The station was already buzzing when Daniel arrived that morning. Families with roller bags. Tourists snapping photos of old signage. A man with a Bluetooth headset pacing like he owned the floor tiles. Daniel stood off to the side, watching the crowd thicken around the departure board, waiting for Train 219 – Northeast Express to appear.
When the platform was finally announced—Track 8—he headed down with a small rush of anticipation. This was it. The first thing in days he could control. His own little escape pod on steel rails.