Chapter 14: Subway Line 24

“Di-di—Passengers, please board the train in an orderly fashion, do not crowd or push…”

Train Route 24.

I followed Lu Xiu into the subway, and there were so, so many people inside, carrying all kinds of different scents.

I couldn’t help but swallow.

I was a little hungry.

I looked up at Lu Xiu. He was holding my hand with one hand, gripping the hanging strap with the other, seemingly not paying attention to me.

If I secretly bit off someone’s finger right now—

It probably wouldn’t be a problem, right?

But in the end, I still didn’t do it, because if someone got bitten, they would scream.

Once they screamed, Lu Xiu would know I bit someone.

And then my head would explode.

Maybe I’d never get to drink from Kuyan Fire Village again.

So I could only face Lu Xiu, refusing to look at the others, afraid I wouldn’t be able to resist taking a bite.

The train rocked back and forth, the crowd squeezed from all directions.

It was stiflingly hot in the subway, and even the air conditioning couldn’t wash away the faint, rotten smell.

I had the hood of my sweatshirt pulled up over my head—it was new.

The old one got torn in the elevator, so Lu Xiu had specially gotten me one several sizes larger than before, just so it could properly hide my horns.

Weidang—Weidang

The train rocked and swayed, the crowd pushing and squeezing.

That feeling of stuffiness grew heavier and heavier, as if someone had set a fire beneath this metal box, grilling the food inside with a low, bubbling heat.

“Yawn…Lu Xiu—” I looked up, about to complain, only to find the carriage completely empty.

There was nothing at all, yet the train still ran, swaying back and forth.

“Eh?”

“Lu Xiu? Lu Xiu?”

I shouted, but I couldn’t touch anything—there was no one.

There was no one on this train.

“Di-di—Passengers, please board the train in an orderly fashion, do not crowd or push…”

That sweet voice sounded again, but this time it was torn and distorted, as if someone was cackling shrilly behind the broadcast.

What…is going on?

Is it another earthbound spirit?

I couldn’t help but back away, pressing myself against the door, but outside was pitch black.

I didn’t know when the train had stopped.

But the doors still didn’t open.

“Di-di—Passengers, please exit the train in an orderly fashion, do not crowd or push…”

The announcement played for a third time, now dripping with malice, like a hateful whisper right beside my ear.

“Who?! Come out now!”

I yelled.

But no one answered me.

“Di-di—Passengers, please exit the train in an orderly fashion, do not crowd or push…”

“Di-di—Passengers, please exit the train in an orderly fashion, do not crowd or push…”

“Di-di—Passengers, please exit the train in an orderly fashion, do not crowd or push…”

The broadcast began to repeat itself like a malfunctioning machine, speaking faster and faster, the voice growing more and more shrill.

“Di-di—Passengers, please exit the train in an orderly fashion, do not—”

Bang!

The announcement was cut off. A huge tongue withdrew from the shattered speaker, curling quietly back into a gaping mouth.

“Come on then, if you have the guts, come out! Let’s see if I can’t eat you alive!”

I continued to threaten.

Thank goodness the kelp squad forgot to relock the restraint on my left hand, otherwise I’d be left staring helplessly right now.

“Di…exit in order…do not…crowd…

That messy broadcast still echoed, but now it sounded feeble.

Zzz—

In the subway, the overhead lights flickered once, then went out.

A figure suddenly appeared in front of me.

Bang!

A long tongue shot out, but only stabbed into the floor, punching a hole in nothing.

When the world lit up again, there was nothing before me.

No, this won’t do.

This is too passive.

I can’t just stay here!

That thought snapped me out of my panicked, headless-chicken state. I looked at the subway door, flung out my giant tongue, and slammed it hard against the door.

Bang, bang!

No effect?

“One more time!”

I put in more force, pounding the doors frantically.

Thud! Thud! Thud—!

And just as I was about to break the subway doors open, a familiar voice called out.

“Lu Xiu!” That was my voice.

“Sui! Break open the elevator, we have to get out now!!!” That was Lu Xiu’s voice.

“Eh?”

All my banging froze in midair.

A deeper chill climbed up my spine.

On the other side of the subway doors…

were me and Lu Xiu.

“Wh…what the hell is this…”

Why?

Why were my voice and Lu Xiu’s coming from the other side of the door?

Was it fake?

I didn’t know.

I didn’t know anything.

I took a step back, wanting to run, only to find myself trapped in an even deeper “hell.”

I looked up and realized that at some point, everything around me had faded to white—endless white, white seats, white ceiling, white.

Everything was white.

Is this…hell?

The voices outside the door vanished, or perhaps all sound disappeared. Even my footsteps and breathing were gone.

That feeling of being utterly abandoned by the world swept over me.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have done this…please don’t leave me…

I didn’t even know what I was saying, my body seemed to have a will of its own, just venting all the fear I’d kept buried deep inside.

A dark space…painful pleading…and…that endless hunger…

Pain…such pain…

I don’t want to go through it again.

Someone save me…

I curled up on the floor, hugging myself tightly, shrinking into a ball, as if that could bring me the tiniest shred of safety.

But it couldn’t.

There was nothing.

In this forgotten world, no one remembered me.

I was just a ghost.

A ghost that died long ago.

White specks, like a virus, began to creep up my body, as if to rot me away along with this endless, blank train.

But in the next second, a voice echoed from the depths of my heart, weary and hoarse.

“Sigh…such a hassle…”

My stiff, trembling body froze.

It was Lu Xiu’s voice.

“Are you scared?”

I’m so scared…don’t leave me…….

“Hold on to me. If space goes haywire, at least we won’t get separated.”

I was holding on, but you still disappeared…

“You’re grabbing me already, how could I run away?”

Could you still run?

I forced myself not to look at my hand—half of it had turned gray-white, but…

I remembered the feeling of Lu Xiu’s hand, that rough but warm touch.

It was like…

He had always been holding my hand.

Never letting go.

I caught him.

He wasn’t going to leave.

He’d said so, and he’d never lied to me.

As long as I hold on…as long as I hold on…

The hand that had been trembling slowly clenched, gradually, but with iron resolve.

Somehow, the empty train began to move, from stillness, it started forward, plunging into endless darkness.

As long as I hold on to you, I’ll never let go—

Crack!

A sound like shattering glass rang in my ears.

Buzz—

In an instant, a huge noise crashed through my head, mingled with someone’s cry of pain.

“Tss—damn it, that hurts!”

I couldn’t help but look up, and saw that man, eyes wide and dead-fishy, trying his best to look angry.

It was Lu Xiu.

Clang—clatter—

The train rocked and swayed, the crowd pushed and squeezed.

I was back.

I had just opened my mouth, but in the next second, a bloody, metallic taste rushed up, searing crimson trickled from the corner of my mouth, bit by bit, dripping to the floor, blooming into countless twisted roses.

“Sui?! Sui!!!”

Consciousness sank into the deep sea, and as everything faded, only the broadcast remained:

“Di-di—Passengers, please exit the train in an orderly fashion, do not crowd or push…”