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The Clinchfield Curse Humanised: Part 5

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Part 5: Thomas and Clinchfield 311!

Thomas, Lily, Rosie and Lady had been working hard well into the evening with Mavis at the quarry. As the sun was setting, the quarry manager asked Rosie and Lady to help Mavis deliver a train of stones to Suddery. Thomas and Lily couldn't leave and had to stay guard until they returned. As the train departed, Lily went off to the worker's hut to get a good night's rest before leaving while Thomas stood guard beside his tank engine.

Thomas: (looks out to the outside of the quarry and hears something) Hmm? (lights his tank engine's lamp up to see what was there but just sees a deer coming by) Oh, it was just a deer. (looks up to the sky) Hmm... Maybe I should go and join Lily at the... (feels some cold chills as a light shower comes down) Huh? That feeling... I wonder... (hears an unfamiliar whistle and sees a tank engine puffing by before into the darkness) Who... Who was that I just saw then? (thinks for a bit and gets an idea) If it's who I think it is... (hears another whistle which was different and the puffing of an engine approaching) Hello? Who's there? Who are you? Show yourself!

CRACK!

Thomas: Whoa! (looks ahead of him to see what he didn't expect to see) No... No... Way...

311: (there she stood, right in front of Thomas with her engine, Thomas was too terrified to even speak while she looked him over and breaking her silence) At long last, I have found the railway's Number 1 engine and the Number 1 of Sodor... You're more than what I first expected when hearing of you... The end is about to come! Hope you said your goodbyes.

Thomas: (turns from looking terrified to stern) NO! (311 stops as she looks at him in surprise) I won't let you take me! I took down my own grandfather's ghost, Diesel 100, the Queen of Railways and saved the Magic Railway! You're no different to any of them! You're just a woman's ghost who's out to curse everyone, but I know your good side is still in there. 311, please, listen to me.

311: (chuckles evilly) Brave boy. I think you'll be missed a lot. (grabs Thomas by surprise and holds him down)

Thomas: Cinders and Ashes! LIL- (311 covers his mouth, muffled) HELP!

311: Shh... Nobody can hear you, dear. It's just us two, and we're going home, together. (drags Thomas who was struggling to break free from 311's grasp towards the engine's smokebox! The smokebox door opens to reveal red hot smoke, and Thomas knew it was a gateway to the underworld. 311 was about to throw Thomas in when she looks at Thomas' eyes and she began to feel weird) What? What's this? No! NO! (her old form returns as she struggles to fight) Thomas! (releases Thomas and shuts the smokebox door breathing deeply)

Thomas: (breathes deeply too from what just happened) Y... You're... 311, aren't you?

311: Yes. I am 311's ghost. I'm sorry for doing causing so much fear to people throughout the years. But...

Thomas: It's okay. Your demons were taking control of you, you're in control now.

311: No. It won't be long until my demons return, and I won't regain control. It would be more than her pleasure to take you with her, Thomas. But for the time being, I'll try to control my demons in order to spare you and other innocents. However, I must warn you, we will meet again, soon. Please, I beg you, help me find peace.

Thomas: (looks at 311 in surprise then looks confident) I'll do my best. (311 is about to leave when he stops her) By the way, what was your name? I know you have one.

311: It was... It was... (closes her eyes, then remembers) Mary... (Thomas is surprised, but then the demons take over just as a crack of thunder is heard again and she disappears)

CRACK!

Thomas: (looking brave as he looked into the darkness knowing that 311 really did have a name and was fighting her demons) Don't worry, Mary, I'll help you find peace. We all will.

Island of Sodor, October 31st, 2017...

The day had come at last, everyone was getting set up for Halloween, several parties of people young and old alike would come to dress up as many different scary forms of costumes such as witches, mummies, vampires and zombies. As the day went on and the countdown for Halloween Night began, some of the railway workers couldn't help but think of 311... Today would mark fifty eight years since her accident.

Henry and Peter were one of them. That morning, while they were taking a goods train to Tidmouth Harbour, they went past the section of the Main Line where they had their infamous accident with the Flying Kipper in 2013.

Henry: Not a day goes by whenever we pass this place. That crash we had 4 years ago still remains as a haunting reminder of what can happen on the rails when we least expect it.

Peter: When, you know what they say, Henry. Accidents Happen Now And Again.

That afternoon, Henry and Peter met up with Oliver who was talking to Jason about one of the stories surrounding the dark tales of the ghost train.

Oliver: That's very... Very... Creepy. Ever since I saw the ghost of Black Wolf Mountain, I've kept my eyes out for it in case it appeared again...

Henry: Us too, but ever since our encounter, we haven't seen or heard it...

Peter: Gordon told us that if anyone of us saw the ghost train in person, we'd all be lost and consumed... But that hasn't happened to either of us.

Jason: All of this reminds me of one tale of what happened to an unfortunate man who met his end at the hands of 311. It certainly wasn't pretty either and my companions saw it all for with their own eyes.

Oliver: (gulps) Wha... Wha... What happened to him?

Jason: (takes a deep breath and sighs) It was around the time when the last major railroad in America, the Norfolk and Western, was dieselised in 1960. The era of steam was at an end and many engines were being sold for scrap or being bought or preserved by private owners. The workers who took each loco apart showed no respect or any signs of sadness after all the hard service they'd given over the years... One of them, was on a nightshift duty with some other workers. The night was dim, hazy and cold. As he made his way along the sidings, he came across a loco that he thought was ready for scrapping. He got his blow torch out and only cut off a handrail when something unexpected happened. The engine let off steam... Red blood steam and whistled long and loud at him. The man got scared as he looked at the mammoth. Its headlight, also shone blood red, right at him. In a demonic voice, the man heard someone shout the words,

(in Jason's flashback, a woman in black with eyes glowing red shouts out) YOU FOOL! NOW YOU MUST DIE!!!!

Jason: My dad and his friend were new and young at the time. Back then, they were looking for a job. What they saw was most horrifying. They called the cops and the local sheriff and found the remains of a burn mark and scrapper's blow torch. But then, one of the cops saw a note, a picture of the lost girl with only a number... 311. (Henry, Peter and Oliver are in awe at the story)

Henry: So... That's how you've come to know her?

Jason: It's what attached me to the ghost train. The Demon 311 is a bloody thirsty killer... I can remember one encounter, eighteen years ago in 1999 when I was running the engine on the same line with Mac, my fireman and companion. As we were to enter the Black Wolf Logging Camp, there she was. Her presence was eerie cold and bone chilling, but what I found mostly frightening about her was her eyes... They were filled with red anger and hate that glowed like hot coals in the night. We were too terrified to speak or even blow the whistle in alarm. She said something to us before fading into the unknown. Now, with her anniversary upon us, it's only a matter of time before she strikes one more... And claim another soul... (Henry, Peter and Oliver look at each other and gape)

As the afternoon turned into early evening, no one knew that tonight was going to be one to be told to many railway fans, young and old alike.

TO BE CONTINUED!
While Thomas and Lily were standing guard at Anopha Quarry the next evening, Thomas encounters with the very person he was hoping to never meet, Clinchfield Demon 311!
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