Ghost Train

Existential Crisis

 The train doesn't come down these rails. So why did she hear a train coming towards the house? The sound got louder as the assumed train got closer. She quickly stood up and walked towards her window. Peaking through the window, Cassandra saw a glimpse of something continuing down passed the station. She tried to get a better look, but it was already gone. Grabbing a sweater and silently walking out of the house, she ran down to the station. She looked around the platform noticing a figure sitting at the bench looking defeated. She walked up to the track trying to get a glimpse of the train in the distance, but there was nothing along the tracks.

"If you're looking for the train, it just passed," The guy on the bench muttered. Cassandra recognized the voice as the boy from before, "didn't even stop," The guy muttered as Cassandra walked over to him. He looked up and a look of recognition went across his features, "Oh. It's you." He folded his arms. Cassandra sat beside him. The thoughts about what Gilbert had told her at the school crossed her mind and she turned towards the guy.

"What's your name? I never got it before." The boy looked at her trying to decide if it was a good idea to give this stranger his name.

"Evander. Evander Miller," He smiled, "I heard the little boy call you Cassandra. That is your name I assume?" Cassandra nodded.

"Yeah. Cassandra Anderson. The little boy was my little brother Zephyr."

"Zephyr? Interesting name. I quite like it." Evander nodded.

"Well you'd be the first." Cassandra chuckled, "Did the train not stop for you?"

"No," Evander shook his head, "it never seems to stop."

"How long have you been waiting for it to stop?" Cassandra waited for Evander's answer, though it took him a while to.

"I- don't actually know. I think only a day or two. I've lost track," Evander frowned standing up. He began pacing in front of Cassandra.

"I'm sure you've only been here a day or two. There's no way you've been here longer without realizing it." Cassandra reassured him, noticing the panicked look in his eyes.

"Right. Yeah, no your right," Evander sat on the ground in front of the bench. Cassandra raised an eyebrow.

"Are you ok?"

"I think I'm having an existential crisis," Evander whispered laying down, looking at the starry sky. Cassandra sighed.

"What if we found a way to stop the train? Like, put a log in front of the track forcing it to stop. Would that make you happy?" Cassandra leaned forward resting her head on her knees.

"If it means I can board the train, then yes. I just need to get out of here before they find me," Evander sat up again. Cassandra frowned, confused.

"Before who finds you?"

"Cassandra! What are you doing out here? It's late," Cassandra's mother walked around the station. Cassandra stood up and looked back at Evander, who had now disappeared.

"I uh- I couldn't sleep. Thought I would go for a walk."

"Who were you talking to? I thought I heard you talking to someone." Her mother looked around the station for another person.

"I was just talking to myself. I'm still getting used to all the new- uh well just the new property and stuff." Cassandra nearly facepalmed at her pathetic excuse.

"Well let's get back to the house, it's cold out and you have your first day of school tomorrow." Cassandra's mother began leading her daughter to the house, though Cassandra couldn't help but glance back, spotting Evander watching them leave. Cassandra didn't sleep that night, instead, she stared out her window at the train station, wondering if she could actually help Evander get the train to stop. She didn't believe in ghosts, but Evander dressed like a boy from 1939, and he hadn't remembered how long he had been waiting at the train station. Cassandra didn't want to label him a ghost just yet. He could be a crazy person who sees an imaginary train, but that would also make her a crazy person since she also saw the train. Then again maybe she was crazy and had been seeing ghosts and trains.