The man with glasses took the ticket and studied it with curiosity.
"This ticket is quite unusual," he said, looking up at the attendant. "Why are we changing tickets?"
The attendant maintained her standard professional smile, her hands never stopping their motion.
"This is a new regulation for the train, designed to serve you better. That's why we've issued new tickets."
The burly man, with his heavy dialect, cautiously took the ticket.
"So… what's the point of this new ticket? Is it different from the old one?"
She smiled again.
"This is a special ticket for this train."
She turned her attention to another passenger.
"Sir, your ticket."
The elderly man took the ticket and said,
"Thank you, miss."
He squinted, examining the ticket curiously, muttering,
"This ticket… it feels so… unlucky…"
He put the ticket into his coat pocket, sighed, and said,
"Well, as long as we get to our destination safely…"
"Even children under six have one?"
"Yes, please keep it safe! We do not recommend holding it for others," the attendant nodded and smiled.
The young mother gently whispered to her child,
"Jiajia, hold onto your ticket properly, don't lose it." She then looked up at the attendant, smiling gratefully.
"Thank you."
Jiajia waved the ticket and in her babyish voice said,
"Thank you, sister."
The attendant smiled and nodded in response, continuing to hand out tickets to the next person.
After receiving her new ticket, Meng Changyi scrutinized it with curiosity.
The ticket was as black as ink, its edges rough and worn, as though eroded by time and some unseen force. The words "Death Train" were emblazoned in vivid crimson, the brushstrokes distorted, almost as if alive, squirming on the surface, their red hue strikingly jarring, exuding an ominous aura.
Hmm, the material feels quite special…
After the attendant had handed out the tickets to everyone, she stood at the front of the carriage, her voice unnervingly calm as she said,
"Please, passengers, read the rules on the back of your tickets and adhere to the train's regulations."
Meng Changyi flipped over the ticket and read the back. It stated,
"Please adhere to all train rules. From 11:00 PM to 12:00 AM, there may be noises inside the train. Please don't be frightened, it is a normal occurrence. Do not move around freely, keep your belongings in sight, and enjoy your journey."
Another attendant slowly walked down the aisle, their voice seemingly emanating from all directions,
"Rules are important. Those who violate them... will be punished."
Suddenly, the men in black, without a word, stood up in unison and followed the attendant from the carriage connecting door.
The passengers exchanged looks, their eyes reflecting shared fear, but none dared speak, and the atmosphere turned suffocating and eerie…
The boy trembled slightly, holding his girlfriend tightly,
"Baby," his voice quivered, "this is really scary. We… we have to be good and follow the rules, don't break them."
The girl, her eyes red and filled with tears, clung tightly to him,
"Yes, darling, I'll listen to you," she bit her lip, "I don't want any punishment…"
She silently cursed in her mind, What kind of messed-up train is this? Full of these bizarre things. I'm never taking this kind of train again for fun.
The young mother clutched her child tightly, softly reassuring him,
"Jiajia isn't scared," but she couldn't suppress a shiver, adding, "Mom will protect you…"
The burly man swallowed hard, his usually carefree face now clouded with rare seriousness,
"These rules… they're terrifying. I don't dare move a muscle."
He turned to the man with glasses,
"Brother, what do you think?"
The man adjusted his glasses, his voice low but steady,
"Right now, the situation is unclear," his gaze remained firm as he looked around at the others,
"But let's remain calm and stick to the rules. What do you all think?"