Chapter 157: Kelly's Scary Tale

It was a misty moonlit night on Sodor. The Pack was working the night shift, repairing the road through Maithwaite Forest. Break had just been called, and

everyone was gathered in a circle, waiting to hear one of Kelly's stories. Being the oldest one among them, he had heard many tales over the years, including

many ghost tales.

"I hope its not too scary," Alfie said. He didn't like being scared.

"Me too," agreed Buster.

"SSSSSSSSSH!" Max and Monty snapped. Once all of the noise had settled down, Kelly began his tale.

"Along time ago, before even the Island's first railway, there was a vain and ruthless hunter. He cared only for two things, his looks and his sport. He made all of the women swoon when he came into their village, carrying an abundance of meat. No one asked how he got it, although they had suspicions that it was through less than legal means. However, his whole life changed that faithful day. When he was distracted, his new obsession, a large brown bear, swiped his face, tearing his eye out and leaving him forever scarred. Enraged, he chased it deep into this very forest."

Everyone gasped in shock.

"Wh- What happened next?" Isobella asked, clinging onto Jack.

"Fortunately, the bear escaped, but the hunter was never the same. Now the laughing stock of the town, he would search every day and night for the bear. Soon, he disappeared completely, never to be seen again. Rumors spread that the bear was no mere animal, but an angered god taking vengeance. But now the hunter haunts his favorite woods, looking for his next prey. So be on your guard for the one eyed ghost."

Just then, the warning horn sounded.

"Break's over, everyone back to work!"

A little while later, Alfie was hard at work, but Kelly's story still ebbed at his mind. Max and Monty saw their chance for mischief, and drove their trucks straight past him, making him jump.

"Its the One Eyed Ghost!"

"Scaredy Scaredy!"

"Quit it, you two!"

But Max and Monty just laughed. Some time later, they had settled down and were waiting for Ned and Oliver to finish loading their trucks. The Foreman walked up to them.

"Take your loads to the tip in the forest, but be careful. It's easy to get lost out here at night."

"Yes sir," Max and Monty said, and drove off. The forest was indeed very dark, and very spooky. Max and Monty didn't feel so brave anymore. Just then, a loud screeching noise was heard.

"What was that?!"

"I-I don't know."

It was just a fox, but they had no way of knowing. Every sound, every source of moment made Max and Monty very uneasy. As they were dumping their loads, they heard a loud whistling.

"What was that?!"

"Its just the wind. Just the wind. Just the..."

The whistling came again, much closer and much louder. This was the last straw for Max and Monty.

"G-Gh-Gho-GHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSST!"

Without a glance back, the two raced back towards the site, screaming their heads off. Everyone glanced up and watched as the two came rushing in, as white as ghosts.

"The One Eyed Ghost, he's after us!"

"Don't take us, take Kelly! I'm to young to die!"

"There is no One Eyed Ghost," Kelly said, upset by Monty's blabbering.

"It's just a story," continued Jack. Max and Monty exchanged looks, feeling very foolish.

"B-but what was that whistling noise we heard?"

Just then, Thomas drove in with a line of trucks.

"Hey guys, Sir Topham Hatt sent me to help take away dirt and debris. What's wrong with Max and Monty?"

Max and Monty blushed a bright red, while everyone lauged, none more so than Alfie.