Ghost Train

** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **

Ghost Train

Nighttime was always the worst. The darkness, the cool air, everything about it was just building blocks for monsters and midnight fears. A shadow played upon by the moon was instantly transformed into a vampire or a ghoul in the eyes of whomever was unlucky enough to be tormented by these fears.

Laying awake in bed, Jesse stared at his ceiling, trying to ignore the movements all around him. The wind tapped at his window pane, making noises that prevented any form of sleep to fall over Jesse. It had been this way for a little over a week now. Ever since the accident.

Jesse stared at the bloody mass lying sprawled around the train tracks. He felt his stomach churn and in moments his dinner had found its way back up Jesse's raw throat. He turned his head and saw the train was stopping. Fear overtook him and he ran up the hill, clawing at the grass to help pull him up. Once he was clear of the tracks, he ran home, ignoring the pain in his chest and the tears streaming down his face. He went into his house as quietly as possible and snuck into bed before his parents even knew he had been gone.

It had been all over the news. How straight A student and all star basketball player, Davy Mitchel had been struck by a train. They hadn't know if he had been alone or with someone, but Jesse hadn't come forward. Everyone thought that Jesse had been home, safe, and asleep.

Rolling over in bed, Jesse looked at his wall. He had torn down all of the posters in a fit of rage. Now he wished that they were up there, something to look at, something to get his mind off of Davy. Jesse had just been looking for someone as wild as he was. Someone to have a bit of fun with. It had been a stupid idea at the time, but he had still gone through with it and that was all that mattered now. He was guilty.

A distant call of a train horn struck panic into Jesse and he looked out his window. The train tracks were about a half mile away, but he could always hear the trains as they passed through the night. Curling his knees up to his chest, he stared out his window towards the direction of the train tracks. He cursed that place, vowing to never go back there again.

"Come on, you're such a chicken." Jesse laughed as Davy's face went white. They were standing at the edge of the rail bridge. Thirty feet below them ran the river, a gentle calmness had taken over the river and it seemed less threatening at night, when you couldn't see the jagged rocks below. "Just walk on the planks and you'll be fine. I do it all the time." Jesse urged, starting across the bridge.

"If you say so."

Another whistle from the train and Jesse sat up. That sounded nearer, he thought to himself. He pushed the covers off of his legs and stood up on his carpeted floor, darting next to the window and looking out. It was dark outside. The small town where Jesse was from didn't have many street lights. The few that they did have seemed to always be burned out. Just as it was tonight.

"That train should be gone by now." Jesse said outloud, pressing his hand against the glass of the window. He listened for a little while more and sighed a breath of relief as he heard no more train whistles. Pressing his forehead against the window, he closed his eyes and took in deep breaths. "You're paranoid, Jesse." He said to himself.

Deciding that sleep wasn't going to come to him tonight, he made his way out of his room and down the stairs. He rounded the corner and was in the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he looked inside and groaned as the only thing they had to drink was milk and orange juice. Deciding orange juice would be better this late at night, he picked up the orange carton and was about to pour himself a glass when he heard the train whistle again.

The orange carton dropped to the floor, spilling its contents all over. Jesse stood in the middle of the kitchen, his eyes wide and fear pounding in his ears. The train whistle had been close now, as if it were coming up the street straight towards his house.

Jesse looked back at Davy, who was struggling to not look down at the river below. His face held fear until he saw that Jesse was looking at him. Davy then straightened up and smiled. "This isn't that bad," he said, trying to act tough. Jesse rolled his eyes and then froze. There was a train whistle in the background.

Slowly making his way into the living room, Jesse kneeled on one of the couches and pulled the curtain back. He looked down the street. He could see the intersection and how the stop light was flashing yellow. Taking in a deep breath, he convinced himself he must be imagining things.

Just as he was about to put the curtain back into place, a low rumbling greeted his ears. He stared at the intersection. A light started coming, too bright to be that of a car's. Jesse froze in horror as he saw the engine of a train come into view in the intersection. It seemed to stop and then started backing up. Jesse shook his head, whispering a quiet, "No," As the engine turned and started coming up the street.

"Jesus," Jesse hissed and hopped off of the couch. He flung open the front door and paused. Maybe it still wasn't real? But the rumbling and the growing of the light up the street told him that it in fact was real.

Jesse took off at a run.

"Is that a train?" Davy demanded, his macho exterior melting away as Jesse's horror stricken face turned to look at him. Jesse could only nod. Davy seemed to swell up with fear and he shook his head. "Run," He said, pushing Jesse forward. The two of them ran towards the other side of the tracks as they saw the train round the bend. It would be there soon.

It was cold out and Jesse had goosebumps wearing only a t-shirt and sweat pants. He ran as quickly as he could, not knowing where he was going, but figuring that any place was safer than just sitting and waiting for the train to reach him. Maybe the train wasn't after him? Jesse thought. But he knew the answer, even before he had to ask the question.

Looking back over his shoulder, Jesse saw the train turn onto the same road he was now running on. The white circle of the engine's light cascaded over him and Jesse saw smoke billowing from the engine's stack. He felt like crying as the rumbling now shook the ground beneath him.

The engine was quickly gaining speed on him and Jesse was running out of energy. As the engine was about to overcome him, Jesse darted off to the side, losing his footing on the slippery, dew covered grass. He crashed to the ground and rolled down the hill, grunting as a rock hit his shoulder.

When at last the world stopped tumbling out from beneath him, Jesse lay on his back, staring up at the sky. He took in deep breaths, unable to focus on what was going on. This had to be some cruel trick. Someone knows that Jesse was there to see Davy die and this is a trick to get him to confess.

Jesse's thoughts were interrupted as he looked up the hill he had just tumbled down. The rumbling of the train was gone, but was replaced by a slow groaning. Jesse stared at the hill and sucked in a breath as he saw the engine backing up. The slow groaning was the engine's wheels turning. The engine stopped at the top of the hill. It turned towards Jesse, the light shinning over the small valley. It looked like a horrible black monster with vicious possibilities. Jesse let out a sob and then sat up and screamed, "Go away!"

The engine let out a low whistle and smoke once again billowed from it's stack. Then it went over the edge of the hill and started down towards him.

Getting up as quickly as he could, Jesse took off running again, realizing that he was following train tracks, the same train tracks where Davy had been killed. He could still see the bloodstained gravel off to the side. But no time for that now, the engine was gathering speed quickly and was almost at his heels.

Jesse jumped onto the tracks and found himself running the rail bridge that Davy and Jesse had crossed on that horible night.

Jesse ran, getting off of the tracks and feeling relieved. But he turned around at a cry from Davy. He saw Davy's foot wedged between the tracks. His sneaker had caught and he was pulling at his leg maniaclly. "Jesse! Help!" He screamed as the light from the train's headlight flooded Jesse's eyes, silhouetting Davy as he struggled to be free from the track.

The train followed Jesse as he ran across the bridge. Jesse tried to get across, but his foot caught on one of the planks and he crashed to the floor. Turning to see that the train was almost upon him, he screamed and held up his arms.

"I'm sorry!" He screamed just as the train was about to take over him.

He felt a rush of wind, and for a moment he didn't breath, expecting the full impact of the train's engine. When it never came, Jesse lowered his arms slightly and looked around. His breath came shakily and he half whimpered as he saw that the engine was no where in sight.

Jesse could only watch in horror as Davy threw his arms up in a last attempt to thwart off the train as it overtook him. Jesse tensed and screamed as Davy's body was torn to bits by the impact of the train. He watched as blood poured onto the ground, staining it an instant crimson. "No!" Jesse screamed, his scream echoing around him.

Sighing and putting his arms down, Jesse struggled to breathe normally. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Jesus," Jesse whispered again. He let a small chuckle escape his lips as he realized what had happened to him. The images of Davy there had been with him through it all, tormenting him as he tried to escape the train engine. All Davy wanted was an apology. Jesse smiled and shook his head.

Jesse's eyes shot open as a train whistle sounded in the distance. He looked around. He was still on the bridge! Getting up, Jesse took off at a run, knowing that the train would come around the corner at any minute.

Reaching the end of the bridge, Jesse was ready to cry with relief as he went to jump off of the tracks, but he was brought to a sudden and painful halt. Jesse fell and when he turned his head to look backwards, he saw that his sneaker had caught in the tracks. The same place Davy had been caught.

The light from the train's headlight rounded the bend and Jesse let out a scream for help. He was only answered by the deep rumble of the train as it came closer and a small, distant satsified laugh.