Ghost Train Part Two (complete)

    “This can’t be possible,” I gasp as all the air leaves my lungs. “You can’t be-”

    “Oh, but I am, love,” Shae reaches into the sleeper and picks up Gracie, setting her down on the ground. “Now, come here.”

    “No!” I fight and try to slap him away, but he picks me up from the sleeper and holds me in his arms. “Put me down!”

    “You can’t walk, even if I did,” Shae laughs.

    Gracie walks beside Shae, holding his free hand and swinging it back and forth. I can’t even look at him, I’m afraid to. Instead, I look around the train, noticing that parts of it look new and beautiful, but other parts are rotted and old.

    “You aren’t happy to see me?” Shae chuckles.

    I close my eyes and frown, wanting to ball myself up and hideaway. I don’t know how I feel at this moment. For so long, I was angry at Shae and grieved him horribly. I had thought I had finally pushed him out of my mind. But now he’s haunting me.

    “How do you and Mama know each other?” Gracie asks.

    “Well, little lady,” he chuckles. “Once upon a time, a long time ago, your mother and I were something of an item.”

    Gracie’s eyes light up, and she starts to bounce. “Did you love Mama?”

    “Gracie,” I growl, trying to urge her silent.

    Shae smirks, and a low chuckle rumbles in his chest. “Oh, very much so. But that was a long time ago.”

    “How long?” Gracie asks.

    “I assume before you,” Shae says. “How old are you now, girl?”

    “Leave her alone, Shae,” I cut him off. 

    Shae clicks his tongue and looks at me. One eye socket is all bone, the other is like it was, only hollow. Those beautiful cinnamon eyes I loved so much were now gone. 

    “I would never do anything to the girl,” he says as he leaves the sleeper car. “She’s safe here. So don’t fret.”

    There’s barking and Gracie gasps, rushing ahead to meet a dog that’s back half was normal, but the front half was all bone. 

    “Mama! It’s a puppy!” Gracie giggles as she hugs the dog, not seeming to see the ghostly nature of it.

    “Gracie, don’t touch-” Shae puts his finger over my lips and hushes me.

    “Copper is a good boy,” he says. “While you’re here with us, Gracie, consider him yours. How does that sound?” Shae smirks.

    Gracie’s face lights up, and she grins from ear to ear. “Really?” She squeals, dancing and prancing in place.

    Shae nods. “Copper knows this place like the back of his hand. He’ll take you to the diner car while I have a few words with your mother.”

    “Is it really ok, Mama?” Gracie looks up to me.

    Shae’s expression shifts, his smile wanes a little as Gracie speaks to me. I then nod to Gracie and try my best to return her bright grin. 

    “Go ahead, Gracie,” I tell her. “I’ll see you soon.”

    Gracie takes off with Copper. The dog barks and runs with her through the train until she’s gone. I feel a chill wrap around us, and the windows start to creak and groan as they frost over. The ice grips it and warps the metal. The glass begins to crack, and snow seeps in through the bent metal. I shiver, seeing my breath come out in cotton-like puffs.

    “Cute kid,” Shae snarls. He walks with me, and the car starts to change. It goes from a hallway and turns into the passenger car. Seats float from the ground and attach back to the metal, squealing and grinding as they do. 

    Shae sits me down in one of the seats, and it feels wet and frozen. I look up at him, remembering that sight from years ago. His naked chest and his long black hair flowing down it. I look away. This wasn’t my Shae.

    “Why am I here, Shae?” I whisper. “What do you want from me?”

    Shae sits on the seat across from the aisle. He takes a cigar from his pocket and lights it by snapping his fingers together. As the fire from his fingertips illuminates his face, I see small shapes in the sockets of his eyes, gold coins.

    He takes a drag of the cigar and plumes of smoke rise from the tip. He then smirks at me, chomping at the tip with his teeth. “You always hated me smoking these things.”

    “They’re disgusting,” I huff. “And they made you smell like ass.”

    Shae chuckles. “I quit for you,” he replies. “I remember. I used to smell like your perfume instead of smoke.” He then grins, showing teeth. “Well, and then there were the days I smelled like you,” he moans. “Your sweat and your-”

    “Shae,” I snarl warningly.

    He shrugs. “Sometimes it’s nice to remember the good old days. But I guess you’ve forgotten them.”

    I glare daggers at him. “Why am I here?” I snarl angrily at him.

    “Because I still love you,” Shae murmurs. “I can’t let go.” He motions his hand around the train. “I’m stuck.”

    I furrow my brow. “You broke your promise to me,” I whisper. “It’s your fault-” I stop and stiffen my back as the tears start to come. They’re hot and painful, and my eyes are aching. I cup my hand around my mouth and take in a deep breath.

    “You have no one to blame but yourself! If you are stuck here, it is because of your ego and foolishness. Do not use my love against me,” I hiss, wanting to slap him.

    Shae scoffs. “I thought we were in love. But maybe all I was to you was a good fuck.”

    I try to stand so I can reach him to strike him, but my hip won’t let me and, instead, I grip to the back of the seat to not fall.

    “I came back once,” he growls. “And you have already married again.”

    “I had no choice!” I snap at him.

    He scoffs and blows smoke in my face. Smoke that is somehow cold. “No choice,” he snarls. 

    “I had to think of Gracie!” I bark at him. “I was fired from my job, I was cast aside. Mother and I had nothing, and he took pity!”

    “Who did you fuck, then?” Shae snarls. “Was it my little brother?”

    “I didn’t fuck anybody!” I scream at him. “Gracie is your baby!”

    The cigar drops from Shae’s lips. His mouth hangs open, and the gold coins in his sockets start to turn. They reflect light and sparkle from the dark depths.

    “I was pregnant before we even got married, you fucking idiot!” I snarl at him. “The world saw me as ruined and trash, but I knew that my baby, our baby, was made from the love we both shared. But you went and broke your promise to me, and Gracie is the one who paid for it.”

    “Ana,” Shae whispers as he looks at me.

    “I’m glad you’re suffering and stuck! I’m glad!” I laugh in his face. “Because I’m stuck too! For the rest of my life!”

    “Ana,” he shakes his head and kneels down before me. I turn my head away and tuck my hands under my armpits. “I mean that I still love you. I’ll do anything.”

    “What good is it?” I hiss. “You’re dead.”

    The door opens, and more ghosts start to pour in. Shae stands up as ghosts start taking their seats. The once silent car is filled with voices.

    “Ma’am, your ticket,” the conductor says as he approaches me. He’s all skeleton with a tattered suit and a hat that’s dented.

    “Oh,” I shake my head. “I’m sorry, I’m not-”

    “She’s with me, Clive,” Shae growls. “I’ll take care of her.”

    Clive then gasps. “Is this the lady you keep talking about, Herschel?” His jaw clacks and clambers as he talks.

    “Clive, not now,” Shae growls.

    “What a lovely lady!” Clive claps his bony hands together. “And look at the color in her cheeks! Just wonderful.”

    “Clive,” Shae snarls.

    Clive then sighs and shakes his head. “I am sorry though, Miss. If you don’t have a ticket, you can’t ride.”

    “I’ll be taking care of her, Clive.” Shae reaches into his pocket and hands him gold coins.

    “What am I supposed to do with these?” Clive snaps.

    “Why are you still working?” Shae picks me up and carries me out of the car. As the door closes, the hallway looks brand new and bright, although outside, everything is pure white.

    I can hear Gracie giggling from down the hall and the barking of Copper. 

    Shae stands still, just listening. 

    “I can’t believe you’re that stupid that you didn’t realize,” I grumble.

    Shae grunts. “I will drop you, Ana, don’t think I won’t.”

    “I thought that’s why you took us both,” I grumble. “I thought you knew. Somehow, I comforted myself by thinking you knew and could see her from the afterlife.”

    “Obviously not,” Shae snarls as he walks forward. “I took you both because I had no choice. I wasn’t going to leave her there and steal you.”

    Shae takes me into the diner car where Gracie is sitting under a table feeding Copper scraps. He sets me down there, and I put my hand on top of Gracie’s head. 

    “This train is fun, Mama,” Gracie giggles.

    I glance to Shae, who is standing there, watching his daughter under the table. He then looks away. “I’ll get you something to eat.” He walks away, and Gracie climbs into the booth next to me.

    “Is your friend ok, Mama?” She asks.

    I smile at her, relieved that she is not bothered by anything going on around her. I was scared of everything at her age, being on such a ghost train would have sent me into a wild panic. I am proud of my Gracie and her bravery.

I touch her braids and smooth them back. “Why do you ask that, darling?”

“Some of the people I talked to said that he’s not been doing so good,” Gracie says. “They say he’s very sad.”

“Most ghosts are sad,” I murmur.

“Not all of them,” Gracie retorts. “Like Clive. He’s happy.”

I smirk at her. “You met Clive?”

Gracie nods. “He asked me for my ticket. I didn’t have one, so I gave him the piece of taffy in my pocket. He said he couldn’t use it, so I asked why he needed a ticket.”

    I kiss her forehead. “You’re so very smart.”

    Shae returns, placing two plates in front of us. He’s silent, watching Gracie as she reaches for a great big strawberry on her plate. 

    “Is this safe to eat?” I ask. “Or will I be trapped like Persephone?”

    “She ate willingly,” Shae growls at me. “She wanted to stay.”

    “Thank you,” Gracie sings up to Shae, and his expression goes slack. He looks at her as she grins at him. 

    “Say you’re welcome,” I tell him.

    “You’re welcome,” Shae says breathlessly.

    Gracie scrunches up her face as she smiles and digs back into her food. Shae just stands there, watching over her. 

    “Why did you name her Gracie?” He asks, sounding as if his soul has left his body.

    I look at her, enjoying the way she fills her cheeks before she even starts to chew. “There but by the grace of God,” I murmur. “I heard a lot of people say it around me when I was pregnant.” I then grimace. “I knew they were insulting me, so I took their insult and turned it into my own little blessing. My grace of God.”

    Shae sits down across from us, watching Gracie with awe. “Do you like that name?”

    “I do,” Gracie nods. “Wanna know my full name?”

    Shae chuckles. “Sure,” he agrees. “What’s your full name?”

    “Grace Shae Garbadol,” she answers with great cheer. 

    Shae blinks, and the coins fall from his eyes like tears. “Your middle name is Shae?”

    Gracie bobs her head up and down.  “That’s why I like you,” she says and reaches for her glass of milk. “We have the same name.”

    Looking at Shae, I want him to realize he was never forgotten, he was always there. His memory was with me every day of my life. Through child pain and hunger, he was always there with us.

    “Where is this train going?” Gracie asks.

    “I, uhm-” Shae cups his hand around his mouth and he stands up. He walks away from the table. “It’s a short trip,” he answers. 

    “Oh,” Gracie pouts.

    That evening, I tuck Gracie into bed, and Copper lies beside her. My hips feel a bit better, but it is still hard for me to move on my own. I take the sleeper below Gracie, sitting there and looking out the window. Other ghosts come and take up beds. I can hear their bones and bodies creak and clatter as they settle. 

    Outside, the snow lets up, and the moon is high and full over us. It glows brightly, illuminating the car and making everything look brand new and beautiful. I turn and look, peering into the sleepers, seeing the ghosts look very human.

    “Not polite to peek, ma’am,” Clive says.

    “Oh,” I gasp and pull away. “I’m sorry, I-” I look up, seeing a tall, gangly man standing before me. He has thick, unruly brows and a crooked mustache. I smile at him. “Still working, Clive?”

    “Always, always!” He tips his hat to me. “Just making sure everyone is comfortable before the night ends.”

    “I can keep watch,” I say.

    Clive points to me with a snap of his fingers and then leaves the sleeper car. As he leaves, Shae steps in. As the moonlight hits him, he turns back into the man I knew. I feel a strange, painful sensation in my chest. My heart could give out at any second. I am so excited to see him but hurt all the same.

    Shae holds out his hand to me. “Come with me, Ana.”

    I take his hand, struggling to stand. He puts his arm around me, his hand resting on my bad hip as we walk. The longer it rests there, the better I feel.

    “Where are we going?” I ask.

    “To finish old business,” Shae tells me.

    He opens a door, and a painfully bright light floods the hallway. I raise my arms around my face, trying to block my eyes. As I lower my arms, I see I’m standing in the old church. The paper flowers are hanging from the pews, and there is dust floating in the air.

    I take a step forward and hear the unbearably loud rustling of my skirts. I’m wearing the wedding dress my mother made me. I gasp, gripping to the fabric as tears fill my eyes. I look back, seeing Shae leaning in the doorframe.

    “What is this?” I ask.

    “Unfinished business,” Shae says as he comes forward. “Say you’ll marry me.”

    As I blink, tears fall from my eyes. “Oh, Shae,” I whisper and shake my head.

    Shae takes my hand, slipping a gold wedding band onto my finger. “I got this from my mother,” he says. “I’m glad it fits. You have much smaller hands.”

    I laugh and look up at him. I touch his beautiful face and run my fingers down his crooked nose. “We can’t go back, Shae,” I tell him. “It’s far too late.”

    He grabs my wrist. “Don’t say that, Ana.”

    “We both need to let go and move on,” I whisper to him as tears fall down my face. “We’re both ghosts of the past. I need to be present for Gracie, and you need to let go to move on. To watch over us.”

    Shae grabs me, pulling me close and kissing me. I cling to his chest, indulging in something I had been longing for all this time.

    He parts from me as clouds rise from my lips. His thumbs brush away my tears, and he looks down at me with those beautiful cinnamon eyes. 

    “Marry me, please,” he begs. 

    I look at the ring on my finger and take a shuddering breath. 

Shae grabs my hand and squeezes it tight. “If you don’t, I’m afraid I’ll never be able to escape this day.”

I sniffle and meet his serious expression.

“I broke my promise,” Shae says urgently. “And I can’t let go. Please, let me fulfill this wish.”

“This day?” I ask.

Shae sighs. “Before the sun rises, this train will go along the mountain path. It will travel under an avalanche and be knocked off the path and to the lake below.”

My eyes widen. “Is that what happened?” I shudder.

He nods. “I hadn’t even robbed the train,” he tells me. “I was just trying to get home to you.”

I hold his hand to my face as tears begin to flow.

Shae smiles, wiping the tears away. “If I marry you, I’ll be able to escape. Please, Anastasia, I beg you.”

I laugh and look up at him. “You said it,” I giggle.

He grins at me. “I’ve been saying it all these years. I hate it, but I will always say it.”

I kiss him and take a step back. “I’ll marry you,” I whisper.

“Did she say yes?” Clive comes walking into the church and stands at the pulpit. 

Shae grins. “She did. Finally,” he laughs. He takes my hand, leading me up the aisle to stand before Clive.

“Well, then,” Clive grins and claps his hands together. “Let’s get this started.”

I gaze up at Shae, and my heart feels so full. Clive goes through with the vows and the ceremony. As he does, I see the sunrise from the stained glass window behind me. I squeeze onto Shae’s hand.

“I do,” Shae murmurs.

“And do you take this man?” Clive asks.

I nod and gasp. “I do!”

    “Then by the powers that be, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Clive announces.

    I jump up, kissing Shae as sunlight starts to pour into the church.

    “Mama?” Gracie whispers. “Mama?”

    I open my eyes and sit up in bed. “Gracie?” I whimper. “Where are we?”

    Gracie turns, looking towards the fireplace, where a man is sitting. The man stands up from his chair by the fire and walks over to us.

    “I found you outside by the lake,” the man says. “I thought it was strange since the only path in is by my house.” He touches my forehead and cheek. “You both looked fine, but I just want to make sure.”

    “Lake?” I whisper.

    “The one the train fell into,” Gracie says.

    I gasp and sit up straight. “Shae.”

    “Ma’am, please lie back down,” the man urges “You need your rest.”

    I get up out of the bed and rush outside. Before me, I see the frozen lake. Above, there is indeed a path where a train would have once passed. I step closer to the shore of the lake and place my hand on the frozen surface.

    “Was that it?” I whisper. “Was that all I got?”

    “Mama!” Gracie comes running out to me.

    I rub my eyes and take her into my arms. The man comes walking out to meet us. “I’m sorry, sir,” I whisper. “It’s so very hard to explain, but maybe I-” I stop as my breath leaves me.

    The man behind me is missing his right arm, and he has scars and burns all over his right side. His right eye is covered by a patch, the left is the most beautiful cinnamon color. His long dark hair has streaks of silver in it and is tied back with an old ribbon.

    “I’m sorry I-” I gasp. “I thought I had seen a ghost.”

    The man walks over to the lake and places his hand on it. “The train that crashed here,” he says, “I was one of only a few that survived it. But I wish I hadn’t,” he growls. “Years of healing from the wreckage has only made me a monster to the others. And I don’t even know who I was before. So stay here.”

    I hold out my hand with trembling fingers and touch his cheek. The gold wedding band on my finger sparkles and the man leans into my palm. With his left hand, he holds my wrist and a cloud of cigar smoke billows from his lips suddenly.

    The ice cracks and water starts to burble and force its way to the surface. As he looks at me, his eye grows brighter, and he takes a step closer.

    “Ana,” he whispers.

    “Shae!” I run into his embrace, and he holds both Gracie and me. 

    I cannot explain the ghost that had taken Gracie and I. All I can figure is that it was a desire created by both Shae and I. My need to see him again and his desperation to remember. Together, we kept that day going on and on. 

    Now, we are together, and Gracie has her father. Whatever ghosts are left are in the past, where they belong. Maybe someday there will be more, but for us, the haunting in our hearts is over.