Chapter 1
The engine stopped with a deafening screech. They all looked around- in surprise and fear. No one was there. It was quiet and dark, like any normal night would be. The cool wind brushed gently away. Ray shivered, hugging her arms close to her.
Blue, Ray, Lia and Sierra were a group of four twenty-year-old girls. Now, they could be the most adventurous team. They loved going on expeditions and doing things others were too scared to do. Tonight, they had chosen to drive a rusty, old-fashioned train and get going to The Amazon Forest. But somehow, the train had stopped mid-track, which was preceded by a loud, ghostly cackle.
Blue, far by the most composed of the four, calmly said ‘Sierra, please check if we have run out of wood or coal.’
Sierra nodded and immediately did as Blue told, a minute later, her voice emerged ‘We still have coal and wood’ she said, her voice slightly echoing as she was speaking into silence.
Lia’s brows were furrowed. ‘What could be the reason for AAAHHHH!’ Lia couldn’t complete her sentence, it ended with her scream.
The lights in the room were suddenly gone so all they had was dim candlelight. But what truly alerted them was that Lia had been knocked off her feet, as though someone had pulled her down by grabbing one of them.
‘LIA’ called the rest 3 together, rushing forwards to help their friend on her feet. Lia shivered ‘It’s so cold.’ Indeed, it was. Suddenly, the cool wind had changed into a particularly icy one that sent goosebumps down their skin.
It was quiet. There was not a sound to be heard, even the chirping of the crickets had gone off. Then the girls jumped as the quiet atmosphere was slashed by several screams of terror. Blue, Ray, Lia and Sierra rushed to the compartments, Blue in the lead with a candle, to find a scene of horror. Blood was on the seats, which were viciously torn and slashed, and passengers were running around, screaming at the top of their lungs. Ray looked up, eyes wide, at the scene. A white, translucent figure was floating above them. Ray tugged at the sleeves of the rest to catch their attention. Steeling themselves and thinking nothing more could come, the girls looked up as well, only to freeze in horror.
The figure floated towards them with frightening speed and grabbed Sierra’s neck, lifting her high in the air. She choked on her breath, her eyes started to roll to the back of her head after a few seconds and her skin was starting to turn blue. Blue panicked when she saw this and saw ginger nearby. Well, ginger was used for vampires, but what option did they have now? As though sensing what she wanted, Ray picked up the piece of ginger and threw it at the figure. It stumbled back, the greasy hand withdrawing from Sierra’s throat. It snarled and launched itself at the others instead. In instinct, Blue threw the candle at it.
It had an instant effect. The figure screamed and roared in agony, in its hoarse voice. The girls watched as the figure burned, horrified, yet transfixed, as it slowly burned into ashes. Immediately, all the lights flew back in and the air was cool and normal again.
‘Girls- except Sierra- do me a favour and get the passengers from the next compartment and reassure them that it is solved and okay now.’ Said Blue, after a long silence.
‘Are you alright?’ Blue asked Sierra, once the other two girls nodded, and marched briskly to the other compartment.
‘Yes, just a bit shaken’ Sierra gave a small smile, lightly massaging her throat.
Once the passengers were reassured that they were safe, the gang of four went back to start the train again.
‘Well, this is going to be a never-forgetting experience, right?’ Ray asked, looking at the rest.
They all smiled. Yes, it was, wasn’t it?
