The doors slammed behind them with a metallic shriek, echoing down the corridor like a warning meant for prey.
Alex dragged Sophie and Leo through the narrow hall, their footsteps pounding on the trembling floor.
But behind them—
No footsteps.No running.No breathing.
Just a smooth, gliding sound.
Like something sliding across glass.
Sophie gasped, "S-she's not even moving her feet…"
Alex didn't look back. "Don't turn around—just RUN!"
The lights overhead flickered weakly.
Then went out.
One by one.
POP.POP.POP.
Until the entire corridor was black.
A soft, distorted whisper slithered through the darkness:
"…Al…ex…"
Sophie froze."That's her voice—Alex, that's HER—"
Leo grabbed her arm. "That's NOT Evelyn anymore!"
The whisper grew louder, clearer, impossibly close:
"aLeX… wHy DiD yOu RuN fRoM mE?"
A faint blue glow emerged behind them.
Evelyn.
Or what looked like Evelyn.
Half her face was still hers—terrified, begging silently.The other half flickered like a glitching hologram, twisted by the lantern's curse.
Her smile wasn't human.It stretched too far.Too wide.Up toward her eyes.
Leo gasped. "Oh god… she's splitting—"
Evelyn's head twitched violently.
"sToP rUnNiNg."
Alex pulled Sophie and Leo into the next carriage and slammed the door—
But it didn't lock.
It melted.
The metal softened and dripped down like wax, sealing them inside.
Sophie screamed, "THE TRAIN IS TRYING TO KEEP US IN HERE!"
A low hum shook the floor.
The carriage lights flickered back on—but twisted.
Everything was wrong.
The seats were taller.The windows were stretched wide like open mouths.And the floor breathed beneath their feet.
Leo whispered, trembling, "This isn't… this isn't a train car anymore…"
A slow knock tapped on the melted door behind them.
Knock.Knock.Knock.
Alex held his breath.
Sophie gripped his sleeve, whispering, "Don't open it… don't—"
The knocking stopped.
Silence.
Then—
A soft breath brushed the back of Sophie's neck.
Not from the door.
From inside the room.
She whirled with a scream—
Evelyn stood three feet away.
Her body glitching, blinking in and out like she was in two places at once.
Her eyes were empty blue rings.Her limbs hung like a marionette.Her hair floated slightly, as if underwater.
Alex stepped between her and the others."Ev. Listen to me. Fight it. You're stronger than this."
Her head twitched to the side.
Her voice came out layered:
"i DoN't WaNt To HuRt YoU…"The human part of her begged.
Then the other voice snapped through:
"i WaNt To EaT yOu."
She lunged—impossibly fast.
Alex shoved Sophie aside as Evelyn's hand sliced through the air, leaving a trail of blue flame behind it.
Leo grabbed a metal bar from the seat and swung—
Evelyn CAUGHT it with one hand.
And crushed it.
Her eyes glowed brighter.
The lantern inside her whispered:
"LeT hEr Go, aLeX.ShE dOeSn'T wAnT tO cOmE bAcK."
Evelyn's body twitched violently, and for a split second—her real voice broke through.
"Al…ex… help… me… p-please… it's—hurting—"
Then the blue light swallowed her again.
She lunged a second time, full speed, teeth bared—
And the floor collapsed beneath them.
They plummeted downward—into deeper darkness, colder air, and something that sounded like distant chanting.
The train had taken them somewhere new.
Somewhere worse.
Above them, standing on the edge of the broken floor, Evelyn watched them fall—
Her smile no longer human at all.