No. 74 Singing of Happiness in a Dream
I was lost.
Before escaping that building, I never imagined this city could be so utterly lifeless.
It was a place devoid of any human presence.
Burned shop signs, collapsed buildings, crumbling streets, twisted lampposts.
If I hadn’t been flown here in a helicopter, I would have mistaken this place for a city ravaged by a biohazard, a Silent Hill where zombies could lurk around every corner.
The worst part about darkness was the disorientation. I couldn’t even remember how long I had been walking. There were deserted buildings everywhere, but no signs, no landmarks. The moonlight only illuminated the outlines of the structures, making it impossible to even discern the patterns on my playing cards.
My only weapon was the knife. The cards could serve as a distraction, but they wouldn’t inflict serious damage—unless I aimed for a vital artery.
But that was unthinkable. I wasn’t a cold-blooded killer. Very few people in this world had ever taken a life, and I certainly wasn’t one of them.
So… in the end, I didn’t even get to say goodbye to my mother…
Exhausted, I sank onto a bench by the roadside.
This place was perfect for a horror movie, I thought, my gaze sweeping across the desolate landscape.
The road ahead stretched into darkness, its destination unknown. On either side, circular buildings loomed, their shattered windows like vacant eyes staring into the night.
To the left was a residential complex, its metal gates twisted and broken. Vines and weeds had overtaken the grounds, their tendrils reaching out like skeletal fingers.
Judging by the density of the buildings, this city, in its prime, must have been much larger than the current Upper Capital City.
What had happened here? What had turned this bustling metropolis into a ghost town?
My stomach growled, a reminder of my hunger.
I should have finished that takeout before making my escape.
… Why was I even thinking about food at a time like this?
As I stood up, the distant whirring of a helicopter reached my ears.
And the sweeping beam of a searchlight, scanning the darkness.
They’re still searching for me?
I sighed inwardly, their persistence baffling me.
Even if Hua She was one of them, even if his uncle was their leader, why go through all this trouble to capture me? Why risk exposure, why make a scene at the train station?
Love? It was a ludicrous excuse. Hua She was still a minor. Surely, his uncle, a seasoned criminal, wouldn’t indulge a teenager’s infatuation. Unless I held some greater value to them, some strategic importance.
Whether it was love or manipulation, I had to prioritize my safety.
Finding a single person in a city this size, especially at night, was like searching for a needle in a haystack. But I couldn’t take any chances. I needed a secure hiding place.
Residential complexes, shopping malls, office buildings—they were all too exposed, with limited escape routes.
A basement? An underground parking garage? Seal the doors and hide?
It would be perfect for a zombie apocalypse, but I wasn’t sure this city was entirely devoid of zombies or other dangers.
I wasn’t superstitious, but if Shadow could develop a virus that turned people into zombie-like creatures, who knew what horrors Fierce might be harboring in this abandoned city?
The only remaining option, a place that offered both concealment and potential supplies, was a school.
I didn’t expect to find food, but surely there would be desks, chairs, maybe even blankets.
With that thought in mind, I headed towards one of the schools I had passed earlier.
By the time I reached the student dormitory, the helicopter sounds had faded.
They must have realized that searching for a single person with a single helicopter and a handful of men was a futile endeavor.
The dormitory building was old, its circular structure offering four potential exits.
The moon was hidden behind clouds, casting the area in an impenetrable darkness. I could barely make out the outline of the building and the shadowy tendrils of vines creeping down its walls.
I was terrified.
Anyone would be. Alone in the darkness, surrounded by silence, no sign of life, no sense of safety.
It was like a nightmare come to life.
“Please, let me see tomorrow’s sun,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
I stepped towards the stairwell, the only part of the building that seemed intact.
“Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.”
My footsteps echoed in the silence, the concrete stairs littered with debris and dead leaves, whispers of a forgotten past.
It must be past midnight now.
If not for Fierce, where would I be now?
What had my mother written in that letter to Xiaodie?
I had no answers.
I reached the seventh floor and stepped into the hallway, hoping to be out of sight of the helicopter.
I opened a random door, and as expected, the room was still furnished, albeit sparsely. A few empty wardrobes, a couple of chairs, and a pile of dusty books scattered across the floor.
I closed the door, pushing a wardrobe against it for added security, then walked to the balcony, securing the windows and drawing the curtains.
It was a small measure of comfort in a world that had become increasingly hostile.
Becoming a girl had changed me in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
I remembered a time when darkness held no fear, when I didn’t crave security or rely on others for comfort.
I hoped Xiaodie wouldn’t do anything rash.
She was the only one in my life who had no past, only an infinite future.
I found a corner of the room and sat down, leaning against a stool.
“Yi Yao… I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess,” I whispered, my voice echoing in the empty room.
“I… I always dreamed of fixing my broken life.”
“The endless sorrow, the regrets, the missed opportunities… I wanted to change it all.”
“But I was a fool…”
“For every regret you erase, another one takes its place. For every dream you fulfill, another longing arises. It’s a never-ending cycle. Life will always be imperfect.”
In this life, I had achieved perfection in every aspect—academically, socially, even romantically. But life had a way of throwing curveballs, shattering my illusions of control.
In my previous life, I had nothing but my grades. No friends, no passions, no real experience of love or family.
And yet, now that I had all those things, I felt lost and helpless.
A facade of strength masking a broken heart.
“I’m sorry…”
“Yi Yao… I’m sorry…”
“I’ve failed you…”
Exhaustion washed over me, pulling me into a restless slumber.
I woke to the sound of a helicopter, its rotors slicing through the silence.
Footsteps pounded on the stairs, drawing closer.
“Search everywhere! She couldn’t have gone far!”
A man’s voice, harsh and unfamiliar.
“Woof!”
A dog barked, and the footsteps stopped outside the door.
I grabbed my knife and retreated to the balcony.
The door burst open.
“Don’t move!”
Several men, their faces grim, stormed into the room, a dog leading the way. They raised their guns, their aim unwavering.
“Well, well, well. Fierce is certainly living up to their name,” the leader sneered, gesturing towards me. “Take her.”
One of the men lunged at me, his foot connecting with my chest.
I managed to deflect the blow, protecting my vital organs, but the force of the impact sent me crashing against the wall.
As they moved to restrain me, two gunshots rang out, and two of the men crumpled to the ground.
“Who…”
The leader whirled around, but another shot rang out, and he collapsed, clutching his knee.
“Team A reporting. Target secured. Securing the area. Over.”
“Team C reporting. Snipers in position. Over.”
Before the remaining men could react, a swarm of police officers in riot gear stormed the room, swiftly subduing them.
“Woof!”
The dog, sensing its master’s injury, lunged forward, but a creature of equal size, its presence radiating an aura of power and dominance, blocked its path, its jaws bared in a silent snarl.
“Roar!”
Xiaobai?
“Yi Yao.”
The crowd parted, revealing Xiaodie. She walked towards me, her face pale but determined, her movements graceful despite the two pistols concealed beneath her skirt. Her black thigh-highs and short skirt created a perfect “absolute territory,” a visual testament to her dedication to the world of anime.
She was cosplaying as Aria from Hidan no Aria, her outfit a perfect replica.
Bathed in the warm glow of the rising sun, she offered me her hand, a faint smile gracing her lips.
“Come, Let Me Take You Home.”
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