Chapter 2: Dark Clouds (Part 2)

Chapter 2: Dark Clouds (Part 2)

Not sure how much time had passed, but the ride was getting bumpier and bumpier.

Li Su was holding Song Wuyi, Li Su's breath landing on his neck.

It felt kind of hot.

A 'hand' rolled to Song Wuyi's feet. Li Su seemed to notice, but Song Wuyi nudged it away with his foot, out of Li Su's sight and reach.

Song Wuyi's body was all rotten from soaking in sewer water. When Li Su held him, the rotting skin stuck to his clothes, and any little tug hurt like hell.

Song Wuyi placed his hand over Li Su's eyes.

Li Su was sleeping, his eyes closed.

Li Su had said his eyes were hurting.

Song Wuyi felt his eyelids and the skin around them; no rot, but they were definitely swollen.

Song Wuyi didn't know why he had it in him to care about this person he didn't even know, but at that moment, it seemed like the only way to block out the pain and despair was to focus on this reckless kid.

His mom was dead.

He would die too.

But would this kid also die?

Maybe dying was better.

Going alone would be lonely.

Wasn't he here to save me?

But he couldn't.

So he'd go with me.

That way, he could forgive the hope that flickered and died.

The car suddenly braked.

With Li Su in his arms, Song Wuyi rolled to the side from the force.

Then the door swung open, and it was just as pitch black outside as inside.

The lunatic's eyes glowed red in the night, eerie and terrifying.

He climbed up, grabbed one in each hand, and flung them off the truck.

Li Su hit the ground hard, snapping awake, still disoriented.

Where the hell was this?

Song Wuyi also hit the ground beside him, but scrambled up and helped Li Su up.

Seeing Song Wuyi, Li Su remembered his experience and situation.

He looked around. It was like an abandoned chemical plant, probably some unfinished construction site.

It was wide open on all sides, totally empty—easy to escape from.

Li Su was figuring out how to distract the lunatic and get away with Song Wuyi. The next second, he saw the lunatic pull a machete out of the truck.

Song Wuyi's breath caught in his throat the moment he saw the machete.

Li Su tightened his grip on Song Wuyi's hand.

Just seeing that machete made it impossible not to wonder if that was the very knife the lunatic used to cut up bodies.

To Song Wuyi, it was like the weapon that killed his mother all over again.

Li Su knew that he and Song Wuyi could be the lunatic's next victims at any second. So he dared not move, and wouldn't let Song Wuyi move.

The lunatic herded Li Su and Song Wuyi into the unfinished building.

"Make a run for it, and I'll make sure there's nothing left of you to bury!"

This wasn't a threat; it was a fact.

Li Su was already very scared. The chainsaw killer from the horror movies was right there—except with a machete, just as capable of messing you up mentally.

"Wu Yi, I think I pissed my pants."

Song Wuyi just glanced down, not reacting much.

They both stank like the sewage pit; after that long, the piss and sweat didn't even register.

The lunatic didn't seem to have a sense of smell either; he was also filthy, with a stench even worse than Li Su and Song Wuyi combined.

The lunatic paced around with the knife, like he was patrolling or lost in thought.

Li Su's legs gave out, and he slowly crouched down against the wall.

Luckily, the lunatic wasn't into beating people up, and his attention was elsewhere.

Li Su tugged Song Wuyi's hand and whispered, "Crouch down too. Let's rest a bit."

Song Wuyi didn't budge.

Ever since they got out of the truck, Song Wuyi had barely acknowledged Li Su.

Li Su was perceptive and figured the machete must have triggered something in Song Wuyi, but he had no clue what was going through his mind.

He stopped worrying about Song Wuyi. Li Su just focused on resting up and looking for the right chance to escape.

He crouched in the corner, hugging his knees, his eyes locked on the lunatic.

The lunatic went back to the truck and hauled out a wooden box from the back.

Song Wuyi stepped forward heavily. Li Su turned his head and saw Song Wuyi's hand already balled into a fist.

Li Su's heart jumped. Wu Yi wasn't about to throw himself at the lunatic, was he?!

Li Su stood up, grabbed Song Wuyi's hand, and cupped his fist with his own palm.

He tiptoed, whispering in Song Wuyi's ear, "Calm down. He's got a knife. He'll chop you into pieces in two strokes. You can't take him."

Song Wuyi tilted his head to meet Li Su's eyes, the area around Li Su's eye sockets indeed red and swollen.

"I never planned to leave here alive. I'll fight him, you..."

Song Wuyi paused, seeming to hesitate.

"You... take the chance to escape."

Li Su grabbed Song Wuyi, his own heels rooted to the spot.

"No! You can't give up on living!"

It seemed the madman heard the struggle between them, shooting a fierce glare their way.

Li Su froze in fear, not daring to make another sound.

The madman's gaze shifted downward, noticing Li Su holding Song Wuyi's hand. As if struck by a thought, he suddenly let out a manic laugh.

"She wouldn't hold my hand, she only holds onto Song Shuzheng's hand, because his surname is Song, he has money and power that I don't. This vain woman, she clings to hands that reek of wealth!"

A chill crept over Li Su; the madman's laughter was shrill, and he shook uncontrollably from fear.

Suddenly, the madman swung the blade, pointing it at Song Wuyi.

"You're a Song too!"

Song Wuyi's eyes were icy, unlike Li Su's terror. He had already let go of life and death, his heart like dead wood, powerless to turn the tide.

"Mm, I'm surnamed Song. What's your surname?" Song Wuyi said calmly.

Li Su was somewhat surprised that Song Wuyi could actually chat with the madman.

The madman twisted his neck, speaking with distaste: "Mine? My surname is hardly worth mentioning. She didn't like it, because my surname doesn't represent any family."

An obvious sense of inferiority twisted the madman's expression. "Why? She's a rich young lady, sure, but I wouldn't stay poor forever. I would stop at nothing to get her what she wants. Why wouldn't she even look at me?"

Song Wuyi questioned, "What makes you think she has to like you?"

The madman was already paranoid, his tone absolute: "How could she not like me? Heaven meant for us to meet. I love her, so she must love me. Otherwise, why arrange it? Why bring her into my life? She... saved me, she has to be responsible for me, responsible for a lifetime. How could she not love me?!"

Li Su couldn't listen anymore and seized the chance to retort: "Heaven meant for her to be a gift in your life. She saved you, but instead of being grateful, you want to trap her. You're too greedy."

The madman pointed his blade at Li Su, and Song Wuyi stepped forward to shield him.

"What do you know! In fact, I gave her a choice. Otherwise, there wouldn't be you, Song Wuyi!"

Suddenly, the madman rushed forward and grabbed Song Wuyi by the throat.

Li Su's eyes shot wide in shock. At the moment the madman charged, Song Wuyi pushed Li Su away, but Li Su instinctively rushed back to grab the madman's arm.

"Let go! Let go!"

Li Su bit and tore at the madman's arm, his earlier fear completely forgotten.

Song Wuyi wasn't as frantic as Li Su. Even though his face was turning red from suffocation, his expression remained unchanged, even staring directly into the madman's eyes.

In the madman's eyes, there was obsessive love, hatred born of unrequited love, debased self-pity, and insane obsession.

Song Wuyi thought he would rather die than become such a madman for so-called love.

Song Wuyi no longer cared whether Li Su lived or died. He was going to die anyway, to find his mother, to ask whether there was a choice between the madman and Song Shuzheng.

"You won't let go!"

"Then I'll bite you to death!"

Li Su bit down with all his might, tearing a piece of flesh from the madman's arm.

The madman couldn't bear the pain and jerked his arm, flinging Li Su away, then slapped him to the ground.

Li Su knocked over the wooden box, scattering its contents.

The madman's pupils shrank, and he lunged over to gather the pieces into his arms.

"Aqin, you can't wait, can you? You want to reunite with Song Wuyi, don't you? Don't worry, in the underworld, I'll treat Song Wuyi like our own child. It's just... he looks too much like Song Shuzheng. I have to thoroughly remove the traces Song Shuzheng left behind!"

The madman stood up, pulling a glass bottle from his pocket, half-filled with a colorless liquid.

"Song Wuyi, be part of our family in the next life. I'll be your uncle and love you. Don't carry the Song name anymore; take my surname, Wang."

The madman approached Song Wuyi with death's own stride.

Yet Song Wuyi showed no intention of running away, determined to die.

Li Su looked up at Song Wuyi, who lowered his eyes to meet Li Su's gaze.

Song Wuyi's lips moved slightly, silently saying, "Go quickly."

Li Su wanted to cry so badly. He already considered Song Wuyi a friend—what TV shows call a bond that transcends life and death. In that moment, their friendship transcended mortality.

He didn't want Song Wuyi to give up.

He didn't want Song Wuyi to be hurt.

He didn't want to wake up at dawn and find Song Wuyi had only been a dream.