One person escaped the ghost story.
But with their eyes gouged out.
"Phew..."
"Did you hear that sound?"
Unlike the previous few times, the passengers, while disgusted and terrified, did not feel pity.
'Is this the end for violence that lacks persuasion?'
The inside of the train was momentarily chaotic as people checked the condition of the person attacked by Baek Saheon.
[This stop is Hatred, Hatred Station.]
"Hatred, my foot..."
"Sigh."
The announcement caused them to sink further into gloom.
Go Yeongeun, who had been tending to the new recruit clutching his left eye, stood up.
Her expression was somewhat dark.
"I’m almost certain that person’s cornea is damaged. I’m worried..."
"Were you perhaps a medical professional?"
"No. I only went to university for it... but I changed my major anyway, so I'm just a quack who couldn't even take the national exam."
Go Yeongeun sighed and sat cross-legged on the floor.
[The platform screen doors are opening.]
The train doors opened, but people only stole glances and did not move. They merely watched the outside with wary eyes.
And at the same time, they were looking at me.
It seemed they were watching to see if I would suggest leaving.
'It's a relief they're paying attention to me.'
I had worried that they would become more suspicious of each other because of Baek Saheon, but instead, having a common enemy made people calmer.
Since the situation was going so mad, it seemed they were expecting the next words from someone who had spoken with some confidence before.
Which meant... me.
I even had the hope that they might eventually delegate the decision-making power for the stations to me...
"Um, it's a bit... burdensome, isn't it?"
"......?"
Go Yeongeun spoke with a troubled expression.
"The way people keep trying to rely on you."
But I'm grateful...?
"It's because everyone is scared and anxious, so I hope you don't feel disillusioned or think they're being shameless... Hah. No, I'm sorry."
I'm the one who's trying to instigate people because I'm scared and anxious, though...?
"I tried to think of something myself, but..."
Well, regardless, suggestions are welcome.
"What kind of thoughts did you have?"
"Well, I was thinking about the 'Final Destination' you mentioned earlier."
Go Yeongeun said, lowering her voice.
"If it's a person's final destination... could it be death?"
"...!"
"I mean, the end of human life... no matter how much I think about it, it leads back to that. I wondered if I should get off if a similar word came up."
Oh.
"But then I thought... would that just be dying peacefully? So I couldn't bring myself to say it."
"No. That is certainly a persuasive point."
"Is... is it?"
"Yes. However..."
I trailed off.
And unconsciously, I let out a slight smile.
"......?"
It was because I saw the name of the next station on the electronic display.
"To begin with, what is a destination?"
"Yes, yes?"
"If you look it up in the dictionary, it says a 'purpose' or 'goal' refers to something one intends to realize or a direction one is moving toward."
And this train's themes are intuitive.
Sit in a seat, find a lost item.
The instructions aren't twisted; as long as you act literally, you are safe.
Even those who got off at the wrong stations died in a very intuitive manner.
Therefore, one can approach the expression 'Final Destination' in a similar way.
"I think the destination this train speaks of ultimately refers to a point that the current 'I' has not realized or reached."
Considering this, the criteria for choosing a station become very simple.
-Something I do not have.
If you look at it this way, the escape cases can be seen in a new light.
-------------------------
1. Station names indicated by colors like Red, Yellow, Blue.
: 2 successful escapes (Blue Station)
2. Station names indicated by body parts like Left Arm, Cornea, Heart.
: Failure (Attempt: Cochlea Station)
3. Station names indicated by the names of serial killers like ■■, ■■■■, ■■■.
: 12 successful escapes (■■■■ Station)
4. Station names indicated by years like 2008, 2012, 2016.
: Failure (Attempt: Year 2024 Station)
5. Station names indicated by diseases like Asthma, Stroke, Glaucoma.
: 3 successful escapes (Attempt: Cold Station)
-------------------------
At the Blue Station, those among the people who got off who did not have blue on their bodies or belongings would have escaped.
And it’s understandable why there were so many escapees at the station named after a serial killer.
Since no one was that serial killer, almost every station was the correct answer.
'Conversely, the stations named after body parts... the probability of a person lacking a specific body part is lower, so they failed to escape.'
The same goes for the stations named after years.
Year 2024 resulted in failure because it was a year all the passengers had lived through.
If we apply this logic, the station we should get off at now becomes clear.
-An emotion I do not have.
"......Therefore, we must choose an emotion that we are absolutely not feeling right now."
"What?"
This is where it gets rapidly tricky.
'Most humans feel all the basic emotions: joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.'
Unless you are the type of person who lacks a specific emotion, choosing a station becomes extremely difficult. Even if there are differences in intensity, everyone feels them to some degree.
So...
An emotion that expresses a flat state that isn't measured in intensity.
'An emotion that exists as a concept, but is actually very difficult to be in perfectly.'
We have to choose that.
[This stop is Serenity, Serenity Station.]
The announcement comes.
It's easy to think that an ordinary emotion has appeared as the station name again. In fact, we often use the expression "That person is quite serene" in daily life.
But...
'It's an expression often used when guessing someone else's state.'
Few people describe themselves as serene.
And for good reason.
The dictionary definition of serenity is "a state of having no worries or anxieties in one's heart."
But can a person truly be serene, without any worry or anxiety?
'The probability of that is...'
It should be considered almost non-existent.
Especially in an extreme situation like this.
"This station is the correct answer."
"...!"
"We are getting off here."
I speak with confidence and certainty, without hesitation.
I stood up immediately. The people stood up after me in a daze and looked at me.
"H-here?"
"Yes."
I then approached the injured new recruit who was holding his eye and helped him stand.
"I will support you."
"Ah, th-thank you..."
As I guided the injured man to the door, the huddle of people followed without realizing it. Now, no one can back out.
We're going out together.
'Good.'
Escaping while squeezed between people like this...
[The platform screen doors are opening.]
But the world outside the open doors is a sea of blood.
"......"
No... this is crossing the line, no, f*ck, this is......
'Dear fuck almighty. Save me.'
"Kim Soleum-ssi?"
I almost hid behind Go Yeongeun.
My last shred of professional dignity stopped me.
Instead, I creaked my head around to look at the people.
"Are you... sure about this place?"
"Yes."
Unfortunately, yes.
But I can't think of any flowery words to persuade them to get off.
No, I don't even want to get off myself.
I wish someone would persuade me that I don't have to get off. Please.
"...Hey! I also think it's right to go out."
Pardon?
Ms. Go Yeongeun?
"You're the only one among us who's certain of their own opinion right now. And you've stayed calm alone while everyone else is scared."
I did?
"That person earlier made such a mess just to get off by himself... I'd rather listen to the opinion of a good person. At least I will."
And Go Yeongeun bravely stepped out the door first.
In the completely rusted platform, lights flickered eerily, and instead of water, liquid dripped from pipes over the exposed steel frames.
Blood dripped onto Go Yeongeun's shoulder.
Ha, ha...
"Kim Soleum-ssi?"
"......"
"Don't worry about me. I believe in you too! Let's go!"
The injured man I was supporting urged me on.
He probably thought I was hesitating because I was considering his wishes. I was starting to get confused about whether I was grateful to myself or if I resented myself.
Anyway, thanks to that, I naturally followed behind Go Yeongeun. After that, the wavering people poured out after us.
Still, I feel relieved that I wasn't the last one to get off.
It's easy to overlook, but standing at the very end is actually the scariest...
'...Haa.'
At this point, I want to cut ties with myself.
"Are we going to the stairs?"
"Yes."
In the midst of this, Go Yeongeun shouted toward the other cars that were still open.
"Hey! Everyone, get off! This is the right place!"
I don't know how effective it was. There were probably many people who wouldn't get off out of wariness...
'Still, if even one person gets off after hearing that, she's saving that person.'
It's somewhat admirable.
No, I am, trying, to, focus, all my senses, on that feeling of admiration......
Deciding to support the injured man was a truly excellent decision. Even when my nerves were fraying and my strength was about to fail, I could endure it reflexively.
I want to recommend this to all cowards.
Though there probably aren't many cowards who would end up in such a sh*tty situation!
"Ughhh..."
"Let's, let's walk."
I walked among the people, trying my best not to look at my surroundings.
I saw the stairs.
'They're covered in talismans and things...'
Realizing that even those were not in a normal state sent shivers through every pore of my body...
'Let's focus only on the sensation of going up.'
One step.
One step.
I walked silently.
Soon, just as my vision seemed to waver......
[Wow! Congratulations, new recruits!]
Before we knew it, we were back in the lecture hall.
"...!!"
Bright lighting.
A modern, pleasant, and spacious interior.
As reality snapped back into place, a clear message had appeared on the giant screen before us.
<Congratulations on Completing your Probationary Period>
: Congratulations. You have been officially hired by Daydream Corporation's Field Exploration team.
"Haaa..."
"Ah!!"
The people who had escaped together collapsed into their seats as if the strength had left their legs.
I turned my head and counted.
One, two. Three...... seven.
Everyone who had remained in the car.
'I lived.'
In the ghost story <Welcome to the Abyssal Transpo>, 7 out of 10 people in the same car escaped.
[Now, there will be a gift awarding ceremony!]
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