The Lost Souls

The Lost Souls

Tisha was taking too long!


Theo was ready for the mine tour, and it would be closing soon. He'd heard about the coal mines of Virginia for a long time, and this was his chance to check one out. He wasn't sure why Tisha wanted to tag along, but oh well. Now, she's going to make him miss it.


They arrived as the last tour was prepared to leave. The train was full of patrons wearing hard hats with spotlights, ready to head into the mine. Funny. They all seemed to be burly men. At the end of the train sat one empty car.


After purchasing their tickets, the boarded the empty car, and Theo retrieved his map to note the stops along the mine tour. No one spoke as daylight was swallowed by the blackness of the mine's shaft, and Theo became wary as they traveled deeper with only the grinding sound of the railroad wheels against the tracks.


The train made an abrupt right turn forcing Tisha into his right side.


"What was that?" she asked.


"I don't know. Let me check." He scanned the map then said, "This isn't right. I think we're going somewhere else.


"Where?" Tisha sounded scared.


After five minutes, the mine train came to a stop. Theo checked the map. "This place isn't on the map. We're not supposed to stop here." Tisha clutched his arm.


A man's booming voice bellowed, "Alright guys. Get off your asses and git to diggin'." The other passengers left their seats, headed for the mine's walls, then disappeared into them.


Theo dragged Tisha from the train, and they scrambled back toward the entrance. It was Tisha's lengthy prep time which made him remember the map, but he'd tell her that later.