‘Okay, let’s do this.’ Miguel thought as he made his way through the pitch dark train station. For the past two weeks, he had tried and failed miserably at making contact with the notorious urban legend. Although the spirit was very active, it was extremely hard to track down. Another problem was that the few times that Miguel finally managed to corner it, it immediately disappeared. Even worse, there were a couple times when, instead of vanishing, the ghost scared him off. The air would turn frigid, and the specter’s face would contort into a horrific image. Being the scaredy-cat that he was, Miguel never stayed to find out what it’d do next. Miguel soon decided he’d need a new plan if he wanted to finally make contact with the phantom.
Tonight, Miguel brought with him a “Spirit Box” he had ordered online. Supposedly, it was supposed to convert spiritual energy to a voice, providing a way of communication with the dead. Although Miguel had seen the device used in countless paranormal investigations, he seriously doubted it would actually work. The specter had not yet said a word to him, and Miguel figured it was because the ghost simply didn’t want to talk to him. Regardless, Miguel brought the spirit box anyway. It wouldn’t hurt to try it.
Finally, Miguel reached the platform. He had figured out that this was the most active place. If he had any chance of communication, this would definitely be the place to do it. As Miguel walked the length of the platform, his steps echoed off the walls and filled up the silent space. The further he walked, the jumpier he felt. Shadows started to grow bigger, and the night breeze whispered against his ear. When he reached the end of the platform, Miguel stopped and pulled the spirit box out of his pocket. Turning it on, he jumped slightly as the loud static noise screamed out of the speakers. At first, Miguel was at a loss. What should he ask? He didn’t even know if the ghost was around at the moment. Uncertainty, he started off by asking the darkness around him a simple question.
“Are- is anyone there?” His nervous voice was almost drowned out by the static. Miguel let the question hang in the air for a minute, scanning his surroundings for any sign of a presence. After a couple minutes of silence, Miguel deflated. It seemed the specter wasn’t around. Or at least, wasn’t willing to speak up. Five more minutes passed, and Miguel was about ready to quit. Maybe this trip was a bust. Besides, there was plenty more haunted places to visit. At least the Island of the Dolls was interesting on its own; demonic activity or not. Miguel started to get lost in his thoughts, making a mini list of all the cursed places he planned to visit. Suddenly, a loud crack from the box shattered his daydreaming. He jumped and looked around, then glanced over the device; checking if it was broken. As he flipped the box over in his hand, another loud noise sounded from it. This time however, the noise seemed to sound like a man’s voice. Finally, as Miguel was debating booking it out of there, a loud voice sounded through the box; scaring the daylights out of him.
“Ay, what do you want?” A male voice cracked through the speakers. Miguel gasped and started to back up, halting as he felt an intimidating presence manifest behind him. Whirling around, Miguel jumped back five feet and fell into a defensive position. The grey blob of a figure stayed where it was, seeming to judge his cowardly actions.
“SHIT!! Don’t do that!!” Miguel cried out as the figure started to become clearer. Before him stood a tall man. Dressed in a mariachi suit, the colorless ghost looked down at Miguel, annoyance written on his face. Miguel was at once terrified and embarrassed under the ghost’s stare. Once again, he was unsure of what to say. He actually didn’t expect to get this far. The specter huffed at Miguel’s dumbfounded expression.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?” The figure sighed, his prickly exterior seeming to falter for a moment at the sight of the boy’s scared face. Miguel shook his head, keeping his eyes on the man. At this, the spirit’s face hardened again. “Well, do you at least have a good reason for stalking me for the past two weeks?”
“I’m looking to meet urban legends.” The man’s face suddenly looked confused.
“Urban legends? Ghosts? Like La Llorona?” At Miguel’s nod, the figure laughed. “Those things don’t exist.”
Was the man not aware that he, himself was a ghost? Miguel decided against asking. He instead changed the subject.
“So uh… What’s your name? What are you doing here?”
“Hector.”
“Hector…?” Miguel dragged out, hoping to get a last name.
“Hector Ri-”, the ghost paused for a second, seeming to forget what he was going to say. “Just Hector. As for what I’m doing here, I’m trying to get on the train.” Miguel already knew that. It was a key element of the legend.
Miguel’s phone then buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the screen. New message from Rosa. It read: ‘Where are you?’. Looking at the time, he winced at how late it had gotten. 3:30AM.
Suddenly Miguel felt exhausted. He really wasn’t used to being up this late. A cough interrupted him as he glanced up from his phone. Hector was looking at the device in awe, as if it was the first time he’d seen anything like it.
“What is that?” Miguel wanted so desperately to explain it to him. He wanted to stay up all night talking to this stranger and asking him questions about his past. Unfortunately, he knew that if he stayed any longer, Rosa would find him and kick his ass.
“I’ll explain it another time. I really have to go now, but can I meet you here tomorrow night?” Hector suddenly looked apologetic.
“Sorry muchacho. I’ll be on the train home tomorrow, I won’t be here anymore.” Miguel felt a swell of pity for Hector. The spirit was optimistic, and completely unaware that he had been stuck there for over a century.
“Well, I’ll come anyway just in case. Same spot.”
What a roller coaster it was getting this out!! I swear my laptop hates my guts. Hector is a hard dude to write, but he is very fun to draw :)) Anyways, next is either more Corpse Bride AU or other stuff ;)) whatever gets done first I guess.
Made this Hector comic based on Gael García’s movie scene from this funny thread by @im-fairly-whitty : https://im-fairly-whitty.tumblr.com/post/170419647049 Altho Hector turn out more serious than I imagined so I end it off with his head popped off! Imelda tells him to fix it back on.
Stop talking and start doing: My Fallout Shelter for my Tumblr blog 