"Come, wayward souls
and wander through the darkness
There is a light, for the lost and the meek
Sorrow and fear are easily forgotten,
when you submit to the soil of the earth..."
The Edelwood twists around his limbs, pulling him down, dragging him away from Greg, from Beatrice, from Sara and his Mum and everyone else back home. It grows in his throat, choking him, silencing his cries. Leaves brush against his cheeks. Oil drips from the branches and forms a puddle on the ground, and in it he can see his reflection. Terrible branching antlers grow from his head and his eyes glow in rainbow colours, reflecting the light of the Dark Lantern, of his Lantern.
He cannot escape.
Wirt wakes with a jolt. The morning is dark and cold. It has a calming effect, the still quietness... he'd always enjoyed it, back when he used to whisper poetry to himself in his room. Gradually his breathing slows as he gazes out at the darkened sky. It helps to clear his mind a bit.
The first rays of sun start to creep over the horizon and Wirt finally shifts from his position. It's then that he notices the Dark Lantern resting next to him, burning dimly. He's not seen it since he faced the Beast, and by any logic it should not be here.
...But it is a relief, though, as now he can be sure it's safe. He reaches up, snapping one of the Edelwood branches twisting over the ceiling and letting the dark oil trickle into the Lantern. It flares to life instantly. He can only be thankful that there's already plenty of Edelwood here. If there wasn't... images of a young boy encased in branches fill his mind and he pushes them away quickly. No time for what-ifs. He needs a plan, of sorts.
—
Wirt walks back to the front of the train. His eyes fall on the moss covered controls, and more specifically, the bronze chain hanging from the ceiling. Instinctively he pulls it. A creepy, broken up tune plays, echoing eerily throughout the train, which creaks and speeds up. Wirt yells and grabs the railing, clinging to it as he glances out the window. All he can see is a blur and for a few minutes he can do nothing but hang onto the railing in terror.
Then finally the train slows, before stopping altogether. Once more the creepy melody plays, as though alerting someone to the train's arrival. Shakily he pushes himself from the railing and looks out. A small village. It's vaguely familiar (perhaps he passed through here when he and Greg were lost?) and he can see a few people in the streets. The fear is visible on their faces even at this distance, and Wirt doesn't need to follow their gaze to know what they're so afraid of. The villagers back away warily, they pull their children close and they hurry into their houses at the sight of the train. They hide away in their little red-roofed houses, lest the dreaded Beast take them with his Old Black train. They've heard the stories. They know of the lives the train has claimed.
Wirt doesn't blame them. He's starting to fully remember what he'd heard in the tavern and it's... not good, to say the least. This train's purpose is to take those who do not wish to be taken. To take them were they cannot return from. For them to become Edelwoods for the Lantern's flame.
A sick feeling rises in his throat. He doesn't want that. He refuses to become the monster that his eyes and antlers proclaim him to be. He doesn't want that. He may reside in this train, may carry the Lantern, but he will not fill the role.
Wirt shivers and pulls the chain once more. The train starts up, and soon the cosy village with their cobbled streets and terrified residents is far behind him.
—
The idea comes to him in the form of a poem. He'd been writing about his experience running away, about his fear, and the comforting glow of the moon lighting a path for him. And it'd given him an idea.
He could be that light. The Lantern-bearer that brings hope instead of killing it. A train that helps those lost like he once was. For the first time in days he's excited, and despite his lingering doubts he can feel himself start to smile.
It could work. It could actually work. All he needs is some way to get the message across, some way to change the stories. If he can do that, then maybe being here wouldn't be so bad.
There's just one problem. How's he meant to tell others the train is nothing to fear looking like he does? Wirt doubts anyone would trust the "Beast", and they would have been right not too. His predecessor was certainly not someone to be trusted. A thought strikes him and he starts digging around in his bag before pulling out a dark, hooded cloak. Perfect. Though he'll still look ominous, it's at least better than looking like the Beast. He's ready.
Wirt pulls the chain and his train speeds off towards the next town.
Thank you to the people who have followed/reviewed! I'm glad people are interested in this
I've got quite a bit of chap 4 already written out, just need to edit it but hopefully I can post it sometime soon!
—Pottsfield CM