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9:15

Platform fifteen was at maximum capacity. Again, I looked toward the empty tunnel entrance, still no train. Looked at my watch: 9:15. It was late again. I was going to be late...again. This vicious cycle would repeat itself tomorrow; as it did the day prior. I turned and caught several faces surrounding me. They repeated my gestures...the look toward the tunnel...the watch...the irritation and impatience clearly evident on their faces...on my face.

That's when it dawned on me: Something was very different this morning.

All around me, a cast of characters from the mundane to the extreme: The strange woman with the multi-colored outfit and extra large handbag, looking like a modern artist's canvas with every color in the rainbow expressed to mean something; the businessman with the expensive suit purchased downtown, right off the mannequin perhaps, with a well groomed haircut configured perfectly; the construction worker, still showing signs of yesterday's job unfinished on his soiled coveralls; the sexy brunette with the sophisticated rims around her dark eyes hoping to make her look intelligent while no one could avoid looking at her low cut blouse exposing a little extra cleavage...the list went on and on. A variety of people from every walk of life.

But not today...not at this moment.

I continued to survey this mass of humanity to put a finger on this strange sensation that was creeping up on me. That was when I noticed something peculiar. Everyone I saw was mimicking my every motion. When I looked right, so did they; left, likewise. I think it was the unusual lack of chatter that gave it away...that gave them away. In fact, there was no speaking at all, not that I could see. Was this on account that I wasn't speaking?

I shook my head, looking toward my feet. This was just foolish thinking on my part. I never had much of an imagination but today was proving to be an exception. I let out a low laugh as did everyone of platform fifteen at the same time. I couldn't believe my ears. Did I just hear that? No way.

Still looking at my feet, the mimicking ceased all at once. That was when I heard hundreds of whispered voices from all around me speaking to each other. I only made out a few fragments:

...on to us....

...What do you want...about it?...

...Is it too late?...

...Let's remove the human now, before...

This wasn't funny anymore, if it ever was. I looked up sharply and was greeted with silent stares. There wasn't one person who wasn't aware of me.

I searched desperately

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