Some of the seats in the carriage remained unoccupied.
Seated beside Meng Changyi was a young mother, likely in her twenties.
She had soft black curls and wore a pair of delicate blue star-shaped earrings. Her white dress, adorned with lace and blue ribbons, lent her an air of grace and gentleness.
Cradled in her arms was a child around four or five years old, dressed in a matching outfit—clearly a parent-child ensemble.
The woman's expression grew uneasy upon hearing the broadcast. Holding her child close, she murmured under her breath, "That announcement... it gave me the creeps..."
She absentmindedly soothed the frightened child, then turned to Meng Changyi with a worried look.
"This train… feels strange, doesn't it?"
Before Meng Changyi could respond, a female voice sounded from the row ahead.
She recalled that a couple had been sitting there.
The girl scoffed and rolled her eyes with obvious disdain. "Ugh, what nonsense. Playing spooky tricks…" She clutched her boyfriend's arm and added, "Clearly just a prank, right?"
Her boyfriend nodded eagerly in agreement and asked if she wanted something to drink.
The young mother pursed her lips, her brows knitting slightly as she gently comforted her frightened child.
"That announcement was really disturbing… talking about criminals… and a death train…"
She turned her anxious gaze to Meng Changyi, her voice laced with worry.
"You don't think… there's actually something dangerous going on, do you?"
Meng Changyi blinked, momentarily at a loss.
Why are you asking me, miss…? I'm just an ordinary university student on her way to an internship. This is my first time riding a 'death train' too—I don't know anything either…
If I say "yes," you'll panic even more. Worse, I could be accused of spreading rumors and causing unrest...
After all, according to Article 25 of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law, fabricating or spreading rumors that disrupt public order can result in detention of five to ten days, or a fine of up to two hundred yuan for less severe offenses.
Loose lips sink ships...
But if I say "no," it might sound too dismissive. If something truly dangerous happens, wouldn't that make me… ugh, I don't know what the future holds either!
Just as Meng Changyi was about to offer a vague smile in response, a voice—melodious and timely—cut through the tension.
Yes! Distraction! If I pretend to be drawn to that, I won't have to answer…
Let's see who the kind soul is…
Following the voice, Meng Changyi's gaze landed on a young man seated across the aisle, to the mother's left.
He had short black hair and wore a pair of round, black-rimmed glasses. His features were refined, his skin pale, and he was dressed in a crisp white shirt. There was an air of scholarly elegance about him.
Seated beside him was an elderly gentleman with neatly cropped silver hair and a matching beard. Deep lines framed the corners of his eyes. He wore a brown jacket and a silver pendant around his neck, exuding warmth and kindness.
The innermost seat was unoccupied, though a black bag had been placed upon it. Through the partially drawn curtain, one could glimpse the gloom beyond the window.
Strange. Isn't it still daytime? Just a moment ago, the sun was blazing—how has it turned so dark so quickly?
A man's voice interrupted her thoughts, pulling Meng Changyi back to reality.
There's something… off about him…
Adjusting his glasses, the young man spoke with a hint of perplexity:
"…I agree. Something's definitely not right. A death train? That can't be real."
Sensing her gaze, he lifted his eyes and met hers.
Flustered, Meng Changyi turned away sharply, sitting up straighter.
Ah! How embarrassing! Why did I look right at him…
But what she'd just seen stirred unease deep within her. Her heart pounded with an inexplicable anxiety as she cautiously raised the window curtain.
When her eyes finally settled on the scene outside, her heart sank.
It wasn't her imagination.
Suspended in the dusky sky beyond the window hung a full moon—
A moon so red it looked as though it had been soaked in blood, its eerie hue seeping into the clouds around it, staining them with a sinister crimson glow.