Troll Trestle | A Monster Story From Minnesota

The wind howled through the trees, sending dead leaves swirling across the ground. It was November in northern Minnesota, and the cold was biting. The first hints of winter had begun to settle in, and the sky was a blanket of thick, gray clouds. Sam and his little sister, Lucy, stood at the edge of the old train trestle, staring down at the swirling river below.

The trestle was old—really old. The wooden beams were rotting, and the metal rails were rusty. But it was the only way across the river unless they wanted to hike back through miles of dense forest. The river, fast and icy, churned below, its dark waters crashing against jagged rocks. The current was strong enough to pull anything—or anyone—under in an instant.

“We need to get across before dark,” Sam said, his voice determined but tinged with unease. He was thirteen, a year older than Lucy, and he always felt responsible for her, especially since their dad had warned them never to go near the trestle. But today, they had no choice.

“I know,” Lucy replied, clutching her coat tighter around her small frame. “But what about… them?”

Sam knew exactly who she meant. The trolls. Everyone in Duluth had heard the stories—the trolls that lived under the trestle, waiting for anyone foolish enough to try and cross. They were said to be ancient creatures, with long, gnarled limbs and sharp teeth, eager to drag kids under the water and devour them.

Sam glanced up at the trestle, then at the river, then back at Lucy. “We’ll have to be quick,” he said, trying to sound brave. “We can do this.”

Together, they stepped onto the trestle, the old wooden planks creaking under their weight. The wind picked up, pushing against them as they carefully made their way forward. The river roared below, the sound of rushing water growing louder with each step.

Halfway across, the first troll appeared. It crawled out from under the far side of the trestle, its long arms dragging across the wooden planks. Its skin was the color of moss, its eyes glowing with hunger. It bared its sharp teeth in a wicked grin.

“Going somewhere?” the troll growled, its voice like rocks grinding together. “You’ll make a fine meal.”

Lucy gasped and clung to Sam’s arm. But before they could retreat, another troll appeared behind them. This one was even larger, with a twisted body covered in slime and mud. Its breath came out in steamy puffs, reeking of decay.

“You won’t get past me!” the second troll snarled, blocking their way back.

The trestle groaned as the two trolls moved closer, the wood beneath them creaking ominously. The boards shook, and a few pieces broke off, plunging into the river below. The kids were trapped between the trolls, the river waiting below to claim them if they fell.

“We’re trapped,” Lucy whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

Sam’s mind raced. They couldn’t fight the trolls—they were too strong. And they couldn’t run—the trestle was falling apart beneath their feet. But then an idea formed in his mind. It was risky, but it might be their only chance.

“Lucy,” Sam whispered, “we’re going to trick them. You go to the troll on that side, and I’ll go to the one on this side. We’ll tell them we’ll sacrifice ourselves to save each other. But when they start fighting, we’ll sneak by.”

Lucy nodded, understanding instantly. It was a dangerous plan, but they had no other choice. She took a deep breath and walked toward the first troll.

“Please!” Lucy cried, her voice trembling. “You can eat me, just let my brother go. Help him get past the other troll.”

The troll’s eyes gleamed with greed, and it licked its lips. “Deal,” it rumbled, its voice dripping with anticipation.

Meanwhile, Sam approached the second troll. “Take me instead,” he said, his voice steady. “Just help my sister get past the other troll.”

The second troll grinned, its teeth sharp and jagged. “Deal,” it hissed.

The trolls moved toward the center of the trestle, ready to make their trades. But as soon as they met, they realized what was happening.

“You tricked me!” the first troll roared.

“No, you tricked me!” the second troll bellowed.

The trestle groaned under their combined weight as they started to fight, their long limbs swinging wildly. They bit and clawed at each other, their roars shaking the very air. Wood splintered and cracked, falling into the river below as the trestle began to collapse.

“Now!” Sam shouted, grabbing Lucy’s hand.

They sprinted across the trestle, dodging the falling planks and splintering beams. The trolls were too busy fighting to notice them slip past. The river roared beneath them, spraying icy water into the air as more pieces of the trestle fell into the churning depths.

But as they reached the end of the trestle, a new sound filled the air—a low, rumbling noise that grew louder and louder. Sam and Lucy turned just in time to see the bright lights of a train, charging down the tracks toward the trestle at full speed.

“Jump!” Sam yelled.

They dove to the side just as the train barreled onto the trestle. The trolls looked up, their fight forgotten as the massive train bore down on them. There was no time to escape. The train’s whistle screamed, echoing through the valley as it raced forward.

With a final, desperate leap, both trolls jumped from the trestle, plunging into the swirling river below. The water, eager to claim them, pulled them under in an instant, their roars of fury drowned out by the roar of the current.

Sam and Lucy scrambled to their feet, watching as the train thundered across the trestle, shaking the entire structure. But the trestle held—just barely—and after a few tense moments, the train disappeared into the distance.

The silence that followed was almost deafening. The trestle, now battered and broken, creaked and swayed, but it stood firm. The river below was calmer now, the trolls gone, swept away by the powerful current.

Lucy looked up at Sam, her eyes wide with relief. “We did it,” she whispered.

Sam nodded, still catching his breath. “Yeah. We did.”

They stood there for a moment, taking in what had just happened. The trolls were gone, the trestle was still standing, and they were safe. But as they turned to leave, Sam couldn’t help but glance back at the trestle one last time.

“Let’s never cross this trestle again,” he said, his voice firm.

Lucy nodded in agreement. “Never.”

Together, they walked away from the trestle, the wind still howling through the trees, but it didn’t seem as cold as before. They had outsmarted the trolls, escaped the collapsing trestle, and survived a close call with the train. And as they made their way back through the forest, they knew they’d have a story to tell for years to come.