THE FIRE

Hilsa was still deep in her thoughts when a sudden wave of cold air hit her face. The dizziness that followed was so sharp and overwhelming that she had to clutch at the sides of her seat to steady herself.

She was surprised to see that even her seatmate's AC was on, though it hadn't been a short time ago.

With wobbling legs, she reached for the seat in front of her and pulled herself up.

Her vision blurred as she strained to look around, feeling her body go weak. A sudden panic surged through her veins when she saw what had happened.

Throughout the bus, girls lay unconscious in various positions—some slumped over in their seats, others with their heads resting against the windows or sprawled across the bus deck. Every single one of them was out cold.

Except her.

Her hands shot out faster, covering both her nose and mouth. Hilsa's pulse raced as she caught sight of the attendants. They had changed.

The smiles, the calm demeanor—gone.