TRain to Melbourne

7:15 AM. Central Station, Sydney.

The sky was clear. The moon was gone. But the city was still breathing... wounded breaths.

Ethan slung his bag over his shoulder. Knife in one hand, Lily’s hand in the other.

In front of him stood Selena. Black jacket, katana on her back. The Black Moon Shard in her hand. It was still glowing faint red.

`[ITEM: BLACK MOON SHARD]`

`[DESTINATION LOCKED: MELBOURNE CENTRAL - RITUAL SITE]`

`[TIME REMAINING: 68 HOURS]`

"3 days." Selena said. "We have to get there before that."

There were 10-12 people on the platform. All survivors. Some with guns, some with bags. Fear in everyone’s eyes.

Lily tugged Ethan’s shirt. "Bro, will the train run?"

Ethan nodded. "It will Lil. We’re getting out of Sydney."

`[DING!]`

`[QUEST: JOURNEY TO MELBOURNE]`

`[OBJECTIVE: REACH MELBOURNE CENTRAL IN 3 DAYS]`

`[WARNING: TRAIN ROUTE HAS 3 STOP POINTS. HIGH INFECTED ACTIVITY.]`

`[REWARD: 1500 EXP + ALLY RECRUITMENT CHANCE]`

8:02 AM. Train whistle.

Old diesel train. Broken windows. "NSW RAIL" written on the door.

The guard stood at the front with a gun. "Sydney to Melbourne. No stops except Goulburn, Albury, Wangaratta. Get in fast."

Everyone ran and boarded.

Ethan, Selena, and Lily sat in the last compartment. Corner seats.

Selena locked the door. Looked out the window. "Let’s go."

The train started moving. Sydney faded behind them. Burning buildings. Black smoke.

Lily pressed against the window. "Bye Sydney."

Ethan ruffled her hair. "We’ll come back."

Selena closed her eyes. Through the Bond Ethan felt it. Exhaustion. But also relief. This was the first time she was leaving the city.

9:30 AM. First hour.

Silence. Only the sound of the train.

An old man sat across from them, holding prayer beads.

"Where are you going, son?" He asked Selena.

Selena answered coldly. "Melbourne."

"Pity about that city." The old man said. "My son was there. On the first day of the Black Moon... his phone went dead."

Silence again.

Ethan took water from his bag. Gave some to Lily. Drank some himself.

`[BOND LINK]`

A flash in Selena’s mind. Childhood. With her brother on a train. Going to Melbourne. Joking around.

Ethan took her hand under the table. "Old memory?"

Selena nodded. "Yeah. Last time I went like this too. But this time..."

"This time we’ll bring it back." Ethan said.

Selena gave a small smile.

12:10 PM. STOP 1: GOULBURN STATION.

The train stopped.

The guard said over the megaphone, "10 minute break. Don’t go outside. There are Infected here."

But 3 people still got off. For cigarettes.

Ethan looked out the window. The station was empty. Shops closed.

Then... a scream.

"AHHH!"

The 3 people who got off. 4 Infected cornered them. Coming from the edge of the platform.

The guard fired. 1 dropped.

"Come on come on! Inside!" The guard yelled.

Everyone ran back to the train. Doors closed.

The train started again.

Ethan exhaled. "And that’s just the start."

Selena looked at the Black Moon Shard. The glow was brighter. "Melbourne is getting closer. That’s why the Infected are getting active."

Lily clung to Ethan. "Bro I’m scared."

Ethan pulled her onto his lap. "I’m here."

3:45 PM. STOP 2: ALBURY STATION. NSW/VIC BORDER.

This was a big station. And here... there was an army.

20 soldiers. A tank. Barricades.

The guard said, "This is a safe zone. Train stops for 30 minutes."

Everyone got off. Breathed.

A Captain walked over. "Names?"

Ethan said, "Ethan Cole. This is my sister Lily. And this is... Selena."

The Captain looked at Selena’s eyes for 1 second. "You’re Infected."

Selena gripped her katana. "Yes. But in control."

The Captain lowered his gun. "We know. You two Bonded?"

Ethan was surprised. "How do you know?"

The Captain showed his arm. A blue mark on it. "My wife. She’s Infected too. We’re Bonded. 4 months now."

Ethan and Selena looked at each other.

The Captain lowered his voice. "Listen. Something big is happening in Melbourne. Our satellites saw it. Under Central Station... huge energy. The Cult has built a base there."

He handed Ethan a paper. "This is a map. Of the sewers. It goes straight to the ritual site. It’ll help."

Ethan took the paper. "Thank you."

The Captain looked at Selena. "And you... stay strong. Night 3 will be the worst."

"Night 3?" Selena asked.

"Every 3rd night, the Black Moon is double power." The Captain said. "Tomorrow night."

The train whistle blew.

The Captain shook hands. "Good luck. The world is with you."

The train started again.

6 PM. Darkness began to fall.

Lily fell asleep with her head on Ethan’s shoulder.

Selena studied the map. "Sewer route. Good. We can go straight in from there."

Ethan looked at the Black Moon Shard. The light was very bright now. "We have to get there by tomorrow night."

`[DING!]`

`[WARNING: NIGHT 3 IN 8 HOURS]`

`[EFFECT: ALL INFECTED +50% POWER. BLOODLUST +100%]`

Selena closed her eyes. "I can feel it. The hunger is rising already."

Ethan took her hand. "We have the Bond. I’ll handle it."

9 PM. STOP 3: WANGARATTA STATION.

Small station. Dark.

The train stopped.

The guard said, "5 minutes. No one get off."

Then suddenly... _BAM_

Something hit the train.

Everyone froze.

Sound from outside. _Scratch scratch scratch_

A shadow at the window.

An Infected. But different. 8 feet tall. Black crystals embedded all over its body. 3 eyes.

"CRYSTAL BEAST." Selena whispered. "Rare type. Only comes before Night 3."

The Beast slammed its hand. The window glass shattered.

People started screaming.

The guard fired. The bullet hit a crystal and ricocheted back.

"GET OUT!" The guard yelled.

Ethan stood up. "Selena, you watch Lily. I’ll handle this."

Selena nodded. Drew her katana. "Be fast. The moon goes black in 10 minutes."

Ethan opened the door and jumped out.

On the platform: The Crystal Beast.

The Beast growled. "Blood... fresh..."

Ethan used Thunder Step. _WHOOSH_

Attack from behind. Knife hit a crystal. _TINK_

The crystal didn’t break.

The Beast turned. Swung.

Ethan blocked with Blade Dance LVL 2. Both staggered back.

`[FIGHT START: CRYSTAL BEAST LVL 10]`

The Beast charged. Ethan dodged. Cut a crystal off its leg with his knife.

_CRACK_

`[+50 EXP] [CRYSTAL SHARD +1]`

The Beast roared. Got faster.

Ethan used Thunder Step 3 times. Broke 3 more crystals.

The Beast was half broken.

Final attack. Ethan jumped and shattered the crystal on its head.

_BOOM_

The Beast collapsed. Dead.

`[BOSS DEFEATED]`

`[+300 EXP] [RARE CRYSTAL x5]`

Ethan breathed hard. Blood on his arm.

He got back inside. Selena bandaged him immediately.

"Good job." She said. "You took it down alone."

Ethan smiled. "Perk of being LVL 7."

The train started moving again.

11:30 PM.

Darkness outside. The moon came out.

And it... started turning black.

Night 3.

Selena’s breathing sped up. "It’s here..."

Her eyes went red. Her hands shook.

Ethan immediately cut his arm. "Here."

Selena shook her head. "No. You’re wounded."

"Take it." Ethan insisted.

Selena took 2 drops. Gained control. Then crushed 2 rare crystals.

`[SELENA LVL 13 → LVL 14]`

`[BLOOD DOMINION → LVL 2]`

Her breathing steadied.

"Thank you." She whispered.

Ethan rested her head on his shoulder. "Try to sleep. Melbourne is in the morning."

Selena closed her eyes. Through the Bond, sleep came to her.

The train ran all night.

6 AM.

"LAST STOP: MELBOURNE CENTRAL." The guard’s voice.

Everyone got off.

Melbourne.

Smoke. Ruined buildings. And in the center... black clouds over Central Station. And in the middle of them... the mark of a black moon.

Lily held Ethan’s hand. "This is huge."

Selena held up the Shard. It was flashing like crazy. Pointing down.

"Sewer." Selena said. "That’s how we go in."

Ethan pulled out the map. The Captain’s map. "We have time until tonight. First we find a safehouse."

The three of them left the station.

Ahead: ruined Melbourne. And underground... the Cult’s ritual.

`[QUEST UPDATE: REACH RITUAL SITE]`

`[TIME: 60 HOURS REMAINING]`

`[WARNING: CULT HIGH COMMAND PRESENT]`

Selena drew her katana. "Let’s go. Chapter 6 starts there."

Ethan drew his knife too. "Let’s go. Partner."

Lily between them.

The three walked into the ruined city. The train behind them. War ahead.