The train car was in total chaos. Men’s roars and women’s screams were quickly silenced by a gunshot. Witnessing the murder up close, Cheng Jin trembled in terror, clinging tightly to his father and brother for comfort.

After a few tense moments, the cold, mocking voice of a man crackled through the speaker, “So, is everyone willing to listen now? Follow my command: return to your seats and sit quietly for the next two hours, okay?”

No one dared to respond, not even a whisper. Those who had been crying stifled their sobs. People who had huddled together now stiffly moved back to their seats, and the unfortunate ones sitting near Philip’s lifeless body were forced to look away from his still-open eyes.

They had just settled when more gunshots rang out from the other cars, silencing any remaining noise. Every shot made Cheng Jin’s heart thump wildly, and only when the gunfire ceased could he breathe easier. Still, fear gnawed at him. He knew those shots meant more lives lost.

What on earth are these people trying to do? Cheng Jin thought. Does Indira really believe he can escape this star system by taking so many hostages?

He couldn’t understand it, but he knew they were in grave danger. Their destination held nothing but grim uncertainty.

As the train sped on, nearing the folded space, Cheng Jin noticed aircraft approaching. They were marked with the military emblem. He wasn’t the only one who saw them—relief spread across the faces of those around him, and some murmured, “The military’s here to save us.”

“How are they going to save us? Can they stop the train?”

“Unless they drop a bomb, how else can they stop it?”

Whispers of speculation filled the air, but Cheng Jin frowned at the sight of the aircraft. His heart clenched. He recognized that emblem—it was the unit his husband served in. Was Lu Tao coming to their rescue?

Cheng Jin clenched his teeth. As the sounds of intense gunfire started, his heart raced. He muttered under his breath, “Don’t… don’t come…” The small, agile aircraft seemed so fragile against the train’s defenses. Cheng Jin didn’t know which one Lu Tao might be in, but if anything happened to him, Cheng Jin wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Sensing his son’s distress, Cheng Jin’s father said, “He’s a general. He’s likely commanding from the rear. He wouldn’t be on the front line. Don’t worry.”

“No…” Cheng Jin choked out. “You don’t know him. He would definitely…” Then, remembering that Lu Tao might be preparing for the personality erasure surgery, he calmed slightly. “Right… it might not be him…”

Despite this, his heart remained in turmoil. Every time an aircraft dodged the train’s fire during the brief firefight, his anxiety eased. The train’s gunfire was relentless, but the aircraft tried desperately to pierce through, aiming for a weak spot. Just as they were stalemated, the train’s lights dimmed.

Cheng Jin’s faint hope crumbled.

This was his second time on the train, so he knew they had entered folded space.

The seasoned travelers around him understood too, their faces showing the broken hope they now felt.

“Welcome to our train,” a different, more sarcastic voice announced through the speakers. “There’s an hour and thirty minutes left in our journey. Please remain seated and calm. Don’t move or break the windows, or we’ll all vanish into the cracks of space. But before that, our bullets will probably pierce through your brains first.”

“For energy conservation, only the emergency lights will remain on. Please rest well.”

The dim lights faded further, leaving only the barest outlines of nearby figures visible. In the heavy silence that followed, Cheng Jin whispered, “An hour and a half… I wonder where they’re taking us. Last time it was only fifteen minutes.”

Cheng Xu responded softly, “It must be somewhere far. There’s a rumor that this star system has discovered uninhabited planets. Maybe that’s where they’re taking us.”

Cheng Jin shuddered. “What kind of horrifying place could that be?”

Cheng Zheng patted his back gently. “Sweetheart, don’t be scared. Just rest for a bit. We’ll behave, and everything will be alright.”

Cheng Jin murmured in agreement, trying to push down his fear and force himself to sleep, but his mind was filled with terrifying thoughts. Time dragged on, and just when his anxiety peaked, a voice whispered in his ear, “Oh, what a coincidence.”

Cheng Jin stiffened, fear chilling his spine. The voice spoke again, “Don’t you remember me? I’m the Chimera.”

The child-like tone slowly melted his fear, and he couldn’t help but whisper, “I remember. Where are you?”

His father and brother gave him puzzled looks, but Cheng Jin shook his head, signaling for silence. “Chimera” replied, “Right behind you. Why are you here?”

Cheng Jin let out a bitter laugh. “I… I’m a hostage.”

“Not an experimental subject?”

Cheng Jin hesitated. “Experimental subject?”

“I came here the same way, over a hundred years ago.”

“A hundred years ago?” Cheng Jin’s voice trembled.

“Chimera” ignored the question and asked, “Do you want to leave?”

Hope surged in Cheng Jin’s heart. He nodded quickly but tried to remain calm. “Of course, but… can you help us? My dad, my brother, and I—can you help us all escape?”

“I can.”

Suppressing his excitement, Cheng Jin asked, “What should we do?”

“Follow me.”

Cheng Jin hesitated. “But we can’t move. They’ll notice. They have guns…” He thought of Philip’s blood-stained body in the corridor and shivered.

“Remove the devices from your wrists—the communicators—and leave them on your seats.”

Cheng Jin didn’t understand why, but he trusted the voice. He relayed the instructions to his father and brother. Cheng Xu quickly grasped the significance. “They’re tracking us through the communicators, not cameras. The cameras are only at both ends of the car.”

The three of them carefully removed their communicators and placed them on their seats. As soon as they did, the lights went out completely, even the emergency lights.

Darkness stirred the passengers’ fear, but the broadcast crackled again, “Don’t be afraid. Stay in your seats, or we won’t be nice.”

No one dared move, except Cheng Jin and his family, who were guided by the Chimera.

The carpeted floor muffled their steps as they quietly moved through the car, knowing discovery meant death. They crossed half the carriage, reaching the middle connection. Cheng Jin was about to ask what to do next when someone nudged him forward.

“Climb in,” the Chimera whispered.

Cheng Jin fumbled in the darkness, feeling for the opening. Once he found it, he crawled forward, his heart racing.

After a few moments, a light appeared ahead. He rushed toward it, and his feet touched something soft. His father and brother followed, curling up beside him. Just as Cheng Jin wondered what was next, the light brightened.

Momentarily blinded, Cheng Jin shielded his eyes. When his vision cleared, he saw a figure standing before him. It looked human, though it had a tail.

The figure appeared to be a child, seven or eight years old, completely naked. Cheng Jin quickly turned away in embarrassment but then refocused. Urgently, he asked, “Are you the human-chameleon chimera? The one who assassinated Indira?”

The figure smiled, dimples appearing on its face. “Yes, you even carried me once.”

Cheng Jin had too many questions. They were in a spherical space with soft walls, unable to see what was outside. Cheng Xu spoke up first. “Thank you for saving us, little friend. Where are we headed next?”

The Chimera’s black eyes gleamed with innocent wisdom. “Where do you want to go?”