"Welcome aboard Bus 0, the fully autonomous travel experience."
"I will now outline your route. The bus will stop at four stations. Travel time between each stop is not fixed. In 45 minutes, we will reach the surface. I will notify you upon arrival. Until then, passengers are free to move about."
Near the driver’s seat, a compartment clicks open, revealing a stocked refrigerator.
"Food and beverages are available in the storage above, sufficient for two days. Now, I will explain the rules for all passengers."
Tension thickens. Confusion flickers across faces. Rules? This was supposed to be a tour of the surface world, not some game. The wealthy man and his wife abruptly rise from their seats, voices loud with frustration.
"I signed up for a tour, not for some ridiculous restrictions! I’m not doing this! I want to get off this bus right now!"
Despite the couple’s loud protests, the voice from the projector remains unaffected.
"Passengers, be advised. Ninety percent of the air on the surface is contaminated with the virus. Stepping outside will result in immediate death. Any attempt to leave the game will result in an initial warning. A second attempt will lead to forced ejection from the bus."
The wealthy couple stiffens at the warning, reluctantly sinking back into their seats. A platinum ticket flickers onto the screen. The voice continues,
"The rules of this journey are simple: Find the guide, or secure a valid ticket to continue. If you locate the guide before the trip ends, you will not only return home safely but also receive a special reward prepared for you. Conversely, at each station, passengers must obtain a bus ticket to board. No ticket, no passage."
A black bus ticket with blood-red lettering emerges in a 3D simulation on the screen. Moments later, a platinum card appears, labeled Platinum Pass.
"To enhance your experience, the Platinum Pass will be granted to the first person to board the bus at any stop. Its privileges include replacing a standard bus ticket or expelling a fellow passenger from the bus."
The eyes of all seven passengers gleam with intrigue. It is a tempting prize everyone wants. But to claim it, they must be the first to step onboard. The screen transitions to a roster of participants, as the voice begins listing names.
"Now, I will introduce today’s passengers. Seated in Row 8, left side, are Tom and Lina from ESIK Steel Corporation. Across from them are Lyly and Karen, accounting majors from University of Economics. In Row 9, at the back, are Pearl and Tate, high school students. Finally, in Row 6, sits Danny, CEO of SUN Media Corporation."
"This journey will pass through five stations and conclude by 5:00 AM tomorrow morning. The current time is 12:15 AM. Enjoy your trip to the realm of the dead."*
With that, the screen fades to black, leaving only the glowing digital clock behind. Tension thickens in the cabin. Most passengers are still processing what they have just heard - except for Danny, who remains undisturbed, eyes closed as if nothing matters. Tom grits his teeth, slamming a fist against the seat. Abruptly, he rises.
"What the hell am I part of? No! I’m done! I want to quit! I want to cancel this trip!"
"Darling, please!" his wife pleads.
Ignoring her, he yanks his arm away, storming toward the bus door, ready to force his way out - even while the vehicle speeds down the road. The moment he grasps the handle, a surge of electricity shoots through his body. His entire frame jerks violently before collapsing onto the floor, his chest heaving in pain, his face flushed red from the shock. Gasping, he clutches his heart, his breathing ragged and shallow. Lyly rushes forward, helping him sit up as she retrieves a heart medication vial from her bag. The voice from the screen remains cold and emotionless, repeating its warning.
"Any passenger who deliberately attempts to leave the trip prematurely will suffer the consequences. Additionally, all photos taken during this journey cannot be uploaded to any social media until the trip is completed. Phone calls will not connect. Please be advised."
Lyly freezes mid-action. She had been trying to call the police, but her screen now displays “No Connection”. Tom, still pale and breathless, does not care about anything else anymore. Desperately, he snatches the pill from his wife’s hand, swallowing it without hesitation. As his heartbeat gradually stabilizes, his breathing slows, and clarity returns to his mind. Yet, the moment he regains control, his glare sharpens like a blade, directed straight at the glowing screen. He lashes out, shoving his wife aside. She falls onto the floor, wincing as she grips her bruised ankle, her voice cracking in pain.
"Ah! That hurts!"
“Hurt?”
Tom scowls, brushing dust off his clothes as if nothing had happened. Letting out an irritated grunt, he returns to his seat. To him, Lina is his wife only in name - nothing compared to the mistresses waiting for him outside. If he’s being honest, she is merely a placeholder, a temporary occupant of the title "wife." Had she not been docile and obedient, perfectly playing her role to entertain him, she would likely still be rotting in some slum instead of flaunting her glittering jewelry, basking in the privileges of an elite wife. As soon as he sits, his gaze sharpens, falling on his pathetic wife still rubbing her ankle on the floor. His expression twists in disgust.
"Lina! Haven’t you gotten up yet? Do you enjoy sitting there?"
Struggling, she grips a nearby seat, pulling herself up while grimacing in pain, obediently returning to her place beside him. Across the aisle, Karen notices the smudge on Lina’s knee. She glances toward Lyly, who is deeply engrossed in a mobile game.
"Lyly, do you have tissues?"
"In my jacket pocket. Grab them for me, I’m in the middle of a match."
Karen reaches into Lyly’s pocket, retrieving a small packet of tissues. She turns to Lina, whose face still contorts with discomfort, and offers them gently.
"Here, ma’am. Your knee is dirty. You should clean it."
Just as Lina stretches out her hand to accept the tissue. Tom snatches the packet away, flinging it back at the two students. His voice is acidic, mocking, dripping with disdain.
"We’re rich. We don’t need charity tissues. Keep them for yourselves."
The thrown packet smacks Lyly squarely on the forehead, disrupting her focus. Her screen flashes “GAME OVER.” Her temper erupts instantly. She shoots up from her seat, finger jabbing toward Tom, her tone sharp with fury.
"Hey, old man! Don't think that being rich gives you the right to act like a jerk!"
"You brat! What did you say?! Say that again!"
He lunges forward, his stance aggressive - ready for a fight. Before he can lash out, his wife intervenes, stopping him - not to defend anyone but rather to scold the students instead.
"Forget it. I don’t need your tissues. You two should stop meddling in others' business. Let it go, darling! Calm down."
He grits his teeth, his rage simmering as he shoves himself back into his seat. His glare burns into Lina, his tone dripping with contempt.
"Stop making a scene and burdening others. You’re nothing but trouble! I’m going to sleep. If you cause any more problems, I won’t hold back."
Crossing his arms, he shuts his eyes, ignoring his wife entirely.
Nearby, Lyly shakes her head in exasperation, nudging Karen’s head lightly. Her voice drops to a murmur.
"See? I told you. You need to stop being kind with two of them. Okay? I’m going to take a quick nap."
"I’m sorry."
Lyly sighs, shoving her phone into her pocket. Adjusting her posture, she leans back and closes her eyes. Beside her, Karen glances at Lina, observing the drastic contrast between her current worried demeanor and the proud, arrogant attitude from earlier. Deciding she no longer cares, she shuts her eyes and drifts into sleep as well. At the very back, Pearl and Tate also succumb to slumber. Time passes. The bus glides smoothly through the unknown.
Until suddenly, it comes to a halt. The doors creak open. A figure cloaked in black lace - shrouded head to toe - steps onto the bus, their heavy boots echoing against the floor. A light, eerie giggle fills the cabin, trembling with excitement. The clock strikes 3 AM.
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.