Mercer stared at the briefcase, unsure what to do. First, where the hell did the man go? Then, the suitcase itself... ? "See something, say something" is the phrase... but it wasn't like this was a box left alone in the corner of the train (because that's what all bad things look like) and he had seen the guy holding the suitcase... so surely that meant he was on the hook to return it... or something? Fuck it. The man isn't here, the train doors are still open, the train is empty, and a fancy suitcase is sitting there without protection. They say that when your true personality comes out when no one is watching and you there will be no repercussions. Mercer learned he was a thief. Grabbing the suitcase, Mercer walked as casually as he could out the train door, up the escalator, and out the subway turnstile. He walked as casually as a terrified, newly realized, and inexperienced thief might: with sweat running down his neck and back. He found the first fast food restaurant available, bypassed the ordering counter, entered the bathroom, and luckily found the only stall empty. After he locking the door and setting the suitcase down on the toilet seat, Mercer took his first breath since the train. "Don't open it" the wind whispered across the back of his neck. He could feel the breath of the words but no mouth, face, or person for the words to come from. The box shook with a heavier knock from the inside. This was ridiculous. Insane. Disappearing people abandoning thumping briefcases that voices on the wind tell you to leave alone AND YOU STEAL IT. What the real fuck. "I could just leave," Mercer said out loud. Not a fan of his newfound life of crime, Mercer's morals, curiosity, and fear were in direct conflict. He could open the case... but that was a whole world of unknowns... or he could walk away and continue on his trek to work as a Customer Support Representative and listen to everyone complain about the MaxJuice 3000. 100 times. Daily. It's funny how easily fear can become excitement. Mercer tried the combination lock clasp and got nothing but resistance. He dialed 0000, the factory default combination for most of these things, and the left latch popped open. "Why don't people change these things??" Mercer thought. He did the same for the second combination lock and clicked open the latch. "If you do this, you can never go back," said a voice from behind him. Mercer turned slowly... terrified... again. There stood the disappearing man.