As the train lurched forward, the city lights blurred into long, electric ribbons. The Dub 14 was famous for its speed, promised to reach Florence in a record-shattering ninety minutes. But tonight, the atmosphere felt heavy.

Halfway through the journey, the lights flickered. The digital display above the door, usually showing the speed, began to count backward.

A low, rhythmic hum that vibrated in the floorboards, more like a heartbeat than an engine.

Every time the train passed through a tunnel, the reflection in the window seemed to change. The Shift at Kilometer 80

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