Phantom Nightshift: The Driver's Curse at Midnight

As a night shift bus driver earning ten times the day shift salary, I discovered this transit company operated by bizarre rules on my first day: 1. Strictly depart at 23:00 and arrive by midnight 2. Exercise extreme caution on Reservoir Bridge (known for slippery surfaces) - keep eyes forward, never look at the water 3. Never respond to passengers initiating conversation 4. Mandatory 1-minute stop at Tangwa Village Station (remote abandoned stop) regardless of passengers 5. Trust no one after accepting this position At 23:00 sharp, the security guard stared at me through his booth window with a terrified gaze that chilled my spine. Villagers boarded cheerfully but fell into unnatural silence after taking seats. An elderly man shuffled toward me, "Bright lad like you driving night routes? Didn't study hard enough?" "Better than sleeping under bridges!" I snapped back. He chuckled grimly, "Slow down approaching the reservoir." When I turned to question him, his seat stood empty. The return trip after midnight brought new horrors. A withered hand slapped my window - an old woman retrieving her vegetable basket. As she left, she muttered, "Nice young man... why keep talking to yourself?" Cold sweat drenched my uniform. Back at the depot, security guard Old Tang rushed over, "You survived? The previous three drivers all..." My manager abruptly appeared. When I mentioned Old Tang, he paled, "There's no Tang here! That name belongs to the third missing driver from 2021!"