Strange Train

1. Welcome aboard the Z1X9 train. Passengers are kindly reminded to adhere to the following regulations: 【Article One: This train is a non-stop service. Regardless of any circumstances, passengers are kindly requested not to disembark! (Note: Do not disembark under any circumstances!)】 【Article Two: Smoking is strictly prohibited throughout the journey. Should you encounter any passengers smoking, kindly vacate the area promptly and notify the train attendant immediately.】 【Article Three: For the safety of all passengers, please occupy your designated seat as indicated on your ticket. Any unauthorized seat changes are strictly prohibited without permission from fellow passengers or train staff.】 【Article Four: In the event of an emergency, please proceed promptly to the nearest restroom and utilize the wireless communication system to contact the train attendant. (Note: When the restroom's indicator light switches from green to flashing red, please vacate promptly!)】 【Article Five: Train attendants are uniformly attired in deep blue uniforms. Should you encounter any personnel in attire of a different color, kindly refrain from any verbal or physical contact and vacate the area promptly! (Note: Refrain from any verbal or physical contact!)】 【Friendly Reminder: The train is equipped with a mobile vendor. Should you require any amenities, feel free to make a purchase.】 Lastly, we sincerely wish you a pleasant journey. On the platform, I glanced down at the message just received on my phone, feeling perplexed. "I reckon it's spam, best to ignore it." My companion, senior schoolmate Zhao Rong, tucked away her phone, wrapping herself tighter in her down jacket, her breath forming a cloud in the chilly air. "This weather is dreadful, so cold." It was late January, right after the start of the winter break. We were waiting for this particular train, scheduled to arrive at 11:30 in the evening. The platform was desolate at this hour, with few passengers around. The cold wind crept in through our collars, making me wish I could curl up into a ball. Both Zhao Rong and I hailed from small cities in other provinces, quite a distance away without any airports. This train, a direct route, was our only option, albeit a three-day, two-night journey. So, during breaks and at the start of each semester, we'd accompany each other on this journey, providing mutual support. "I hope this train isn't delayed. I'm freezing." As Zhao Rong finished complaining, a halo of light appeared in the distance, piercing through the darkness. Soon after, a dark green train rolled into the platform. It was then that I noticed the sudden appearance of dense fog around us. The white mist spread thickly, seeming almost tangible. The bitterly cold air clung to my skin, causing me to shiver involuntarily. Once the train came to a halt, I took a moment to observe the nearby carriages. No passengers disembarked at this stop, only a few scattered individuals boarding the train. Further down, obscured by the fog, everything was hidden from view. A train attendant in a deep blue uniform stood at the door, checking tickets and guiding passengers into the carriages. He wore a broad-brimmed hat, head lowered, face pale, expression stiff. Recalling the message I received earlier, I couldn't shake off a strange sense of unease. But Zhao Rong had already entered the carriage with her luggage, so I hurriedly followed, reassuring myself that I was probably overthinking things. Inside the carriage, the full blast of the heater instantly provided some relief from the cold. The aisle lights had been dimmed, leaving only faint illumination beneath the small table lamps. Using our phone lights, Zhao Rong and I found our respective compartments, numbered 06 and 07. As we opened the door, darkness greeted us, accompanied only by the thunderous snoring of a stout man. Barely visible in the corridor light, I could make out the figure of a plump man occupying the lower bunk in compartment 06. Yet, the lower bunk was supposed to be my assigned seat. No other passengers were in the compartment. I remembered the third regulation from the message and mustered up the courage to wake the stout man. "Excuse me, this is my seat. I have the lower bunk in Carriage 5, Compartment 06. Are you perhaps mistaken about your seat?" The stout man, reeking of alcohol, impatiently waved his hand, mumbling incomprehensibly. "I have the upper bunk; let's switch." He rolled over without acknowledging me, and soon his snoring resumed. Feeling a bit conflicted, I glanced at Zhao Rong, who was next to me. She had already stowed her luggage and then pulled me out of the compartment indignantly, saying, "Come on, let's find the train attendant." As we stepped out of the compartment, we saw a train attendant standing at the end of the corridor. He stood with his back to us, the upper half of his body shrouded in darkness, with only the lower half outlined by the dim light at the bottom of the aisle. Zhao Rong approached quickly, but I hesitated, wanting to hold her back, yet I was too slow. "Excuse me, there's someone in Compartment 06 insisting on changing seats..." Before Zhao Rong could finish, I urgently grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. "What's wrong?" She looked puzzled. I didn't know how to explain, so I just whispered, "That person isn't a train attendant." "What? How could that be? Wasn't he wearing a uniform?" But the uniform he wore wasn't deep blue; it was black! I didn't voice my thoughts and just glanced back, seeing the supposed attendant still standing there. He was clearly facing away from us, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he was staring at us intently. I didn't dare dwell on it further and quickly turned back, feeling a chill run down my spine inexplicably. I didn't know if Zhao Rong speaking to him earlier counted as breaking the rules. If it did, what consequences would there be? Lost in my thoughts, we returned to the compartment and opened the door, only to freeze in shock. The lower bunk in Compartment 06 was empty. The stout man who had been lying in my bunk just a minute ago was gone.