New Year’s Eve. The train was hijacked by armed gunmen. The lead hijacker shouted: “Whoever pays the highest ransom gets released first! The rest of you get blown to bits!” I immediately transferred 50 million, desperate to buy two lives—mine and my daughter’s. But my husband, the train conductor, publicly crossed my name off the first release list to avoid suspicion. He turned to me with feigned righteousness: “I’m the conductor, you’re my family. Have some dignity! Give this spot to that boy with asthma medication!” In my past life, I agreed through tears. My daughter was killed in the explosion. This time, when my husband tried to cross off my daughter’s name and replaced her with his illegitimate son again… I screamed like a lunatic: “Give me back that spot!” He had me gagged and dragged to the vestibule. For that bastard child, he was willing to sacrifice his own daughter’s life! Just as the boy was being released in the first group, his mistress—completely unaware—grabbed a megaphone on the platform and screamed hysterically: “Hey, hijackers! The first kid has a bomb on him! The conductor planted it to blow you all up!” She thought the first person released would still be my daughter. “BANG!” A gunshot echoed through the station.
New Year’s Eve. Cold wind howled against the train windows. The heating had cut out. The air reeked of gunpowder and sweat. “No one calls the police!” “Anyone tries to call the cops, I’ll blow this whole car sky-high right now!” The lead hijacker was bald, clutching a red remote in one hand and a hunting rifle in the other, sweeping the barrel across the passengers’ heads. “Listen up! Within ten minutes, whoever pays the highest ransom gets released first!” “Every ten minutes after that, I’ll execute one hostage!” The car filled with sobs and pleas. I hugged my five-year-old daughter Lily, huddled in the corner, my heart racing. I’m Madison Monroe, only daughter of the Monroe Group. My hands shook as I pulled out my phone and frantically made the transfer. “I’ll pay! Fifty million dollars!” I held up my phone and yelled. “I just want two spots—me and my daughter!” The car fell silent. All eyes turned to me. The lead hijacker paused, stared at my phone screen, then burst into manic laughter. “Now that’s what I’m talking about! That’s how the 1% handles things!” “This mother and daughter—put ’em on the first release list!” I let out a shaky breath, squeezing Lily tighter. “Don’t be scared, Lily. Mommy’s taking you home.” Just then, a uniformed hand snatched my phone away. “Crack!” The phone shattered on the floor. I looked up into the eyes of my husband, Conductor Derek Vaughn. He wore his uniform, cap pulled low. “Madison, have you no sense of decency?” Derek’s voice echoed through the silent car. “People are fighting for their lives, and you’re flashing your cash?” “Trying to buy special treatment? Want everyone to watch you escape first?” “Derek, that’s fifty million! I’m trying to save our daughter!” “Shut your mouth!” Derek raised his hand and struck me hard across the face. My ears rang. “I’m the conductor. I’m in charge of negotiations on this train!” “Your money can’t buy special treatment!” He turned and pointed to a boy in the crowd, raising his voice. “This child is Cameron. He has severe asthma.” “His inhaler ran out. He needs medical help immediately!” “I’m changing the first release list!” “Madison and her daughter are off. This asthmatic boy takes their place!” The crowd erupted in applause. Passengers gave Derek thumbs up. “Conductor Vaughn is such a hero!” “Exactly! Who does she think she is, throwing money around? Why should she get to leave first?” “That woman is so selfish. Her husband’s a conductor and she still doesn’t get it.” I ignored the stinging in my cheek and grabbed Derek’s sleeve. “No! Lily is a child too! She’s only five!” “I paid that fifty million! Why should someone else take our spot?” “Derek, are you out of your mind?” Derek wrenched his hand free from mine, his face twisted with disgust. I crashed hard against the handrail, a searing pain shooting through my lower back. “Officer Chen!” he barked. His colleague Officer Chen rushed over, pinning my arms behind my back and pressing a knee into my spine. He leaned down, speaking coldly in my ear. “Stop causing trouble!” “Derek is doing this for everyone’s good. You need to understand!” I struggled frantically. My cheek scraped raw, blood stinging my eyes. Through the blood haze, I saw the boy named Cameron hiding behind Derek. His face was flushed—no sign of asthma at all. Right then, he was smirking at me, making a malicious face. His eyes didn’t look like a child’s—they were full of triumphant malice. Cameron… Memories from my past life flooded back with the pain. Same train, same New Year’s Eve. Derek had forced me to give our spot to Cameron. I’d agreed, thinking my husband was truly that noble. Then the hijackers detonated the bomb. I watched Lily die in the explosion. And Derek, holding Cameron on the platform, became everyone’s hero. Only after death did I learn—Cameron was his illegitimate son! To save his bastard child, he’d personally pushed his wife and daughter into hell! “Derek! That’s your bastard son!” “You’re trading my daughter’s life for that bastard!” Derek’s expression changed instantly, panic and murderous intent flashing in his eyes. “Gag her! She’s hysterical!” “Take her to the vestibule until she calms down!” Officer Chen immediately pulled out a dirty rag and stuffed it in my mouth. “Mmph! Mmm!” I couldn’t make a sound. I kicked wildly, watching Lily burst into terrified tears. “Mommy! Don’t hurt Mommy! Daddy, you’re mean! I want Mommy!” Lily tried to run over, but Derek roughly pushed her away. “Get lost, you little brat!” “Cry again and I’ll hand you over to the hijackers!” That was his own daughter! Lily fell to the floor, a bump swelling on her forehead. Her sobs grew quieter. My eyes nearly bulged with rage. My heart ached, but Officer Chen held me down. “Drag her out! Don’t let her spread lies in here!” Derek straightened his collar, putting his heroic face back on, and called out to the hijackers. “Boss, the money’s been transferred. I’m sending the boy over now.” “This woman’s delusional. I’ll take care of her!” The hijacker nodded in approval. “Smart man. Make it quick!” Officer Chen dragged me toward the utility closet in the vestibule. I stared desperately at Lily in the corner. She was curled up. Less than six feet away sat a ticking time bomb. That was my child! Derek Vaughn, you monster!
The utility closet door slammed shut. No windows. Just one emergency light flickering on and off. The space was crammed with mops and buckets, reeking of mildew. Officer Chen threw me on the floor and stood guard at the door. Derek walked in, locked the door, and turned off his body camera. His heroic expression disappeared, replaced by something sinister. He stood over me, looking down. “Madison, what were you yelling about? Bastard son? Illegitimate child?” He squatted down, grabbed my hair, and forced my head up. “You’re pretty damn clever, aren’t you? When did you figure it out? Huh?” The rag was yanked from my mouth. I gasped for air, staring at him. “Derek Vaughn, you’ll burn in hell!” “Lily is your own daughter. How could you do this?” “Own daughter?” Derek sneered and backhanded me again. “Crack!” My lip split. Blood dripped onto my collar. “That little money-waster is the one I hate most!” “Just like you—stuck-up rich girl with an attitude!” He grabbed my chin. “You think I wanted to be your family’s trophy son-in-law?” “Dealing with your parents’ stuck-up faces every day—I’ve had enough!” “For seven years I’ve been their doormat in your house, treated worse than a servant!” “Has your family ever shown me an ounce of respect?” His face contorted, eyes full of venom. “As long as Cameron gets out safely, you and your little money-waster can die for all I care!” “An accident. Clean and simple!” “Then the Monroe fortune will all be mine!” “Cameron and I can spend it however we want!” So that’s it… He was planning to eliminate the whole family and take the assets! He wanted to use the hijackers to get rid of us and take the Monroe fortune! I trembled with rage and spat blood in his face. “Dream on! My parents are still alive. You’ll never get your hands on it!” Derek wiped the blood from his face, eyes turning vicious. “You won’t play along? Then you’ll pay the price!” He pulled out his baton and jabbed it hard into my ribs. Searing pain shot through me. I curled up, cold sweat soaking my back. He didn’t stop. Again and again. “So high and mighty! So stuck-up!” “On this train, I’m in charge! If I say you’re crazy, you’re crazy!” “If I say you die, you die!” I clenched my teeth, refusing to beg, my nails digging into the floorboards. Just then, his walkie-talkie crackled to life. “Hey! Cop! What’s taking so long?” “Three minutes! If the kid ain’t out by then, I start shooting hostages!” Derek paused, checked his watch, panic flashing in his eyes. “Right away! Right away! The kid’s getting ready!” He shouted into the walkie-talkie, then glared at me viciously. “No time to deal with you now.” He pulled out handcuffs and cuffed my hands behind me to a water pipe. The cuffs dug painfully into my wrists. “You just stay put.” “When that little money-waster gets blown up, your turn comes next.” He grabbed the dirty rag to stuff it back in my mouth. “Derek Vaughn! You’ll regret this!” “That bastard Cameron won’t get away with it either!” I twisted my head frantically to avoid it. “Shut your mouth!” He punched me in the stomach. As I gasped, he forced the gag back in. “Mmm! Mmm!” A child’s voice came from outside the door. “Daddy, are you done yet? I’m scared. Is that mean lady dead?” It was Cameron! Derek’s expression softened immediately. Through the door, he spoke gently. “Don’t worry. Daddy’s taking care of the problem.” “That mean lady will never bother Cameron again.” This double standard made my blood boil. My Lily was out there with a bomb, while his bastard was asking if I was dead! Derek stood up and adjusted his uniform in front of the cracked mirror on the wall. He straightened his cap and practiced a determined smile in the mirror. “Madison, next time you’re reborn, remember to choose better.” He gave me one last cold look, pulled open the door, and walked out. The door closed and locked. I was left in darkness. But I didn’t cry. I couldn’t afford to despair. In my past life, all I did was cry and beg. That got my daughter killed. This life, I’d crawl out if I had to—even if I had to bite my way through! I had to save my daughter! I’d make those bastards pay with their blood! By the emergency light, I looked at that cracked mirror. In it, I saw my disheveled hair, bloodied face, and eyes full of rage. Kill them! Make them pay!
Through the metal door, I heard Derek’s voice. “Attention passengers! This is Derek Vaughn, your train marshal!” “The $50 million ransom that woman offered has been transferred!” “For everyone’s safety, I’ve decided to use this money” “to free the most vulnerable child first!” “That’s young Cameron here! He has severe asthma!” “And as law enforcement family, my own family will naturally go last!” “It’s our duty and our honor!” Cheers and applause erupted in the car. “Way to go, Marshal Vaughn!!” “So inspiring! Thank God we have Marshal Vaughn!” “This needs to go viral!” Some influencer even pulled out a phone and started livestreaming Derek. “Guys! You won’t believe this! The train marshal is giving up his own family’s spot!” “To save a sick kid he doesn’t even know! So touching!” Comments flooded in with “salute” and “tears.” Listening to this, I dug my nails into my palms until they bled. Derek Vaughn—you’re using my money to buy your bastard son’s life, and building your hero image on my daughter’s grave! “Cameron, hurry, put these on.” Sounds of clothing rustling came from outside. My heart dropped. Changing clothes? He was dressing up that bastard? “Daddy, these clothes are too tight. I hate pink.” Cameron whined. “Be good! This will keep you warm.” “And… only if you wear this will that lady’s money work.” Derek coaxed patiently. Those were Lily’s clothes! That pink puffer jacket was Lily’s favorite birthday gift! My heart ached hollowly. But I had to save myself first! I twisted my body,enduring the searing pain inching toward the damaged storage rack nearby. The rack had a sharp, broken edge. This might be my only chance! I struggled to lift my cuffed hands, pressing the zip tie against the sharp edge. “Scratch—scratch—” I didn’t dare use too much force. I could only saw back and forth slowly. My wrists started bleeding. Piercing pain shot through me. I kept sawing. Faster! Hurry! Lily was still waiting for me! Through the small window above the utility closet, I could see part of the platform. Spotlights lit it up. SWAT officers with riot shields formed a line, countless gun barrels aimed at the train door. Suddenly, a familiar figure came into view. A woman in a red coat, hiding just beyond the police line, holding a megaphone. Vanessa! Derek’s mistress of seven years! What was she doing here? She clutched a photo, staring fixedly at the train door, body trembling slightly. I squinted to make out the photo in her hand. It was a photo of my daughter Lily! I realized immediately. Derek hadn’t told Vanessa the whole plan! She thought Lily would be the one coming out. She was here to… finish the job herself! “Snap.” My wrists came free. The zip tie had snapped! I didn’t rush out right away. I lay by the window, watching Vanessa outside, a bitter laugh escaping me. “Heh… heh…” Derek Vaughn—you planned everything except that your own lover would be the one to destroy it all. You wanted to play the hero sacrificing his family. But your precious “cousin” was outside waiting to send your “daughter” to hell! The train door slowly slid open. Cold wind rushed in. The car fell completely silent. Everyone held their breath, watching the figure in the pink puffer jacket walk toward the door.
The door opened. Cold wind carried snowflakes inside. Through the gap, I saw Derek standing by the door, sweating bullets. He gave Cameron—wearing the pink jacket—a hard push, whispering urgently. “Go! Don’t look back! Just run straight ahead!” Cameron pulled his cap down low, covering most of his face, and stepped through the door. SWAT snipers locked onto the figure. “Report! Hostage exiting. Child. Description doesn’t match the list.” “Confirmed as first release subject.” The command center’s voice came over the radio. “Clear to proceed. Prepare for receive.” I saw Derek standing in the shadows, a smirk playing on his lips. But just as Cameron was halfway out of the car— “Hey! You there!” A woman’s voice cut through the silence over the megaphone. Vanessa stood in the cold wind, face contorted, eyes wild. The distance was too far, and with Cameron wearing Lily’s clothes, cap pulled low and head down Vanessa lifted the megaphone. “Kidnappers! Don’t fall for it! Derek Vaughn’s tricking you!” “The first kid they’re releasing has a bomb on him!” “That dirty marshal planted a remote-controlled bomb!” “He wants to take all of you out!” Passengers in the car recoiled in terror. Derek’s smile froze. He stood rooted to the spot. His pupils shrank as he stared in disbelief at Vanessa in the distance. “No! That’s not true! Shut up! Just shut the hell up!” Derek rushed to the door waving his arms, but his voice was drowned out by the megaphone. Across from him, the lead kidnapper’s face turned feral. “Son of a bitch! You double-crossing bastard?!” “Die then, you dirty cop!” The kidnapper roared, raised his hunting rifle, and aimed at the child who’d just stepped out. “BANG—!” A deafening shot rang out. Cameron’s chest exploded in blood. His body was thrown backward, tumbling heavily off the platform. Blood stained the pink jacket red, and the white snow too. Vanessa’s hand froze mid-air, still gripping the megaphone. She stared at the body that had rolled to the platform’s edge. That short hair, that face… even in girl’s clothes, that was her son! “Cameron…?” She whispered, voice shaking. And in the utility closet, watching all this, I bit my lip until blood filled my mouth. I felt no fear. A rush of satisfaction shot from my feet to the top of my head! Derek Vaughn, Vanessa. See that? This is exactly the ending you plotted! This is your—comeuppance!
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