Hello, and welcome to another spine tingling tale of the supernatural. Today,
I take you on a journey through the ever strange corridors of the Timeless Train,
where the line between reality and illusion blurs, and souls are trapped forever
in a never ending loop of eerie events. This is your weekly dose of
the real world, guys, where the boundaries of reality are tested. Brace
yourself for a story of ancient locomotives, time twisting riddles, and a group
determined to defy fate. As always, I am the Ghost, a dark
operative on the Dark Web specializing in the mysterious and outrageous. Join me and
the team as we ventured deep into the Timeless Train and a battle of wills,
racing against time to secure a young man's future and solve a family legend.
All right, let's just get right into it. The request subject urgent
family mystery and missing air. Dear Ghost, my name is Marcus Vanderbilt,
a name I'm sure you have come across in the society pages at some point.
However, to day I write to you not out of wealth and prestige,
but out of sheer, desperation and concern. My son, Theodore Theo
Vanderbilt has gone missing under circumstances that I find to be both baffling and chilling.
While the police seem to think it's just another case of a young heir
gone astray, I believe there's more it is disappearance than meets the eye.
You see, THEO had become particularly invested in our family's past, specifically an
old legend about a mysterious train and the possible involvement of our family. At
some point, I've always dismissed it as nothing more than a tale, and
his interest in history just that an interest. However, Theo's recent obsession with
it and his subsequent quent disappearance have me questioning everything. I need someone with
your unique skills and perspective to shed light on this mystery. I've heard tales
of your success in cases that tread the line between the natural and the supernatural,
and I believe you might be our only hope. I understand the value
of discretion, and I've always kept my personal affairs private. Still, with
THEO missing, I'm prepared to do whatever it takes. Please come and meet
me at my office in Vanderbilt Tower, where I will provide you further details
and share pertinent information with you. I await your reply with bated breath.
The Vanderbilt name may be known for many things, but I hope, with
your help, it won't be associated with tragedy. Yours, sincerely, Marcus
Vanderbilt. So okay, guys, picture this. This guy's practically emptying buckets
this evening, and I'm running through the deluge to our warehouse. My shoes
are splashing and creating little mini tidal waves with every hurried step. Seriously,
though, for all the tools that we have, you would think that I'd
have some kind of high tech brain repellent gadget. But no, not today.
And just to make my night even better, my keys decide to play
hide and seek deep inside my pocket. Ever have that happen, because it
always happens right at the perfect moment, doesn't it. But after you know,
a little rustling match, I do get inside the warehouse finally, and
I'm hit with that nostalgic aroma of our past adventures. You know, it's
kind of like a hug from our history and work. Every time you walk
in. We set a few things up like that, you know, around
the place, because we always want and need the reminders of our past jobs
that we've done so that we never forget the difference that we can make when
we work them. All right, Well, venturing further in, I can
hear the rest of the team and they're in the middle of a pretty intense
card game. Harley's there doing her you know, psychological mind reading magic riders,
probably tossing in some readings on all the poker faces. But of course
it's Jagger who sees me first, soaked to the bone, and of course
he has to crack jokes about it. You know how Assie storms make this
rain look like a drizzle. So how did I get so wet? I
mean, classic Jagger, you know, I am soaked standing there. Well,
anyway, soon they all see me and I let them know that I
bring news. We have received a new request. Scarlett gets me a couple
of towels and I sit down to go over it all with them. This
request, you know, was the one from Marcus Vanderbilt, a name that
we as a team we all knew. Well, the name alone was enough,
you know, to switch everyone's gears from playing that game to game.
Face on. I fill them in on all the details, you know,
and of course it sounds like some Hollywood blockbuster plot, But now this is
what's out there. Guys, I need to go meet with Marcus Vanderbilt,
and I decide to take Scarlett with me. I'm looking forward to meeting this
guy. His reputation eats him, so scarl and I go. We're in
New York where we need to be in the shadows of the Vanderbilt Tower.
While they loomed large on the city streets. As we approached, every brick
and stone of the towering structure seemed to speak of history and mysteries. Marcus
Vanderbilt he's not just a wealthy guy, but he's a dedicated curator and collector
of historical rarities. Rooted in generations of tradition. Marcus has taken his family's
passion a step further by establishing the Vanderbilt Archive and Exhibit. The guy's kind
of a blend you know, of historian and businessman. Marcus is a guardian
of the past of sorts, ensuring that each artifact's story is preserved and shared
with the world. And clearly, his son Theo must have taken after those
that came before him because he is interested and all of that as well.
Inside the transition, you know, from the bustling streets of New York to
the hallowed corridors of this tower were striking. The Vanderbilt Archive and exhibit spanned
several floors, showcasing artifacts that whispered tales of bygone eras. But Scarlet and
I, you know, we're not there for a tour. We were ushered
into Marcus Vanderbilt's personal study. This was a large room that stood as a
testament to his family's legacy and his personal commitment to preserving it. High ceilings,
intricate moldings, walls lined with rich mahogany, shelves, aged books,
artifacts, you know, all kinds of things, various curiosities that had caught
the Vanderbilt eye over the generations. In the midst of his historical panorama sat
the man himself, Marcus Vanderbilt, despite his poised exterior and aura of unease
clung to him. It was evident that his son's mysterious disappearance weighed heavily on
his mind. He offered a brief nod and acknowledgment the gravity of the situation,
leaving little room for pleasantries. Marcas, in his measured tone, conveyed
the essence of his concerns. His son, THEO, had been deeply immersed
in the Vanderbilt family's storied past, a past that extended far beyond the tangible
artifacts and relics. One story in particular had consumed Theo's attention, the mysterious
disappearance of Lady Evelyn after she boarded what came to be known as the Timeless
Train. Now. Lady Evelyn would have been a great great and maybe even
greater aunt to THEO. While many Vanderbilts viewed the story now as a cautionary
family tale, THEO had grown convinced of its authenticity. His dedication had led
him to delve into it, searching for clues that might unveil the truth behind
Lady Evelyn's fate and this mysterious train. In the center of Marcus's study,
an ornate table held this collection of documents and photos and artifacts related to the
Timeless Train legend. Among them a picture of Lady Evelyn herself. Her gaze
seemed to pierce through the layers of time. Beside the photograph, a set
of keys Theo's apartment. Keys gleamed under the light. Marcus intimidated that the
apartment would likely contain the bulk of Theo's recent research. Next to the keys
was a small, ornately crafted box that held some of Lady Evelyn's personal items
handed down through the generations and hopes, you know, maybe they would offer
some insights or clues. The weight of the mission at this point now was
feeling pretty intense. The intertwining stories of Theo's disappearance, Lady Evelyn's unsolved mystery,
and the Timeless trains legend formed a tapestry that Scarlett and I were now
tasked to unravel. As I accept the job, it was clear that every
artifact, every document in memory held potential answers, and the Vanderbilt legacy would
be our guide through this intricate maze. And so then or we were We
had left the Vanderbilt Tower, and now Scarlett and I were standing in the
doorway to Theo's apartment. Stepping inside felt like, you know, crossing a
threshold into another realm, a room locked in time. Every into the wall
narrated the story of a man's journey down the rabbit hole of legend. Some
scattered papers and books were about, But when we got to what could be
you know, the second bedroom. That's where we found the mother load.
This guy had his job during the day, right sure, but he had
even more going on in his off hours. This room was a total research
zone for an intrepid historian. Amid the avalanche of books and charts and letters
and maps. Another portrait of Lady Evelyn that drew our attention, the Vanderbilt
matriarch who had once boarded a train never to return. But our legacy seemed
to stretch beyond just one frame picture. Across the room, faded photos,
paintings, and sketches told of a lady whose tale was tight, the inner
woven with this timeless train. It was not the only time we saw our
face, of course, in Theo's apartment we found her image and all those
faded photographs and paintings and the sketches around the room and in the piles of
papers. I mean, we're going through everything in Scarlet Night, and we
look at each other. I mean, could the allure of the timeless train
that ensnared Lady Evelyn, could that be what also ensnared THEO? I mean,
what could become of a soul on this journey anyway? And what exactly
happened to these very real people that supposedly went missing on it. Well,
we begin dissecting everything that the rooms and many layers had to offer. We
went through all the printed pages and theo's hurried scribbles. There was a lot
of information and we got very immersed in the whole thing. I mean more
than once we'd pause and think that maybe we were hearing the distant cry of
a locomotive. It was as if, you know, the legends themselves were
trying to communicate. Were we just getting too involved or was it real?
In the moment, we could not know for sure. All we did know
was that it served as a chilling reminder of the gravity of our quest,
whether we wanted it or not. And I mean, yeah, the charm
of the Timeless train Saga was undeniably magnetic. There was also this sensation of
being watched as we looked into it all. Scarlet and I both had that
sensation of being beckoned, and it grew more profound the deeper in we went,
like that train whistle. Whether this sensation was real or imagined, we
weren't sure, but it did leave our skin tingling. We both felt it
sifting through Theo's archives felt like an archaeological dig, where each unearthed item could
be a relic of unimaginable significance. With every document, sketch, or photograph
analyzed, the puzzle grew, branching out in countless directions, each one promising
yet menacing. There's a dichotomy in chase something that's supposedly timeless. Okay,
even though the train might have all the time in the world for THEO and
for us investigating his disappearance, every second counted. According to legend, if
one is left on the train too long, it becomes a part of it
forever. So we need to get to him before it ends up being too
late. As the way of the mission settled further, one thing became clear
in this vast game of cosmic hide and seek. I guess you'd say missing
the train was not an option. In the end, we take what we
think is useful from Theo's and we get out of there. Back at our
bustling warehouse, what was meant to be a brainstorming session rapidly turned into what
I'd describe as pin the tail on the cosmic donkey. So much going on
large maps, boasting of meticulous details sprawled out across our table were soon adorned
with a rainbow of scribbles and pins. Determination fueled our every move. We
zigzagged from one lead to another, connecting sightings of the elusive train. But
let me tell you, for every promising lead, there were about ten others
that led straight to Nopeville. This train, already draped in mystery, was
proving to be an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, sprinkled maybe with just
a dash of are you kidding me? This thing was crazy? And then
a thought occurred to me, what if this train isn't just playing hopscotch through
time? Maybe I don't know, moon walking through space. We all exchanged
glances, each of us pondering the weight of this realization, and before we
could even digest the idea, Harley, never wanted to be outdone by a
mere suggestion, runs up to one of the massive windows, pointing dramatically at
the night sky riders, seemingly catching her drifts, prints over to these celestial
maps. We have set up pinpointing alignments that coincided with the dates of certain
mysterious disappearances. As we mesh the night Sky's choreography with those ill fated journeys.
The pieces did begin to click. The Vanderbilt legacy seemed to waltz in
tune with the stars. There were just too many coincidences linking this phantom train
to some strange celestial shenanigans. Now Jagger, our resident pathfinder, he starts
plotting our game plan. You know, he's mumbling about constellations and optimal boarding
times, things like this. I mean, sure, the risks they loomed
large, but when has that ever stopped us unless it's imminent doom level risky.
We've always been game right, This room typically echoing with our lively debates
and occasional off tune humming, and now is buzzing with all of this work
around this train. We stood at the precipice of the uncharted, gearing up
to chase a train not just bound by the hands of a clock, but
by the vast tapestry of the universe itself. One thing was clear. Boarding
that train wasn't a matter of if it was when the midnight oil was almost
spent, but so were we. Coffee cups piled high, eyebags prominent,
and still plowing through information that spanned eons. Ancient scrolls, met state of
the art data analysis in our quest to pinpoint the timeless trains on core appearances.
However, a grim realization hit. These cosmic train stops were like rare
solar eclipses, and we might have missed the recent one by mere moments.
Darned trains, I mean, can they ever be on time? But seriously,
if THEO was taken by this last event, who knew when the next
one would be? And this could be a problem. It's not like the
train's going to be, you know, stopping by for the four o'clock pick
up. So with a mixture you know, of caffeine and determination keeping us
going, I get another idea. What if we don't wait for the train
but beckon it. And this was a lightbulb moment, if you will,
or perhaps I should say maybe a spectral lantern moment, given our ghostly undertones
here, and we all had big ideas. Jagger conjured up ideas about sky
projections, which sounded more like, you know, a rock concert set up
than a paranormal investigation, but still it was an option. Harley was channeling
her you know, inner Merlin. She talked of aligning cosmic vibes and yet
Rider she was hell bent on boosting the universes, you know, juju to
sync up with our elusive phantom locomotive. There were just a ton of ideas
flying around, you know, But for us bantering and brainstorming. As far
as that goes our cruise motto, it's simple. No idea is too wild,
no suggestion is too outlandish. After all, in our line of work,
a seemingly crazy idea could be the very key to unlocking the mysteries of
the universe, or at least flagging down a ghost train, perhaps choosing a
location that was challenging. But our research led us to this remote spot,
early known for past whistle stops of our ghostly train. This is what we
found. So armed at the mishmash of tech from various centuries, including some
that looked suspiciously like they came from a garage shale, we went to the
location we determined to be our best bet, and we set up our trap.
A combination of what we brought, what was left behind by Evelyn,
and what THEO was working on the sky reverberated as we mimicked. These different
celestial events were tempting a reaction with the research we had done and everything we
knew up to that point, and all sounded promising, and indeed it was,
but as with so many things, we were at the mercy of something
else. We were waiting, waiting for an answer back to our prompt,
hoping against all odds that the Timeless Train would graciously embrace our other worldly invitation.
We did it based on what we knew and had found, so we're
hoping this works. But even though we'd done the work, there were no
guarantees here, Like so many jobs, as we begin, we're taking a
gamble. But as you also know, when we get to a theory,
we've done everything we can to prove that theory, and at that point we'll
write it out until it is disproven. We believe in what we know and
we're going to stand strong. We eventually did fall asleep, we were set
up to do so. We took turns, sleeping in short bits, staying
fueled up so that we would be at our best and ready for anything should
we get the reaction that we're we're looking for. Right and then in the
wee hours of the morning it happens when the roosters don't even want to be
up. Our once quiet hideaway was buzzing like a supernatural tech conference. Still
dark, the pre dawn hours became a hive of activity. The horizon,
barely illuminated in the dawn light, served as a backdrop to our wild combination
of what we had learned and our advanced technology. So let me give you
some information so you can try to picture this all right, Harley's draped in
this cloak that made our kind of looked like the love child of maybe a
wizard and a trendy fashion influencer. But she was doing her work. She's
in the zone. That was her piece. She unfurled scrolls so old they
practically crumbled if you touch them, and with her voice switching between theatrical and
reverant, she began her chance, turning the ambiance into a spell binding mix
of eerie and electric. Then, parallel to her rider's cosmic amplifier, which
I have to say looked suspiciously like some kind of alien boonbox, it bursts
to life. This bizarre little machine glowed and pulsed, tapping into the vast
energies all around us. Jagger and Frankie they also got into the drama.
Well, we all did. We had to but for instance, they were
working on projecting luminous constellations that we needed. It was our mimicking. They
were like, you know the guys that laid off the fireworks on the fourth
of July, only we're trying to copy different celestial events so that we can
find this ghost train a little bit different than celebrating the fourth. Now,
pausing in all of this, I look skywords, half expecting to see extraterrestrials
waving down at us, but they were not there. Instead, each star,
each synthetic stream of light twinkled like they were in on the joke against
us, And as the curtain of night held steady, the celestial bodies partied
in a disco of blues and purples and golds. If the timeless train had
a party invite, we just sent it with neon flashing lights. I mean,
there was no way to miss what we were doing. If we were
right, if we could put out one of the right types of celestial events,
the ones that would allow the train to come or call it in,
we should see some action at some point. And through our research and our
hard work, we know this, We know this is what should happen.
And sure enough the timeless trains whistle was the type of sound that now it
made you question reality, really, if what we were hearing could possibly be
real. We were all up and alert at the first sound of it.
We were searching as best we could in the dark distance for anything. And
then there it was, emerging from the horizon. Sure enough we could see
the timeless train. The tracks upon which the timeless train glided were no ordinary
rails, of course, they materialized just moments before the train itself, shimmering
strands of iridescent energy, weaving and interlocking like delicate lighted chains across the landscape.
These spectral rails would just phase into existence, as if summoned by some
unseen cosmic force. As the Timeless train approached, the silent night was shattered
by a series of heavy rhythmic thuds, akin to the heartbeat of some ancient
leviathon. Each wheel churned with a profound gravitas, sending tremors through the ground.
The vibration could be felt in the very bone of those who stood nearby,
a rhythmic thromb that resonated with the world's own pulse. You had to
be there. It was amazing. The sound of steam hissed powerfully from the
locomotive, punctuated by the eerie wail of its whistle, which cut through the
air with a melancholy tune that seemed to carry tales of ages gone by.
The grinding of metal, the clanking of chains, and the deep, sonorous
bellows of its engine mingled to create a symphony of motion, heavy motion.
The train's arrival was not just a sight, It was an experience. It
was very easy, you know, to see how if you were someone unsuspecting,
just the grand nature of this activity around you would be enough to hypnotize
you to where you might not even understand what was happening. And maybe that's
what happened to THEO. I mean, if he believed in this train so
much and then he was here to see this, for instance, there'd be
no way for him to even have a chance of looking away. And it
had an effect on us as well, I mean, and we were ready
for it. For us, it didn't just beckon. I mean, this
thing seemed to choose us, like we met each other, and we knew
we were going to meet each other, like we were the answers to its
old age old riddles or something. We were meant to meet. The doors,
etched with symbols of bygone eras, remained tantalizingly shut as it arrived.
I mean there was in front of us, but all the doors were shut.
So what did we do? Well? We walked right up to it,
of course, And when we did that, before us a series of
these shimmering steps materialized, like the tracks just out of thin air, and
so we climbed them, each step a commitment to whatever it was that lie
ahead. Only upon reaching the pinnacle did the doors silently slide open, welcoming
us to a realm where time bowed its head. This journey had finally truly
begun. We get inside, and I mean this kind of felt like you
know Pinterest, You know Pinterest boards, how they have things that sort of
all go together in different circumstances. Well, this, if it were a
Pinterest board, would be titled time travel on a whim. I mean,
there was anything and everything on this train. We strutted through Victorian luxury that
had us expecting you know, Sherlock Holmes to be right around the corner.
We went through the Roaring Twenties compartment, which was basically Gadsby's house on wheels
at all the glitz, and for a fleeting moment, I half expected someone
dan me a gin and ask if I knew the password to the speakeasy.
It was that real. And I know this might sound fun and crazy,
a little bit right and everything, but these compartments they were so real.
I can't stress us enough. You actually felt like you were someone else.
And this can be fun at times, but it also can be very dangerous.
It was dream like but also very material. And oh yeah, there
was the future car. This was a pleasant mixture, you know, of
chrome and holograms and an alarming number of buttons. One wrong push and who
knew where or when you'd end up. But the dining car that was the
ultimate throwback guys, drenched in nineteen twenties splendor, with chandeliers that made everything
look like a Cepia tinted Instagram filter. Somewhere a ghostly jazz band was playing.
I mean, hey, if you were into, you know, doing
the Charleston, this would have been for you. And I mean, all
of that was great. The whole place was fantastic in a mesmerizing way,
and all of that was neat and crazy and everything, but it was the
traces of Lady Evelyn that were the real Easter eggs here in this chronological scavenger
hunt. I mean, that's what it felt like we were on. We
found this kind of old time diary that was just sitting there, okay,
practically screaming at us to read it. And there was also this ornate hairpin,
you know, the kind of accessory you'd drop in dramatic fashion right before
a plot twist if this were a crazy novel. Well, this was left
in a very different manner. I'd imagine so many interesting things. Yet the
crown jewel of it all as far as discovering what was there. The observatory,
it was like the Hubble Space Telescope and Hogwart's astronomy tower. They got
together and this came out. Peeking through. We didn't just see stars,
I mean, oh no, that would be way too basic. We got
front row seats, two times Greatest Hits if you will, Unseen realms,
and the universe's secret VIP lounges. It was actually very trippy, and we
were all going on this cosmic ride. We were in the middle of it.
Journeying through this train was less like traveling and more like stepping through a
wacky series of escape rooms. Everywhere you went was different. Have you guys
done any of those? Any of you? Well, welcome to our world.
At the moment, each door swung open to reveal an era that could
be last Tuesday, the Renaissance, or maybe even three millenniums from next Friday.
Some carriages bathed us in opuling Golden Hour instagrammable light, while others were
reminiscent of those basement parties where the only light comes from a vintage lava lamp.
Seriously, though, it was anything goes as the world outside the windows
underwent speedy makeovers, from dense primeval jungles to disco era dance floors to desolate
post apocalyptic brunch spots. The sensation was a bit dizzying, and you have
to remember we're taking all of this in at one time. There was no
real prep for what we might find here or what we might see, and
through it all we still have to stay focused. And then there were the
fellow passengers. Let me tell you about that, because yes, the others.
To say they were a diverse lot would be a gross understatement. At
one point, there was this Roman gladiator guy who seemed deep in conversation with
someone in a neon space jumpsuit. Strange, right, But then they were
both casting odd looks our way like we were the strange ones. Now we're
looking at them while they were looking at us, and they're probably critiquing our
fashion. Choices were in all black tactical gear. I mean, they had
no idea what we had going on. We passed a Samurai doodling on an
iPad, a Victorian lady sipping on a bubble tea. That's a drink from
the eighties. By the way, time it seemed had thrown its rule book
right out the window, and everyone was invited to the party. Remember earlier
I said things were dream like. Well, everything on the inside of this
train was that way. The people time itself. It was all folded and
moving together, a giant, interesting mess really, But the ultimate rave was
the engine room, an impressive mix of steampunk esthetics and alien glow sticks.
It was like an otherworldly DJ had set up shop. The r intricate cosmic
charts and scribbled equations mc Einstein theories look like basic rhythmetic. It was nuts.
Yet amidst this vast expanse of carriages, and with everything we'd witnessed and
found, it was still Lady Evelyn's belongings that drew us in the most,
drew us in the closest to hopefully finding theo. Discovering her diary, with
its blend of wonder and increasing nervous scribbles about the trains and mysteries, felt
like reading someone's text threat and realizing they had also accidentally message someone else,
maybe in another dimension. I mean, things were ramping up, guys,
that was for sure. With everything we had seen and found, it was
almost as if the train itself was testing our resolve and our understanding. And
then once we could finally stop for a moment and take a breath, this
figure emerges out of the shadows. It was the train's conductor, dressed in
an ensemble that defied any single era. I mean, he was a mix
of all things. I mean, he seemed to be as much part of
the train as its engines and its bolts. The guy looked smart and mysterious.
He nodded to us, and then he said, well, he murmured,
really, remember why you bored, and do not lose sight amidst the
vast expanse of time. Then the guy turned and he just vanished back into
the corridors. And so there we are. We're thinking, okay, well
that was our welcome. Never mind who you are. Everyone gets the same
greeting. But what does it mean? What did the conductor mean by his
little riddle to us? Well, the conductor's cryptic words they did actually bear
deep meaning, both as a warning and a guide. And this would be
for anyone that boarded this timeless train. Saying remember why you board? I
mean to us that seem to suggest that passengers on this train have a purpose
or reason for boarding, whether they know it or not. He said,
do not lose sight amidst the vast expanse of time. Well, the timeless
train, given its ability to manipulate and traverse different time periods, offers an
overwhelming experience. There's the potential for passengers to get lost, both literally and
metaphorically. And then there was his vanishing act. The conductor's mysterious appearance and
disappearance underscore the enigmatic nature of the train and the world it inhabits. It
suggests that he might not be entirely human or bound by the same rules as
the passengers. And well, I mean, we could figure that much just
by seeing the guy, But in essence he would be a guardian of the
timeless train, okay, imparting wisdom and caution to its riders, ensure they
don't get lost in its vast corridors of time, and he's reminding them to
hold on to their sense of self and purpose in all of the chaos.
But you might ask yourself, all right, after hearing all that, you
know, if the train wants to steal everybody, why would you get a
warning from this conductor? And that's a very good question. The train's ultimate
goal here might be to keep souls, but that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone
or every entity on board the train shares or supports that goal. Think of
this train as a living, evolving entity with its own set of rules and
complexities. And within this vast ecosystem, different entities might have varied roles and
perspectives, and the conductor would be no different. And so okay, that's
set. We were all intrigued, slightly unnerved, but we kept going a
growing sense of urgency set in and we couldn't afford to be ensnared by the
train's siren song for too long. We always had to be aware that with
any of the information given to us or shown to us, there could also
be some sort of manipulation. The reality was we could never know with one
certainty what anything was or what their agendas were. We needed to be cautious.
We ventured deeper and deeper. The train was literally endless, and after
who knows how long on this timeless train, we end up finding this compartment
that seemed eerily familiar to us. The Vanderbilt insignia adorned several items from journals
to different heirlooms. It was some kind of shrine or something with many items
connected to Lady Evelyn. We soon realized we're looking at a legacy, a
testament to Lady Evelyn's journey. As we leaped through the pages of the journal
and we found hints and traces of our journey, we keep going and enter
the next compartment, and this felt less like stepping into another carriage and more
like, I don't know, accidentally walking into and historical reenactment. To give
you an idea, it kind of was like Downtown Abbey meets Dancing with the
Stars. Gilded decorations sparkled all around us, and the unmistakable sounds of an
old timey playlist filled the air. Dancers swishing around and dresses with more layers
than an onion made the room come alive. Felt like a lot of people,
but in a moment, kind of felt like a gift. Also.
Through all of the people, we end up spotting him in the back.
It was THEO. There he was amidst this swirling scene, eyes glazed,
he looked pretty lost. He didn't look well. He looked blank, as
if the train was already sucking up his soul. We needed to get to
him. As we attempted to stealthily navigate our way over to THEO. You
know, we're in all the dancers. To say that we actually were stealth
would be completely wrong. To the contrary, we got ourselves totally involved.
Jagger narrowly tripped over this woman's extravagant ball gown, and the woman, not
missing a beat, she grabs him, pulling him into her dance. So
we gave him a hard time about that, But then you know, we
find out he's not alone. Harley usually the composed one seemed momentarily entranced by
the music, and before we knew it, or she knew it, this
dashing gentleman with this impressive handlebar mustache took her arm and started twirling her around
right in front of us. It was the type of scene where, if
you were in a shocked state or went with it, you know, if
you just kind of blend it in and you just kind of got sucked in,
you could go on for days in this place without even realizing it.
You could get all immersed until it was too late. We were aware,
though, and eventually we make our way over to THEO, and just by
chance, as we guided him away from the spirited dancers, we inadvertently stumble
upon this rather grand doorway. It was right there. It was almost like
the entrance to a VIP room. Well VIP could stand for a Victorian inspired
parlor, and that's how we landed right into Lady Evelyn suite. After we
find this room, it made sense to us why THEO was right there,
why he was so close. I mean, he was trying to find her
after all. I mean, how we found him. In the state he
was in, he wouldn't be thinking much about that, but it did make
sense how he would get himself there. So we go in everywhere. Bits
of her story just called out to us in the curling edges of her letters,
the faded ink of portraits, and in the achingly beautiful words that she
wrote. She clearly swiped right on the trains never ending escapades, and she
chose to settle down as a forever guest. Apparently as intriguing as the drama
was, we could feel the timeless train trying to get close to us,
act like it knows us, woo us into its charms, because all these
little things kept happening. But we'd seen enough, right and on our jobs,
we know reality TV. We don't need to be involved in this.
We kept our distance from what was coming for us. As we sifted through
Evelyn's notes, it was as if we were diving deep into the mind of
a genius. The pages, filled with delicate script were a medley of personal
reflections, scientific diagrams, and sketches. Some pages contained meticulous drawings of the
train's interior mechanics, marked with annotations and what appeared to be Latin, some
other languages that we couldn't immediately identify. I mean, from the start,
it was all impressive stuff. The margins of her diary, they were filled
also with sequences of numbers and symbols like this woman never stopped thinking and researching.
She wanted answers. Among the notes, we discovered several instances where Lady
Evelyn had detailed the trains responses to several different celestial events. So aha,
we were onto something. Jagger kind of chuck Goals mentioning it was like finding
cheat codes in a video game, but really it would have kind of been
liked that something that she had to solve a way to get her life back,
and she did make progress by aligning specific patterns with the trains reaction.
Lady Evelyn, although seemingly accepting her fate on the train, she also worked
and discovered different things, including moments when the Timeless Train was most vulnerable to
external influence, and this to us would be useful. Finding a secluded corner
behind an overly ornate drapery that might as well have been a gift from Marie
Antoinette herself. We hastily convene. We put our heads together and quickly draw
out a blueprint on a sketch pad. It was our belief that this hastily
drafted contraption, combined with the patterns from Evelyn's notes, could theoretically throw a
wrench in the train's temporal works. While we're doing this, and deep in
thought, THEO starts to come to life a little bit more. He's trying
to shake off the Waltz induced days. He heard part of our conversation.
He's trying to catch up, and from what he gathered, he was questioning
our ability to hack the timeless train, and I can see why. Look
on his face was both skepticism and amazement that we would even try such a
thing. And unfortunately for him, we had zero time to explain anything.
All we could do is not time was of the essence. With our Motley
plan ready, we geared up mentally. Things were moving so fast at this
point, our thoughts were all over the place. You know, we kind
of have our We got this attitude paired with our aspirations of being some kind
of superhero, all motivated just to tad by the Hey, we really don't
want to be stuck here when Shakespeare discovers memes, right, everything was twisty
and bizarre, and we didn't want to end up stuck there anyway. Things
were set in motion, and with THEO into we launched ourselves into the fray
navigating through an overwhelming swirl of colors, sensations, and what felt like a
downpour of stardust. We had it all set up, and we had set
things in motion, and we clung to the hope of landing back in an
era where you know, a latte order was simple and didn't come with an
Elizabethan English lesson. And then boom, we were home. Stepping back into
our warehouse felt like a win, and it should have been a relief,
a sign of triumph. But as we started to look around, a growing
unease settled over us. That rain was falling, the same rain as it
was when I first arrived to tell the team about the request. The card
game was out, only it was cribbage, this time a different game.
Scorers scrawled out on the board. The numbers were there, but we didn't
recognize them. Everything was all too perfect, It was scripted. Something was
off and we were all immediately on guard. This rain was looping and we
could tell, and it didn't feel right, the whole thing. This card
game, okay, it was not the game that we left behind, that
was sure. They might as well have been scribbling from an alien's diary.
These scores and notes they made zero sense to us, but hey, if
aliens wanted to make a TV show about humans, I can say this.
This scene that we walked into was kind of like what I think they would
try to set up the alien flare, paired with the two perfectness of all
of it was a glaring neon signed to us, blinking loudly. Something's off,
and we never ignore signs like that, even if they are slight.
If it's off, it's just off, and that's it. You get the
gist. Jagger was on high alert. His eyes are darting around like he's
expecting the furniture to leap up and start jumping around. Harley, she's squinting
and focused, just staring at that game left behind. Frankie's picking at things.
We're all looking around, and it was becoming painfully clear. The timeless
train was like that pushy salesperson you know who refuses to acknowledge that the sale's
over. It's not happening because you know, we're done with this. We
don't want to go back or deal with it any more. But here we
are, that pesky thing still had us wrapped up in its temporal trickery,
and we knew it but we also had to give it credit. I mean,
its illusion game was strong. With every passing second, the ambiance was
growing in intensity, and as the atmosphere thickened, we could almost see the
Vintagesk filter setting in over what we thought was our actual reality. It's preparing
to title our squad Lost Souls next Stop Eternity ideal for the Timeless Trains brand,
sure, but our esthetic no hard pass. We were a mix at
that point of flustered and frustrated. No one likes to be toyed with,
right, especially by this over enthusiastic locomotive with boundary issues. We had to
get our heads in the game and strategize our true exit, or else we
could become the Timeless Trains victims forever on a journey to who knows where or
when. I mean, we had to end this find the chink in the
train's armor. What we knew was that this train wanted us to believe in
it, something so big, so around us that we would have no choice
but to give in. However, we would not be doing that. As
the hours ticked by, our strategies began to take shape, and together determined
to reclaim our real reality, we readied ourselves for one final stand against this
enigmatic power, this timeless train. In the blink of an eye, we
found ourselves back on board this train. One moment we're at the warehouse.
The next poof the train on beyoncekall lore. It had sucked us right back
in. Apparently the train had a flare for dramatic re entries. The air
was thick with anticipation. Again we could feel it. The train wasn't just
a vehicle. This thing was like a beast, ancient and hungry, feeding
off people in their lives and their energies. And okay, we get it.
It didn't want to go of a team like ours, all right.
I mean, there's lots of goodies there, a nice smarts word actually,
of emotions and memories. Who could blame the old chuggar. I suppose,
can't blame anyone for trying. Then an intriguing contraption appeared and stood before us.
It was a mishmash of old timy gears and sci fi glitz. The
sound coming from all around us, it murmured a challenge. A low voice,
seemingly aging backwards, said to us, I'm taken from my mind and
I'm shut up in a wooden case from which I'm never released yet I'm used
by almost every person. What am I? That's what we got. And
so we're sitting there. I mean, this is some kind of test.
We had to solve that riddle. What about you guys out there? Do
you guys have any ideas about what this means? Here? It is again,
I'm taken from my mind and shut up in a wooden case from which
I'm never least yet I'm used by almost every person. What am I?
What do you think? While in that moment we huddled up scratching our heads,
we knew that this wasn't just a riddle. This could very well be
our ticket home. As we brainstormed, the train decided to play This is
Your Life with a twist, dredging up ghostly visions of our histories in a
ploy to throw us off track. Of course, pun totally intended it was
just more games. And so there we were trying to figure out this riddle.
You know, we're tired, we're a little annoyed that we had to
go back. And then Rider's face lights up brighter than a supernova and she
blurts out the answer. A pencil led the moment rider uttered the answer,
the train went from you know, this elegant time traveling locomotive to mega meltdown
mode. There were these loud, bellowing booms, and there was a vibration
to everything suddenly, and then we got this blinding light show. It was
great and blinding. After the big flash, things started shaking even more drastically
and violently. It was getting worse. It was as if the train was
throwing some kind of tantrum. I mean, clearly it did not like the
fact that we got the answer correct. It was betting that we would fail.
It's little riddle, that's what it wanted. The noises all around us
were like a time tossed playlist of chaos. One second it'd be great gadsby
vibes with jazzy beats, then the next monk choirs. They'd go on and
on. There was also this very peculiar tune. It was like some mix
of robotic tones, maybe something from the future. It really was a place
of existence where anything goes. And as the cacophony reached its crescendo, it
was like this heavy, hot air picked us up off the ground and flung
us All we could feel was being scooped up, and it felt like we
were literally being thrown thrown right off that timeless train. We looked all around,
a bitten shock, trying to gain solid footing, but slowly and surely
reality was dawning upon us. We were actually out. This wasn't like the
other time where it was a trick. We could tell it had thrown us
up like a poison. Personally, I don't think it could deal with the
fact that we got that riddle right. We weren't right for the train because
we would not get sucked in by its mesmerizing tricks. That was part of
its charm, you know, being so smart it could outwit an unsuspecting victim,
But not this time. So okay, we are back now. In
a quick panic, I turn and look for THEO. But as I should
have known, Frankie never let go of this guy. We had faced the
tantrum of the timeless train, held onto our wits and each other, and
it had finally emerged victorious. With THEO. A bit wide eyed but safe,
we could finally say we're not in Kansas anymore, or any other time
period for that matter. Back at the Vanderbilt mansion. The grand hall echoed
with the sounds of a reunion straight out of a Hollywood movie, you know,
pictures, slow mo, running tie embraces and the dramatic background music.
All right, well, maybe it wasn't quite like that, but it was
pretty dramatic, I have to say. Watching the two of them reunite,
Marcus and his son, and to know that the legend and his family one
that they questioned over time was actually legit, it was pretty amazing. And
you know, this wasn't a job where we could just walk away a lot
of times. Most times when a job ends, that's exactly what we do.
That's how we work, that's how we prefer it. When we get
done, we hand the situation right back to the people that gave it to
us. We do not get involved any further with the people or jobs that
we'd do. In this case, however, there were some things to know
here. The Vanderbilt study was bathed in a gentle glow from the late afternoon
sun that was filtering through the heavy drapes. Marcus Vanderbilt, the patriarch.
He sat himself down, tall and composed. While young theo seemed restless,
but he also was trying to focus his recent adventures still fresh in his mind.
I cleared my throat and I began. Our journey on the Timeless Train
was nothing short of extraordinary. This is true, but it was essential that
we all understood what actually transpired and its implications. Marcus nodded and agreed.
The Vanderbilt legend spoke of a mysterious train, but its realities were beyond any
of their family's wildest stories, any of them that had been passed down.
The Timeless Train is not just a train. It's an entity, ancient,
possibly even older than our Earth. It feeds on life, energy and memories,
collecting souls and experiences and moments across different places and timelines. THEO interjected,
comparing it to a big cosmic vacuum cleaner for memories and lives, and
he was not all the way wrong. In simpler terms, yes, it
could be seen like that, and it's attracted to moments of great cosmic importance.
This is where the Vanderbilt lineage comes into play. I explained to them
how their family for generations have been seekers of truths, chasing celestial events,
and unfortunately, what they love, their passions, they have made them a
beacon for this train, and Marcus admitted even that, yes, they've always
felt a pull towards the cosmos, some kind of connection. Not a surprise
there, and I explained to them that it's also no coincidence. It wanted
the vast tapestry of Vanderbilt memories and knowledge, but there's twist. Their families,
strength and tells and quick wit, as well as their unity across the
generations is something the train did not anticipate. There's strength from that. It's
absolutely what allowed us to resist and eventually break free. This knowledge and strength
and this family gives them somewhat of a protective barrier, and they needed to
know that it's not full proof, but it does work. THEO could have
been completely immersed when we found him without this, but he wasn't. He
was teetering, but he was still with us in a way. And this
is how it works. But the question becomes what happens now? Then we're
all out, we're understanding more, what do we do about it? When
will this train be back? And how can anyone prepare for its return?
Well, in all the threads of energy and forces out there, they interweave
in patterns that really are too intricate for us humans to fully grasp as a
whole anyway, Not yet, this timeless train is but one entity guys among
countless others, moving in ways that we cannot fully predict. As for this
train's return, time is its domain, and waiting them becomes our only recourse.
I suggest that they do away with any charts and projections and things.
Their strength relies in their family, their bond and their knowledge. Learn from
the items of Lady Evelyn know more about it, as knowledge is power,
but they will never be absolutely prepared for what might or could come back to
them. You know, in our world today, it's true that we lose
the value of family over time. And I mean I'm talking over generations.
It's happening. We can see it. Families move away from each other,
kids move on. Sometimes people never speak again, and parents sometimes don't feel
like parenting anymore, and it can just be a big mess out there sometimes.
However, there is strength in our togetherness, and as a species,
we should try to remember that, especially with our loved ones. Something to
think about. As I left that day, I left with that feeling,
you know, being small, something I'm left with often when a job is
done because you know, we are so small in everything that is. But
we can forget that. And while time, you see, it isn't just
tick talking away. It's about living in the now, not always the what's
next. Time. As a river, guy's flowing ceaselessly, carrying with it
moments that once past are lost forever. Yet many drift on this river,
letting the waters dictate their course, rarely paddling with a purpose or direction.
You know what I'm talking about, Those fleeting moments between the ticks and the
talks, when the universe seems to hold its breadth. Those are the ones
that define our existence. They are the opportunities precious and limited. Yet ironically
an age where time feels like it's flying by, it's not time that's slipping
through our fingers, it's us. The truth is, time isn't fleeting we
are. Time remains constant and eternal, but we, as beings of change
and motion, we must choose how to navigate it. I mean, who
knows, Maybe maybe this train is the Universe's way of soaking up all the
good stuff, all the great moments and memories that we make, since as
we all move into the future as humans, there seem to be less and
less of them. In a world where time can sometimes feel out of our
hands, just know it's what we do with our time that truly defines our
journey. So, like I said to the Vanderbilts, put away your charts
and stop trying to figure everything out. Live now, because that is your
strength, and when the train comes, they'll be ready for it. Be
the conductor of your own journey, guys, and make every moment count.
Don't let anyone or anything take them from you, not even a train like
this. And that's my story, guys, about the job we did on
the timeless train. I hope you enjoyed listening today. You know this story,
like all my stories, it's just a small piece of everything. I
have more jobs and more stories to share, So check back, subscribe,
maybe you'll even get one of those YouTube notifications. Thanks for listening today,
guys. I always appreciate you taking the time to be here with me.
Until next time, and I will talk to you all soon.