Usually, the passengers take part in a series of games that are often horrifying and heart-stopping. Clara wasn't afraid of ghosts, nor did she show any signs of heart disease. She was just... far too shy to face a camera.
Those who joined the show received a prize from every game—but even that couldn't move Clara's heart. Money came second to her. She liked the quiet life of the countryside and had no interest in any kind of adventure.
After all, this show wasn't open to just anyone. There were no auditions.
Only selected people were entitled to participate. And perhaps this was the first time those chosen people had ever rejected the offer.
On the first day she visited Clara, Serena explained why her team had chosen the nineteen-year-old girl.
“You have a good track record at school. Good grades. A diligent student.”
“But I don't go to school anymore. How do you know I'm still diligent?”
“From your work.” Serena smiled.
Adventrix didn't allow troublemakers on their train. And today, because prizes and adventure had failed to hook Clara, Serena tried another approach.
“I know a doctor in the city who can treat your mother's condition.”
Clara flinched but continued pretending not to care. She deftly weighed the chilies, then packed them in a medium-sized plastic bag.
“This is actually something that rarely happens. But the organizers will cover all of your mother's medical expenses.”
Clara turned to look at Serena.
“They'll help your mother walk again.”
Just imagining it made Clara's eyes well up. She wanted so badly to see her mother walk again.
“Well? Will you accept?”
I have fifty thousand reed, Clara thought. That amount was nothing compared to her current savings. But even her savings could never make up for what Serena had just offered.
At first, Made was irritated to see Serena relentlessly trying to persuade Clara. He knew the real reason the organizers wanted his little sister. Clara was the picture of a beautiful, innocent village girl. Though in Roys La Rane, beauty had a reputation far below strength, Clara would at least bring a pleasant atmosphere to television. But now that his sister had explained that she wanted to join the show in exchange for her mother's treatment, no one could stop her.
Their mother wasn't the kind of person who held her children back from what they wanted. Their father saw it as the fastest way to lift one of the burdens from his shoulders. Besides, it was just an ordinary TV show. Everything was safe, even if things could get frightening at times. And he knew Clara wasn't a coward.
Made was also exhausted from being asked to carry their mother in the middle of his studies while preparing for the university entrance exams in the city.
That same night, Serena received Clara's confirmation.
“I'll do it. What do I need to prepare besides the money?”
Serena grinned broadly, looking as though she would have hugged Clara if Made hadn't been standing between them in the dim living room. Clara's mother was already asleep, while her father still hadn't come home.
“Thank you,” Serena finally said.
“How do I prepare a thank-you?”
Serena laughed. “I didn't realize you were funny, too. I mean, thank you for accepting our offer.”
Clara actually wanted to grill her by asking, “How much do you get if I join?” But she was used to saying polite things, especially when she didn't want to lose the reward someone had offered her. Clara was a good person, but like most good people, she had standards for how she lived. That included not wanting to be bothered by other people's malicious intentions. And she often hid her kindness deep in her own heart. She wasn't the type to smile easily, but luckily, she was beautiful, so people didn't mind smiling first when greeting her.
“You only need to prepare clothes and whatever supplies you need for a weeklong vacation. Our team will take care of the rest.”
A week's worth of supplies for a month-long journey? Clara understood. The passengers were usually given special uniforms at certain times—for example, when the train stopped briefly near a mountain and they were required to climb it, during paintball wars, or for other physically demanding activities. For card games and talent shows, or anything that required the participants to exercise their brains and rely on very little physical strength, they would be given the option to buy luxurious outfits at very low prices on the train.”