Kaisa had been standing at the entrance to the compartment for several minutes, deep in thought.
"I don't have any belongings with me, no documents either. I probably won't be able to return. I won't even be able to get a part-time job without documents. Right now, my only way out of this situation is that guy. But what should I tell him? Like, I was brought onto this train by a man who pretended to be my father to the conductor, but he's not my father at all — just someone unknown. Help me figure this out. Oh, and by the way, my sister is missing!"
Kaisa shook her hands nervously.
"I don't think he'll believe me. He'll just think I'm crazy!"
She began twisting a strand of her chestnut hair around her finger and leaned against the railing by the window.
"Alright, I still need to ask him something. He's the only one I've seen here, and he seems normal enough. Well then… let's go!"
Quickly tying her hair into a ponytail, she approached the door.
"Inhale… exhale."
She quietly opened it.
The guy was lying down, staring at his phone, scrolling through something.
Kaisa entered the compartment and closed the door behind her until it clicked. As soon as she sat down, the guy put his phone on the table and studied her carefully. She caught his gaze and started looking at him as well.
— Are you okay? You didn't look great the last time we met, — he asked.
— I'm better now, it's just… um… — Kaisa lowered her eyes and began nervously fidgeting with her fingers. — I had a nightmare! — she finished.
The guy tilted his head slightly.
— You see, I dreamed that a man broke into my place — maybe armed, maybe not — and after that I blacked out and woke up on some train. And then I wake up in a similar train, so of course I panicked, thinking it was a continuation of the dream. And then you suddenly appeared. I needed some time to realize this is real.
The guy leaned on his hand.
— I see. I was already thinking I had done something wrong. Turns out I worried for nothing… though I guess I did scare you. Sorry.
— It's fine, I just worked myself up.
Kaisa quickly glanced at him and immediately looked away.
— What do you think — if something like that really happened, what motive could that man have?
The guy turned his head toward the window for a second, watching the raindrops sliding down, then looked back.
— Well, if we imagine this as a story by an unknown author… what motives could there be? I'd say there aren't that many. Probably just two main ones.
First: someone is waiting at the train's destination — a заказчик (client).
Second: it could be a way to save someone. Considering the presence of a weapon, both options can explain why he had it.
Kaisa frowned. The versions made sense, but they didn't fully explain everything. And she hadn't mentioned her sister.
— Are you, by any chance, a writer?
— Huh? No, not really. I just read a lot — detective stuff and all that.
The guy leaned back against the seat.
Kaisa folded her hands on the table and straightened up.
— By the way, what's your name? Hard to address you otherwise.
— I'm Yugolus, but you can just call me Yugo.
— Interesting name. I'm Kaisa.
— Nice to meet you!
Thunder rumbled.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kaisa noticed that the door was slightly open.
"I closed it until it clicked… Does that mean someone was listening? I didn't hear any footsteps."
— Yugo, did you happen to see any other passengers in this car?
— No… I didn't even notice that I hadn't seen anyone.
— Let's go check something.
Kaisa stood up and left the compartment. Yugo followed her.
They knocked on the neighboring compartment. Silence.
Yugo pulled the handle — the door opened. Empty.
— Maybe no one bought tickets here?
Kaisa immediately tried the next compartment. The door opened easily. No one inside.
Yugo ran to another compartment and opened it. Also empty.
— Once is chance, twice is coincidence, three times is a pattern, — Yugo quoted.
— Something's not right here. But the conductor is here! — Kaisa said.
She began nervously fidgeting with her fingers again.
Yugo noticed her anxiety.
— I'll check if she's still there.
— I'm coming with you! — Kaisa replied.
They headed toward the conductor's compartment.
As they approached, they noticed something strange. The door was slightly open, and a trail of blood was visible.
Kaisa suddenly stopped — her breathing caught. Yugo continued forward. A second later, she followed, but very slowly.
He opened the door — and froze in horror.
Everything was covered in scratches and blood. Whoever had been inside had clearly tried to escape, but failed.
Yugo looked around. The compartment was stained with blood. Near the scratches, broken nails were visible. And in the middle lay a bloodied knife, snapped in half.
— What the—?! Kaisa, come here!
But she had already approached. The moment she saw it, she stepped back.
"Why is all of this happening to me? Why?"
Her hands went numb. Her chest tightened. She couldn't breathe. Her vision darkened.
She slowly began to fall backward.
The last thing she saw was Yugo running toward her.
— Hey! Wake up! Kaisa!
Yugo splashed water on her.
Kaisa abruptly opened her eyes and tried to get up, but Yugo held her.
— How long was I out?
— About 15–20 minutes. First I dragged you back to the compartment and laid you down properly, then I went to check the doors between the cars. But everything's locked! After that, I came back and tried to wake you.
— I see… How long until we reach our destination?
Yugo took out his phone and frowned.
— We were supposed to arrive 10 minutes ago…
— Help me sit up, please.
— Yeah, sure.
Yugo helped her sit.
— Did you try calling anyone?
— Damn, how did I forget!
Yugo dialed a number and held the phone to his ear.
— Well?
— No signal. Yeah… not the best trip.
Yugo sat down next to her.
— I actually ended up here by accident, — Kaisa said. — Remember the dream I told you about? It wasn't a dream…
— That really happened to you?
— Yes… and I didn't mention my sister. I have no idea what happened to her. I only heard screams…
Kaisa shuddered.
— Don't get nervous now — you'll pass out again, and I won't be able to wake you up.
— I'll try.
The sound of the wheels stopped. The brakes hissed. The rain stopped.
— Have we arrived? — Kaisa asked.
— I don't know…
A heavy knock sounded on the door. The carriage shook.
The next moment, the door burst open.
Special forces stood before them.
— Stay where you are! Hands behind your head! Face down! We received a report of a murder in this carriage.
They spoke in perfect unison, without hesitation — as if they were one person.