The room was filled with quiet urgency as Macult stood near the table, eyes scanning the notes scattered across its surface. Henrex leaned against the wall, flipping through his small notebook, while Elara sat nearby, polishing the handle of her dagger absentmindedly.
Macult looked up. "Henrex, this time, we're doing it differently. I want the full names, addresses — every little detail — of the ones boarding the train."
Henrex raised an eyebrow. "You serious? I mean, sure, I can collect that. But won't they start asking questions? Like... why we suddenly need all that info?"
Macult hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth — but before he could speak, Elara leaned in.
"You could say something like... sometimes people miss their stop. And later, no one knows where they went or where they were headed. So we're just being careful, keeping a list to avoid that happening again."
Henrex tilted his head, considering it. "That's actually believable."
Macult nodded slowly. "Exactly. Keep it low-key. Don't sound like it's a big deal."
Elara stood up, slipping her dagger into its sheath. "Let them think it's just a routine thing. But we'll know what we're really looking for."
The three of them exchanged glances. A silent agreement.
This time, they were going to be ready.
Henrex told his men to set up a proper check at the railway station — not hiding, but visible, with a small desk and a sign saying they were collecting passenger details for safety. Announcements were made so people knew why they were being asked for names, addresses and destinations; it looked like a routine safety check, nothing secret. Henrex stood there, firm and official, while the team politely asked passengers for their info so nobody would be suspicious.
Macult watched for a moment, then turned back to Elara with a small smile. "You didn't make me wrong picking you as my assistant," he said. "Now come on — let's go home. I'll treat you to your favourite food." Elara's face brightened and she nodded. Before leaving, Macult told Henrex, "Keep me updated. I want every single detail." Henrex nodded, "I will." Macult and Elara walked away together into the warm afternoon, and on the way Macult asked, half-teasing, "So, what do you like to eat?"
Elara smirked and said, "I would like to eat Schnitzel."
Macult raised his eyebrow, a faint grin on his face.
"Schnitzel, huh? That's quite a choice for lunch."
Elara shrugged with a tiny smirk.
"You said you'd treat me. I'm just making sure you don't back out."
Macult chuckled, shaking his head.
"Fine, fine. There's a café nearby that serves it. Let's go before you change your mind."
Elara smiled, brushing her hair back as she looked out the window while the car moved. The afternoon sun hit her face softly, and for a brief moment, she felt... peaceful — like she finally belonged somewhere.
They reached a café and sat inside near the window. The place was quiet, with soft chatter and the clinking of cups. Macult ordered Schnitzel for both of them without asking twice.
After a short silence, Elara looked at him and asked softly,
"What about your family?"
Macult froze for a moment. He wasn't expecting a question like that — not from her, and not so suddenly. His fingers tightened around the cup as he looked away.
"My family…" he paused, then let out a slow breath. "They're not around anymore."
Elara noticed the change in his voice and didn't push him. She simply nodded, understanding that some stories hurt too much to be told fully.
After a few seconds, Macult added quietly,
"Sometimes, work is the only thing that keeps the past silent."
Elara looked at him with a little more respect than before. The food arrived, breaking the heavy moment, but the question stayed between them — unanswered, yet understood.
They started eating quietly. After a few bites, Macult looked at her and asked,
"It tastes good, right?"
Elara nodded slowly.
"Huh… yeah. It's good," she said, then paused. "But it doesn't taste the same as it did at my home. Still… it's nice."
Macult glanced at her, catching the weight behind her words.
"Food always tastes different when memories are mixed with it," he said calmly.
Elara gave a small smile and continued eating. The afternoon light slipped through the café window, and for a brief moment, the case, the tunnel, and the danger felt far away — even if only for a while.
After lunch, they returned home. Elara went straight to her room, while Macult stayed back and called Henrex.
"Is everything right?" Macult asked. "Did you notice anything suspicious?"
"Nothing," Henrex replied. "Everything's normal. My men are in place. Now we just wait for night — when the train passes through the tunnel."
"Yeah," Macult said quietly. "That's when we'll know."
That night, Macult, Elara, Henrex, and his men stood near the last station, their eyes fixed on the dark mouth of the tunnel. The air was tense.
Henrex broke the silence.
"Macult… you really think this will work?"
Macult didn't look away from the tracks.
"Yeah. Why not? We'll get something. Probably."
Henrex nodded. "Alright."
Moments later, the distant sound of metal on rails echoed through the night. The noise of the approaching train grew louder. Everyone tensed, ready to witness the same mystery again — an empty train.
The train burst out of the tunnel and slowly came to a stop.
But instead of silence, the doors opened.
Passengers stepped out — laughing, talking, completely normal.
Everyone stood frozen.
Henrex looked around in disbelief.
"But… yesterday…"
Macult said nothing. He only watched the people carefully as they walked past him, one by one.
Elara's eyes shifted from the passengers to the dark tunnel behind them. Something felt wrong — not because of what they saw, but because of what they didn't.
The station slowly returned to normal. The train moved away. The noise faded.
Macult finally turned around.
"Let's go," he said quietly.
The tunnel remained silent, holding its secret for another night.