Story 921: The Forsaken Passenger

The train rumbled through a desolate void, its windows revealing nothing but shifting shadows outside. The gears beneath their feet groaned like a dying beast.

Draven led the way, pushing through the next carriage door with his shotgun raised. Mira followed, clutching the Cursed Book, its pages humming with unnatural energy. Elias and Zara brought up the rear, their breath heavy in the thick, metallic air.

This car was different. Empty. Silent. Waiting.

Rows of velvet seats lined the space, but something felt… wrong. The air smelled of damp earth and decay. Elias muttered, “This is a trap.”

Then they saw her.

A girl, no older than ten, sat at the farthest seat, rocking slightly. Her long black hair covered her face. She wore a white dress, its hem stained with something dark.

Zara gritted her teeth. “What the hell is a kid doing here?”

Mira took a cautious step forward. “Maybe she’s alive.”

The girl’s head snapped up.