I was walking with friends one night along the railroad tracks that lead west out of Oak Hill toward Dothan. This gap is where the railroad passes between the valleys of Loup Creek and Paint Creek. On the Oak Hill side of the gap, plenty of people live nearby, but on the far side, there is no one around for miles. We had stayed out later than we meant to, but there was still just enough light to see the rocks along the tracks and make our way back toward our homes near Collins School.
When we reached Silver Gap, we saw a gray form in the woods above the tracks. It was about the height of a person, but it was hard to make out clearly. At first, it looked like it could have been a wisp of smoke or fog, but it stayed in the same spot for several minutes while we stood there staring and getting more nervous by the second.
Finally, we worked up the courage to move past it. As soon as we did, the figure suddenly began to move and came down the bank toward the tracks. We ran ahead a little way and looked back. It was still there, now standing on the tracks as if it were watching us.
Then it slowly began moving away from us along the tracks until it disappeared into the darkness. A second later, we heard what sounded like a man crying out in horror. At that point, we ran all the way back until we could see the lights near Round Hill Road.
I will never forget how it looked or how scared we were that night. I have never heard any story explaining Silver Gap, why it is called that, or whether someone may have died there. But I know what we saw, and I know what we heard.
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