One person escaped from the ghost story.
However, they escaped only after having their eye gouged out.
"Phew...."
"Did you hear that?"
But unlike the past few times, the passengers showed no sign of pity since they were irritated and scared.
'Is this the violence that resulted due to lack of persuasion?'
The train became briefly chaotic as they checked the condition of the person attacked by Baek Saheon.
[Hatred, The next station is Hatred station.]
"Talking about hatred..."
"Sigh."
The announcement only made the mood even more depressed.
Go Yeongeun, who had been looking after the new employee clutching his left eye, stood up. Her face looked a bit grim.
"I’m almost certain that the cornea is damaged, it's worrying..."
" By any chance, are you a medical professional?"
"No. I studied at the university for a while… Until I ended up changing majors, so I never even took the national exam. I'm an amateur."
Go Yeongeun sighed and sat down cross-legged on the floor.
[The screen doors are opening.]
The train doors opened, but people only glanced out and didn't move. They just watched outside with wary eyes.
And at the same time, they looked at me.
It seemed like they were checking if I would suggest getting off here.
‘At least it's a relief that they're acknowledging me.’
I had been worried that people would become more suspicious of each other because of Baek Saheon, but instead, with a common enemy, everyone had calmed down.
The situation was so out of control that it seemed like people were waiting for someone who had spoken confidently earlier, to make a statement.
That someone... was me.
I even had a small hope that they might hand over the decision-making for the next stop to me.
“Um, this must be a bit… burdensome.”
“…?”
Go Yeongeun said with a troubled expression.
“People keep trying to rely on you.”
Isn’t that a good thing?
“They’re all scared and anxious, so don’t feel too ashamed or disgusted by it… sigh. I’m sorry.”
I’m scared and anxious about being alone too. that’s why I’m trying to lead everyone.
“I’ve been trying to think about something too…”
Well, I welcome any new ideas.
“What were you thinking about?”
“Hmm, I was thinking about what you said earlier, about the ‘final destination’…”
Go Yeongeun lowered her voice as she spoke.
“If you think about a person’s final destination… isn’t it death?”
“…!”
“Isn’t it? The end of human life… no matter how I think about it, that’s where everyone stops. So, I was thinking if we should get off when a similar sounding station comes up.”
Oh.
“But what if… it means you just die peacefully? If we still die in the end, what’s the point? That’s why I didn’t bring it up before.”
“No, you definitely have a point.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But…”
I trailed off.
And, without realizing it, I smiled slightly.
“…?”
It was because I saw the name of the next station on the display.
“In the end, what is a ‘destination?’”
“Huh, eh?”
“If you look it up in the dictionary, ‘destination’ is defined as some kind of goal you’re trying to reach or achieve.”
And this train's theme is straightforward.
Stuff like [Sit Down.] or [Find a lost item.]
The instructions aren’t twisted, you just have to act as told, and you’ll be safe.
Even people who got off at the wrong station died straightforwardly.
So, let’s approach the expression ‘final destination’ in a similar way.
“The ‘destination’ this train refers to is probably something that we haven’t achieved or reached yet.”
Considering this, the criteria for choosing the correct station becomes very simple.
—It should be something I don’t have.
With this, the escape cases can be explained clearly.
-------------------------------
1) Stations named after colors like red, yellow, and blue.
Escape status: Success, 2 people. (Attempt: Blue Station)
2) Stations named after body parts like the left arm, cornea, heart.
Escape status: Failure (Attempt: Cochlea Station)
3) Stations named after serial killers like ■■, ■■■■, and ■■■.
Escape status: Success,12 people. (Attempt: ■■■■ Station)
4) Stations named after years like 2008, 2012, and 2016.
Escape status: Failure (Attempt: 2024 Station)
5) Stations named after diseases like asthma, stroke, and glaucoma.
Escape status: Success, 3 people. (Attempt: Cold Station)
-------------------------------
People who got off at the Blue Station probably didn’t have any belongings which is of the color “Blue.”
Also, it’s understandable that there were more escapees at stations named after serial killers.
No one would have actually been the serial killer, so almost every station would have been a correct choice.
‘On the other hand, stations named after body parts… the probability of a person lacking one of those body parts is lower, so they failed to escape.’
The stations named after years are the same. 2024 was a year that all the passengers had already lived through, so the escape was a failure.
If we apply this logic to our station themes, the right station we need to get off at, becomes clear.
—An emotion we don’t have.
“…So, we must choose an emotion we could never feel in the current situation.”
“Pardon?”
But this is where things get really tricky.
‘Most people must’ve experienced all the fundamental emotions like Pleasure, anger, sorrow, and joy.’
Unless you’re someone who inherently lacks a particular emotion, choosing the right station becomes incredibly challenging. Even if the intensity might differ, everyone has likely felt these emotions at some point.
So…
We need to choose an emotion that isn’t defined by intensity but exists in a sort of flat, conceptual state.
‘An emotion that exists as a concept but is nearly impossible to experience in its purest form.’
That’s what we have to choose.
[Serenity, The next station is Serenity Station.]
The announcement was played.
At first glance, it seems like just another station named after an emotion. After all, in daily life, we often hear phrases like, “That person seems so serene.”
But…
‘It’s a phrase more commonly used to describe others.’
Rarely do people describe themselves as feeling serene.
And for good reason.
In its dictionary definition, serenity means “a state of being free from worry or anxiety.”
But can a person truly, absolutely be free from all worries and anxiety?
‘The chances of that….’
Are close to none.
Especially in an extreme situation like this.
“This station is the answer.”
“…!”
“I’ll get off here.”
Speaking with confidence, with conviction, and without hesitation.
I stood up immediately. The others, startled, scrambled to their feet and looked at me.
“H-here?”
“Yes.”
I approached the injured rookie clutching his wounded eye and helped him stand up.
“I’ll support you.”
“Th-Thank… you….”
As I guided the injured person toward the door, the others, almost involuntarily, followed along. At this point, no one could back out.
We’re all leaving together.
‘Good.’
This is it… A way to escape together…
[The screen doors are opening.]
But outside the open doors was a sea of blood.
“…”
No… This is too much, what the hell is this…?
‘Someone save me.’
“Kim Sol-eum?”
I almost ducked behind Go Yeongeun.
But the last shred of dignity as a working adult stopped me.
Instead, I turned my head awkwardly, looking at the others.
“Are you sure… about this station?”
“Yes.”
Unfortunately, I am.
But I couldn’t come up with any reasons to persuade them.
Honestly, I don’t even want to get off myself.
I wish someone would step up and tell me I don’t have to get off. Please, someone.
“…Excuse me! I still think getting off is the right choice.”
What?
Go Yeongeun?
“You’re the only one here who seems completely sure of your decisions. Everyone else but you seemed nervous and scared the whole time.
Me?
“Unlike that guy earlier who went to such extremes to get off alone… I’d rather follow the opinion of someone decent. That’s what I believe.”
Then, Go Yeongeun stepped bravely out of the train first.
The platform was eerily illuminated by flickering lights, and from the exposed pipes on the rusty steel frame, a strange liquid dripped down.
Blood splattered on Go Yeongeun’s shoulder. Huff, Huff…
“Kim Sol-eum?”
“…”
“Don’t worry about me. I believe in you! Let’s go!”
The injured rookie I was supporting urged me to move forward.
Perhaps they thought I was hesitating out of concern for them. And honestly, I couldn’t tell if I felt grateful or resentful anymore, I felt dizzy all over again.
Thanks to them, I naturally followed Go Yeongeun’s lead. Behind me, the hesitant crowd began to pour out of the train car.
At least I wasn’t the last to leave.
That thought was oddly comforting.
People often overlook this, but being the last one is the scariest.
‘…Ha.’
At this point, I wanted to give up on myself.
“Shall we take the stairs?”
“Yes.”
Even in this situation, Yeongeun turned to shout toward the other open train cars.
“Hey! Everyone! Get off! This is the right station!”
I wasn’t sure how effective her plea would be. If anything, her shouting might have made people more wary of getting off.
‘Still, if her words convinced even one more person to get off, it would save them.’
I couldn’t help but respect her.
Or at least, I was trying hard to focus all my attention on that feeling of respect…
Deciding to support the injured person was an excellent choice. It distracted me and kept me from breaking down. Reflexively, I held myself together.
I want to recommend this strategy to every coward out there.
Not that many cowards would ever find themselves in such a brutal situation!
“Ugh…”
“L-Let’s keep moving.”
Amid the crowd, I walked forward, deliberately trying not to look around.
Ahead, the stairs came into view.
‘They’re plastered with talismans....’
Realizing even the stairs weren’t normal made my entire body break out in goosebumps, but…
‘Just focus on the sensation of climbing the stairs.’
Step by step.
Quietly, I moved forward.
Before long, my vision wavered slightly, and then…
[Congratulations, new employees!]
Before I knew it, we were back in the auditorium.
“…!!”
Bright lights.
A modern, spacious, and comfortable interior.
As the reality sank back in, a giant screen displayed clear text in front of us.
<Congra> On Completing Your Probationary Period <tulations>:
Congratulations, you’ve been officially hired as part of the Field Exploration Team at Daydream Inc.
“Sigh…”
“Aagh!!”
Those who escaped with me collapsed into the seats or fell to the floor.
I turned to count the number of survivors.
One, two, three… seven.
Everyone from our compartment.
‘We made it.’
From the ghost story, <Welcome to the Abyss Transit Company>,
7 out of 10 people from our compartment successfully escaped.
[Now, it’s time for the gift ceremony!]
