It was a dark and windy evening on the Island of Sodor. A gale was blowing, and the Fat Controller had to stop all trains until the weather improved. Thomas, Percy, Gordon, James and Henry were all stuck at Knapford Station.
"I hope the weather gets better soon," said Percy nervously.
"Don't worry," said Thomas. "At least it's not a storm. We'll be safer here."
"Unless the roof falls in," said Gordon.
Percy was more worried than before, but Thomas had an idea. "One of us should tell a story to pass the time."
The other engines agreed, even Percy. He thought he would feel better if he wasn't thinking about the storm, but he was wrong.
"I have the perfect story for tonight," James sniggered. And this is the story he told them.
A long time ago, there was a brave blue engine who was always eager to help.
One night, the Stationmaster came out to meet him. "Blue engine, would you go to the other end of the line and collect a coach that was left behind?" he asked.
"Of course," the brave, eager engine replied, and he set off into the dark, foggy night.
By the time the little blue engine reached the end of the line, the fog was so thick he could hardly see anything.
"I'll just have to wait until morning," the engine said to himself. Luckily, there was old engine shed nearby and there he stayed.
Late that night, the little blue engine suddenly awoke to a strange creaking noise. It was coming from below him. He opened his eyes and saw long fingers reaching for him through the floorboards. There was a monster under the shed. Terrified, the little blue engine raced away with the horrible engine-eating monster chasing him through the fog.
"W…what happened?" asked Percy worriedly.
"That's where the story ends," said James. "The little blue engine was never seen or heard from again."
"But what about the monster?"
"Don't be silly, Percy," chuckled Gordon. "It's just a story."
"Well, I might have heard it from someone else," said James mysteriously.
At last, the gale was over, and the engines were on their way back to Tidmouth Sheds, but Percy was still worried. "What if the story is true? What if the engine-eating monster is out there somewhere right now?"
"Don't be such a scaredy-engine, Percy," snorted Thomas. "There are no such things as monsters."
That night, the engines were all sound asleep when suddenly, some horrible rattling and clanking was heard near Percy's berth.
"Help!" wailed Percy. "The monster's in the shed!"
Then, James appeared laughing. He had been rattling some scrap metal to frighten Percy. "Don't be frightened, Percy. It's only me."
Percy was embarrassed for making such a fuss.
"It's alright, Percy," said Henry. "Sometimes our imaginations can get the better of us."
Sometime later, Thomas awoke with a start. He could hear a strange scratching sound. "Stop it, James," he whispered, but James was sound asleep. Thomas heard the noise again. "Who's there?" It was like nothing he had ever heard before. He couldn't see anything, but the sound seemed to be coming from below him. If it isn't James, he thought, then who or what is making that sound?
Thomas was so anxious that he stayed awake all night long. When he met Percy at Brendam Docks the next morning, he was very tired. "Did you hear any other strange noises last night?" he yawned.
"No. Not after James' silly prank."
Now, Thomas felt silly himself for staying awake all night.
By teatime, Thomas was even more tired and started running late with his deliveries.
Henry came up beside him on the main line. "Are you alright, Thomas?"
"I'm just a little tired," Thomas answered. "I'll be fine." He didn't want anyone to know that he had been kept awake all night.
Then, James raced by with the Express. "What's the matter, Thomas? Are monsters keeping you up at night?" And he disappeared, laughing.
That evening, Thomas had barely enough steam to make it back to the Tidmouth. The engines were telling stories again, but Thomas just backed into his berth and went to sleep.
Late that night, Thomas suddenly awoke to a scratching and scraping sound and it was definitely coming from below him. "Who's there?" Thomas whispered, but all he heard was a creaking sound, just like in James' story. "Go away, monster. Get out," Thomas whispered louder and closed his eyes tightly.
Thomas heard a thumping sound. Whatever it was, it was getting louder…and closer. "That will surely wake the others," Thomas said to himself, but the other engines didn't stir.
Soon, Thomas thought he saw something. "It's just outside the door. There's its head. Help," he whispered again, louder than before, but only the strange shape seemed to hear him as the thumping sound became even louder.
Thomas was so scared, he didn't notice the wind blowing outside and the shed doors began rattling on their hinges. It's trying to get in, he thought.
Then, the banging stopped.
Thomas was frozen in place, too frightened to move. He stared into the darkness and screamed. There it was, the horrible engine-eating monster, its eyes glowing in the night.
Thomas shut his eyes. "Help! Everyone! Save me!" he cried.
The other engines awoke, and the shed lights flashed on…then, Gordon started to laugh. "Thomas, open your eyes."
"Gordon, there's a monster outside the sheds!" snapped Thomas.
"It's not a monster, Thomas. Look."
Thomas opened one eye very slowly. "A hedgehog?!" he yelled in surprise. "I was scared by a tiny hedgehog?!"
All the engines laughed and soon, Thomas was laughing too.
The hedgehog came up to Thomas and nuzzled him. Thomas felt very silly and embarrassed, but he felt tired more than anything.
"Percy has a good imagination, Thomas," chuckled Gordon, "but I think yours is even better."
"I think your right," Thomas yawned. "It's the only thing that can turn something like a tiny, friendly hedgehog into a big scary monster."
