Aninsa felt exhausted, as if every step through the city was a monumental effort. Everything seemed to pull her deeper into an abyss of unease and despair. The City was a labyrinth without an exit, and she had begun to believe there was no hope of finding the way to Maiana. Every corner she turned, every door she opened, seemed to lead only to new questions without answers.

  The streets shifted around her, the buildings contorted, and the sidewalks seemed to tremble slightly under her feet, as if she were walking on the surface of a frozen lake. Somewhere in the distance, a clock struck an unknown hour, but its sound was distorted, like a cracked bell.

  Passing by a wall, she noticed a poster that, under normal circumstances, should have terrified her; but now, she felt far too spiritually depleted to react. The image depicted a globe in flames, beneath which one could read: “Do not let children play with fire!”

  Aninsa blinked a few times, staring at the poster without understanding the message. She was so emotionally numb that even if someone had explained its significance, she still wouldn't have cared much. Before leaving, she glanced again and noticed tiny text at the bottom edge: “In case of emergency, please contact the services of reason in your area.”

  Aninsa walked on, almost dragging her feet. She had nowhere to hurry, anyway. No matter which direction she took, she encountered the same things, unable to change her situation.

  A thought crossed Aninsa’s mind: “Why shouldn't I try going through places I’ve avoided until now?” If she truly wanted to find Maiana, then she had to search every possible place in the City, without fearing the consequences anymore. She hadn't tried climbing onto the roofs of the buildings, nor descending underground. She had explored the City, but only superficially, walking endlessly on the ever-changing streets and avoiding entering most of the buildings.

  “From now on,” Aninsa told herself with determination, “I will go everywhere. I will leave no space unexplored. I will talk to the statues that cross my path if I must. I will even take that terrifying bus I saw a while ago. I will do whatever is necessary to get out of here and find Maiana.”

  She paused for a few moments, weighing the decision she had made. It was not easy at all to meticulously explore a City that was already frightening and incomprehensible. But if she let her fears overwhelm her, Aninsa was certain she would remain forever trapped in the labyrinth.

  Then, she heard a dull thud coming from somewhere below. A deep, mechanical rumble—a prolonged hiss that slithered between the buildings.

  Turning a corner, her gaze stopped upon an abandoned subway station. The sign above the entrance was scratched and nearly faded, but the word “Uncertainty” could still be read, like a faint echo of a cruel reality. Aninsa startled, feeling that this word seemed to draw her toward it, like a vague promise of escape.

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  “Maybe... maybe what I’m looking for is here,” she whispered to herself, almost without realizing it. “Maybe the trains can take me further.”

  Without a second thought, she descended the frozen escalators, which groaned under the weight of her steps. The rusted metal cracked under the soles of her shoes, and the air grew heavier and damper with every step. The tunnel walls were covered in damp patches, and the lightbulbs flickered chaotically, casting long, trembling shadows. The air smelled of old dust, rusted metal, and something she couldn't identify—a cold smell, almost nonexistent, yet one that gave her shivers. She reached an old turnstile, covered in rust and grime, which seemed to have been destroyed long ago. She bypassed it with caution and stepped onto the station platform.

  The station was nearly in ruins. The walls were cracked, and the ceiling looked as though it might collapse at any moment. A single bulb, hanging from a loose cable, flickered dimly, projecting trembling shadows onto the walls. The train tracks were almost completely covered by rubble and boulders, except for one—a clean line, as if someone had taken care to keep it clear. But this track seemed to lead into an infinite darkness, offering no trace of light or hope.

  A display suspended above the platform began to flash chaotically, showing nonsensical messages:

  “CENTRAL LINE – CANCELLED”

  “METROPOLITAN LINE – CANCELLED”

  “SOUTHERN LINE – NON-EXISTENT”

  “POLAR LINE – NON-EXISTENT”

  “EXISTENTIAL LINE – SUSPENDED”

  “TERMINAL LINE – OPERATING ONLY TOWARD EXIT”

  Aninsa stopped and stared at the display, feeling overwhelmed by every word. It was as if the entire system had been dismantled, leaving only broken fragments and lost directions.

  “What am I still doing here?” she asked herself. “All roads are closed… There is no hope left…”

  But at that moment, the display suddenly changed, flashing a new message:

  “TRAIN APPROACHING.”

  Aninsa started, looking toward the dark tunnel. After a few moments, a sound began to emerge—a metallic rumble, as if the wheels of a rusted train were grinding against old tracks. Out of the darkness appeared a massive train, its body black and filthy, almost completely devoid of light. The windows were shattered, and the doors opened with a sinister screech, like empty mouths inviting her to enter.

  She hesitated to step inside, her hand trembling on the edge of the door. “What if it’s dangerous?” she whispered, almost without realizing it. But immediately she remembered her decision to explore every corner of the Dark City, no longer letting fear stand in her way.

  At that very instant, a mechanical announcement, cold and distorted, echoed across the entire platform:

  “ATTENTION! THE STATION OF UNCERTAINTY IS CLOSING PERMANENTLY. THE LAST TRAIN DEPARTS IMMEDIATELY.”

  Aninsa turned abruptly toward the display, which was now flashing rapidly, as if trying to force her into a decision. She felt the entire platform begin to vibrate beneath her feet, and debris from the walls began to fall. The station was collapsing.

  Without any more time to think, she leaped into the dark train. The doors slammed shut behind her, and the train set off with a deafening roar, leaving behind the station as it crumbled into a cloud of dust and rubble.

  The rusted train began to pick up speed, its every joint creaking. Inside, everything was covered in dust and rust, and the seats along the sides were broken or missing, leaving behind only rusted metal skeletons. Aninsa huddled directly on the cold floor, hands clasped between her knees, her eyes fixed on the grimy windows, trying to discern something from the chaos passing by the train.

  The single lightbulb illuminating the carriage, as dim as a candle, flickered out.