Clutching the gun tightly in my hand, I nervously stole a glance behind me. The sight of the people in the back, their stiff necks twisting slowly to meet my gaze, sent shivers down my spine.

　　Their unsettling expressions left me feeling colder with each passing second, and I couldn't tear my eyes away.

　　Forcing myself to turn back around, I focused on the road ahead, silently praying, "Just a little further to the next stop! Someone's bound to get off there, right?"

　　But as we zoomed past the next station without slowing down, my unease grew. Gripping the handrail beside me, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong.

　　As the bus took a sharp turn without easing its speed, I nearly lost my balance and was jolted in my seat.

　　Glancing out the window, I saw the train station looming closer, but the bus showed no signs of slowing down.

　　Suddenly, a deafening "bang!" shattered the air. I whipped around to see a man sprawled against the windshield, blood streaming from his mouth, staining the glass crimson.

　　But the driver showed no sign of slowing down! It hit me like a ton of bricks – we were in deep trouble.

　　"Stop the bus!" I yelled in panic, but the driver seemed oblivious, continuing to speed down the road.

　　Quickly rising to my feet, I grabbed onto anything I could for support as I made my way to the driver's side. He sat there like a statue, his foot firmly planted on the gas pedal, unmoving.

　　Realizing shouting wouldn't help, I frantically scanned the control panel for any buttons to press. Stepping forward, I bent down and pressed every single button within reach!

　　Finally, with a sharp "click!" the bus came to a halt, and the doors swung open!

　　Rushing to the bus doors, I gripped the railing tightly, too afraid to even blink as I peered outside.The bus surged forward at breakneck speed, and a wave of uncertainty washed over me. Would jumping out result in injury? Despite the fleeting doubt, I glanced ahead and then back, my decision made in an instant.

　　"Ahh...!" Pain shot through my feet upon impact with the ground, disorienting me as the world spun around me. I collapsed, the pavement welcoming my fall. Then, a thunderous explosion shattered the air – the bus erupted in flames.

　　Lying there, head spinning, it took a moment for me to gather my senses. Slowly, I began to regain my composure.

　　Turning to face the bus, I witnessed the fiery spectacle. Half of the bus remained, engulfed in flames, while the other half was wedged into the wall, its metal frame contorted beyond recognition. Through the flames, I could see the flickering shadows of people inside, moving about as if searching for an exit, oblivious to the danger surrounding them.One woman, dressed in red, made a desperate attempt to crawl out of the shattered window. Despite the absence of flames on her body, she maintained that eerie, stiff smile.

　　Finally, she emerged from the window with a thud, her body only half intact. Her head struck the ground with a sickening crack, her neck snapping with a final, silent gasp. Blood stained the ground beneath her.

　　I watched anxiously, fearing that the woman in red would crawl towards me. It took me a while to gather my wits, but as I did, I felt a sharp pain shooting through my knees.

　　Sss... aah!

　　My knees had been scraped raw against the cement floor, blood dripping onto the ground.Now I'm kicking myself for not grabbing an extra pair of pants!

　　But thankfully, I managed to avoid banging my head.

　　I struggled to get back on my feet, feeling aches all over. As I scanned my surroundings, I was taken aback. The train station was oddly quiet, not deserted, though. Everyone wore stiff expressions, going about their business as if in a trance. The whole place felt as silent as a graveyard!

　　People passing by seemed completely oblivious to what was unfolding here. I even witnessed someone nonchalantly stepping over the body of the woman in red, causing a splash of blood!

　　Reaching into my pocket, I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I confirmed my gun was still there. It offered some semblance of comfort.

　　With no time to waste, I limped my way straight to the ticket office. Passing by others, I couldn't help but shiver.

　　At the ticket window, before I could even state my destination, the ticket agent with an expressionless face handed me a ticket to H City.

　　Taking the ticket silently, I made my way to the waiting room, only to find it packed to the brim. People squeezed in like sardines, all wearing blank expressions, fixated on the ticket gate.

　　My body trembled, but I mustered up the courage to join the queue.

　　Slipping my hand into my pocket, I quietly disengaged the safety of my gun, slowly pulling it out into my grasp.

　　The gun offered me a sense of security and an inexplicable emotion stirred within me. I felt a bit less frightened.

　　The ticket check started ahead, and the crowd began to move. However, the ticket checker just stood there, staring blankly at something, completely indifferent to the chaos around.I stole a quick glance over my shoulder at the man behind me—a middle-aged fellow in a suit, his sparse hair hinting at impatience in his expression.

　　He stood uncomfortably close, sending shivers down my spine. There was an eerie chill emanating from him, like a dead pig left out in the cold for a day. The longer I looked at him, the more fear crept into my heart. I wanted to flee the station, but I suppressed the urge.

　　Suppressing the goosebumps that periodically rose on my skin, I followed the crowd onto the train.

　　Finally inside the carriage, I located my seat and sat down, gripping the gun nervously as I kept an eye on the middle-aged man in the suit. A cold draft brushed against my back, causing cold sweat to dampen my shirt.

　　The middle-aged man maintained his indifferent expression as he moved toward the back, easing my nerves slightly.

　　Suddenly, the train lurched forward. I noticed several people who hadn't managed to board, including one unfortunate soul whose foot got caught in the gap between the train and the platform due to the abrupt start.

　　As the train picked up speed, the person was split in two, blood spraying onto the nearby passengers, covering them from head to toe!No one bothered to offer assistance; everyone remained frozen, their eyes fixed on the train. Glancing briefly, I quickly averted my gaze. Seated closest to the door, I found myself next to a young boy. His expression frozen in a toothy grin, unmoving.

　　With just an hour's journey left to H City, I silently prayed for a smooth ride without any mishaps. I stole a glance at the boy beside me, only to find him slowly turning his head towards me!

　　His face frozen, mouth stretched into a grin, eyes locked onto mine! I stared into his eyes, forgetting to breathe. Adjusting my grip on the gun, I aimed it at the boy's head. Any sudden movement and I'd pull the trigger without hesitation.

　　"Xia Ning...!" The boy suddenly called out my name!

　　Bang!I squeezed the trigger, and to my shock, the boy's skull shattered into pieces! Brain matter and blood oozed onto the seat, slowly seeping beneath me, and leaving me uncomfortably damp.

　　I felt on the verge of a breakdown, wanting desperately to get up, but I noticed many eyes were fixed on me! Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to remain seated!

　　Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the gun to have such devastating power?

　　From the corner of my eye, I caught glimpses of the decapitated corpse beside me, sending shivers down my spine with every glance.Fortunately, I noticed a digital clock above the carriage, so I focused all my attention on it.

　　I kept my gaze fixed on the clock, fearing I might miss my stop. Meanwhile, I tried to distract myself from the unsettling expressions of the people around me.

　　As time passed, and the train finally came to a stop at the station, I snapped out of my trance.

　　I steadied myself with my hands on my knees and quickly rose to my feet. Glancing back, I noticed not only the passengers nearby but everyone was now staring at me.

　　Their rigid expressions resembled dozens of paper dolls affixed to graves.

　　Turning away, I hurriedly limped off the train!

　　I almost stumbled in the process.

　　To my surprise, as I stepped off the train, everyone inside rose to their feet simultaneously and began following me slowly from behind!!

　　Initially, I thought they were simply heading in the same direction, but as I exited the station, more and more people gathered behind me!

　　I had no clue what they were up to, so I panicked and limped briskly in the direction of the school.

　　But the school was about eight or nine kilometers away, and walking there was out of the question, especially with my injury.

　　Suddenly, by the roadside, I spotted an abandoned telephone booth that hadn't been used in years, and a number popped into my head!I hesitated, unsure if the phone booth was still in working condition. With quick steps, I entered the booth and lifted the receiver, relieved to hear a dial tone on the other end.

　　Recalling the number Wei Junliang had shouted before I lost consciousness, I dialed it without hesitation. Thankfully, I remembered the entire sequence.

　　Dialing...!

　　"Hello?" It was indeed Wei Junliang's voice on the other end!

　　My heart fluttered with relief, hearing his voice sounding clear and steady!

　　"Hello, this is Xia Ning, I'm in need of assistance!!" I glanced back and called out.

　　In the midst of this surreal experience, our paths had never crossed before.

　　The group of people behind me was drawing nearer by the moment.