The Beijing Last Ride: The Ghost Train's Fateful Stop

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale, silvery glow over the bustling city of Beijing. It was a crisp autumn evening, and the streets were alive with the sounds of laughter and the distant hum of traffic. A group of friends, four in all, had gathered at the station, their eyes wide with anticipation. They were embarking on a night train to Beijing, a journey that promised to be both exciting and memorable.

Li Wei, the group's leader, adjusted his backpack. "Alright, everyone, let's get on board. We'll be there in no time."

The friends followed Li Wei into the station, their footsteps echoing on the concrete floor. The night train was a popular mode of transport for those looking to reach the city after dark, and the station was crowded with weary travelers. As they approached the ticket counter, Li Wei handed over their tickets and received their boarding passes.

"Thank you," the ticket collector said, her voice tinged with a hint of fatigue.

"Let's go," Li Wei urged, and they made their way to the platform. The train was an old, decrepit affair, its windows fogged with condensation, and the seats creaked under the weight of the passengers. Li Wei led the way to their compartment, a small, dimly lit space with four seats.

"Alright, take a seat," Li Wei said, sitting down and pulling out a map. "We'll be stopping at a few stations along the way. The first one is Fengtai, but we'll be changing trains at Haidian."

The friends settled into their seats, their conversation punctuated by the occasional creak of the train as it rolled over the tracks. They chatted about their plans for the trip, their voices filled with excitement and anticipation.

An hour into the journey, the train pulled into Fengtai Station. The friends stood up, preparing to disembark. Li Wei checked the map again. "Alright, we're changing trains here. Let's go."

They followed the signs to the platform, only to find that the train they were supposed to catch had already left. Li Wei's face turned pale. "What happened? We were supposed to catch that train."

One of the friends, a young woman named Jing, looked at her phone. "The next train is in 20 minutes. We have plenty of time to wait."

Li Wei nodded, his expression still one of concern. "Alright, let's wait here."

They sat down on the bench, their faces illuminated by the dim lighting of the station. The waiting room was empty, save for a few other passengers huddled together, their faces drawn with fatigue.

As they waited, the sound of the train grew louder, and then it was upon them. The friends looked up, their eyes wide with surprise as the train pulled into the station. It was the same old train they had just missed.

"Is this the right train?" Jing asked, her voice tinged with fear.

Li Wei checked the schedule. "Yes, it is. But... why is it here?"

The train came to a stop, and the doors opened. The friends stepped off, their hearts pounding in their chests. As they approached the platform, they noticed that the station was eerily quiet. No one else was there, just the two trains and the few passengers waiting.

Li Wei led the way to the platform of the stopped train. "Let's get on board."

They climbed the steps and found themselves in the same compartment as before. The friends took their seats, their eyes scanning the empty compartment. Li Wei pulled out his phone, checking the time. "We're supposed to be at Haidian in 10 minutes."

The train pulled away from the station, and the friends settled into their seats, their conversation once again filled with excitement. But as the minutes ticked by, a sense of unease began to settle over them. The train seemed to be moving slower than before, and the station seemed to be growing closer.

"Is something wrong?" Jing asked, her voice trembling.

Li Wei looked at her, his eyes filled with concern. "I don't know. But something feels off."

The train finally pulled into Haidian Station, and the friends disembarked, their hearts still racing. As they made their way to the exit, they looked back at the station, their eyes wide with shock. The train they had just left was still there, but it was stationary, its lights flickering dimly in the darkness.

"Did you see that?" Jing whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Li Wei nodded, his expression grave. "Yes, I saw it. But we can't stay here. We need to get out of here."

The friends hurried out of the station, their footsteps echoing on the concrete floor. As they reached the street, they looked back at the station, their eyes wide with fear. The train was still there, its lights flickering in the darkness, as if it was waiting for them.

"Let's get a taxi," Li Wei said, his voice filled with urgency.

They hailed a taxi and made their way to their hotel. As they settled into their rooms, the sense of unease lingered. They couldn't shake the feeling that something had happened, something supernatural, something that had changed their lives forever.

Over the next few days, the friends spoke little of their experience on the train. They tried to put it out of their minds, but the memory of the ghost train's fateful stop remained with them, a haunting reminder of the supernatural forces that lurked in the darkness.

Weeks passed, and life returned to normal. The friends went about their daily routines, their memories of the ghost train fading into the background. But as the anniversary of their journey approached, something strange began to happen.

Li Wei received an anonymous letter in the mail. It was a photograph of the ghost train, its lights flickering dimly in the darkness. Below the photograph was a message: "You were not meant to leave."

Li Wei showed the letter to his friends, their eyes wide with shock. "What does it mean?"

Jing's voice trembled. "I don't know, but it's terrifying."

The friends decided to visit the station where the train had stopped. They stood on the platform, their eyes scanning the darkness. The station was quiet, save for the distant sound of traffic. As they looked at the photograph of the train, they felt a chill run down their spines.

"Did you feel that?" Jing whispered.

Li Wei nodded, his eyes filled with fear. "Yes, I did."

They turned and made their way back to the hotel, their hearts pounding in their chests. As they reached the hotel room, they looked at each other, their faces filled with dread.

"I think we should leave Beijing," Li Wei said, his voice filled with urgency.

The friends nodded, their decision made. They packed their bags and checked out of the hotel, their journey to Beijing a memory they would never forget. The ghost train's fateful stop had left an indelible mark on their lives, a haunting reminder of the supernatural forces that lurked in the darkness.