Freighthopping

“The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. The teens slowly approached the old building and-”

“Mind if I join you?”

Mac, and the rest of his friends, jumped at the new voice. Just behind Jeremy was a boy about their age, a hand in his back pocket and the other giving a small wave.

The group gave a small laugh of relief. “Oh, my God, you scared me,” Katy clutched a hand to her chest, ”like, heart attack scared.”

Tyler chuckled and stepped towards their small fire pit. Mac furrowed his brows and glanced around at his friends. Jeremy and Sam were too engrossed in roasting marshmallows.. Katy had started a conversation with the new boy, obviously flirting. Sean, Ben, and Gus were too high to care either way and Tammy, Mac’s girlfriend, swatted his shoulder and gave him a judgmental look.

“Yeah, it’s cool. Have a seat.” Mac pouted and leaned against Tammy’s side. She smiled and leaned her head on his.

Tyler’s face lit up and he sat next to Katy, who leaned into his side with a giggle. Mac shared a look with Tammy and tried not to laugh.

“So, have you got a story to tell? We were just sharing spooky stories.” Jeremy wiggled his fingers out in front of himself. “Spooooooky.”

Sam snorted and pushed his shoulder, Ben gave a loud guffaw at the over exaggeration and offered a beer to Tyler. Tyler took the bottle and played with it between his hands, he gave a one armed shrug,” I mean, yeah I got a story but, it’s real. Like, really happened real.”

Gus took a hit of his joint and choked on a laugh. “Yeah, sure it is.”

“I’m serious. My Uncle told me it happened to a friend of his brother-in-law. Dude just never told anyone until he got super drunk one night. My Uncle swears it happened because the next day his brother-in-law tried to talk to him about it and he went pale and just left. Brother-in-law lost contact with him so, it has to have some kind of truth to it.”

Mac sat up and grabbed his own beer. “Okay, hit us with it. I love a good ghost story. Real or not.”

Tyler rested his elbows against his knees, leaned forward and propped his chin on his steepled hands. The fire crackled and an ominous shadow flitted across Tyler’s face.

“It happened in, like, 1992 so it was before cells and computers and stuff. Guy’s name was Vincent and he had just moved out of his parents house to start trade school. He was doing well off for himself but had gotten lonely...”

Vincent hadn’t had any luck in love since he graduated high school. His friends had suggested scouring personal ads for women looking to meet a good guy. It had been two months of nothing until he scanned the ads that Tuesday morning.

Woman, 18, searching for an open minded and loving man to settle down with. Please respond as Conductor. Trains are one of my passions. Yours Truly, Freighthopper. Vincent reread the ad with a thoughtful smile and mailed a reply to the newspaper the next day. He left his return address at the post office, so she could start replying directly to him and not through ads.

It was the start of summer, 3 months after starting his correspondence, when Vincent suggested they meet some time. He was on break from trade school and had the time to take off work and meet for a few dates. Vincent was shaking with nerves as he sent his letter to Madeline, aka Freighthopper, suggesting they meet and for her to pick where and when.

Vincent knew she lived in town, or at least used a P.O. box in town for her mail, and it only took a day to receive his letter with her response. He whooped when he opened his mailbox and saw her handwriting on an envelope. He disregarded the rest of his mail, it would still be there tomorrow, and hurried back to his apartment to read.

Madeline had suggested a diner just outside of town to meet at. It was a novelty diner, fitted to look decades older than it was and adorned with knick-knacks the owners had acquired through the years they had been open. He’d gone once with a friend and remembered the food had been good. She gave a day and time, a week after he received his letter so he could schedule off work, and he hastily replied his acceptance of the date.

It felt as if the week had dragged on for Vincent; that time was intentionally stalling his meeting with Madeline…almost as if the meeting shouldn’t take place at all. The day after he sent his letter he had fallen down his apartment stairs, his neighbor had seen the incident and rushed to help him up. Vincent hadn’t broken anything, but he did have a concussion. The next day, Vincent narrowly missed getting into a car accident. The day after, his toaster had almost caught fire in the kitchen; luckily he had been home when the power surge had happened.

All of these thoughts were weighing on Vincent’s mind as he sat in the diner waiting for Madeline. He stirred his Coke with his straw as he stared at the entrance. Would she actually show up? Vincent felt his leg bounce anxiously under the table. Of course she would, why wouldn’t she? He leaned forward and chewed on his straw, glancing out the window beside him. The sun was just beginning to set.

He took a moment to appreciate the serenity of the scenery. Tall trees shading the road, a light breeze lifting their branches and ruffling leaves, Vincent smiled around his straw; he did love this little town of his.

Vincent blinked slowly as he felt his table vibrate. He flattened his hand to the sticky tabletop and stared at it as it shook some. He jumped, almost knocking his drink over, when he heard the sound of a train horn blare. He looked around, confused, as no one else seemed to react to the sound. The tracks behind the diner were rarely, if at all, used by passenger freights or commercial trains. Last he had heard they were closed and left to rot.

Vincent looked back down at his hand, no longer vibrating on the table. “What the hell,” he whispered.

“What the hell, what?”

Vincent almost screamed and barely managed to keep in the bodily reaction to flail in surprise. He whipped his head and blinked rapidly at the woman standing beside his booth.

“Oh, wow,” he said breathlessly,” what a first impression. You’re Madeline right?”

The woman smiled slowly, it was picture perfect. She had bluntly cut bangs and long wavy brunette hair. Vincent longed to run his hands through it. To detangle any knots and feel how soft her hair was against his skin. She had beautiful brown eyes, the small sunlight that still reached the cafe lit her eyes like warm coffee on a Saturday morning. Vincent felt a flush creep up his neck.

“Yes, I’m Madeline,” she responded with a giggle. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Vincent shook his head, Oh, God now he was red to his hairline. Her voice was sweet but lower than he expected, it matched the honey like glow of her eyes.

“Uh, it’s fine, really! I thought I heard something and it must have been my imagination.” Madeline sat across from him in the booth, still smiling. Vincent rubbed his arm and smiled back nervously,” I promise I’m not some kind of paranoid creep, just got lost in my thoughts.”

Madeline shook her head,” No, it’s fine. I have a good sense of when someone is up to my standards.” She bit her lip, still smiling, and pushed her hair behind one ear.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t order a drink for you because I wasn’t sure what you’d want. Let me get the waitress.”

Vincent looked around for his server and spotted her behind the bar, wiping down cups. He raised a hand and tried to catch her eye. The bell above the door dinged and she looked up at the newcomer welcoming them and drying her hands off. Vincent furrowed his brow and let his hand fall a bit. He hadn’t heard the bell when Madeline had come in. He must have been too preoccupied with the bizarre noise he heard before she entered.

“I’m not sure why the waitress isn’t coming over to help us.”

Vincent raised his hand again and waved it slightly. Madeline put her hand on his and gently pushed it onto the table where she began to play with his fingers.

“I’ll just have some of your soda. I actually wanted to show you a really cool spot in town and get to know you better there.”

Vincent stared at their hands, his blush intensifying as she danced her fingers along his own then rubbed her thumb along the top of his wrist. Her hands were so soft. Softer than any skin, hell anything, he’d felt before. It took a moment for her words to register and when they did Vincent quickly looked up at her and smiled.

“Yeah, sounds great.”

Madeline tilted her head and her hair shifted into her face, obscuring her beautiful hazel eyes.

“Good,” she whispered,” let’s take your car and I’ll show you how to get there!”

Vincent stood and offered his hand to her, she took it and stood next to him. He could smell her perfume, earthy but sweet. It suited her.

Vincent left a ten for his drink, and a tip, and they exited the diner. He glanced back as he held the door for Madeline, no one wished them farewell. In fact, it seemed as though the diner had dimmed. The lights seemed darker and the once lively jukebox was now silent. Vincent pressed his lips together and left the building quickly. What a weird place.

Madeline stood in the parking lot, quietly staring up at the few stars that could be seen as the sun continued to set. She looked ethereal. Her pale skin lit by the fading lights. Her black hair glistened as she turned to face him.

“Ready?”

Vincent almost stepped back, something within him shivered at her tone of voice. It sounded…off. Like one of those new synthesized songs some of his friends were into. If Madeline noticed his hesitation, she didn’t mention it. She hummed softly and turned towards his truck.

“This one yours?”

She tapped the closed tailgate lightly, her nail hitting the metal with a hollow sounding tong. Again, Vincent held back a full body flinch. The sound was wrong. He wasn’t sure how but it definitely wasn’t a natural sound a nail should make against a car.

“Uh, yeah…uhm..let me get the door for you.”

Vincent opened the passenger side and tried not to stare too much as Madeline slid into the seat. Now that they were truly alone, after getting into the car himself, Vincent felt as though he was on autopilot. He listened to her directions and followed them well, but he didn’t remember ever taking his eyes off of the woman next to him. They arrived at an old railroad crossing and he parked a distance from the tracks. They may be closed but Vincent didn’t want to risk his vehicle.

“This is pretty cool.”

Vincent shot a smile Madeline’s way,” I’ve never been this far out of town. It’s kind of nice.”

Madeline’s eyes gleamed from the dashboard lights; stormy gray like an oncoming thunderstorm. She leaned towards Vincent and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Vincent’s hand shook as he slipped his keys into his pocket, this woman was something else. Her soft hands gripped his forearms as she leaned forward for a proper kiss. Vincent’s eyes slid closed and he sighed into the press of her mouth.

“Come on,” she whispered against his cheek,” I want to show you something.”

Dazzled, Vincent felt himself nod and exit the vehicle. He’d never had this type of reaction to a woman before. Madeline exuded a type of attraction he couldn’t put a name to. He followed her towards the tracks.

“Did you know,” Madeline’s voice cut through the silence of the woods around them. A silence that Vincent didn’t catch, caught up as he was in Madeline’s eyes.

“There’s an old story about these tracks. If you run along them on a full moon a train will appear and it’s up to you on whether you catch a ride or stay where you are.”

Vincent chuffed and held Madeline’s hand,” You really believe those types of stories?” He pulled her close to his side, she felt so cool against the heat of the summer night. Vincent felt the hairs on his arm stand and a sick sinking feeling in his stomach. He swallowed slowly and glanced over at Madeline.

She seemed angry. She’d pulled her blonde hair to one shoulder and held it tightly between her hands. “So what if I do,” she hissed. Vincent shuffled back from her, still holding her hand.

“I…uh..well…I didn’t mean to upset you,” Vincent struggled to turn the situation back to a positive note. The silence was oppressive, and now Vincent noticed that it wasn’t just silent between the two of them. He couldn’t hear any traffic or animals, shouldn’t there be some type of cricket sounds as well?

“Tell me about it,” Vincent finally choked out. Madeline squeezed his hand and led him closer to the tracks.

“Well,” she began,” the story is that a passenger train was taken over by bandits a long time ago. The conductor fought against the men trying to take over the controls and the train derailed. They say that you can hitch a ride and you’ll get to see amazing sites as well as ghosts.”

They were walking slowly alongside the tracks and Vincent happily held her hand as she spoke. He’d never heard this particular ghost story about the town but it was an interesting tale. Before Vincent could comment Madeline tugged on his hand and started to jog.

“Let’s try it and see!”

Vincent felt himself frown as he matched her speed. He didn’t like pushing his luck with ‘haunted’ areas, but he wanted Madeline to like him and maybe kiss some more at the car. Reluctantly, he picked up his pace and Madeline’s blue eyes sparkled happily as she shot him a grin and ran faster as well.

She shot ahead of him, pulling their arms taut between them as Vincent struggled to catch up to her. Just as he opened his mouth to call to her, he felt the ground shake and the clack of metal on metal.

“Holy shit,” he panted. An actual train caboose was just in front of them. Its lantern swayed as the train rumbled down the tracks. Vincent wasn’t sure how they were running so fast, they’d caught up with the train in seconds and Madeline reached out for a hand rail that jutted out from a small set of steps.

She let go of his hand as she hopped aboard but he continued to run. Madeline turned with a wide grin, holding the iron railing and balancing herself on the steps. She stuck her hand out to him and leaned off the caboose.

“Come on! Take my hand and let’s see where this goes!!”

Vincent gasped for air as he ran, his hand still slightly extended from holding Madeline’s. Vincent felt his mouth snap shut and a cold trickle of water seemed to run down his spine. Madeline’s green eyes were wild and almost crazed, her red hair whipped around her. Vincent’s eyes widened and his grimace deepened, whether unconscious or not; Vincent recoiled from Madeline’s outstretched hand.

Madeline’s hand balled into a fist then flexed out into a claw. Vincent couldn’t seem to stop running, his arms pumped beside and he breathed through his nose loudly. Between one footfall and the next, Vincent made eye contact with Madeline and it was as if time itself stopped.

Here emerald eyes were cold and lifeless, so dark they were almost black. Her hair was a shock of white, glowing with the light of the full moon. Vincent couldn’t tell if she was an old woman or a young woman any more. Her once beautiful face was pulled taut against her skull, as if she had pinned the flesh to her skull like a homemade mask. She opened her mouth in a soundless cry, a gaping maw with a scattering of sharp teeth. She surged forward, still holding the rail, seemingly desperate to grab a hold of Vincent.

All of this happened in an instant and no sooner did Vincent register these changes he miss-stepped and fell face forward in the gravel.

Vincent shuffled to his knees and vomited into the rocks. What the fuck had just happened. He felt disoriented and sick, why was he by the tracks? He felt blood slide down his face and he used his shirt to wipe it off. He still felt it slipping down his cheek, but Vincent’s shaky hand came back with tears, not blood, when he rubbed a hand along his face. Vincent screamed, overcome by panic and fear, and sobbed as the crickets began to chirp around him.--”

“Woah,” Jeremy muttered, scrubbing his hands along his arms. “That was creepy as fuck.”

Tyler opened his mouth to reply but Sam cut in,” On that note, I’m heading to bed. That story was spooky enough for me and I think I’d like to dream it away.”

Jeremy nodded and stood, extending his hand to Sam. She took it and was pulled up. “Don’t worry babe,” Jeremy soothed,” I’ve got you.”

Sam rolled her eyes but snuggled into Jeremy’s side nonetheless. Tammy stood and stretched.

” Yeah,” she yawned,” I’m heading to bed myself, but you boys can stay up still.” She waved a hand towards them as she walked to her and Mac’s tent. Katy trotted after her.

“Hey, can I lay with you for a bit? That was a creepy story.” Tammy’s laugh echoed for a moment as she nodded and walked further away. Sean, Ben, and Gus had wandered off into the woods slurring about finding their own ghost.

Mac and Tyler sat in silence, staring off towards their tents. Tyler put his beer bottle down and ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, there’s still more to the story.”

Mac raised an eyebrow and turned towards him. “Oh?” Tyler nodded and met Mac’s eyes,” Yeah. Did you want to hear the rest or head to bed with your group?”

Mac mulled over the question and eventually nodded. “Sure. Like I said, I love a good story.”

Tyler smiled and resituated on his log. “I really think you’ll like the rest.”

“So, ”Mac waved his hand in a rolling motion,” carry on, Tale Master.”

“Well, Vincent eventually got a hold of himself and realized he was just behind the diner they met at.

Now, keep in mind that diner was about 5 miles from where he had parked his car by the tracks.---

Vincent shakily got to his feet and walked towards the diner. It was impossible for him to have run that far. While being in moderately good shape, there was no way he would be able to make that kind of distance. He shakily reached for the door to the diner. As he pulled it open, once again time seemed to still.

Vincent felt as if he was disassociating with his own body. He looked into the glass of the door, it showed his reflection but then countless other men with varying facial hair, dated clothing, and even a man with a small rectangular device that lit up in his hands as he tapped against its surface. The diner lights dimmed as the rumble of a train shook the building, with one last blare of its horn the diner was once again its usual establishment.

Vincent didn’t want to explain what had happened but he made up a lie about being tricked by his friends and needing a ride back to his car. An older gentleman offered to drop him off and Vincent thanked him continuously.

They arrived at his truck and Vincent had to force himself to open the door to walk to his car. He took a steadying breath and opened the door. He felt a firm grip on his shoulder and he could help the sound of distress that left his throat. He gripped the handle tightly and looked back at the man.

“You did right,” he rasped,” she’s always around searching, but you did right tonight, son.”

Vincent felt tears well up in his eyes again,”wh..how do you…”

The old man squeezed his shoulder and waved him out of the car. Vincent exited and closed the door behind him. He didn’t look back as the old man drove away.

Vincent sniffled as he stumbled to his truck, what a fucking day. He reached for the car door and froze. There on his handle was a dark red ribbon tied in a dainty bow. The tails of the bow lifted gently with the breeze .Vincent gave a startled sound and whipped his hand back to his chest—

—,”Tyler paused and threw a stick into the dying fire. “See, it wasn’t just some ribbon. It was the ribbon he used to tie all of his letters from Madeline together. When he got home the letters were gone and he hadn’t kept the newspaper with her ad. It was like she disappeared and he was too spooked to tell anyone about what happened to him.”

Mac gave Tyler an incredulous look.

“Just, had this story he’d kept to himself?” Mac scrubbed a hand over his face and moved to stand up. “You had me for a bit but, come on.”

Tyler also stood and pulled his cell out. “No, I’m serious! I was going to show everyone, but I guess it’s just you and me.” He unlocked his phone and opened his picture gallery. “See, Vincent didn’t have a copy of the newspaper but the city keeps an archive.”

He flipped the screen towards Mac, "And I found them.”

Mac quickly grabbed the phone and stared at the picture of a newspaper clipping. It was the personal ads from a 1992 printing. “Holy shit,” Mac whispered.

Tyler nodded emphatically,” Exactly.” He reached for his phone and scrolled through 4 more images that Mac read as he shared them. Each one had a different year but almost the same ad, always listing themself as Freighthopper There were even a few from the same year looking for Freighthopper. Those ads were short and left a foreboding feeling in Mac’s chest.

“Freighthopper, you know why I’m writing this. Send a response.” Tyler read the ad quietly next to Mac and unless Mac was imagining it…the woods had grown quiet. Mac stepped back from the other boy. This was getting a bit uncomfortable. It was just a story, so why did Mac feel like he should tell Tyler to leave and go to his tent with Tammy. He wanted to run away and never see this boy again, and that scared Mac like nothing he’d felt before in his life.

Tyler locked his phone and put it in his pocket. “About a mile from here is the railroad crossing from Vincent’s story.” He balled his fists and stared Mac in the eyes. “I’m going. I’ve been studying and researching for two months and tonight is the full moon for this month. I’m going to go and I’m going to see if a train really shows up.” Mac gaped at him and felt goosebumps breakout over his arms. “You can’t be serious,” Mac responded after staring at Tyler for a moment.

“As a heart attack.” Tyler flexed his fingers and worked his jaw. “Do you want to come with me?”

“What?”

“Do you. Want to. Come. With. Me?” Tyler enunciated slowly and pointed to Mac, and towards the woods, over dramatically. Mac couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him at Tyler’s antics. “I…I’m good, man. I like horror and suspense but this is a little too much for me. Good luck, I guess?”

Mac couldn’t place the look that flitted across Tyler’s face. It was a mix of anger and indignation, and was gone just as soon as it appeared. Mac began to slowly move away from the fire pit, away from Tyler.

“Alright,” Tyler muttered,” that’s cool. Thanks for letting me hang…” To Mac it seemed like Tyler wanted to say more, maybe continue asking for him to join in on the trek to this supposed railroad crossing. Either way Mac was already out of the fire light and backing towards his friend’s tenting spot.

Mac gave a small wave and a tense smile. “Yep, good luck. Night.” He turned and restrained himself from running. Mac unzipped his and Tammy’s tent and crawled in. When he turned to zip the flaps shut he caught one last look at Tyler. Standing by the fire pit and staring at the dying embers. Mac quickly rezipped his tent and layed down behind Tammy.

The next morning Mac woke up alone in the tent. He rubbed his eyes slowly and crawled out to find Tammy. He found his friends huddled at a picnic table divvying out breakfast and laughing raucously. Gus, looking surprisingly fresh for a hung over guy who went on a hike in the middle of the night, waved and cheered Mac’s name.

Mac sat with a yawn and snagged a plate. “Sorry for sleeping a bit late. I was up a bit longer chatting. Which, by the way, what a fucking weirdo he turned out to be. I felt he was trying to like…lure me away or something.” Mac’s laugh was nervous but still cheerful.

Mac felt all his friends' eyes on him. He looked up from his food, confused by the silence and stares. Mac frowned. “What?”

Sean pointed a piece of toast Mac’s way,” did you have more beer after we left? What, or who, are you talking about?”

Mac slowly stopped chewing and swallowed his mouthful as he stared at everyone. “I didn’t drink any more that night. I know you guys were fucked up but, enough that you don’t remember that guy Tyler? You might want to lay off so much weed and alcohol.”

Tammy held his elbow and pulled him closer. “You ok, babe? I know you said you wanted to spend some more time by the fire last night, but did you hit your head? Did something happen?”

Mac scrunched his face in confusion,” I don’t understand. You guys went to bed and I stayed at the fire talking with that Tyler dude. He was, like, trying to get me to go with him to the supposed railroad tracks from his story.”

“What story?”

Mac stared at Ben, slack jawed. “What do you mean, what story? ..Tyler. Tyler? The guy who showed up last night and had that weird story about a ghost-train-woman. He..kept asking me to go with him because he had found proof and was going to do the..whatever at the tracks.”

Mac gesticulated widely while he spoke, unable to shake the frantic feeling he had in his chest. Tammy pulled his hands together on the table and gripped them in her own hands. “Babe, calm down. We don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Mac felt the color drain from his face. “You guys are joking, right? Cuz, it’s not funny.”

“That must have been some vivid dream you had, Mac.”

Tammy squeezed his hands again and kissed his cheek. “You were tossing and turning in your sleep. Had to have been some kind of dream.”

Sam looked back at the newspaper in front of her. “Hey, what’s a more sophisticated word for a hobo? Gosh, these crosswords are hard. The extra tip is ‘an illegal act of boarding a freight’, what the hell does that mean? It’s like 11 or more letters”

Mac snapped his gaze to Sam and he felt his lips move, barely whispering a word. Tammy brushed a hand through his hair, trying to comfort him. “Hmm? What was that, hun?”

“The word,” Mac whispered,” it’s freighthopper.”