The train sounds the whistle
The wheels start moving
And they won’t stop until it reaches its destination.
It’s 8:25 pm
“………..”
“…………”
“This thing got ghosts? Awesome. Free marketing”
A communal “Huh?” goes through the wagon
“Mari? What do you mean?”
“A fancy train with a spooky story attached? It’s a success in the making. Amateur ghost hunters, supposed mediums, average spiritual people, even non-believers. Everyone would be up to the challenge of a supposed ‘haunted’ building. Why do you think graveyard tours are a thing?”
“Inventing a rumour about hauntings to increase tourism… What a fun idea”
“Wha- Lady, this thing got into a huge accident back in the 60s! It’s not just a mere ghost story!”
“So? Does this look like a 60s train to you? If it didn’t fit the safety measures it wouldn’t be allowed in the modern era”
“But hey, if you find a ghost, do tell me. For now, I’ll be relaxing”
So she leaves. Good for her, she isn’t one for stressing out on baseless stories after all.
Oliver in the other hand…
“Do you think it’s time to start searching? See what is that this thing does?”
“I’m joining”
“What. No you aren’t”
“You said to wait until I’m no longer a minor. I’m 19 now. I can go hunting houses too”
“No no no If your mother finds out she’ll send a pipe bomb to my apartment”
“She doesn’t have to know”
“She always knows!!”
Oliver is… getting better.
He used to jump at every possibility of ghosts. Of the paranormal. Of houses.
Firefox has given him quite a string of false cases.
He will breathe, he will think, he will analyse and reach a conclusion.
“Marigold’s right”
“About what? The marketing thing? I completely agree but I’m afraid we’ll have to ruin yet another business opportunity for her”
“No, no. I mean, about rumours.”
“Aside from us, no one takes the word ‘haunted’ as … what we know. For everyone else, haunted is just a synonym for ghosts and such. Which, most of the time end up being hoaxes”
“I… I think we might be getting ahead ourselves a bit. I mean, a train isn’t a house”
“Are you sure about that”
And of course, Nadia comes in to plunder all that progress into the ground
“We have beds. We have windows. We have kitchens. We have people”
“Then is a car a house too? Are we working on Terraria rules to define what a house is?”
“Also, I might not know much about biology, but I don’t think many organisms are happy about running all day”
“Animal locomotion is a thing”
“…Fuck”
“Alright. They must have a bat or something, right? I can sneak into the motor rooms if necessary”
“No. Going in without a lead is dangerous. Specially with so many people involved. Remember the normal class seats”
“… You’re right. Let me corral in Vivi and we can bunker down until we get out”
“No, guys, listen to me”
“Perhaps it is… just a rumour?”
“Believe me, I’m the most eager to get any and all houses destroyed but…”
“Nothing feels… wrong”
Then again, his natural detective instinct has been a bit… wonky. After the mansion.
The knowledge of the supernatural has opened a world of possibilities that the average human man was not supposed to have in mind. Less so when dealing with his cases.
Houses… He and Ángel have gotten a few ones. He doesn’t know everything, as he prefers to simply tear it down. Enter house, find purpose, break heart. Easy.
The world is fluid. Most things are. Most organisms are.
Trains are not houses.
Organisms evolve.
He doesn’t know what to think. His instincts have been adjusting but he’s still not sure.
He hasn’t been feeling like himself after…
He’s been under the weather for a while now.
This is… not ideal. He really didn’t need this right now.
Ángel notices.
“…Hey. Maybe you’re right. Maybe it is just a rumour”
“Or just ghosts! I can deal with ghosts. They are nothing to me”
“Or even if it is a house, it’s no big deal! We didn’t shrink this time! Or grew weird animal ears! And-And even if something weird were to happen, there’s a bunch of people here! Someone would say something!”
“We are not alone this time!”
He sounds like he’s reassuring himself. Yet, Oliver is proud of his development.
“I’ll tell the guys to keep an ear up.”
“Be careful, try to stick with people”
“You’re asking me to be careful?”
“Yeah yeah, adult woman I get it, go now”
As they go to inform Vivi, she goes in to terrorize the new people
“So, are you four ghost fanatics? Amateur hunters? Tiktok debunkers? Straight up ghosts?”
“I have a tiktok!”
“No no I don’t mess with that stuff. Respect it, though”
“But, well…”
“There used to be five of us”