Boys Love

The world is frozen. Step outside and you die. A higher hierarchy built an infinitely long train that travels around the world. At the very front are the so-called “train elders,” and the further you go into the train, the poorer it becomes. In the last carriages are the Tales — imprisoned, living in close quarters, barely given food, surviving like animals. Among them are Joong Archen and Dunk Natachai…

…

The train moves steadily through the white wasteland outside, metal grinding against frozen rails. In the last carriage, bodies are packed together, breath fogging the air. There is no real silence — only the constant hum of motion.

Joong Archen sits on the floor, back against the cold wall, counting bolts he’s already counted a hundred times. Dunk Natachai is beside him, knees pulled close, eyes following the weak light swinging from the ceiling.

“How long do you think we’ve been here?” Dunk asks quietly.

Joong exhales. “As long as the train keeps moving.”

Someone shifts nearby. A soft cough. The carriage sways slightly as the train curves, everyone leaning with it without thinking.

Dunk tilts his head. “Do you think it’s different at the front?”

Joong looks toward the locked door separating them from the rest of the train. Thick steel. No windows.

“Probably,” he says. “Different rules. Same cold.”

Dunk gives a small, tired smile. “And we just keep riding.”

The train doesn’t slow down.