I walked briskly to the sidewalk, my hand already reaching out to wave down a cab. The vehicle slowed, its headlights casting a brief glow on the pavement before stopping directly in front of me. The door clicked open with a soft hiss, welcoming me in. I hesitated for just a moment before stepping inside.

  The driver’s eyes flicked up to meet mine through the rearview mirror, his tone casual but polite.

  “Where are you heading, young ma’am?”

  I fumbled for a moment, my mind racing. My fingers brushed against the cool paper in my pocket, pulling it out with a slight rustle. I handed it over without looking at him. The address felt foreign in my hands, yet important.

  He took it with a nod, his eyes briefly scanning the paper.

  “Ah, the old train station, eh? Forty-five kilometers from here. A bit of a trek, but nothing I haven’t done before.”

  The engine roared to life, and the cab lurched forward. I settled back in my seat, the hum of the tires on the road a steady companion as we sped away.

  The driver’s voice broke the silence.

  “We are here, ma'am.”

  I glanced up to find us stopped at the edge of a crumbling platform. The old train station loomed ahead, its rusted signs swaying slightly in the wind. My fingers were already reaching for the door before I could think, pushing it open with a creak that seemed too loud for the stillness around us.

  I turned to face the driver, my hand already halfway to my purse.

  “How much is it, sir?.”

  He waved me off with a grin, his voice warm.

  “Forget it, ma’am. Think of it as a graduation gift. My daughter’s at your school too. I’m heading that way to see her, actually. Oh…”

  His curiosity piqued, his eyes briefly flicking back to meet mine.

  “Who are you meeting at this old place? It’s a bit... off, don’t you think?.”

  I hesitated for a moment, then forced a confident smile.

  “Just a friend.”

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  His gaze lingered on me, unsure.

  “Should I wait for you? I can drive you back when you’re done.”

  I glanced at the eerie, darkened doorway of the station, the hinges creaking with the weight of years.

  “No, sir. I’ll be fine,” I said, my voice a little steadier than I felt.

  “Alright then. See you at the graduation.”

  “Yeah... see you there.”

  I replied, offering a quick wave as I watched him pull away, his engine rumbling down the empty road.

  I stood there, watching the dust settle in the space where the cab had been, my heart hammering against my chest. The train station seemed even more desolate up close, its structure sagging as if weighed down by secrets.

  I took a deep breath, the cold air stinging my lungs, and exhaled slowly.

  “I can do this.”

  ‘ YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?.”

  Amor, my wolf, asked with a hint of concern, her voice echoing in my mind.

  ‘I mean, why would someone tell you to come to abandoned train station?’.

  I closed my eyes briefly, feeling the weight of her words.

  “I have to. I don’t have a choice.”

  My boots clacked softly against the stairs as I made my way down, the ground beneath my feet uneven and cracked. When I reached the door, my hand hovered over the handle. It creaked in protest as I pushed it open, the noise sending a shiver down my spine.

  ‘This doesn’t feel right, Elara. We should turn back’.

  But I couldn’t. Not now. Not when I was so close.

  I stepped inside, the air thick with dust and silence. I then walked slowly down the hall way, my breath steady as my heart raced in fear.

  ‘Elara!.”

  Amor’s voice echoed in my mind, laced with hesitation.

  "What is it, Amor?.”

  I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I came to a halt, straining to listen for any sign of danger.

  ‘Elara, we are being followed’.

  A chill crawled up my spine, and I spun around instinctively, scanning the foggy hallway behind me. It was thick, the kind of fog that blurred everything, making the shadows appear as though they could be anything.

  “Where,Amor? I can't see anything nor anyone through this fog.”

  I barely finished my sentence before the unmistakable sound of footsteps reached my ears. They were fast, too fast, racing down the right hallway.

  ‘There ,by the right hallway! She’s getting away!’

  Without thinking, I bolted toward the sound, my feet moving faster than I thought possible. The fog seemed to part for me as I rounded the corner, my eyes locking onto the figure ahead. She was quick, but I was quicker. I collided with her, sending her sprawling to the floor in a heap.

  “Please, don’t hurt me!.”

  Her voice trembled, a mixture of fear and panic, as she kept her face pressed to the ground..

  "Hurt you?.”

  I couldn’t hide the confusion in my voice. I stood over her, watching as she slowly raised her face, her eyes wide with apprehension.

  “Why would I hurt you?”

  She hesitated, her gaze flickering to my outstretched hand.

  "You were chasing me... I thought you were going to hurt me."

  I blinked, a slight chuckle escaping my lips.

  "No. I was chasing you because you scared the hell out of me.”

  I extended my hand, my palm open in apology. She stared at it for a long moment before taking it, her grip hesitant as I helped her to her feet.

  “What are you doing in here, anyway?.”

  I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me as I eyed her with suspicion.

  She straightened herself, dusting off her clothes, and her voice grew steadier.

  “I suppose for the same reason you're here.”

  Just then, a door at the end of the hallway creaked open, its heavy frame swinging wide. A man stepped into the threshold, his presence commanding. Dressed in a sharp luxury suit and polished black shoes, he smiled with an air of practiced ease.

  “There you are,”

  He said, his voice smooth, almost too polite.

  “We’ve been waiting for you two. Come on in.”

  He stepped aside, holding the door open and waited for the both of us to walk in. I and the girl walked in, our gaze fell on three more girls from different High schools.

  “Go on, dose two seat that are empty are meant for you two go on and have a seat.”

  The man spoke as he closed the door and and walked to his seat. I immediately sat on the left side and slowly gazed at the three other girls, who didn't bother to gaze back me.

  “Okay, I hope we all know why we are here, you ladies should know that this mission is going to risk, you might be caught on the way by the authorities and be sent to jail.”

  The man spoke his voice smooth but carrying an edge of seriousness, the kind of tone that sent a shiver down my spine.

  “Hope you are ready to take the risk.”

  The man

  spoke, his voice steady and cold, as if he had said those words a thousand times before. His gaze swept over all of us, each girl sitting rigidly, not daring to speak, the weight of his words sinking deeper with each passing second.