Chapter One: The Empty Car

Seven other passengers occupied the car: an old woman holding flowers, a drunk, a boy in a red cap, and four people staring at their phones. Cheng counted them out of professional habit—and because Baiyu reminded him of his sister. Three years ago, Cheng Yao's final message had read: I'm at Baiyu Station, Ge. When will you get here? He never did. His phone vibrated. An unknown number had sent a two-second voice message under a solid-black avatar. Cheng tapped it. A young woman whispered through his earphones. “Wait for me.” There were hurried footsteps behind her voice and a reversed station announcement: “Next stop, Baiyu Station.” Cheng turned around. All seven passengers were gone.