Moonlight streamed through the train's expansive windows, bathing the silver-haired youth in a soft, ethereal glow.
The rhythmic hum of the tracks beneath him was muffled by the noise-cancelling headphones resting over his ears.
Even though the train's speakers were drowned out, the flickering electronic sign above remained in full view.
[NEXT STOP: HUNTER ACADEMY]
Lucas sighed, as he shifted slightly in his seat.
His crisp white and blue uniform matched the ones worn by the other passengers; however, unlike them, who were eagerly chatting amongst themselves, Lucas remained... calm and detached.
His gaze lingered on the flashing words before a buzzing sensation in his pocket drew his focus away.
Reaching into his pant pocket, Lucas fished out a sleek black smartphone.
He'd just received it as a present from his parents and apparently it was a top-of-the-line model.
However, Lucas didn't seem too interested in it.
Instead, his focus was directed at the contents of the message on the phone's screen.
[GATE DETECTED NEARBY: PLEASE EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY]
[ESTIMATED DANGER RATING: TWO STARS]
As if on cue, the train shuddered violently before screeching to a halt.
Lucas lifted his head and directed his gaze towards the surrounding passengers riding with him.
The sudden halt sent a ripple of unease through the cabin until, like Lucas, they checked their phones.
Moments later... panic erupted.
The passengers scrambled from their seats and began clawing at the car doors in a desperate bid to escape.
Some pounded against the unyielding metal, their expressions wild with terror, while others shouted in confusion, their voices lost in the rising hysteria.
Lucas, however, remained motionless, his fingers tightening around his phone.
'Even if you try to run, you won't outrun the monsters.'
Shaking his head inwardly, Lucas watched the chaos unfold with a neutral look.
A sound like rolling thunder split the night.
"AWOOOOOOO!"
The deep, guttural howl reverberated through the train, shaking its very frame. Moments later, a violent impact followed, sending a shockwave through the cabin.
The force knocked passengers off their feet, their bodies colliding with the cold metal floor in a cacophony of painful grunts and sharp cries.
Lucas gripped the armrest beside him, barely managing to stay upright. His silver eyes flickered with irritation as he exhaled through his nose.
Luckily, the train didn't seem to shake again after that first blow… At least, that's what the passengers thought.
For a brief moment, a fragile hope lingered among the passengers as they hesitantly began to rise. But that hope was short-lived.
A bloodcurdling shriek cut through the still air, this time human.
"T-the monsters… T-they're here!"
The trembling voice belonged to a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair. She stood frozen, her wide eyes locked onto the dark expanse outside.
Her quivering hand pointed toward the windows.
The other passengers followed her gaze, their faces paled.
Beyond the glass, glowing crimson eyes gleamed hungrily in the moonlight.
Massive, wolf-like creatures loomed in the darkness, their towering frames draped in thick, onyx fur. Their jagged maws, lined with rows of serrated teeth, twitched in anticipation, drool glistening as it dripped onto the cold earth below.
The people next to the window hurriedly pulled themselves back from the glass window, desperately trying to put as much distance as possible between them and the monsters outside.
Sadly, their efforts were soon proven to be futile.
"Oh… Oh god!"
The brown-haired girl exclaimed in horror as one of the wolf-like monsters pounced on the train car.
BANG!
The train buckled under the impact. Metal groaned in protest as the walls dented inward, folding like paper beneath the creature's monstrous strength. Clawed limbs tore through the steel, rending gaping wounds in the once-sturdy frame of the carriage.
"We're doomed!" a nearby boy wailed, his voice laden with panic.
Lucas scowled, annoyance flickering across his features.
"Damnit… This is getting bad."
His gaze swept over the trembling passengers. Most were paralyzed, their bodies rooted to the spot in sheer terror. If they stayed like this, they'd all die.
And while Lucas didn't particularly care for any of them, if they were to die, he would soon be next.
"Run toward the neighbouring cars!"
Shouting at the top of his lungs, Lucas's voice echoed through the insides of the metallic carriage.
Luckily… It seemed that his words seemed to produce some effect as the people around him snapped out of their daze.
For a moment, they hesitated, but self-preservation was a powerful motivator.
One by one, the passengers scrambled for the adjoining doors, shoving past one another in a desperate bid for survival.
By some horrible twist of luck, he was seated directly in the middle of the train car, farthest away from both neighbouring cars.
Even if he tried to reach either car, by the time he did so, it would be far too late.
However, he wasn't planning on just keeling over and letting himself die.
While the others were pushing their way to the other cars, Lucas's gaze was directed upwards… towards the emergency escape hatch on the roof.
'This is going to be a pain.'
Inwardly lamenting to himself, Lucas reached his way upwards and grabbed onto one of the railing bars.
Then, mustering every ounce of strength in his scrawny body, he tried to pull himself upwards.
As long as he could pull himself high enough, he'd be able to turn the handle on the escape hatch and pull himself out.
However, there was a minor complication.
"…"
Of course… he was too damn weak to lift his own body.
Another tremor rocked the train.
Overhead compartments burst open, sending luggage tumbling to the floor.
A heavy suitcase landed near his feet with a resounding thud.
Lucas's lips curled into a smirk.
Dragging the suitcase beneath the hatch, he stepped onto it, granting himself just enough of a height boost to grasp the handle.
With a sharp twist, the hatch popped open, revealing the night sky above.
Now I just need to find a way to climb out.'
Just as he thought that yet another tremor shook the train, resulting in a few more suitcases falling to the ground.
'Right! If it works, don't fix it.'
Just as Lucas was about to pull over one of the nearest suitcases, another pair of hands grabbed it before he could.
"Mind if I join you?"
Lucas turned, his gaze locking onto a blond-haired boy with piercing baby-blue eyes.
His uniform was identical to Lucas's, somehow still pristinely ironed despite the chaos unfolding around them. The blond youth's expression was tense, but beneath it lay a sharp, calculating glint.
Lucas remained silent, scrutinizing him.
The blond gestured toward the panicked crowd. "Most of them are too freaked out to realize it, but trying to escape through the doors is a death sentence. We're in the middle of the car... it'll take too long."
Lucas exhaled sharply. "So, you want to join me instead?"
"Exactly! We're smack dab in the middle of the car. If we don't use the emergency hatch, we'll die."
The blond-haired youth handed the suitcase in his arms to Lucas.
"So, what do you say?"
Lucas shook his head with a sigh.
"…Fine. It's not like I can stop you anyways."
The blond-haired youth's lips curved into a smile.
"Pleasure to work with you. I'm Arthur, by the way, Arthur Kirk."
Lucas scoffed. "I don't care what your name is, so stop wasting time and help me out.."
"Well… aren't you quite the stick in the mud."
Arthur chuckled but moved swiftly, grabbing nearby luggage and adding them to the pile.
While the tremors almost caused it to fall over several times, having one person hold it together, and another grab more suitcases allowed them to finally stack it high enough.
Without wasting another moment, the two climbed onto the suitcase stairway, pulled themselves through the hatch, and got out of the train car.
Taking in the cool night air, the two were just in time to see the train's metal walls finally give way under the relentless attacks of the wolf-like creatures.
Not a moment later, a chorus of screams began to fill the air.
Arthur's jaw clenched as he turned away from the scene, his expression unreadable. Lucas, on the other hand, wasted no time pulling himself onto the train's roof, Arthur following close behind.
The cool night air filled their lungs as they took in their newfound freedom.
Unfortunately, before the two could enjoy it, one of the surrounding monsters raised its bestial head in the direction of the two boys.
A low, guttural snarl reached their ears as the monster's glowing eyes narrowed in predatory delight.
Lucas's expression darkened as a curse slipped from his lips.
"Fuck."