The doors closed.
Not loudly.
Not violently.
Soft.
Like something sealing a truth rather than trapping it.
Rue Yim stood inside the train again.
But this time—
She did not look around.
Because she already knew what she would see.
The corridor.
The endless compartments.
The absence of windows.
The absence of escape.
—clack—clack—clack—
The rhythm settled into her bones immediately.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
Her breath came slowly.
Not steady.
But controlled.
Because something inside her had already given up resisting.
"I'm back."
The words came out empty.
No anger.
No fear.
Just—
Recognition.
The train moved.
Of course it did.
It always did.
And she—
Didn't know where it was taking her.
Or if taking was even the right word.
Her hand lifted.
Hovered near one of the compartment doors.
She hadn't opened one before.
Not like this.
Before—
She had been pulled.
Dragged.
Forced.
Now—
She was here.
By choice.
Her fingers trembled.
Just slightly.
