The train doors opened.

Nora remained seated.

She stared at the station outside.

There was no movement.

No station staff.

No passengers.

Not even a single bird.

Only rain.

A clock above the platform showed 12:03 a.m.

Nora looked at her phone.

12:03 a.m.

She looked at the clock again.

Then her phone.

Both showed the same time.

But the second hand on the station clock wasn’t moving.

It was frozen.

Nora slowly stood.

The black notebook was still in her hand.

She looked at the final page.

DANIEL BLAKE — FOUND HER.

She whispered,

“Daniel?”

No answer.

The train suddenly sounded its horn.

Nora turned around.

The doors began closing.

“Wait!”

She rushed toward them.

The doors shut.

The train began moving.

Nora ran beside it.

“Stop!”

Within seconds, the train disappeared into the darkness.

Nora stood alone on the platform.

Then she heard footsteps behind her.

She turned.

A little girl stood underneath the station roof.

She was wearing a red coat.

Her hair was wet.

She looked about eight years old.

Nora stared.

“Are you lost?”

The girl shook her head.

“No.”

“Where are your parents?”

The girl pointed toward the town.

“They’re waiting.”

Nora frowned.

“Who?”

The girl looked directly into her eyes.

“Your brother.”

Nora’s heart jumped.

“You know Daniel?”

The girl smiled.

“He told me you would come.”

“Where is he?”

The girl turned and began walking.

Nora followed.

---

Hollow Creek looked abandoned.

Every building was dark.

Shops had broken windows.

Old cars sat along the streets.

Rainwater flowed through empty gutters.

There were no streetlights.

The little girl walked quickly.

Nora struggled to keep up.

“What is your name?”

The girl didn’t answer.

“How old are you?”

Nothing.

“Do you live here?”

The girl stopped.

She turned around.

“My name is Lily.”

Nora smiled.

“Nice to meet you, Lily.”

Lily looked at her.

“You shouldn’t smile here.”

Nora’s smile disappeared.

“Why?”

“People disappear when they’re happy.”

Nora stared.

“What does that mean?”

Lily continued walking.

Nora followed.

They passed an old cinema.

A large poster hung outside.

Nora stopped.

The poster showed a movie called:

THE LAST TRAIN TO MIDNIGHT

She stared at the picture.

It showed the exact train she had just been riding.

Under the title was a date.

AUGUST 18, 2019

Nora felt a chill.

“That’s impossible.”

Lily looked back.

“What?”

“This movie.”

Lily shrugged.

“It’s not a movie.”

“What?”

“It’s a warning.”

Before Nora could respond, Lily ran into an alley.

“Wait!”

Nora chased her.

But the alley was empty.

There was nowhere for the girl to go.

Nora looked around.

“Lily?”

Nothing.

She turned.

A man stood behind her.

Nora jumped.

He was wearing a gray coat.

His face was old and tired.

“You’re Daniel’s sister.”

Nora stepped backward.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Samuel.”

“Where is Daniel?”

Samuel looked toward the end of the street.

“He’s waiting.”

“Where?”

“The old hotel.”

Nora’s heart raced.

“Why didn’t he come himself?”

Samuel looked at her strangely.

“Because he can’t leave.”

“Why?”

“Because he died here.”

Nora stared.

“What?”

Samuel sighed.

“Seven years ago.”

Nora shook her head.

“No. That’s not possible.”

Samuel looked at the notebook in her hand.

“You’ve seen his name.”

Nora opened it.

The words had changed.

DANIEL BLAKE — DIED AUGUST 18, 2019.

Her hands began shaking.

“No.”

Samuel whispered,

“He died on the last train.”

Nora looked at him.

“But I saw him.”

Samuel’s expression became serious.

“No.”

He stepped closer.

“You saw something that wanted you to believe it was Daniel.”

---

They walked toward the old hotel.

Nora said nothing.

The building stood at the end of Hollow Creek.

Three stories.

Broken windows.

A rusted sign:

HOLLOW CREEK HOTEL

Samuel stopped at the entrance.

“I can’t go inside.”

“Why?”

“Because it knows me.”

Nora frowned.

“What does?”

“The hotel.”

She stared at him.

“You expect me to go inside alone?”

Samuel nodded.

“Daniel is waiting.”

Nora opened the door.

It creaked loudly.

Inside was a dusty reception desk.

An old chandelier hung from the ceiling.

Behind the desk was a guest register.

Nora walked toward it.

Her name was already written there.

NORA BLAKE — ROOM 17

She looked at Samuel.

“You said Daniel is here.”

“He is.”

“What room?”

Samuel pointed upstairs.

“Room 17.”

Nora climbed the stairs.

Each step creaked beneath her feet.

At the top, she saw a hallway.

Doors lined both sides.

Room 17 was at the very end.

She approached it.

Before she could knock—

the door opened.

Daniel stood inside.

Nora stopped breathing.

It was him.

Older.

Thinner.

But definitely Daniel.

“Daniel?”

He smiled.

“Nora.”

She ran into his arms.

For several seconds, she cried.

“You’ve been alive.”

Daniel held her tightly.

“I’ve been waiting.”

“Why didn’t you come home?”

“I couldn’t.”

“Why?”

He looked over her shoulder.

His smile disappeared.

“Because they wouldn’t let me.”

Nora pulled away.

“Who?”

Daniel closed the door.

“The people beneath Hollow Creek.”

“What people?”

He looked terrified.

“They’ve been here for decades.”

Nora frowned.

“What do they want?”

Daniel whispered:

“People.”

A sound came from beneath the floor.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Nora froze.

Daniel looked down.

“They know you’re here.”

Another knock.

This time, it came from inside the wall.

Daniel grabbed Nora’s hand.

“We have to leave.”

“Where?”

“Anywhere but here.”

Suddenly, the hotel lights turned on.

Every door in the hallway opened at once.

Nora stared.

Inside each room stood a person.

Men.

Women.

Children.

All staring at her.

All completely silent.

Daniel whispered:

“Don’t look at their faces.”

Nora looked anyway.

And recognized one of them.

Her mother.

Dead for twelve years.

Standing inside Room 12.

Nora’s breath caught.

“Mom?”

The woman smiled.

Daniel grabbed Nora.

“Don’t!”

But it was too late.

Her mother slowly raised one hand.

And pointed toward the basement.

Then she mouthed four words:

“He is not Daniel.”

Nora turned toward her brother.

Daniel’s face had changed.

His eyes were completely black.

He smiled.

“You finally understand.”

The hallway doors slammed shut.

And Daniel whispered:

“Welcome home, Nora.”

To be continued…