Part 2: The Ticket That Didn’t Exist
Daniel tried to keep his tone calm.
“Everyone gets off at the last stop, kid. That’s how this works.”
The boy shook his head slowly.
“I can’t.”
There was something in his voice.
Not stubborn.
Not rebellious.
Certain.
Daniel sighed and crouched beside him.
“Okay… what’s your name?”
“Eli.”
“Alright, Eli. Do you have a ticket?”
The boy reached into his pocket and handed him a small, crumpled piece of paper.
Daniel unfolded it.
Then froze.
It wasn’t a ticket.
It was… old.
Yellowed.
Faded.
And the date printed on it—
was from 12 years ago.
Part 3: A Train That Shouldn’t Be Running
Daniel felt a chill crawl up his spine.
“That’s not possible,” he muttered.
“This train line didn’t even exist 12 years ago…”
Eli didn’t react.
