Before I could even process his words, the entire train violently lurched forward. The delicate porcelain cups flew off the table, shattering against the mahogany walls.
Then, the warm lights flickered and died.
Complete darkness swallowed the luxurious cabin. The only source of illumination was the silver, pulsing glow of the map still clutched in my hands. A sound echoed from the corridor outside—a wet, scraping noise, accompanied by that familiar, bone-chilling hiss. The shadows hadn't just followed the train; they had boarded it.
The man sighed, brushing a speck of dust from his impeccably clean suit. With a fluid motion, he twisted the handle of his walking cane, drawing a slender, glowing blade from within.
"They are getting faster," he murmured, his violet eyes reflecting the map's light. "My name is Silas, by the way. Now, grab your bag. We need to reach the engine room before they decouple the carriages, or we'll be trapped in the dark with them."