1864

Chapter 3: Dancing Shiloutes

October 25, 1861

Dear Diary,

Today marked my first official day as station master, and though I had expected a day filled with routine schedules and paperwork, Lakeshire had other plans. The morning started smoothly enough. Marilyn prepared a hearty breakfast, and the children, brimming with curiosity, were eager to explore the town further. Little Arthur wanted to accompany me to the station, but I assured him there would be plenty of time for that later.

As I arrived, I took a moment to observe the station fully. In the early light, it looked rather quaint, with its wooden beams and arched windows framed by climbing ivy. The building seemed oddly welcoming-a deceptive facade, perhaps. Still, I reminded myself that it was my responsibility to keep everything running smoothly.

Shortly after, I met with the workers who would be assisting me. There was Pavel, a gruff man with silver streaks in his hair, who was responsible for managing the schedules, and Mihai, a younger lad who handled cargo shipments. They seemed polite, if a bit distant. I couldn't shake the feeling that they were watching me closely, measuring me somehow.

"Welcome, Mr. Lockwood," Pavel greeted me with a stiff nod. "We're glad to have you here."

"It's a pleasure, Pavel," I replied warmly, extending my hand. He hesitated before shaking it, his eyes darting briefly toward Mihai.

"It's rare to have an outsider in charge," Mihai murmured, almost to himself. "Most prefer not to stay."

The words caught me off guard. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, pay no mind to him, sir," Pavel cut in, a little too quickly. "Lakeshire is... a quiet town. People sometimes have strange ideas."

There was a tension in his voice, a caution he seemed determined to keep. I decided to brush it off. Perhaps it was simply the apprehension of a new supervisor. Or, so I thought at the time.

As the morning wore on, I settled into my new duties, going over timetables, checking logs, and familiarizing myself with the routes. Pavel worked with practiced efficiency, while Mihai seemed preoccupied, frequently glancing toward the tunnels as if expecting someone-or something-to emerge.

Around midday, as I was reviewing schedules in my office, I heard a faint, almost ghostly sound. A low hum, reverberating through the walls. I ignored it at first, assuming it was the wind or a passing train, but the sound persisted, growing louder and more distinct.

Pavel must have seen the look on my face, for he entered my office and spoke in a hushed tone. "It's best not to pay attention to the noises, Mr. Lockwood. The walls... they carry sounds."

"What sort of sounds?" I asked, more curious than wary.

He hesitated, his eyes narrowing. "Echoes. From the tunnels. Some say it's the wind, but others..." His voice trailed off, and he looked away, clearly unwilling to elaborate.

Just as I was about to press him, Mihai entered the office, his face pale. "There's something in Tunnel Six, Pavel."

A look passed between the two of them-an understanding, perhaps.

"Excuse me," I said, stepping out of the office. The tunnels had intrigued me since my arrival, and now I was eager to see them for myself.

As we made our way to Tunnel Six, I noticed how silent the other workers had become, watching us with wary eyes. When we arrived, Pavel held up his lantern, illuminating the damp stone walls. Shadows flickered, and the air grew colder.

"What exactly are we looking for?" I asked, my voice echoing slightly.

Mihai pointed toward the ground. There were faint footprints in the dust-small, childlike. They led deeper into the tunnel, disappearing into the darkness.