The Mysterious Shadow In The Tracks
I wrote this story when I was homeless behind the Shelter at the train tracks. I wish you like it and take your mind off the pressures of life a bit.
¨Sometimes the best refuge is the adventures of your own dreams.¨
One morning, I woke up feeling like my house was trembling. The walls were shaking, and I heard scratches at my door. I started sniffing around, trying to recognize the danger as my heart was pounding hard. I had alternative escape routes, but I felt like the roof was falling on me at that moment.
Suddenly, I heard a familiar sound. A loud “CHU CHUUU.” Then, I realized it was the sound of the train that interrupted my dreams every morning.
It could have been the train, or maybe the crumbling was caused by a dangerous hungry animal trying to dig me up.
My stomach made a noise similar to the shaking ground, a tremor of hunger. (Gruuuurrrrrrr.)
Everything got quiet. So I begin my usual morning rituals, repeatedly scratching my nose (I love that sensation); it tickles and makes me want to sneeze. I stretched out my legs and started coming out of my rabbit hole.
It was sunny and flowery all around, an excellent time to eat some delicious grass.
After the disturbance, I heard the breeze making a symphony with the branches and leaves. Little birds glided gently in the wind while the pigeons flew choreographed in flocks — Sun’s rays piercing the foliage, warming up the ground, giving life to nature.
It was safe to come out.
Sniffing the environment, I shyly went out into the open. I looked across the tracks and saw little ears popping out. My presence had alerted the neighboring bunnies.
In the distance, I saw my friend “Ardilla” come running on a rail, stopping, for instance, to probe the environment — shaking her tail.
Suddenly, she stopped near me, dropped an almond she was carrying in her mouth, and came slowly checking around.
“Hey, big ears,” said Ardilla in a worrying tone. “Better be careful; I heard strange things are happening around here, and the whole neighborhood is worried about it.”
“I’ve already told you the name is Bunny,” I said, fixing my ears. “James Bunny.” “What have you heard?”
“A strange shadow is wandering around late at night,” said Ardilla, “and there are rumors that several of the mice community have disappeared.”
“Do you think the danger comes from the humans who sleep in the bushes?” I asked curiously. “They’re always partying and throwing bottles everywhere.” “In this part of the train tracks, they always come to make noise, and after drinking from the bottles, they fall asleep all over the place.”
“I believe the danger is more sinister than a bunch of homeless people drinking and sleeping around,” said Ardilla. “But sometimes they act senseless too, throwing stuff at us.”
“Maybe Scarred Nose knows anything about it,” I said. “He’s the leader of the mice community.” “Why don’t we go to the end of the tracks, to the bridge crossing the river?” “He likes to stay around that spooky place.”
“It’s a long trail,” said Ardilla, “but we need to find out what’s happening in our neighborhood.” “Whatever is lurking around here, it concerns us as well.”
Then, the rabbit and the squirrel begin their journey down the cleared path between the undergrowth and the train tracks, while Ardilla runs on a rail and James Bunny near the bushes to have a clearer view of the terrain and possible dangers that await them.
Suddenly, a strange sound came from above.
We stopped immediately, with Ardilla looking everywhere while I was sniffing the air.
A deep voice came from a tree.
“It’s not a good idea to run across unsafe terrain,” said a deep voice. “Higher in the sky, someone is watching us hungrily, and I’m talking about the eagles.”
High on a tree branch, I recognized a giant owl with big eyes looking at us; not dangerous, as he is the wisest of all animals and watches over the territory. Everybody calls him the Wise Buo, whose advice never fails, warning us of possible human danger.
He had something valuable to advise this time, not only of the imminent threat from the skies but of what had us frightened around here.
“Be careful of what awaits you,” said the Wise Buo, “as even the mice community is alerted to a possible stranger who prowls at night.”
“Do you know anything about it, Mr. Wise Buo? I asked respectfully. “We are on a journey searching for deciphering what is happening around us.” “Our best guess was to ask Scarred Nose, the leader of the mice community.”
“I have seen beyond the shadows,” said the Wise Buo, “and it’s an unknown figure that prowls quietly.” “waiting for the late-night darkness to strike its prey.” “I’m warning you that it is perilous.”
“We want to know if someone has seen it,” said Ardilla, very intrigued. “If it has something to do with mice, then Scarred Nose is the one to ask.”
“Poor Scarred Nose,” I said, “he is probably trembling with fear hiding in his lair as his friends are disappearing.” “However, he may have the answer to all of this.”
“Let’s continue our journey, Ardilla, and please keep your tail down in the open.” “The dangerous bird high in the sky might notice you from afar.”
“If it has something to do with prey, it concerns us as well,” said Ardilla, shaking her tail.
“Thanks for the advise, Mr. Wise Buo,” I said. “We’ll be careful and brave.”
Finally, we reached the dark bridge, a spooky place no one goes to. Full of distorted images of graffiti. A massive pile of garbage. Empty bottles, mattresses, and dirty damped clothes made the place scarier.
“What if the mysterious shadow is here? I asked fearfully. “No one is going to save us in this dark place.”
“Ardilla, come close to me.” I whisper, “your company makes me feel a little safe.”
“I’m shaking my tail more than usual,” said Ardilla nervously.
Suddenly, We hear a crackling noise coming out of the pile of garbage, and a giant shadow begins to appear on the wall, giving me chills. It seemed as if something was coming from beyond the grave.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” said a shrill voice. (It made us jump almost on top of each other.)
“Sho..sho…show your face,” I said, trembling, hugging Ardilla.
It was nothing more than Scarred Nose himself.
“Wow,” I said in relief, “the last time we met, I was more courageous than today.”
And a large scarred nose began to emerge from the garbage. It looked at us with sinister eyes, dragging along a dry-skinned tail.
“Iiiuuu!” I exclaimed, “That’s why you smell so bad.”
“We have come in peace looking for answers,” said Ardilla. “Maybe you know something about it.”
“All I can tell is that some mice are disappearing,” said Scarred Nose. “They went looking for food, never to return.” “I have declared a state of alert.” “Nobody can go too far away.”
“So, if you haven’t even seen the strange shadow,” I said, “we’re all vulnerable to becoming prey.”
“Then we should go back to our den,” said Ardilla worried. “We are safer there, near our refuge.”
“Then let’s go back,” I said. “At least now we know the only thing we can do is be more vigilant and careful.”
Jumping back to our lair, we saw a truck ahead, blocking our path. There were several people around a cage. From a distance, we realized that humans had captured the strange shadow.
It was nothing more and nothing less than a black cat lost in the train tracks. It probably had made its lair among us in freedom.
There was nothing else to worry about; the case had been closed. We returned home to enjoy our freedom on the train tracks, shared with humans.
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