dance studio for her heels class. Leesa had a long emotional week and all she wanted to do on this Friday afternoon was dance to some Beyoncé and get Tequila Tipsy.

2:53pm

Leesa looked out the window as the train rolled slowly to the Junius Street stop. More people entered the train car. The scent of Ms. Mary Jane only grew stronger. Deciding she wasn't in the mood for a contact high, Leesa dipped into her coral "Good Vibes" backpack to get one of her disposable black masks. She kept spares in case she saw anyone coughing.

There was no air conditioning for the train car. People started opening windows just so they could breathe easy. Unfortunately, all that came through the windows was just an inferno of wind. It felt more like an oven than a freezer. Leesa hated the cold, but she sure did prefer winter coolness over whatever the hell this stale air was.

At least I have water, Leesa joked in her head.

2:55pm

Shockingly, half of the people in the train car exited at the Rockaway Avenue stop. Taking advantage, Leesa slipped through passengers exiting and entering. She spotted a prime seat next to the center doors. Just as she was about to sit, an elderly woman with a cane stepped on. Being respectful, mindful, and knowing her parents raised her right, Leesa stepped back so the lady could sit down.

"Thank you, Baby," the wise woman whispered sweetly.

Leesa smiled. "You're welcome, ma'am."

Nothing made Leesa glow like a warm "Baby" coming from a woman who reminded Leesa of her Grandma Reneé.

2:57pm

Reaching the Saratoga Avenue Station, Leesa knew that she would get a seat in a couple of stops - when the train arrived at the Crown Heights-Utica Avenue Station. Most people would transfer to the 4 train, the green line, taking the express route through the rest of Brooklyn and Manhattan - and Leesa needed to go to Harlem, not the Bronx.

As Leesa started humming to the next Erykah Badu song, she spotted a woman who looked vaguely familiar to her...

The woman appeared meek and ageless, like a church lady, wearing a colorful yellow sundress. Unlike Leesa, the woman was sitting down, dazed, like she was lost in her own little world. She carried a simple cream-colored purse. No books, no cellphone, no yarn, no needles. While it seemed like this lady, with her pale skin and green eyes, could have been a holy roller, Leesa suspected otherwise.

Yellow Sundress Lady must have sensed Leesa's stare because their eyes met. The lady smiled eerily, showing all her teeth.

Chomp chomp

2:59pm

Erykah Badu's voice was still in Leesa's ear. Instead of a song about traveling, the new song was a foreboding:

"Danger...you're in danger."

Yellow Sundress Lady pulled herself up using the pole above her. She approached Leesa slowly, like a predatory animal ready for her next victim.

Leesa had no idea why, but she started trembling with a mix of shock and fear. The sweat oozing from her face wasn't brought on by the heat outside, but from a memory within–one she couldn't access. She didn't understand what she was experiencing, but she knew when the universe was warning her.

Yellow Sundress Lady moved through the crowd, finally facing Leesa.

"Hello Leesa. I thought I recognized you. It's been a long time. How have you been?"

Leesa took a deep cleansing breath, slightly moving her mask for the exhale. The lady's voice was vibrant, with a note of steel…almost hypnotic. She responded with a warmth she didn't feel.

"Do I know you?”

Yellow Sundress Lady was still smiling with all her teeth - signs of awkward tension throughout her body.

"I know this is a delicate situation, Leesa–”

“Have we met before? I'm sorry, but I don't recognize you,” Leesa stated.

Yellow Sundress Lady was taken aback for a moment. Her smile disappearing, she stared at Leesa, her eyes tracking Leesa's body. She shook her head. “Of course you don't remember me. You weren't meant to.”

3:01pm

Without warning, the 3 train came to an abrupt halt.

Erykah Badu was still singing in Leesa's ear:

"Break!"

Apparently, someone had pulled the emergency brake on the train. Now stuck between the Sutter Avenue - Rutland Road & Crown Heights - Utica Avenue stops, but not underground yet, Leesa was still trying to figure out the mystery staring her in the face.

“What do you mean I wasn't meant to remember you?” Leesa was so confused by the entire situation, yet she knew whoever this lady was, she meant her no good.

Yellow Sundress Lady sighed heavily. “Well, this is awkward...”

“To say the least, because I'm really trying to figure out who you are, lady.”

The laughter that came from the Yellow Sundress Lady was creepy, yet melodic. She was a true contradiction.

“I'm sorry. This isn't a funny situation, but you are quite the honest person and that's the kind of humor I like.” Yellow Sundress Lady moved closer to Leesa, like they were old friends instead of strangers stuck on a train.

“Um,...” Leesa started.

“You keep calling me Yellow Sundress Lady in your head. I don't mind it, but it's not my name.”

Startled, Leesa tried to move away from the lady. Unfortunately, she found herself unable to move.

“I'm sorry we couldn't have met under better circumstances. We probably would have been good friends in another time or place.” The lady slowly took off her gloves. She frowned as she looked at Leesa. “My name is Dot. I tell people it's short for Dorothy, but really, it's just the simplest translation for what I bring.”

Leesa, still not able to move her feet, shook her head. “Why can't I move? How were you able to read my mind? Who are you?”

No longer laughing or smiling, Dot went for honesty. “You can't move because I placed you in magical suspension. I'm able to read your mind because I'm using my powers. Who I am…well, that's a bit more complicated.”

“You're crazy,” Leesa whispered, as she struggled to break the hold Dot had over her.

“You should stop struggling. Don't waste that energy,” Dot advised.

Leesa was about to scream when she took a moment to look around the train car. Everyone was frozen, stuck in suspended animation. Realization dawned on her. “No one pulled the brakes. That was you. That's why there hasn't been an announcement.”

“Yup, it's all me. I paused time so we could talk.”

“Now Dorothy, what do we have to talk about?”

Dot laughed. “I love your sarcasm. You are definitely an assignment I both cherish & regret.”

“Assignment?” Leesa asked. “What's happening?”

Sighing, Dot shook her head. “Leesa, there's no easy way to say this. I'm a Death Agent. I've been tasked to curate how you die. Not when, because that's predestined. Your time is now. I control the how.”

Leesa went quiet. She stopped struggling and focused on Dot's words. “So, you're here to kill me.”

“Not kill. I'm not an assassin. I'm here as a witness. I was sent here to create your death scenario.” Dot sat on one of the corner seats, feeling all the emotions running through her head.

“I'm supposed to die today?” Leesa asked quietly.

“Yes.”

Leesa, still frozen in her spot, shook her head. “I'm too young. I haven't really started life yet, Dorothy. I haven't been promoted at work. I'm not married. I don't have kids. I'm on my way to my heels class right now. I wasn't even thinking about settling down for another 5 years. I'm living my best life. Why now?”

Dot stood up. “I don't know. I was only given the task to do my job today.”

“Wait,” Leesa began. “You said ‘It's been a long time.’ What did you mean by that?”

Shaking her head, Dot stayed true with her honesty. “I am the assigned Death Agent for your family. Your parents, your siblings, your–”

“Lynette. You took Lynette. You had her die in a car accident.” Leesa started crying then. “Lynette was just a kid. We both were.”

“Yes, you both were. Your mother was not. I'm sorry you lost your little sister, Leesa. She was the sacrifice your mother needed in order to stop drinking. You were chosen to survive because your destiny was to make an impact on other people's lives. You've done that, Leesa. Whoever was supposed to receive your gift…it's done.” Dot rarely got this personal with any of her assignments, but she truly liked Leesa. She was genuinely a good person who also happened to be an empath. That made her relatable, trustworthy, and honest.

“So, my life ends, just like that? Is that how it works?”

“It's rare that death lasts for an extended amount of time. It's quick & sudden, most of the time.”

“So why are you prepping me?”

“You deserve it,” Dot answered. “You're absolutely right about everything you said. You're young. You haven't experienced life yet. You're just starting to enjoy independence. For whatever reason, this is your chosen time. I'm here to take care of that.”

“Do I at least get to choose how I die?” Leesa always wondered about that.

“Nope. That's my decision…but I try not to torture, unless it's necessary. It won't be necessary for you.”

Leesa was shook, but she also understood everything. She couldn't stop nor fight death…and Dot was making the transition as best as possible, given the circumstances. She wasn't trying to die a la Final Destination. She just wished…

“You wish you had more time,” Dot finished aloud.

“Yeah.” Leesa sat in the corner seat Dot had vacated. “Thank you. For telling me, giving me a chance without being scared. I'm mad I'll never meet Michael B. Jordan.” Rolling her eyes, yet smiling, Leesa met Dot's gaze. “But, thank you for the head's up, .”

“You're welcome.”

“Will I see Lynette…on the other side?”

Shrugging, Dot replied, “I don't know. I don't work with that division, Leesa.”

Leesa nodded. “Okay. So, when is this supposed to happen?”

Dot leaned down and touched the center of Leesa's forehead.

“Now.”

3:05pm

Dot, still in corporeal form, notified the train conductor that a young woman passed out in one of the cars as the 3 train rolled into the Crown Heights - Utica Avenue Station.

When emergency services arrived 7 minutes later, the paramedics noticed that Leesa still had her earbuds.

“On and on and on and on, my cypher keeps moving like a rolling stone.”