Every thought was null… There wasn't a sound… It was pitch black… All that one could feel was chilling sensation of cold air. There was no sense of time in this dark abyss…
In such a place, one would answer these simple, cliche questions;
'Where am I?' is an obvious one to start with. 'What is this place?' or 'What's going on?' would appear in their mind too. Many other questions would follow after those ones.
Yet, curiosity wasn't sparked in this case. All of these questions had been answered, alas, something felt off.
The numbness slowly wore off as an unsettling warmth began to rise. The very ability to move had awakened too, however, the only movement available was speaking but nothing was audible until a subtle whisper killed the silence. This whisper rose up and dropped down its dynamics until it found the perfect volume. It didn't come from his own voice.
"Are you really full of bravery, or was it your own stupidity that brought you this far?" It wasn't deep, but not any pitch of some sort to be honest. It was a mix of all voices that spoke in unity, flowing out of one's mouth.
"You could've been something different, oh if only that you had declined that pathetic role of yours. Or if you never were revived in the first place. No, if you never existed."
The silent end of the conversation mumbled nothing, as if replying to whoever or whatever talked.
"Don't you see how foolish you are? After all your efforts?" The response was the same, silent. The sound of that voice was deemed mute but desperate.
"No one is here to guide you, let alone help you. There's only me. You make me laugh, a mortal of metal like you meant to keep me down? What's more hilarious, none of the others deserve your 'help'. Your friends are going to be the end of you, don't you know?"
The list of names rolled off the poisonous tongue, each that came up with its own memory.
"They're all going to end you at some point! You were useless instead of useful!"
Whoever or whatever said it was rather giddy and delighted, yet that attitude made the dark statement more gloomy.
"Oh, if only you weren't such a silly engine. Can't you see how silly you were? What a silly engine you are! Don't you agree? You want to be really useful? It's so simple, you silly engine!"
Everything that was once calm was thrown into chaos. It all became a painful blur.
"Don't fight back."
"Don't cry for help."
"Don't even breathe!"
"So be a good useful engine and die!"
The sun had shone its light upon the Island of Sodor, filled with more anticipation than usual. It was the day they'd be able to visit Henry. Only one engine had hesitation in his boiler.
"Gordon? Aren't you coming along?" The big engine searched his mind to answer Emily's question.
"I… need to pull the express. I shouldn't be late for that." "Don't play coy with me," said Emily, "Sir Topham Hatt said we could visit Henry today. Spencer's taking over the express for now, isn't he?" The very idea of his smug cousin taking his job made him grumble unhappily, which made Thomas notice.
"I take it you don't want to see poor Henry?" "No, it's not that! I just… I feel like he wouldn't be too pleased to see me for some reason." "Why though? He's been dormant for a month!" yelled an impatient James. "And his accident had nothing to do with any other engine." Added Edward.
"Fine, I'll go. Let me refill on some coal first." And with that, Gordon excused himself out of his friends' earshot.
Should he go? After all, Henry's repairs were completed a few weeks ago. What stopped him then? Guilt? No, Edward said it had nothing related to any other engine.
He closed his eyes and saw a vision that was burned into his memory. He should've forgotten about it by now...