The moon cast an eerie silvery glow over the Blackthorn Forest, casting long shadows across the trees. As the train thundered into the forest, a cool, ominous wind whispered through the leaves, warning of impending danger.
"Looks like the moon's cooperating," a voice whispered, its tone low and menacing.
Another voice chuckled, the sound sending shivers down the spine. "Perfect night for a massacre."
Krator's eyes gleamed with excitement as he stepped into the dim light. "I can feel the fear emanating from below."
"Time to unleash the horrors." Voidius replied, his face twisting into a grotesque grin.
As Voidius stretched his hands sideways, a gust of wind buffeted him, and the trees creaked ominously. He stared at the train going into the darkness, and his grin only seemed to grow wider.
"Now," Krator hissed, his eyes blazing with anticipation. "Let the bloodshed begin."
***
Inside the locomotive cab
The engineer's eyes scanned the instrument panel, his hands moving with practiced ease over the controls. The rhythmic clatter of the tracks below provided a steady beat, a stark contrast to the ominous atmosphere brewing outside. The conductor sat beside him, eyes fixed on the navigation charts spread out on the small desk.
The cab's dim lighting cast an intimate glow, illuminating the men's weathered faces. The air was thick with the smell of diesel and worn leather. Outside, the forest loomed, its darkness pressing against the cab's windows like a living entity.
As the train rumbled deeper into the Blackthorn Forest, the engineer leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head. "Aww, shucks, this ride's been longer than a rattlesnake's temper," he said, his drawl thick and rich. The conductor looked up from his charts, a hint of a smile on his face. "I reckon you're right. I'm plumb surprised we ain't seen no demons yet."
The engineer chuckled, taking a drag on his cigar. "You know, I've been runnin' trains for nigh on 20 years, and I ain't never seen no demon. Some folks say I'm just lucky, but I reckon it's because they know better than to mess with me." He grinned, puffing out a ring of smoke. "I got a reputation for bein' one of the toughest engineers this side of the Blackthorn Forest."
The conductor laughed, a deep rumbling sound. "Ain't that the truth!" He reached into his bag and pulled out two bottles of ale. "I got a special brew from down in Nefaria. Red grapes, just like you like 'em."
The engineer's eyes lit up as he took the bottle. "You're speakin' my language now, partner!" He twisted off the cap and took a long swig, the ale foaming down his chin. "Phew, that hits the spot!" He exclaimed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
The conductor grinned, taking a swig of his own ale. "Let's drink all night, and worry 'bout them demons later." The engineer nodded, clinking his bottle against the conductor's. "You bet your boots, partner. We'll ride the rails all night, and keep the demons at bay."
"Straight into the underworld," the engineer declared, grinning. The conductor chuckled, clinking his bottle against the engineer's, as he turned to the window.
The conductor's eyes widened as he stared out the window, his chuckles dying on his lips. "What in tarnation...?" he muttered, squinting. "Ain't no way..."
He rubbed his eyes, but when he opened them again, the apparition was closer. A dark figure with glowing eyes stood on the tracks, its face twisted in a snarl.
"Partner, I think you better take a gander at this," the conductor said, his voice low and serious.
The engineer's grin faltered as he turned to the conductor. "What's got ya spooked?"
The conductor's face was pale. "It's a demon, dead center on the tracks."
The engineer's expression changed from amusement to alarm. "Aw, shucks. You ain't kiddin', are ya?"
The conductor's eyes were fixed on the demon. "I wish I was."
The engineer's face turned white as he gazed out the window. "Lord have mercy," he whispered, his voice shaking. "What in tarnation is that?"
The conductor's grip on the engineer's shirt tightened. "You said demons wouldn't bother us!"
The engineer's eyes darted between the conductor and the demon. "I...I said we'd ride the rails all night, and keep the demons at bay. Not that we'd never see none!"
The conductor's face twisted in anger. "That's just semantics, partner! We're fixin' to crash into that thing!"
The engineer's face turned pale. "No way, we can't do that."
The conductor's expression turned belligerent. "What're you talkin' about? We'll ram right through it!"
The engineer's voice trembled. "You don't understand, partner. That ain't no ordinary demon. If we hit it, we're done for."
The conductor's face scrunched in confusion. "What in tarnation...?"
The engineer pleaded, "I've got family back home, man. I gotta get back to 'em."
The conductor's anger flared. "Who cares? We're gonna crush that thing!"
The engineer stood firm, grabbing the brakes. "Not gonna happen."
The conductor lunged at him, but the engineer held tight, pulling the brakes with all his might. The train began to screech to a halt, the wheels locking up with a metallic shriek.
As the train screeched to a halt, Voidius's grin grew wider, his body crackling with malevolent energy. He stretched out a hand, and a dark, pulsating glow emanated from his palm, like a beacon of destruction. The air seemed to distort around him, heavy with tension.
"What's happening?" the engineer cried, releasing the brakes in a futile attempt to escape the impending doom.
The conductor's face turned ashen, his eyes wide with terror. "We're done for," he whispered, as if resigned to their fate.
Voidius's voice was a low, menacing whisper. "Anti-tenzen art... "
"Disorder!" In that instant, a massive, invisible blast shot from his hand, connecting with the train with cataclysmic force.
Metal screamed, wood splintered, and glass shattered as the train's cars telescoped inward, buckling under the pressure. The engineer's and conductor's screams were lost in the deafening crash, their bodies thrown about like ragdolls as the train's wreckage imploded around them.
***
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