The train roared toward the station.
Its horn screamed through the night.
Passengers scattered across the platform, shouting in panic.
Some ran for the exits.
Others froze in shock.
Liya's heart hammered violently in her chest.
"Ethan, move!"
But Ethan was still staring at the oncoming train.
His eyes weren't full of fear.
They were full of realization.
"This is different," he said.
"What are you talking about?!"
"The accident," he replied.
"You said it always happens near midnight."
"Yes!"
He pointed toward the train rushing toward them.
"But this is happening early."
Liya's stomach twisted.
He was right.
The time was only 10:49 PM.
Fate had changed the schedule.
Which meant something important.
The rules were shifting.
"ETHAN!" she shouted again.
This time he moved.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the platform edge.
They ran toward a staircase leading down to the underground tunnel.
Behind them—
The train entered the station at terrifying speed.
Metal screamed against metal.
The driver blasted the horn again.
Then—
CRASH.
The train slammed violently through the platform barrier.
Glass shattered.
Concrete cracked.
Passengers screamed.
The force shook the entire station.
Dust filled the air.
Liya and Ethan stumbled down the stairs just as debris scattered across the platform above.
For several seconds…
There was only chaos.
Then silence slowly followed.
Liya leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
Her heart was still racing.
Ethan looked back toward the destroyed platform.
"…Okay."
"That was definitely meant to kill me."
She glared at him.
"Now do you believe me?"
"Absolutely."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Fate just tried to run me over with a train."
"That's not funny."
"I know."
He looked up toward the staircase.
Emergency alarms were now blaring throughout the station.
Red lights flashed along the walls.
People were shouting above them.
Liya slowly realized something terrifying.
"You were right."
"About what?"
"The rules changed."
Ethan frowned.
"Explain."
"The accident came early."
"Yeah."
"That means fate is adapting."
"Adapting to what?"
She looked at him.
"To us surviving."
Silence filled the underground tunnel.
Ethan's expression turned serious.
"So the more we interfere…"
"…the more aggressive it becomes."
"Yes."
He exhaled slowly.
"Well."
"That's concerning."
She crossed her arms.
"You think?"
He suddenly laughed quietly.
"You know what though?"
"What?"
"We survived."
Liya blinked.
"…Barely."
"But we did."
He looked directly at her.
"And it wasn't midnight yet."
Her mind raced.
That was true.
The train crash should have killed him.
But it didn't.
For the first time…
They had completely avoided the planned death.
A strange feeling spread through her chest.
Hope.
Maybe fate wasn't unstoppable after all.
Ethan checked his phone.
10:57 PM.
"Still over an hour left."
She nodded slowly.
"Yes."
He leaned against the tunnel wall.
"You realize something though."
"What?"
"If fate is escalating…"
"…the next attempt might be worse."
Liya swallowed.
"How much worse can it get?"
At that exact moment—
The tunnel lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then darkness swallowed the entire underground station.
The emergency alarms cut out.
Complete silence followed.
Liya felt a chill run down her spine.
"Ethan…"
"Yes?"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I think we just found out."
Because somewhere in the dark tunnel ahead of them…
Something heavy began to move.
And the ground trembled slightly beneath their feet. ⏳