MN   ( HALT! ]...

MN   ( WHO GOES THERE?! ]...

You see some movement outside one of the traincars, one that should only be filled with lumber. You bravely wield your lantern (a perk of doing nightly reconnaissance) and make your way outside. The wind whips your hair all over, so you wipe it away from your face with your forearm as you step from the passenger car's gates.

MN   ( I MEAN IT ]...

MN   ( THOSE WHO TRESPASS WILL BE PUNISHED RIGHTEOUSLY!! ]...

MN   ( OR WAS IT RIGHTFULLY? ]...

MN   ( RIGHTLY? ]...

MN   ( ]...

MN   ( THOSE WHO TRUSTPASS WILL BE - ]...

MN   ( DAMN IT!! THIS IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS ]...

MN   ( SHUT UP ]...

Maybe the intruder can't hear over the wind. You keep that in mind as you thrust open the cargo door.

MN   ( ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR'S ORDERS! ]...

MN   ( IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, THEN SHOW YOURSELF! ]...

MN   ( IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE, THEN SHOW YOURSELF! ]...

MN   ( SO ]...

MN   ( DON'T MAKE ME COME IN THERE ]...

You grunt as you slide the door shut behind you. The harsh wind outside mutes to a distant rumble. In the darkness, all you can see are silhouettes of piles. Nothing sounds out of the ordinary.

MN   ( I KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE ]...

MN   ( I CAN SENSE THE PRESENCE OF OUTSIDERS, LIKE ]...

MN   ( LIKE FOUL SPIRITS, INFILTRATING OUR RAILS! ]...

MN   ( I KNOW WHAT YOU DO ]...

MN   ( WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT ]...

MN   ( AND NO ONE IS THERE TO CONDUCT THE TRAINS ]...

MN   ( THEY MOVE... THEY MOVE!!! ]...

MN   ( I'VE SEEN IT! ]...

MN   ( SO YOU CAN'T HURT ME, I SEE THROUGH YOUR TRICKS!! ]...

You step forward, wielding your lantern as a shield. You even try brandishing it and thrusting it, though that causes a spark to fall to the floor and set some dry hay ablaze.

MN   ( OH SHIT ]...

You quickly try to stamp it out, though the more you jostle, the more kindling leaps out of the lantern.

MN   ( FUCK FUCK FUCK ]...

MN   ( OUT, YOU DAMNED FIRES! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO STAY IN YOUR HEARTH! ]...

MN   ( YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO OBEY YOUR MASTER! ]...

MN   ( UGH ]...

MN   ( ...PLEASE, DON'T SPREAD! ]...

MN   ( PLEASE, EXTINGUISH, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ]...

MN   ( FATHER WILL... IF I MESS UP ON THIS SCALE...! ]...

Suddenly, before your very eyes, one of the sacks rises to the air. It wobbles and wavers, but it undoubtedly is being held by no force you can see.

MN   ( WH-WHAT ]...

MN   ( IT ]...

MN   ( IT WAS REAL? ]...

It lands with a great thud on the fire, dampening it immediately. The only light left in the car are the measly leftovers in the lantern. You're left wide-eyed and stunned, but only momentarily.

MN   ( D... ]...

MN   ( DEMON! HELLISH CREATURES OF THE NIGHT! ]...

MN   ( YOU WON'T GET ME, NOT TODAY!! ]...

You turn to make a run for it, thrusting yourself outside the train car and shutting the door behind you.

MN   ( G-GAH... ]...

MN   ( UUGHH... ]...

MN   ( I SHOULD GO ]...

MN   ( I'LL TELL HIM I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ]...

MN   ( ]...

MN   ( NO ]...

MN   ( NO! ]...

MN   ( MY... DUTIES...! ]...

MN   ( I MUST FACE IT! BECAUSE IT'S REAL! ]...

MN   ( I ALWAYS KNEW IT WAS REAL! ]...

You turn around and slam the door back open with a newfound fury.

MN   ( THOSE LAIN WITH THE UNDERWORLD ]...

MN   ( THOSE WHO KNOW NOT OF THE RAILWAY KNIGHT ]...

MN   ( SHOW YOURSELF! ]...

MN   ( YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD SCARED ME AWAY WITH YOUR SPECTRAL POWERS ]...

MN   ( BUT I WAS BUILDING MY STRENGTH, ALL TO - ]...

??   Gods! Fine you win!

??   Well come out already just...

??   Just stop yelling! Holy moly!

??   Geez. And I thought I could survive anything.

??   Talk about surveillance overkill.

MN   ( ]...

From behind the shadowed piles come two figures. They're both wearing strange, tattered garments.

MN   ( WHO ]...

MN   ( ARE YOU? ]...

??   You caught us okay?

??   We just wanted to hitch a ride.

??   Its not a crime right?

??   Well its not an especially bad crime right?

??   You can just... drop us off somewhere and well leave.

The one speaking is almost as tall as you. They have their hands clutched on the smaller one, who's been looking down the entire time.

MN   ( ARE YOU ]...

MN   ( LOST? ]...

??   Psch.

??   Cant be lost if youve got nowhere to go.

She - you assume it's she, because she's got pretty eyes like a girl's - gives you a grin, but you can hear the aggression in her voice. Daring you to move, to hurt them. She's even got her fists raised, and they're not shaking one bit. Suddenly, your attempt to look strong feels so pathetic. They must have survived utter hell.

You kneel, placing the lantern next to you.

MN   ( YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN HERE ]...

??   Well, duh.

??   We get it!

??   You can rub it in all you want but if youre going to -

MN   ( YOU'RE NOT CARGO ]...

MN   ( PEOPLE SHOULD BE IN THERE ]...

You point in the direction you came from - the passenger cars. Her eyes widen, and her fists lower.

??   Youre... letting us in?

??   We cant pay for the ticket.

MN   ( THAT WON'T MATTER ]...

??   Really?

??   Youd do that... for us?

The way she's looking at you... one could mistake it for reverence. Awe. Your chest swells, and you stand up, feeling your power return.

MN   ( HA! YOU UNDERESTIMATE MY POWER ]...

MN   ( I AM NO MERE KNIGHT, OVERSEER OF THAT WHICH SCAMPERS IN THE DARK ]...

MN   ( I AM THE SON OF THIS DOMAIN'S KING ]...

MN   ( MAKING ME THE PRINCE OF ALL THAT TRAVERSE THE RAILS ]...

MN   ( AND YOU, LOWLY SCRAGGLER, ARE UNDER MY REIGN! ]...

MN   ( MWA HA! HA HA HA HA! ]...

MN   ( AN UNFATHOMABLE POWER BESIEGES YOU ]...

MN   ( AND THAT POWER IS ME! ]...

MN   ( SO, IF YOU WISH TO LIVE, YOU WILL DO AS I SAY ]...

MN   ( AND FOLLOW ME TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING! ]...

For a moment, they don't say anything. They just exchange glances, presumably dumbfounded by the sheer aura before them.

??   He's funny.

??   I think hes cuckoo bananas.

MN   ( RESPECT THE MAN WHO'S LETTING YOU LIVE!!!!!!! ]...