A/N: Greetings! Our little Halloween month is coming to an end, and to send it off I shall adapt what I believe to be the scariest Thomas and Friends story so far! Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Still do not own Thomas the Tank Engine

Chapter 37: Duncan Gets Spooked

It was Halloween on the Island of Sodor, and everybody was getting into the spirit. Everyone, that is, except for Duncan.

Duncan: I just dinnae know what all the fuss is. It's just a bunch of wee lads and lasses dressing up and getting free food from strangers. What's the big deal.

The others were quite used to Duncan's complaining by now, and just rolled their eyes. Rusty, however, appeared to be deep in though.

Rusty: You remind me of someone else, Duncan. A lot like him, actually.

Sir Handel and Peter Sam glanced over.

Sir Handel: "You're not referring to him, are you?"

Rusty: "I am. It's a shame what happened, really."

Skarloey: "Beg pardon, Rusty, but the rest of us have no idea what you three are talking about. Would you care to fill us in?"

Rusty: "Certainly. (Narrating over flashback) It was a week after Peter Sam's accident at the slate quarry. Sir Handel and I had managed to keep the line running, but Mr. Percival could see that we needed help. He bought a new engine from a railway over in America, and hired somebody from there to drive it. His name was Stanley, and he was an obnoxious sort. He was an older fellow who survived World War II, and he thought that made him superior to everyone else. He drove his engine roughly and caused it to derail. We tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen to anybody."

Stanley: "Listen here, bub. I've been taking down Germans before you were even born. I don't need no wimp like you telling me how to run my life, so just you worry about yourself, you understand me?"

Rusty (Narrating): I was hurt a little bit, but if he knew that it would just give him satisfaction so I didn't let it show. He carried on like this for a while, and I'm afraid that it became his undoing. As you all know to get to the quarry we have to cross the old iron bridge. Well one day I was taking some trucks back to the yard when I noticed a bit of rail sticking out. I managed to make it across, but I knew that would be trouble. When I got back to the yard I only found Stanley, so I told him. But he just laughed. "

Stanley: "I'm sure you're just exaggerating, Rusty. I mean if you could cross it safely it must not be so bad, right?"

Rusty: "Whatever, Stanley. I just hope that for your sake that you're right."

I told Mr. Hugh and Mr. Percival about the matter, and they promised to take a look at it in the morning. Unbeknownst to all of us that would be too late.

Later that evening Stanley had to take some empty trucks to the quarry. He hated it immensely, and grumbled all the way.

Stanley: "Depriving me of my sleep for a stupid job like this. Who do they think they are?"

Fortunately he made it there without much fuss. But I'm afraid his luck soon ran out.

It was late when he was finished. The moon was full, and mist was everywhere. This didn't stop him though, and he continue to drive roughly across the bridge. When the train hit the bad part of rail, it tumbled off the bridge and into the swamps below."

(Present)

Rheneas(scared): "Wh-what happened to Stanley."

Rusty: "No one knows. A full search party was sent out for him, but he was never found, alive or dead. But many of the workmen will tell you that when the moon is full and the mist is about, you can see the ghost of his engine trying to cross the bridge. But they never make it to the other side."

Duncan: "Pah! A bunch of nonsense. If that had happened, why have we not heard about it."

Rusty: "After a while everybody forgot about him. He wasn't on the railway long, and didn't make any friends here, so it wasn't too hard. But I remembered, and I shall never be able to forget."

Just then Mr. Percival arrived.

Mr. Percival: "Duncan, I need you to collect some slate from the quarry tonight. It's supposed to be misty, so be careful."

Duncan: "Yes sir."

Rusty: "Look out for Stanley, Duncan. Don't want him to get you."

Duncan: "Pah! Give it up, will yae? There's no such things as ghosts!"

And with that he drove away to collect his cars. Rusty just watched him leave.

It soon got dark as Duncan reached the Old Iron Bridge. The moon sat low in the sky, and mist started to rise from the water far below. As Duncan approached, Rusty's story started to play in his mind.

Duncan: "Stuff and nonsense. This bridge is as tame as a pet rabbit."

As he started to cross the bridge, the mist started to wrap around it, making it hard to see. As Duncan stared across the bridge, he saw an odd shape.

Duncan: "What the-"

Although it was faint, he thought he could see an engine, as well as hear puffing. As it reached the halfway point, the train toppled over and disappeared into the mist. Just before it vanished, Duncan swore he could see the faint image of a man, depressed and weeping.

Duncan: "Gh-gh-ghost!"

And with that he quickly raced back to the sheds. When he got back he just ran to his bedroom and slammed the door. Nobody dared to comment. They figured quite quickly what he had saw.

After they explained it to Mr. Percival, he agreed to let Duncan rest while the others did his work. Duncan remained silent for the next week. No one knows what he really saw, but all that can be said for sure is that he will never forget it.