_I promise I will be back, Hopefully_
Few years ago.
At exactly midnight
As the moon peers out from behind a blanket of swirling clouds, the darkness of the night is intensified. The air hangs heavy with a sense of foreboding, as if it holds secrets too mysterious to be revealed.
The trees, their gnarled branches reaching towards the sky like skeletal fingers, cast eerie, elongated shadows on the ground below.
The silence of the night is broken only by the distant hooting of an owl, piercing through the stillness. It echoes through the dense forest, magnifying the feeling of isolation.
The wind whispers through the trees, rustling of the leaves could be heard as if whispering secrets to those daring enough to listen.A faint, ethereal mist rolls in, rendering the landscape mystical and haunting.
The gloom surrounding the area seems to seep into every crevice and corner, enveloping everything in its dark embrace.There it stood, hauntingly beautiful, the old abandoned laboratory, a glorious and conquering smilies finally crept their way to her lips, after all the hardship.Her legs muddy, Her clothing, mismatched and disheveled, her steps hasten up as her foot trampled on the lush green grasses.
The once bustling laboratory ahead now sits in eerie silence, seemingly frozen in time. As she walked closer her excitement kept leveling while the grip on the old map kept tightening.
Finally she stepped her feet on the stairs, she hesitated for seconds, her flashlight seemed to be of little help as the light it provided wasn't enough to her satisfaction.
She glanced at the entrance and the walls, once painted a bright and sterile white, which are now stained and peeling.
Faded posters and notes hanging askew, their color now subdued by time, after some seconds she started climbing the stairs leading to the entrance her boots sounds echoing loudly.Entering into the lab, she was greeted by rows of worn-out, rusted metal tables scattered haphazardly throughout the large space.
Glass beakers and test tubes lie shattered on the floor, and remnants of experiments left to decay over the years. a tattered dirty lab coat hangs on a hook by the entrance, its sleeves torn, it was covered by dusts.
To the side, a large blackboard stands, covered in equations and scribbles, as if trying to preserve the remnants of scientific discovery. However, the writings are faded and barely legible, blurred by the passage of time and neglect.
She flashed her flashlight to the other side, she squinted seeing the cobwebs hanging like delicate lace curtains from the ceiling corners.
The shelves that once housed neatly arranged volumes of knowledge now sag under the weight of dust-covered books.
Their covers yellowed and brittle, they exude a musty smell, hinting at the wisdom and potential they still hold under their covers.Yuan Zhu sneezed as the thick rusty smells kept assaulting her nose, however she still delve further, At the window dim light enters through it casting long shadows on the lab's worn floor, Weeds poke through cracks of the tiled floors, their defiant greenery just like a stark contrast to the decay surrounding them.
Although she was all alone, a feeling called fright couldn't be found within her, her mind solid like a concreted floor, she kept walking flashing the flashlight to different direction.
Her mind of exploration pushed her further to explore the abandoned old laboratory, suddenly she stumble on something. a wooden big brown safe, It definitely would be impossible to unlock but she knew things, things that couldn't be taught or learned in school's.
She put on the ground the flashlight, in her backpack she took out mental pieces and started working on the safe.After sometimesYuan Zhu pulled the handle, it make a creaking like shrieking sound before opening, Yuan Zhu picked up the touch from the ground, sighing with relief, her heart was swelling with great happiness, She stared with smile on her lips at the remnants of scientific ambition, curiosity, and unfinished discoveries, dreams left unfulfilled by the past scientist who worked here.
The hand holding the mental pieces couldn't be restrained as her excitement skyrocket, her happiness peaked just looking at it, it laid right there ready to be possessed.
Present
Blotched walls and maculate fences, initially the fences were white, but over the years it has mottled with age. Multiple stems of lower heights sorrounded the old fence and when it rained it won't be different apart from a junkyard, the old house was located Asia, southeast China, Guizhou.
The house was visible on the surface, the morning faint sunshine shone on the old apartment, bringing out it's originally dirty and disgusting appearance, in inside the fence was an apartment whose condition was no different from the fence.
The windows, once a portal to the outside world, are now coated with a film of grime, obscuring any sunlight that attempts to filter through.
Zhu Xiao lie smiled cheekily on the dirty brown bench she sat, she was wearing a pink leggings and red sleeved dress, on her side was a doll cladded in lemon green dress and yellow hat , eyes reddened while sweats were dripping down her face silently, her fingers were shaking slightly, she wore this Grimm expression staring blankly at the bowl of congee before her, she removed the chopsticks before looking sideway at the lady sitting beside her.
The lady had a bruise on her face and few beating marks were on her body, in spite of that she was radiant as a blooming flower, she exudes an aura of braveness and experience.
Her sapphire eyes, deep pools of mesmerizing color, sparkle with intelligence and kindness, holding a hint of mystery that beckons you closer. Framed by long, lustrous locks that cascade down her shoulders, her face is a canvas of delicate features.
Her flawless complexion, like porcelain bathed in moonlight, seems untouched by the passage of time. Cheeks tinted with a gentle flush lend a natural warmth to her visage, accentuating her ethereal beauty. while her small cracking, but dry lips curve into an unpredictable expression.
Xiao le was the obstinate type who loved to do what she was reprimanded for, she slowly stretched opened her originally fist morphed hand leaning it closer to the food, the weird forced smile was still very much plastered on her face, she was about to grabbed a fistful of the food but hesitated and retracted her hand.
"Aren't you tired of staring! The president needed no guard to watched over him while eating to say nothing of me! "Yuan Zhu simply sighed, while looking at Xiao le, she had thought it'll get better but it only kept worsening, However it doesn't hurt as much as when she first discovered, the saying it hurt less when you're accustomed to it was very much true, instead of worrying she was hellbent on finding a way to pull that bastard residing in her out.
"I've told you to use the chopsticks while eating, don't just eat with the hands you use to pack various dirt "Sister, Xiao le don't wanna use chopsticks, I prefer using the hand" she pouted, although it was meant to sound cute, however it came out roughly sounding aggressive.
"But the germs.." Yuan Zhu tried coaxing, she took the chopsticks stretching it to Xiao le, "Mn, I know it only makes it sweater, the germs are the goods, it flavoured it up" her eyes dilated, she stuck her tongue out and and dipped her hand into it eating like three spoonful at once, it was so fast that Yuan Zhu couldn't do a thing.
"Don't choke, easy the food won't fly, stop eating as if it will disappeared"Xiao Le went mad with anger but she couldn't screamed with her mouth full of food, her eyeballs were bulging with craziness, she managed to swallow the mouthful and yelled at Yuan Zhu.
"How is that any of your concern, you think I'm not sensible enough to make my own decisions!"Breed of sweats were forming on Yuan Zhu forehead, infact she knew how destructive and hostile Zhu Xiao le was especially when annoyed.
At the same time a boy of the same age as Xiao le entered through the wooden old brown gate which remained open, it was always like that since it had hooked in the same position, he wore a neat casual outfits, he looked very innocent that one could mistook him for a girl, his pair of black eyes which was common among Asian's was nonetheless beautiful.
On getting closer he gazed at the congee on the bench and the droplet which were already attracting flies and insects where they fell to, and Xiao le who was eating as if the world is about to end he smiled at Yuan Zhu and said "You went pickpocketing again?"
Yuan Zhu frowned and said blankly "Why can't I, why won't I? food is an entirely different word from gambling " she said, referring to her father who only come home once every week and when he does he make sure to turned the house upside down and roast life out of them."You got a new one" the boy said taking off his backpack.
Yuan Zhu nodded, infact she had thought Buddha finally decided to sprinkle on her Abit of luck but who could have thought after successfully robbing the victim of her tricks his wallet, she head down the street to buy a congee and was about to pay the lady at the cart, but who could have thought she will come to meet the scarface man whom she once stole from inside a train at the food cart too, she always got caught during every sleight of hand and ended up earning bruises The boy who had predicted this happening brought out first aid kits from his backpack.
"This is going to be painful but just hold on like you used to""Damn bad luck!" Yuan Zhu groaned with frustration.
Xiao le suddenly sprang up and shouted atop of her voice "Heavens has descended, please take this humble servant with you!"
At that moment a bird flew and landed right above Yuan Zhu head.
The boy He Bai was inspecting the wounds when he suddenly said what he has been thinking about "Why Don't you stop?"
Yuan Zhu rubbed her palms slowly together in a sync, her heart was swelling, this boy was extra tender when it comes to her which make her feel bad, the boy whom she had once tried stealing from but Instead give her all he had left in his pocket willingly.
Don't get it wrong, although he was extra tender he was as well pretentious, she knew he was wolfish and seemed to have something he is hiding, she knew the boy isn't what he portray himself to be but she still went along with him.
Yuan Zhu quickly grabbed onto the hand on her cheeks, she stared into his eyes, her lips was curled up in an amusing way "If I stop, feeding will be almost impossible also..."
The word remained unfinished as an horrible smell hit her nose.
She slowly raise her hand to inspect the slightly warm and moisten part of her head, she gazed up after confirming what she had thought of, a bird actually...Poop! On her head!!As if sensed a danger the white bird flapped it's wings and flew away with a maddening speed."Shit.. Curse you stinking bird, curse you!"
Her anger kept accelerating with a rapid unpredictable speed.
He Bai who noticed the change of events, quickly pulled his hands out of hers and tried to clean the poop off but a hand stronger than his wrapped around his stopping him from carrying out what he intended to do "Leave it be, I want to asked you of a favour, if by any chance I disappeared later in the future...."
She stilled for a moment looking at his curious gaze, she glanced at Xiao le who was now seating calmly staring at them both, "Can you please take care of Zhu Xiao le?"He Bai snatched his hands and stepped back few meters shaking his head in a disagreement.
Yuan Zhu stand up as well, her height was greater than his, the age difference between the two was vivid, moreover she was seven years older than him."I won't do it! I won't let you run away" the boy said repeatedly.
Yuan Zhu sighed ineffectually and sat one leg placed on the dirty brown bench and the other one was in her slipper, her chin slightly raised up while rubbing on it slowly. "It's for the good, didn't you want me to stop? I'm getting rid of all this for good"
He Bai stared wide-eyed unable to process what Yuan Zhu had said but her voice yet again jolted him back, what he heard next was shocking, how did she finds out?"
Don't you want to hold my hand and walked under the moonlight accompanying you to buy an ice cream?, Don't you want me to kiss your hands every minute and buy me snacks in the street at night from the uncle who was always down the street? My sapphire eyes don't you like them very much? don't you want to kiss me on my forehead and tell me you like me?"
He took back more steps, his face flushed as he stuttered. "This... How did you find... You read my diary!" His eyes widens at the sudden realization Yuan Zhu smiled abit, and shamelessly admitted it.
"Right! So why not wait until I come back a free lady, and Xiao le, freed, after successfully separated her from the evil possessing her. Then I could stand by your side, and by that time you will reveal your true self, I'm not asking for much but please take care of Xiao le, I promise i will make it back alive"
The apartment was silent as He Bai stood with confusion and dismay then Yuan Zhu added "Hopefully"
"No, no! How could you possibly.. you're not disappearing are you?" The boy who was few meters away had now drew closer to Yuan Zhu, now wasn't the time to be worried about the word of confession he always wrote in his diary, it was about her life, how to stop her from disappearing. "Wait .. don't do this... I... I... I like you please don't disappeared on me please"
Yuan Zhu didn't answer instead she stood up and pushed him back slightly and yelled out "Xiao le!! There are alot of bees on him!" Upon hearing the word bee Xiao le sprang up and pounce on He Bai biting, hitting him with her fist in every part of his body, he kept shouting but his strength doesn't matched Xiao le's.
After the storm calmed, He Bai managed to pull Xiao le off himself but as expected, the lady he likes was nowhere to be found, not wasting a second he sprinted into the apartment, as he run the floorboards beneath his feet moan and groan with every step, as though they bear the weight of years gone by. he reached out and door to Yuan Zhu room was pushed opened but inside the organized room apart from the trace of poverty in the room including the torn and deflated cushions, but Despite its dilapidated state, there is a certain melancholic charm that emanates from this old room.
It carries with it a sense of the certain memories spent with her."Yuan Zhu! Yuan Zhu!! Yuan Zhu!!!" He kept screaming as tears flowed out of his eyes uncontrollably, he crashed on the ground and kept calling out with disbelief, he talked to her few minutes ago and now she was gone!