A cold wind howled across the platform that night, sending the hanging gas lanterns swaying.
In this setting, the dim yellow light stretched and shrank, causing the steam train silently waiting on the tracks to alternately break free from the darkness and sink into shadow. It deepened an indescribable sense of gloomy, deathlike stillness.
Just then, a squad of police in black-and-white uniforms entered the platform. Led by the railway company's duty manager, they headed for the massive, slightly dilapidated train.
"I don't know why. After all the passengers left, the entire crew, including the conductor, went back into the train and never came out. I sent someone, sent someone to find them, to tell them to hurry out and get some rest. But then, the man I sent quickly ran out of the carriage, like he'd been struck by an illness, just hysterically screaming 'All dead! All dead!'" the railway company duty manager, wearing a blue coat and carrying a kerosene lamp, explained the situation as he walked.
From his slightly stammering speech and trembling body, the police could easily see the great fear lurking within him. It seemed that if someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder, he would jump up, drop everything, and race towards the platform exit.
This feeling also infected the police. They all placed their hands on their hips, pressing their holsters.
Clop, clop, clop. The sound of boots against the hard ground echoed. The police followed the duty manager and cautiously entered the front of a carriage.
Inside this carriage, two people sat in each row, one on each side, all away from the windows. They were leaning back motionless against the seats.
By the light of the gas lamps outside and the kerosene lamp in his hand, the leading inspector quickly took in the sight before him.
These were all steam train staff, wearing blue uniforms cut for men and women. They sat quietly, leaning in their seats, their faces pale, their eyes open. Although there was no sign of breath, the corners of their mouths were clearly upturned, revealing eight teeth.
The sight of those nearly identical smiles made everyone present's hair stand on end, and they subconsciously held their breath.
To them, this scene was simply too bizarre, too horrifying. They only wanted to turn around immediately, leave this place, and wait until daylight to inspect it again!
The leading inspector took two deep breaths and instructed the officer beside him:
"Go and confirm if they… if they are all dead…"
Having said that, he glanced at the railway company's duty manager:
"Follow him and see if anyone is missing or if there are any extra people."
"Y-yes, sir," the duty manager stammered.
While he and several officers ventured deeper into the carriage, the rest drew their pistols, on high alert.
In the unbearable silence, time passed slowly. Finally, the officers stopped at the far end of the carriage and turned around to shout:
"Confirmed, all dead!"
The duty manager of the railway company then stammered:
"Two are missing… the conductor and the engineer…"
Seeing that this long time had passed without any incident, the leading inspector calmed down considerably. After thinking for a moment, he addressed all the officers:
"Preserve the bodies as they are, pending the death investigation. In the meantime, form two teams. One will search the other carriages for the conductor and engineer. The other will examine the scene for traces and collect evidence. Once the sun comes up, we will investigate both the train crew and the previous passengers to find commonalities and specific points."
—Although many passengers did not present identification documents when purchasing tickets, the leading inspector believed they could still find some who had truthfully registered their information. Then, they could ask them if they had noticed anything unusual on the train or any noteworthy passengers.
As soon as he finished speaking, a piercingly cold wind, seeming to come from nowhere, howled through the carriage.
When it settled, the leading inspector was about to reiterate his earlier words when he suddenly noticed something wrong:
The steam train staff leaning back in their seats still had their eyes open and pale faces, but their mouths had somehow already closed, no longer revealing eight teeth.
........
Inside a luxurious room in a hotel, the wall lamps complemented each other, brightly illuminating the carpeted area with its tables and chairs.
Klein, already transformed into the guise of Gehrman Sparrow, was sitting on a single-seat sofa, his left leg crossed over his right.