Chapter Text
The train floor shook beneath him.
Wait, the train floor?
Ghostbur jolted awake as a loud screeching filled his ears. He was standing, weirdly, clutching a grab handle. He was positioned near a sliding door. A flickering neon red sign hung above it; “EXIT”.
The train shuddered to a halt on clearly rusty tracks as Ghostbur began to shake. Where was he? What had happened to him? Where was Tommy?
He flinched as the door slid open with a delayed ca-chunk, and steam he hadn’t noticed on the floor before came flowing out into the darkness beyond.
Every one of his instincts was screaming at him to stay on the train, it’s not safe out there, but he stepped out of the train car anyways. Cold air enveloped him, and he drew his blue-stained yellow sweater closer to him.
His eyes took a minute to adjust to the darkness.
“What the fuck?” A scratchy voice sounded from in front of him. Ghosbur jumped violently, with a small ‘eep!’.
The voice cleared it’s throat.
And suddenly he could remember everything. Phantom pains sparked in his neck
bones. His own screams, moments before he’d woken on the train echoed in his ears.
Tommy’s pleading face swam before his vision.
He broke.
A cry tore from his lips, tears streaming down his face as he dropped to his knees on the cold floor.
“Jesus,” said the voice, less cracked now, “Who the fuck are you?”
Ghostbur just continued crying, the horrible lump in his throat making it nearly impossible for him to answer. He only looked up when the light thuds of boots startled him from his pity session.
Wilbur Soot stared down at him through cracked glasses, surveying him.
He felt his tears subside. This was him. This was what he had been. Ghostbur stumbled to his feet, burying his fingers in his sweater once more, as if that would save him from whatever this was.
“You’re… You’re Wilbur,” he said slowly. The man studied him with interest.
“No shit.” Wilbur paused, crossing his arms. “And you’re me. Ghostbur?” He guessed. Ghostbur nodded meekly. Neither of them spoke for a few moments after that.
“What-” Wilbur began, before he was cut off by a polite cough from behind the two.
Dream.
Dream?
Dream.
Dream stood in the open doorway of the train, staring directly at the two men.
“You’re due to board,” he said cheerily, cocking his head as he scanned Wilbur. “Come on.”
Wilbur’s face lit up with joy, the previously veiled curiosity replaced with pure excitement. He tossed a glance at Ghostbur and hurried after Dream, into the rusty train.
Ghostbur let out a soft wail as the doors slid shut. Wilbur waved a smug goodbye from one of the windows, and the train’s wheels screamed in protest as it began to move once more. Smoke billowed into the dark station, and Ghostbur coughed wildly in the shadows as he struggled to keep his bearings.
“Please!” He was yelling. “Please, don’t leave me here!”
But the smoke was too thick, and the train’s whistle signified it’s official departure. He stumbled blindly towards the tracks, but it was too late.
The train disappeared.
And Ghostbur was alone.