"..."
The usual announcer who provided rules and directions on how to clear the Ghost Story appeared.
A small, plush toy with black fur, floppy ears, beady button eyes popped out of thin air and was floating above the subway station sign.
Its voice broke the silence.
"Welcome, everyone! To Line Nine's special service!
Oh, how lucky you are to be chosen!"
My group and I froze.
Hell, the entire station froze.
There must have been over fifty of us scattered on the cracked tiles, blinking under dim fluorescent lights.
Different groups huddled together.
And above us, flickering faintly, a holographic timer lit up on the Dangsan Station (당산역) name board.
Something we were all used to.
[00:59:59]
Counting down.
"From here you'll all enter Dangsan subway station.
The destination is simple: get off safely at Dongjak Station.
Easy peasy, right?
But, ah!"
It tilted its plush head to the side.
"...there's a teensy little rule.
Only six passengers per group are allowed to make it out alive.
If you've got seven, or fourteen, or twenty? Oh no no no, what a problem!
I'm sorry but...someone has to stay behind."
My stomach lurched.
We had seven.
I glanced at my group instinctively.
"Don't look so down!"
The bunny chirped.
"There are missions!
So fun!
Each train car has an activity to clear...maybe you'll be asked to pick up limited items, or answer riddles.
Be quick, though.
Some prizes are first-come, first-serve.
If you don't play, you don't survive.
And if the timer runs out..."
It clapped its stubby paws together.
"Everyone dies! Game over! Tada~!"
The bunny bowed, as if that explained everything.
I heard voices ripple across the other groups.
"Six only? What the hell!"
"My group has fourteen! That's insane!"
"They're joking, right?"
But the timer ticked on, its glow painting the ceiling in cold blue light.
[00:57:02]
Even after all this...I really thought people would come to the realization nothing here is ever a joke.
But I guess it's really just human nature to first deny situations and then later on accepting them.
"We will begin soon!"
The bunny announced.
"Remember, the rules are so simple: survive, and make sure only six leave together at the end! La la la~"
But my throat was dry.
My brain kept circling the same problem...seven people...only SIX tickets out.
And as if mocking me, the black bunny turned, its head swiveling almost full circle, and looked directly at our group.
Its stitched smile never changed.
"You'll have to make some tough choices, oh my!"
The subway lights flickered. A low rumble shook the floor.
The train was coming.
I felt Minjae's small hand tug at my sleeve.
He didn't say anything, but his eyes told me enough..."don't leave me behind."
The timer above the platform ticked.
[00:53:21]
[00:53:20]
[00:53:19]
My phone buzzed and so did everyone else's.
I pulled it out.
---
[SPECTRAL ACCESS TERMINAL – GHOST STORY ACTIVE]
Story No. 462
『Line 9: The Last Train Across』
──────────────────────────────
◼ OBJECTIVES
1. Board the train at Dangsan Station within the time limit.
2. Collect at least 3 [Conductor's Tokens] hidden inside the train cars.
3. Protect your group's [Passenger Number] until Dongjak Station.
4. Overcome the anomaly that appears between stations.
5. Arrive at Dongjak Station with no more than 6 members per group.
──────────────────────────────
◼ RULES
1. The train will not stop for those who miss the doors.
2. Not all tokens are meant to be touched.
3. Voices that call your name are not your allies.
4. A group's [Passenger Number] cannot exceed the limit.
5. Those who leave the train before Dongjak Station will never return.
──────────────────────────────
◼ TIME LIMIT
01:00:00
──────────────────────────────
◼ REWARDS
– Survival Qualification (Exit to Next District)
– Randomized [Fear Relic]
– Personal [Story Points] based on contribution
──────────────────────────────
◼ FAILURE
– Death of entire group.
– Permanent erasure from all records.
──────────────────────────────
※ Additional Remarks
- Competing groups may remove excess members by any means.
- Not all groups will possess enough tokens to proceed.
- Remember: only 6 per group may disembark at Dongjak. Choose wisely.
---
The black bunny plushie announcer followed cheerfully after us, dangling in the air.
"Next stop...Dongjak Station!
Let's have fun, shall we?"