Elliot sprinted down the empty city streets, his breath clouding in the cold night air. The clock on the station tower read 11:58 PM. If he missed the last train, he’d be stranded.
He leapt up the stairs, two at a time, heart pounding. The platform was deserted except for a single train waiting with its doors open. Strange. Usually, the last train had at least a few tired commuters.
Elliot stepped inside. The doors slid shut behind him. The lights flickered. He glanced around—every seat was empty.
The train jerked forward. A deep hum vibrated through the metal floor. Outside, the cityscape blurred unnaturally fast. Something felt off. He walked through the cars, searching for a conductor, another passenger—anyone.
Then he saw it.
A figure sat at the far end of the train, facing away. It hadn’t been there before. Elliot’s pulse quickened.
“Hello?” he called.
The figure
