It was a normal Thursday morning during the main 'commuter hour' in London, as usual I had dragged myself out of bed a little too late, and was hurrying to catch the 8:05 tube on the Piccadilly line going from Ealing Common towards Holborn. The date was the 1st December and it was a chilly but sun filled morning, crisp and cool. Having made it down late onto the platform I was reluctant to get on such a packed carriage. Bag in one hand, book in the other hand wearing heals with no chance of sitting down for a least another four stops, I was not in the best of moods especially being packing into the carriage like a sardine struggling to hold on to the rail to keep steady.
An uncomfortable 15 minutes passed before a seat became available, so I settled into the seat, with my bag on my lap and began to get further into the book I was reading (I always read on the tube as I find it passes the time better than staring into space, whilst pretending not to look at all the other commuters!) By the time the tube passed through South Kensington, the carriage I was on was getting full to the brim, with people practically being forced to get very close up to one another (I was relieved I had a seat, selfish I know but the morning trains are a nightmare!).
By the time we were coming into Leister square station, I was getting restless and decided to cram the book I was reading into my bag, a fair few people were getting to their feet ready to get off at the next stop, when something caught my eye in the window in front of me, it was a reflection of what appeared to be the most horrible withered face of an elderly man, wearing some kind of hat! I froze in my seat fixated on the window, for a couple of seconds, as we came out of the tunnel onto the platform (into the light) it had all but disappeared. I was left cold and feeling very strange, however everyone around me seemed perfectly unaware of anything strange appearing before my eyes, so I said and did nothing. The carriage once again filled up and normality was restored, I continued my journey to work!
I still do the same journey each day and I am somewhat put off looking at any reflections in the glass windows for fear of what I may see, I also have not spoken to anyone about this as I am pretty sure they would just laugh it off. However I am all too aware that the underground has a long and gritty past, but why did whatever showed its self to me choose to do so?
Thank you for reading, and I would love to hear if anyone has had any similar experiences on the London Underground, especially around the Leister square station.
Loading comments....
A side note, I once saw an awesome documentary on the reputed hauntings of the London Underground, where some scientists chalk up the eerie feelings people get to subsonic soundwaves and the like. I think it was a History Channel bit but honestly can't recall 100%. Pretty interesting stuff, for the healthy skeptic - Having ridden the Piccadilly myself, place gives me the right out creeps. Thanks for sharing!