He lay on his side, bleeding heavily, gasping desperately. "Help… I'm scared…" the green diesel called out weakly. Paxton wasn't entirely sure what was happening to him, but it was scary and oh so painful. With a great effort, he opened his eyes, seeing one of the diesel workers walking towards him.
"Do not be afraid." The man murmured, despite the fear turning his blood and flesh to ice. "You'll be just fine…"
"It hurts," Paxton whimpered, "it hurts so bad!" He gasped sharply, and a gurgling was heard. "H–hggg—hllp…." Suddenly, he could no longer speak clearly. His mouth was filled with…something. What it was, he wasn't sure he wanted to know.
The worker looked on sadly. The innocent little diesel was going to die tonight. He knew it. "Shh…we'll be just fine…" he soothed, pressing the wound together with his shaking hands to stop the bleeding. Paxton was not going to make it, that much he was sure of. All he could to was try and comfort him at this point.
Tears poured from the young diesel's eyes. he didn't know exactly what was happening, all he knew was that he was in so much pain…and he felt cold. whenever he coughed he spewed forth…something. He didn't want to think about it, he felt like his insides had been torn to pieces. Paxton whimpered as choking sobs escaped him. "Hgg…" he tried to speak, but all that came out was a sickly gurgle. He couldn't even speak. This was terrifying!
"Shhh…" the man soothed again, but he blanched at the sound. He didn't want to look, what was happening was too horrible.
The young engine gasped desperately, making even more horrifying noises as he did. Tears slid down his cheeks as his face grew pale, gaping like a fish out of water.
"Shhh…" the worker soothed again and again, desperate to calm him, to comfort him at least a little. He kept on doing this, until Paxton grew still. Very, very still.
His face was frozen in a look of utter despair, the poor engine hadn't the time to comprehend what had happened to him. He was motionless, quickly growing cold. Another life lost, another engine gone forever. The worker slid to the ground, rocking back and forth, telling himself "It's ok…" over and over.
"P–Pax…" his driver sobbed violently. The young man had curled up next to his engine, thoroughly devastated.
And so, it was. Another engine, lost.
How it happened remained a mystery.
It may have been murder.
It may have been suicide.
All would agree, however, that Paxton was the hardest working diesel ever.
And his driver knew this. He would always know this, and he would never forget him.