The Shanghai 37th Bus: The Disappearance of the Last Rider

The night was as dark as the heart of Shanghai, a city known for its neon lights and bustling streets. But the 37th Bus was a different beast, a silent specter that roamed the city's back alleys and narrow roads. It was said that the bus was haunted, that it had a mind of its own, and that it chose its riders with a sinister purpose.

The last rider, a young woman named Li Wei, had heard the stories. She had seen the eerie glows in the windows of the bus when it passed by. She had felt the cold chill brush against her skin whenever she mentioned the 37th Bus. But she was desperate. Her brother had vanished without a trace, and she was determined to find him.

As she approached the bus stop, the wind howled through the empty streets, carrying with it the scent of rain. The stop was a ghost town, save for the 37th Bus, which sat there like a dark, ominous presence. Li Wei hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never ridden the bus before, but she knew this was her only hope.

The door of the bus creaked open, and she stepped inside. The interior was dimly lit, the seats empty. She took a seat in the back, her eyes scanning the empty rows. The driver was an elderly man with a weathered face, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

"Where are we going?" Li Wei asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The driver turned his head, his eyes meeting hers. "The 37th Bus doesn't have a destination," he replied, his voice steady but tinged with an eerie calm. "We go where we're needed."

Li Wei's heart raced. She had heard the rumors that the 37th Bus took passengers to the afterlife. But she couldn't believe it. Her brother was still alive, she was sure of it.

The bus began to move, and Li Wei's mind raced. She thought back to the last time she had seen her brother. He had been at a friend's house, and she had received a call from him just before he vanished. His voice had been frantic, his words slurred.

"Li Wei, help me," he had whispered. "I'm in trouble."

Li Wei's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She had rushed to his friend's house, only to find him gone. The friend had been frantic, saying that her brother had left in a hurry, claiming he had to go to the 37th Bus stop.

Li Wei had been skeptical at first, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Her brother had always been fascinated by the supernatural. He had read books on ghosts and hauntings, and she had found him researching the 37th Bus online the night before he disappeared.

The bus continued to move, and Li Wei's heart sank. She felt a cold hand grip her shoulder, and she turned to see an empty seat. Her eyes widened as she realized that the grip was not real; it was just the chill of the night air.

The driver turned his head, and Li Wei's breath caught in her throat. His eyes were filled with a strange, knowing look. "You're not alone," he said, his voice barely audible.

Li Wei's mind raced. She had seen her brother's name on the list of passengers, but she had dismissed it as a cruel joke. Now, she realized that it was no joke. Her brother was on the bus, and he was in danger.

The bus swerved sharply, and Li Wei was thrown against the window. She gasped, her heart pounding. The driver's eyes were locked on the road, but Li Wei could see the reflection of something dark in his eyes.

"Stop the bus!" she shouted, her voice trembling.

The driver did not respond. The bus continued to move, and Li Wei's fear grew. She had to do something, she had to save her brother.

She reached for the door handle, but it was locked. She pounded on the window, her voice filled with desperation. "Stop the bus! My brother is on here!"

The driver turned his head, and Li Wei's heart stopped. His eyes were filled with a cold, calculating look. "You can't stop me," he said, his voice a low growl.

Li Wei's mind raced. She had to think, she had to find a way to stop the bus. She looked around the empty seats, searching for anything she could use as a weapon.

Then she saw it: a small, shiny object on the floor. It was a key, the key to the door. She snatched it up and fumbled with the lock, her fingers trembling.

The door opened with a creak, and Li Wei leaped out of the bus. She ran down the road, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the bus behind her, the engine roaring, but she didn't look back.

She ran until she reached a small alleyway, and she ducked into it. She could hear the bus approaching, the sound of its engine growing louder. She knew she had to hide, she had to stay out of sight.

She crouched down in the alleyway, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the bus stopping, and then the door opening. She held her breath, waiting for the driver to step out.

But the driver didn't step out. Instead, he looked into the alleyway, his eyes filled with a strange, knowing look. "You can't hide from me, Li Wei," he said, his voice echoing through the alleyway.

Li Wei's heart stopped. She had to do something, she had to save her brother. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, silver cross. She held it up, her eyes closed.

A bright light filled the alleyway, and Li Wei opened her eyes. The driver was gone, replaced by a figure in a long, flowing robe. The figure looked at her, and Li Wei's heart raced.

"You're not alone," the figure said, his voice gentle. "I will help you."

Li Wei's eyes widened in shock. "Who are you?" she asked.

"I am the guardian of the 37th Bus," the figure replied. "I have been watching over you and your brother. I will help you find him."

Li Wei's heart swelled with hope. She had found her brother, and she had found an ally in her quest.

The guardian led her through the alleyway, and they emerged onto a street filled with the glow of neon lights. They walked to the bus stop, and Li Wei's eyes scanned the rows of buses.

There he was, her brother, standing at the end of the row. He turned and saw her, and his eyes filled with relief.

"Li Wei!" he shouted, running to her.

Li Wei embraced him, her tears streaming down her face. "I thought I had lost you," she whispered.

Her brother smiled, his eyes filled with gratitude. "I was never alone," he said. "The guardian of the 37th Bus was with me the whole time."

Li Wei looked up at the guardian, who stood silently beside them. "Thank you," she said, her voice filled with emotion.

The guardian nodded, and then he turned and walked away, his form fading into the night.

Li Wei and her brother stood there, holding each other, their hearts filled with gratitude and relief. They had faced the darkness, and they had found the light.

The Shanghai 37th Bus was still there, a silent specter in the night, but Li Wei knew that it was no longer a threat. It was a guardian, a protector, and she was grateful for its presence in her life.

And so, the 37th Bus continued to roam the streets of Shanghai, its fate tied to the lives of those who dared to board its haunted seats. But for Li Wei and her brother, the 37th Bus was a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there was always a light to guide them.