The door groaned as it opened, revealing a space that smelled of iron and rot, thick enough to choke on. The air shimmered with heat, and the floor pulsed beneath their feet, like the heartbeat of some monstrous living thing.
Chains dangled from the ceiling, scraping the floor, each tipped with jagged hooks that twitched like snakes. From the walls, shadows stretched into long, clawed fingers, writhing toward them. The carriage itself seemed alive—hungry, pulsing, anticipating.
Evelyn's heart hammered. "Stay together!" she yelled, clutching her lantern. Its flickering light was weak against the sheer darkness that pressed in.
Suddenly, the floor split open beneath Alex. Hands—dozens of them—burst from the black ooze, clawing at his legs. He screamed, struggling against the grip, skin tearing as he fought.
Sophie shrieked as a shadow coiled around her waist, whispering secrets and desires she had buried long ago. The tendrils burned and pricked her skin, almost sentient, twisting pleasure and fear together into a maddening haze.
Leo swung at the nearest shadow, but it split and multiplied, forming dozens more, each clawing at his limbs. Blood splattered across the walls as the carriage pulsed violently, the air vibrating with low, guttural screams that seemed to pierce their minds.
Evelyn forced herself forward, dragging Sophie and Leo behind her. The chains lashed out, cutting skin and muscle, leaving raw, bleeding marks. She could feel her own body screaming, every nerve on fire, but she refused to give in.
Ahead, a glowing sigil hovered in midair, flickering like a heartbeat. It was the only way forward—but it was surrounded by writhing shadows, hooks, and hands that dragged at anything that dared approach.
The whispers returned, low and seductive: "Give in… let the train consume you… stop resisting…"
Evelyn's chest burned. She could almost feel the hunger inside her, clawing, pulling, threatening to make her surrender. But she clenched her teeth. "No!" she shouted, slamming the lantern into the nearest shadow. The light flared, burning it to ash.
Step by step, she forced them forward, chains tearing at their limbs, shadows grasping at their hair, skin, even thoughts. One by one, they struck and dodged, burning each apparition with the lantern.
Finally, they reached the sigil. Evelyn slammed her hands against it. Light exploded, shredding the shadows and burning the chains to molten ash.
The carriage trembled violently, then stilled. Silence.
The friends collapsed to the floor, bleeding, bruised, and shaking, but alive.
Evelyn looked around. The carriage had been a test of flesh, fear, and desire. The train had hunger, and they had fed it—but they had survived.
A low whisper echoed from the shadows that remained: "The hunger never ends… and neither does the ride."
Evelyn gritted her teeth, lantern flickering weakly in her hands. One step at a time, one carriage at a time—they had to keep going.
The door at the far end creaked open, revealing the next nightmare, darker, hungrier, and even more twisted than anything they had faced.
And the train waited. Patient. Eternal.