The train was moving fast now.
Wind roared past them, violent and unforgiving. The metal roof trembled beneath their hands as Kabir pulled Aanya forward.
"Stay low!" he shouted over the noise.
Behind them, three armed men climbed onto the roof, their silhouettes cutting through the night sky. One of them raised his weapon.
Gunfire erupted.
Bullets sparked against metal, the sound almost swallowed by the thunder of the speeding train.
Kabir grabbed Aanya and rolled behind a raised air vent just as another shot rang out.
"They're gaining!" she yelled.
"I know."
The train entered a narrow bridge section. Below them — darkness. Possibly a river. Possibly rocks. Either way, falling wasn't an option.
Kabir glanced ahead.
Two coaches left before the engine.
"If we reach the driver, we control everything," he said.
"And if we don't?"
He didn't answer.
Another attacker rushed forward across the roof, surprisingly agile. He jumped over a gap between coaches smoothly and lunged at Kabir.
Kabir stood at the last second.
The man swung.
Kabir blocked, their boots sliding dangerously on wet metal. One wrong shift in balance and both would fall.
The attacker tried to push him toward the edge.
Kabir twisted his arm sharply and slammed him against the roof. The man's weapon skidded away.
But before Kabir could finish it, another attacker grabbed him from behind.
Aanya reacted.
She picked up a loose metal rod fixed near the ventilation unit and swung it with everything she had.
It connected.
The attacker lost grip.
Kabir elbowed him hard and shoved him toward the edge.
The man slipped—
And disappeared into the darkness below.
Aanya froze for a second.
Kabir grabbed her hand.
"Don't look."
More gunfire.
The last attacker took position near the rear coach, aiming carefully now.
Kabir looked ahead and made a quick decision.
"When I say jump, jump."
"What?!"
The gap between the next two coaches was wider.
The train hit a curve.
The distance felt impossible.
"Now!" Kabir shouted.
He ran first and leaped across.
For a split second, he was airborne above speeding tracks.
He landed hard, nearly slipping — but held on.
He turned instantly.
Aanya was still on the previous coach, fear locking her in place.
"Jump!" he yelled.
Gunshot.
The bullet struck near her foot.
She ran.
She jumped.
Her hand slipped on landing—
Kabir caught her wrist mid-air.
For a terrifying second, she dangled over darkness.
Wind screamed around them.
"Don't let go!" she cried.
"I won't."
With every bit of strength, Kabir pulled her up onto the roof beside him.
They collapsed briefly, breathing heavily.
The final attacker was preparing to jump as well—
But suddenly, the train plunged into a tunnel.
Total darkness swallowed everything.
Sparks flashed as the attacker misjudged the timing and slammed into the tunnel entrance structure.
Silence followed.
Only the sound of the train racing through the tunnel remained.
Kabir looked at Aanya.
"We're almost there."
Ahead, faint light signaled the front engine coach.
But neither of them realized something yet.
The train wasn't heading toward a station.
It was being redirected.
And whoever controlled the tracks…
Controlled their fate.