The train burst out of the tunnel like a bullet.
Wind hit them full force again, but the engine coach was now only a few meters ahead.
Kabir didn't slow down.
"Stay behind me," he said.
They crossed the final narrow gap carefully and climbed down toward the side ladder leading into the engine compartment.
The metal door was locked.
Kabir banged on it hard.
"Open the door!"
No response.
Inside, through the small glass panel, the driver sat frozen — terrified.
Another man stood behind him.
Holding a gun to his head.
Kabir's eyes sharpened instantly.
"Move back," he whispered to Aanya.
The man inside noticed them and smirked.
He tapped something on a small device attached near the control panel.
A red light blinked.
Aanya's stomach dropped.
"That's not part of the train system," she said.
Kabir's jaw tightened. "What is it?"
"A remote signal override."
The man inside opened the small side window slightly.
"You're persistent," he called out casually. "I respect that."
"Let the driver go," Kabir said firmly.
The man laughed softly.
"You still think this is about the girl?"
Kabir stayed silent.
"This train," the man continued, "is being redirected. No station ahead. No signal clearance. Just one broken bridge under maintenance."
Aanya's face went pale.
"How far?" Kabir demanded.
"Eight minutes."
Wind roared louder as the train picked up even more speed.
"Why?" Aanya shouted. "Why kill everyone?"
The man's expression turned cold.
"Collateral damage."
He shut the window.
Kabir acted instantly.
He grabbed the metal handle beside the door and kicked near the lock mechanism repeatedly. The metal dented but didn't break.
"Seven minutes!" Aanya yelled, glancing at the dark tracks ahead.
Kabir noticed the emergency coupling lever near the side of the engine coach.
"If we detach the engine—"
"The rest of the coaches will derail," Aanya said quickly. "Too risky."
Inside, the armed man pressed something on his device again.
The train jerked violently.
The driver tried to speak, but the gun pressed harder against his head.
Kabir made a decision.
"Climb up," he told Aanya.
"What are you doing?"
"Trust me."
He climbed back onto the roof of the engine coach, pulling Aanya up with him. From above, he spotted a ventilation access hatch leading into the engine control area.
He punched it twice.
It cracked.
He struck again with full force.
The hatch broke open.
Gunfire erupted from inside, bullets tearing through metal near his feet.
Kabir didn't hesitate.
He dropped down through the opening directly onto the armed man.
They hit the floor hard.
The gun slid away.
The driver ducked under the control panel.
The man fought back viciously, reaching for a backup knife.
Kabir blocked the strike and slammed him into the control console.
Sparks flew.
The train shook violently.
Aanya climbed in and kicked the knife away.
"Six minutes!" she shouted.
Kabir finally overpowered the attacker and knocked him unconscious.
He grabbed the device from the console.
"How do we stop it?"
Aanya rushed to the control panel.
"The override is forcing max speed," she said. "But manual brake still works."
She pulled the emergency brake lever.
Nothing happened.
The red override light kept blinking.
"Five minutes!" she whispered.
Kabir looked at the device in his hand.
Small screen.
Countdown timer.
He understood.
"This isn't about the bridge," he said quietly.
Aanya stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
Kabir turned the device around.
It wasn't controlling the train.
It was connected to something inside the train.
A bomb.
And the countdown read:
04:32.