The screen didn't fade to a menu. Instead, it flickered to a first-person view of a rain-slicked platform. The graphics were hyper-realistic—too realistic for a 2020 indie title. There was no music, only the rhythmic thrum-thrum of an approaching engine. A prompt appeared in the bottom corner:
A new prompt appeared, filling the entire screen: Download The Ghost Train PC Game 2020
He moved his character down the aisle. Each car he entered was older than the last. The 2020 commuter seats turned into 1940s leather benches, then into rusted iron slats. The screen didn't fade to a menu
Outside his real-world window, the sound of tracks screeching against metal echoed through the quiet suburb. Elias looked at his monitor one last time. His character was no longer sitting at the desk. The seat in the game was empty. There was no music, only the rhythmic thrum-thrum
Elias hesitated. His room felt colder. The hum of his PC fans surged, sounding like rushing steam. He pressed the key.
