The gears of a new destiny began to turn, their sound disguised as the grinding wheels of a rusty goods train. The combined weight of the four girls was a strange, warm anchor in Min-jae's slumber, their soft breaths a stark contrast to the rhythmic clatter of the train. Nearly five hours passed, the sun climbing higher, heating the iron compartment to a stifling blaze. Min-jae's sleep shattered as he felt the heat in his surroundings scorching his back. Groggy, he realized the unblocked sunlight turned the iron base and steel rolls into a sizzling oven. The massive steel roll he'd leaned against earlier hissed against his fragile skin, searing a red welt across his back. "Fantastic, a free sauna with a side of third-degree burns," he grumbled in Korean, shifting away. Lucky though, the girls leaned on him, not the roll, or they'd have another medical mess on their hands. Feeling the heat intensify, he sensed dehydration looming, thinking, We can't stay longer, or we'll cook alive.
Distracted by the searing heat, he barely braced as the train jerked hard, tossing the pink-haired girl off his shoulder. Her head arced toward the giant steel roll, a deadly collision looming. Instinct surged—Min-jae thrust his hand between her skull and the metal, cushioning the fall with a grunt. Pain seared his palm, and he hissed, "Fine, I'm your unpaid babysitter now," he sighed, sarcasm masking his wince as he flexed his throbbing hand, cursing the universe's twisted humor. The sound of his voice, mingled with the shuffle of her head settling back, stirred the pink-haired girl awake; she blinked, dazed but safe, her eyes darting toward his bruised palm—the one he'd risked for her.
Minutes later, a station blurred into view, the train slowing but not stopping. Min-jae's eyes narrowed, realizing it was likely heading to a railway goods yard. "Time to bail," he muttered, waking the girls one by one. The blonde clutched her torn doll, rubbing her eyes. The pink-haired glanced toward his palm, tilting her head in concern. The white-haired subconsciously gripped her swollen ankle, hissing softly. The black-haired one gestured with her hands, likely asking about their location. Clueless himself, Min-jae motioned her to hold on, his mind racing. They couldn't stay—the latest station's onlookers might've spotted them. Unsafe. Maybe someone would come seeing five kids alone on a goods train out of goodwill, but he couldn't trust anyone here in this godforsaken place. In a week or two, he'd seen enough greedy and creepy faces in this rundown land to distrust even kindness. Who knew what tragedies could strike?
After some time, the train screeched to a halt in the goods yard. A free ride, sure, but uncomfortable as hell—nothing like the sleek bullet train from Seoul to Busan in his past life, where plush seats and AC reigned supreme. Nostalgia stung as he recalled that comfy glide. They carefully climbed down the ladder on the side of the compartment, stepping onto solid ground. Seeing the white-haired girl limp, he hoisted her onto his back again — her malnourished frame felt weightless, a fragile burden. With the girls trailing wearily behind, he marched into the unknown, entering a sprawling, unfamiliar city, destination unclear."
"To be continued..."
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