severity

The old bus pulled up outside Tweedly Bus Station releasing a blast of grey smoke as it shuddered to a halt. I coughed as I picked up my briefcase and joined the crowd of people boarding the 62. The old ladies got on first, followed by the frowning mothers trying to control their two year olds in the midst of a tantrum, struggling with their buggies. Then there were the nobodies. Nobodies like me, alone and silent, keeping themselves to themselves. We all looked at the old bus, visibly uncomfortable at the realisation we were going to have to sit within such close proximity of each other. I sighed.

As soon as we were all on the bus and I had squeezed myself through the thin isle between the seats where I dodged arms, legs, and bags, the bus engine started with a roar and accelerated sharply. I let out a yelp as I was forced backwards and into a young lady behind me, she glared as I made my apologies. Finally I found a seat right by the back, although it was hard to call it a seat. Only half a seat remained as the bulging backside of a rather large man covered the other half. I smiled through gritted teeth at the man, and slid in next to him. No wonder this was the last remaining seat, I thought to myself, as I inhaled the sweet stench of his body odour.

The journey started off with a buzz of energy. Babies crying, children shrieking, mothers scolding, old ladies nattering, and the loud bass sound of people with their MP3 players up far too loudly. I hadnt brought anything to read so I indulged in a little people watching. Why are these people on this bus? I wondered. Maybe to visit an old relative, or a friend, maybe they were running away from their old lives and starting afresh. I didnt know. The fat man next to me popped open a pack of boiled sweets, You want one? He grunted. Umm.. no thank you I replied. The fat man looked visibly offended, as if turning down his sweet was a personal attack. As he went back to doing his cross-word and crunched on his sweets, I began studying him. I wondered how old he was, I found it was hard to tell with overweight people. It can be ageing. There were a few white flecks in his black hair, and a few deep creases on his red pudgy face. I noted he wasnt married, he probably lived alone, I figured. I grew sleepy as I watched houses, cars, and people, whiz by as I looked out of the window, and became drowsy from the warmth and soft bumpy rhythm of the bus. Everything went black.

I awoke to silence. I groggily scanned the bus. How long had I been asleep? I pulled back my blazer sleeve and saw the time was 3 PM. Id been asleep for hours! Why werent we there yet? I began to feel a little panicked. Maybe I had got on the wrong bus? As I looked around I saw everyone else looked worried too. There were people looking out of the windows, wide-eyed, to see if they could recognise where they were. People were looking around at other people for some kind of reassurance. Maybe I was imagining it? Maybe we had to stop off for some reason whilst I was sleeping. I relaxed a little. The silence of the bus rung in my ears when only hours earlier this same bus had been bursting with noise. Even the children were silent, staring straight ahead at the road. I felt uneasy.

My lips were dry and my eyes ached. It had been 6 hours since the bus had started its journey and we still had not reached our destination. Something was wrong, very wrong, but nobody was saying or doing anything. I looked at the mirror at the front of the bus to see the drivers face, he was staring straight ahead at the road and smiling. I bit my lip. Everyone else was quiet, I longed to shout, scream. Why is nobody talking to one another, why is nobody asking the driver what the heck is going on? I thought even the children might be getting restless and grumpy by now, but they just sat there, probably the most obedient they have ever been in their lives.

8 hours now, it was starting to get dark. I was screaming inside, I wanted to get off of this bus! I was feeling claustrophobic. My throat was tightening. It was hard to breathe. I needed water, I wanted to shout for water. Did anyone have water?

Why was nobody moving? Nobody moved even an inch. They were all still, so still. I hadnt moved or spoken either. What the hell was wrong with me?! Somebody needs to talk to the driver. Ask him. Its not hard, why dont I just go and ask the driver?

No, not yet. I cant. Why cant I? I dont know! It had been 12 hours now. My mind was doing crazy things, I couldve sworn we just drove past blue grass. Haha. Blue grass? What am I thinking! Im going nuts, crazy as a coconut, insane, a little mad! I looked at the mirror, the driver was still smiling.

Im not getting tired, Im not even getting hungry. Where is he taking us? Is he going to kill us? I looked around the bus wildly. People were still sat exactly the same, nobody had moved. Not even to go to the toilet. I saw a puddle under an old womans chair, the stench or urine hitting my nose. Her eyes stared forward, they looked empty. Was she dead? She looked dead. Her eyes turned ever so slightly in my direction. No, she wasnt dead.

I began to remember things. Things from the past Id all but forgotten. That time I pushed Micky down the hill at school, when I used to pinch him and jab him in the back with my pen. Im sorry Micky! Mum, where was mum? Is she in heaven? Ill see you soon mum! Hahahaha. There was laughter in my head, so much laughter. I couldnt stop it. Everything seemed so fucking hilarious now. Hahaha, Ive been on this bus for over 24 hours! TEEHEE! What a jolly good laugh! I think were on the high way to Hell!

I couldnt take it anymore. I felt sick. Nobody was doing anything. We were just going to die on this bus, starvation will get us. NONONO! Im being silly. The driver has to stop some time, surely? He will need to eat. Hes not evil. We all just got on the wrong bus. He is driving us abroad, somewhere exotic. This has all been one big silly misunderstanding.

Were going in circles, I suddenly realise. Were back where we started, were at the bus station. Did he get lost? This is CRAZY! What is happening to us??

I felt broke, I couldnt take it anymore. I stood up. I heard someone behind me gasp. I looked around and saw relief in everyones eyes. Someone had done it. Someone had broken the silence, someone was going to find out once and for all what was going on. Why did it have to be me?

I tried to appear as confident as I could, as I slowly walked down the isle towards the front of the bus. I looked in the mirror one last time, and saw the bus driver looking back at me. His crazy smile faltered for a second. I panicked, but there was no turning back now. I reached the front, legs weak, heart pounding. My voice came out cracked and hoarse.

What are you doing to us? I sobbed. I couldnt help it, hot tears streamed down my face, my nose was pouring. I looked a state and I didnt care. Please, why havent you stopped? .. Its been days. My voice barely audible.

The bus driver turned his face sideways to look at me. He was not watching the road. His face was red and manic, he was smiling broadly with jagged yellow teeth. There was a little blood seeping out of his left nostril. I recoiled back with a yelp. Youre crazy!! I yelled. Why dont you stop!?

His voice came slowly and steadily, it was sickening and purposeful. It reminded me of hearing bones crunch. I would have stopped, he said. If you had just rung the bell.

I looked around wildly, there were no bells. But

But my voice could not be heard over his sickening laughter, louder and louder.
And me. I was laughing. We were all laughing.