Something Happened on the Way to the World's Fair: A Strange Happenings Short Story

A thud sounded over the humming Tesla coil made Rosie jump. She hopped over the low barrier separating the cargo from the generator. It was normal for trunks to shift as the train barreled down the tracks. Because of the fair, though, the cargo this trip was markedly different than usual. Machines and gadgets were carefully wedged between stacks of steamer trunks. She wondered if some of them were for demonstrations.

A trunk caught Rosie's eye. It stuck out at an odd angle from the rows of cargo, and a chain coiled around its middle. The large padlock in the center piqued Rosie's curiosity. She crept towards the trunk. Was it always this crooked? Aside from the heavy chain, the trunk looked no different from any of the others stuffed in the baggage car.

Rosie kneeled next to the trunk. She was careful not to touch it with her coal-stained hands and pressed her ear to the top of it. She shrunk back immediately. The trunk was freezing. She leaned forward to examine it more closely when pounding on the car door closest to the passenger cars made Rosie jump a second time. She scurried away from the trunk.