Daisy sat stiffly in the passenger seat, warily watching the rearview mirror. The sunlight shone on it, glaringly bright. In the thin, narrow mirror, Zhen Ai's fair and delicate face looked unreal, as if it were melting into the brilliant light.
Daisy couldn't connect the girl in front of her to the one who had just held a gun to her neck, forcing her to talk.
After she had spilled everything, Zhen Ai had pushed her into the car, warning that if she dared to run or shout, she would blow her head off.
The car eventually stopped at an amusement park.
Daisy felt suspicious; she remembered Zhen Ai saying someone wanted to kill her. But why come to an amusement park?
Today there was a carnival, with performers in colorful costumes juggling and parading, and people everywhere. The park was vibrant and lively, yet the two of them walked in silence.
After a while, Daisy saw a stall selling bubble soda and, hoping to ease the tension, asked, "Thirsty? Let me get you a soda."
Zhen Ai's expressionless face briefly flashed with surprise as she looked at the colorful sodas bubbling in the vending machine.
The colors were bright, like transparent candy.
She quietly looked away and shook her head.
"Then I'll go buy one." Daisy had just taken a couple of steps when suddenly a clown lunged at her.
"Watch out!" Zhen Ai shouted, instantly pushing Daisy against the vending machine, causing the colorful bubbles in the soda to burst into the air.
Daisy fell to the ground.
The clown also tumbled down and lay there for a while, grumbling angrily, "Who pushed me?"
Zhen Ai turned to scan the crowd of oddly dressed performers and masked visitors, quickly sweeping her gaze around but finding no one suspicious.
Soon, someone helped the clown up, apologizing, "Sorry, I bumped into you…"
Zhen Ai furrowed her brows—was it really an accident?
Meanwhile, Daisy sat on the ground, stunned. Had Zhen Ai just protected her?
Daisy stood up, her emotions toward Zhen Ai shifting instantly. She walked over and softly said, "Thank you."
Zhen Ai didn't even glance at her or respond.
Daisy, no longer wanting soda, continued to follow Zhen Ai aimlessly. When they reached a mask stall, Zhen Ai stopped to look quietly.
Daisy leaned over to ask, "Do you like masks?"
The masks on display were exquisitely crafted, colorful and vibrant.
Zhen Ai looked up, "I'll buy you one."
Daisy was taken aback as Zhen Ai chose a sea-blue feathered mask and handed it to her, her tone devoid of emotion. "Put it on."
Daisy liked the mask she had picked and complied. As she wore it, a thought flashed in her mind. An amusement park, a mask—wasn't this the perfect disguise?
Zhen Ai had said she wanted to hide her; did she suspect someone was watching her at home? Daisy felt a chill but then found comfort in the thought.
The best place to hide leaves was the forest; the best place to hide people…
She glanced around at the cheerful crowd and the parade floats, silently sighing in relief. "Zhen Ai, you're really clever."
Zhen Ai ignored her.
Daisy felt like they had gotten to know each other, so she asked, "Zhen Ai, don't you like to talk?"
Still, there was no response.
Daisy felt a bit disappointed. "Looks like you only talk to your friends."
Zhen Ai remained silent, and after several seconds, just as Daisy was forgetting the question, she slowly replied, "I don't have friends."
Daisy: … That was a slow reaction…
"What about Yan Su? Isn't he your friend?"
Zhen Ai paused slightly, her heart softening unexpectedly.
She stared blankly, unable to comprehend this strange trust and reliance she felt. After a moment, she looked down and said slowly, "Yeah, he is."
"Strange people make friends with strange people," Daisy blurted out, realizing too late it might have been inappropriate.
But Zhen Ai seemed to ignore it, her expression still impassive.
After walking for a while, Daisy noticed a red glow flashing in front of her eyes. Just as she was about to reach out to open it, Zhen Ai suddenly grabbed her and pulled her into the castle.
Daisy was dragged along, breathless, as they approached signs for the drift and maze attractions. Zhen Ai glanced at a sign indicating the maze was under renovation, then decisively pulled her inside.
Inside the maze, there were no visitors, no lights, only a little sunset filtering through high windows. Parts of it were bathed in blood-red light, while others lay hidden behind layers of dark walls.
This was the largest and most complex maze in the city, spanning over a thousand square meters. The paths were short and branched out in many directions, the spaces narrow with many turns. There were help desks at intervals, but they were currently closed. Instead, various construction tools were scattered everywhere.
The light was dim, and silence reigned.
As they walked through a narrow section with paths branching in all directions, Daisy felt an inexplicable chill.
The walls were covered in graffiti, occasionally featuring images of skeletons, ghosts, and grim reapers. Daisy was scared to death, tugging at Zhen Ai, "Let's get out of here. This place isn't fun at all."
Zhen Ai remained calm. "I'm bad with directions."
Meaning they couldn't get out.
Daisy felt like crying.
Zhen Ai turned to Daisy, who looked defeated and miserable, and said, "I have great night vision and hearing."
Daisy felt like bursting into tears: What did that have to do with escaping the maze?
"You…" she started to say, but Zhen Ai suddenly covered her mouth, her expression turning sharp as she silenced her.
Daisy was confused and extremely nervous.
She strained her ears to listen, but the maze was eerily silent.
However, Zhen Ai's brow began to furrow, as if she heard something approaching. She quickly made a gesture for Daisy to be quiet and to move slowly.
Daisy didn't understand but complied, carefully following Zhen Ai's light and slow footsteps.
As they turned a corner, they heard clear footsteps coming from the other side of the wall.
Daisy's heart raced—had someone followed them in?
Could that red dot she had seen earlier possibly be a sniper's laser from a movie?
The unfamiliar footsteps were now close at hand.
She felt her legs weaken with fear and helplessly looked at Zhen Ai. The latter, however, appeared more composed, a glint of excitement flashing in her dark eyes.
Daisy sat stiffly in the passenger seat, warily staring at the rearview mirror. The sunlight reflected harshly, making the thin, narrow mirror seem almost blinding. Zhen Ai's pale and delicate face looked surreal, as if it might dissolve in the dazzling light.
Daisy couldn't connect this moment with the girl who had just held a gun to her neck, forcing her to speak.
After Daisy revealed everything, Zhen Ai pushed her into the car and warned her that if she dared to run or scream, she'd blow her head off.
The car eventually stopped at an amusement park.
Daisy was filled with suspicion; she remembered Zhen Ai saying someone wanted to kill her. But why come to an amusement park?
Today there was a carnival, with performers in colorful costumes juggling and parading, and the place was bustling with people. The amusement park was a kaleidoscope of colors, but the two of them walked in silence.
After walking for a while, Daisy noticed a bubble soda stand ahead. Trying to ease the tension, she asked, "Thirsty? Let me treat you to a soda."
Zhen Ai's expression momentarily flickered with surprise as she glanced at the vending machine, where colorful sodas bubbled enticingly.
The colors were so vibrant, like transparent candies.
She quietly withdrew her gaze and shook her head.
"Then I'll get one," Daisy said, taking just two steps away when suddenly a clown lunged at her.
"Watch out!" Zhen Ai shouted, instantly pushing Daisy against the vending machine, sending the colorful bubbles soaring into the air.
Daisy fell to the ground.
The clown also tumbled and lay there for a moment, grumbling angrily, "Who pushed me?"
Zhen Ai turned to scan the crowd—eccentric performers and masked visitors. She quickly scanned the area but couldn't identify anyone suspicious.
Soon someone helped the clown up. "Sorry, it was my fault…"
Zhen Ai frowned; was it really just an accident?
Meanwhile, Daisy sat on the ground, stunned. Had Zhen Ai just protected her?
Daisy stood up, her feelings toward Zhen Ai completely transformed in an instant. She walked over and softly said, "Thank you."
Zhen Ai didn't even look at her or respond.
Daisy decided not to buy the soda and continued to follow Zhen Ai aimlessly. They reached a mask stall where Zhen Ai stopped to look quietly.
Daisy leaned in and asked, "Do you like masks?"
The masks were intricately crafted and colorful.
Zhen Ai looked up and said, "Let me buy you one."
Daisy was taken aback, but Zhen Ai had already chosen a sea-blue feathered mask and handed it to her, her tone devoid of emotion: "Put it on."
Daisy actually liked the one she chose, so she did. As she wore it, a spark of inspiration flashed through her mind. An amusement park, masks—wasn't this the perfect disguise?
Zhen Ai had said she wanted to hide, and they had ended up here. Could it be that she suspected someone was watching her even at home? A chill ran down Daisy's spine, but she also felt reassured.
The best place to hide leaves is in the woods; the best place to hide people…
She glanced at the joyful crowd around them, the colorful parade floats, and let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Zhen Ai, you're really clever."
Zhen Ai ignored her.
Feeling they were becoming better acquainted, Daisy asked, "Zhen Ai, do you not like talking?"
No response.
Daisy felt a twinge of regret. "It seems like you only talk to your friends."
Zhen Ai remained silent. After a long pause, when Daisy had almost forgotten the question, she finally spoke slowly, "I have no friends."
Daisy: … That was a slow reaction…
"Isn't that Yan Su your friend?"
Zhen Ai paused slightly, an unexpected softness stirring within her.
She stared blankly, unable to comprehend this strange trust and reliance. After a moment, she lowered her head and softly replied, "Yes, he is."
"Oddballs make friends with each other," Daisy blurted out, realizing too late it might have been the wrong thing to say.
But Zhen Ai acted as if she hadn't heard, her expression unchanged.
They walked for what felt like an eternity, and suddenly Daisy saw a red glimmer dancing before her eyes. As she reached out to touch it, Zhen Ai suddenly grabbed her and dashed toward the castle.
Daisy was pulled along, gasping for breath as they reached signs for the water ride and maze. Zhen Ai glanced at a sign indicating the maze was under renovation and, without hesitation, pulled Daisy inside.
The maze was empty of visitors, unlit, with only the faint light of the setting sun filtering through high windows. Some parts were bathed in blood-red light, while others were hidden behind thick, dark walls.
This was the largest and most complex maze in the city, covering over a thousand square meters. It had short paths and many twists and turns, with help desks spaced out, but now they were closed, leaving only construction tools scattered about.
In the dim light, a deathly silence enveloped them.
As they reached a narrow section with paths branching in every direction, Daisy felt an inexplicable dread.
Graffiti covered the walls, interspersed with images of skeletons and grim reapers. Daisy was terrified, tugging at Zhen Ai's arm: "Let's get out of here. This isn't fun at all."
Zhen Ai replied coolly, "I'm not good with directions."
Meaning they were stuck.
Daisy almost burst into tears.
Zhen Ai turned to look at Daisy's defeated and pitiful expression and said, "I have excellent night vision and hearing."
Daisy continued to panic: How did that help them escape the maze?
"You…" she couldn't finish her sentence when Zhen Ai suddenly covered her mouth, her expression turning sharp, silencing her immediately.
Daisy was confused and felt increasingly tense.
She strained her ears, holding her breath, but the maze remained eerily silent.
Yet Zhen Ai's brow furrowed as if she were hearing something approaching. She quickly made a gesture for Daisy to stay quiet and move slowly.
Daisy had no idea what was happening but complied, moving cautiously alongside Zhen Ai.
As they turned a corner, distinct footsteps echoed from the other side of the wall.
Daisy froze. Someone had followed them in?
In that moment, she wondered if the red dot she saw earlier was a sniper rifle like in the movies.
The unknown footsteps grew closer.
Fear coursed through her, and her legs felt weak as she looked helplessly at Zhen Ai. But the latter seemed even more composed, a glimmer of excitement flashing in her dark eyes.
The footsteps approached the corner, Zhen Ai held her breath, her grip on the gun tightening.
You are my medicine, the letter that madman had written to her, with the initials of the dead people matching those of her previous agents.
Was it a coincidence?
She found it hard to convince herself otherwise.
As the footsteps neared the corner, Zhen Ai bit her lip, praying inwardly, Come out, no matter what level of the organization you belong to, I'll shoot you down!
Samuel Leigh, Luis Right, Harvey Porter, Aaron Hill, Derek Applegate…
She wanted to kill! She craved revenge!
Just as she tightened her finger on the trigger, the footsteps suddenly began to fade away…
This was the wonder of the maze; even with such close proximity, turning around could take one miles apart. Without the right path, no matter how close, they could never meet.
Zhen Ai held the gun, feeling an indescribable sense of loss. But Daisy, as if granted a reprieve, tightly grasped Zhen Ai's hand, leaning her entire weight against her.
Zhen Ai turned to look at the head resting on her shoulder, stunned. This intimate gesture made her uncomfortable, and she silently withdrew her arm, continuing to walk ahead.
Daisy quickly tiptoed after her, gesturing an apology.
Zhen Ai didn't respond, but her heart calmed a little.
She had acted impulsively earlier. With Daisy here, she could very well put her in danger. If only she could find a safe place for Daisy and confront the man herself.
But clearly, that was impossible in the maze.
Leaving Daisy behind meant risking the man finding her first.
Zhen Ai continued forward in silence.
The sun soon dipped below the horizon. The maze grew dimmer. The two of them felt their way along the walls, taking random paths at the junctions. Occasionally, they hit dead ends, making Daisy's heart race, while Zhen Ai remained calm, turning back to find another way.
They wandered for what felt like ages until Zhen Ai suddenly stopped, signaling for Daisy to do the same.
Daisy held her breath, but still heard nothing. As she turned her head, she was startled to see a confident smile curling at the corner of Zhen Ai's lips.
She saw Zhen Ai quietly pull back the safety, stepping forward to block Daisy, raising her arm and aiming at a corner less than a meter away.
Daisy instantly understood: that person had wised up and was walking silently.
But Zhen Ai's sharp hearing could catch him.
He was about to appear?
Daisy's legs felt weak with fear, her mind blank. She looked at Zhen Ai, who was standing in front of her, and for some reason glanced back, the nearest corner less than half a meter away.
With a grit of her teeth, she decided to go for it!
Suddenly, she grabbed Zhen Ai's right hand, pulling her backward in a desperate escape. Zhen Ai was caught off guard; by the time she reacted, she had already been yanked around the corner. A "pew" echoed as a bullet hit the wall beside them.
He was indeed right behind them.
Zhen Ai tried to shake off Daisy, but her right hand wouldn't cooperate. Somehow, Daisy found strength from who knows where, dragging Zhen Ai through several turns in an instant.
The two girls ran aimlessly through the maze, kicking paint buckets along the way, creating a raucous sound. The person chasing them didn't seem to care, abandoning the pursuit.
In the vast maze, chaos erupted, filled with the sounds of rattling and the occasional "pew" of bullets.
Zhen Ai was furious: "Let go of me!"
Daisy refused, panting, "I can see it now; you have a vendetta against this guy and want to use me to lure him out, right?"
Zhen Ai wasn't surprised; if anything, she was even fiercer: "If you know that, let go, or I'll kill you!"
Daisy scoffed: "Look at you, trying to use me to draw him out while being all protective. You're really contradictory!"
Zhen Ai attempted to break free, but Daisy tightened her grip, running even harder: "Zhen Ai, if you dare confront him, I'll jump in to protect you, just like you did for me earlier. Think about it!"
She was actually threatening her.
Zhen Ai laughed in anger: "You want to take a bullet for me? You think I care about your life?"
Daisy kept running, even urging: "Zhen Ai, you're really foolish. The police will definitely come and catch him. Why put yourself in danger?"
Zhen Ai didn't bother explaining. What she wanted wasn't punishment but the truth. But in the end, she didn't shake off Daisy; that timid and kind-hearted girl...
Bringing her along, she really was out of her mind.
The two ran through the maze, twisting and turning, soon leaving their pursuer behind. Even with the sound of footsteps echoing nearby, the unique structure of the maze isolated them.
Once the surroundings fell silent again, they leaned against a wall, quietly catching their breath. Daisy mouthed, "Is he nearby?" Zhen Ai listened intently for a few seconds, shook her head, and mouthed back, "The other side."
Daisy gestured: Let's get out of here!
Zhen Ai: Where's the way out?
Daisy: …
They both looked up.
The sun had completely set, and the sunset glow in the window turned a dark red, deepening. The white walls were cloaked in an illusory darkness, appearing particularly eerie.
Without a phone, they had no means of communication.
In this maze filled with corners and exits, playing a game of wits against a person with a sniper rifle, the thought of spending a long, dark night sent chills of fear and despair through Daisy.
Better to just die quickly.
Daisy sadly expressed her terror to Zhen Ai: the pitch-black maze, with someone hunting them, was so frightening.
Unexpectedly, Zhen Ai smiled faintly: "Trust my eyes. I'll find him and take aim first."
Daisy was taken aback, looking at Zhen Ai. She had no makeup on, her hair was all tied up and hidden beneath a black baseball cap, making her look like a tomboy at first glance. Her delicate porcelain-like neck resembled that of a white swan. No, this girl was more like a black swan—proud, resilient, exuding an indescribable aura.
She gazed up, her clear yet tranquil eyes seemed untouched by dust, looking weak but full of resilience.
Where did she find such courage, unafraid of the darkness?
Zhen Ai paid no mind to Daisy's gaze, looking up at the window. Outside was a dim twilight. There would be a moon tonight, but the clouds were thick; the maze would be very dark, with only the faintest light remaining.
It would be hard for him to see her, but she could see him.
When the deep night came and he rested, she would go find him alone.
The night would soon turn this place into the dark room where she often found herself locked away!
Lost in thought, a sudden series of three "pew" sounds echoed from the other side of the maze.
Footsteps gradually faded away, and Zhen Ai and Daisy both fixed their eyes on the corner ahead. Would he appear there? Daisy shrank stiffly behind Zhen Ai, cold sweat dripping down her face.
Zhen Ai held her breath, instinctively tightening her grip on the gun.
*You are my medicine*—that madman's love letter to her, with the initials of the dead perfectly matching the first few names of her fellow agents.
Was it a coincidence?
She found it hard to convince herself.
The footsteps grew closer to the corner, and Zhen Ai gritted her teeth, praying in her heart, "Come out, no matter which level of the organization you belong to; I want to shoot you down!"
Samuel Leigh, Luis Right, Harvey Porter, Aaron Hill, Derek Applegate…
She wanted to kill! She wanted revenge for them!
Just as she tightened her finger on the trigger, the footsteps receded further away…
This was the wonder of the maze—only a step apart, yet a world away when turned around. No right path could be found; the closer they were, the further apart they seemed.
Zhen Ai held the gun, feeling an indescribable sense of loss. But Daisy, as if granted a reprieve, tightly clasped Zhen Ai's hand, her whole weight leaning on her.
Zhen Ai turned to see Daisy's head resting on her shoulder, stunned. Such intimacy made her uncomfortable, and she silently withdrew her arm, continuing to walk ahead.
Daisy quickly tiptoed to follow, gesturing an "I'm sorry."
Zhen Ai didn't respond but felt a bit calmer inside.
She had been impulsive just now. Daisy was still here, and she could very likely get dragged into this. If only she could find a safe place for Daisy and face that person alone.
But in a maze, that was clearly impossible.
Leaving Daisy behind and seeking out that person made her worry he'd find Daisy first.
Zhen Ai remained silent, moving forward.
The sun soon set. The light in the maze dimmed again. The two of them felt their way along the wall, randomly choosing at forks. Occasionally encountering dead ends, Daisy was so frightened her heart raced, while Zhen Ai remained extraordinarily calm, turning back to continue searching for a path.
After who knows how long, Zhen Ai suddenly stopped and motioned for Daisy to do the same.
Daisy held her breath, listening intently, but heard nothing. When she turned her head, she suddenly saw Zhen Ai's lips curl into a smile, filled with determination.
She silently pulled back the safety catch, stepping forward to block Daisy, arm raised, aiming at the corner just a meter away.
Daisy instantly understood—he had learned to be silent.
But Zhen Ai's keen ears could hear him.
Was he about to appear?
Daisy's legs went weak with fear, her mind going blank. She glanced back at the nearest corner, barely half a meter away.
She gritted her teeth and decided to go all in!
Suddenly, she yanked Zhen Ai's right hand, dragging her backward. Zhen Ai was caught off guard, and by the time she reacted, she had already been pulled around a corner. "Pew!"—a bullet hit the wall beside them.
He was indeed behind them.
Zhen Ai wanted to shake off Daisy but found her right hand useless. Daisy seemed to have gained strength from nowhere, dragging Zhen Ai through several forks in an instant.
The two girls ran aimlessly through the maze, knocking over paint buckets along the way with loud crashes. The pursuer stopped worrying and chased after them.
In the spacious maze, the chaos of sounds filled the air, mixed with the "pew" of bullets.
Zhen Ai was furious: "Let go of me!"
Daisy held on tighter, panting, "I see it now! You have a grudge against this person and want to use me to lure him out, right?"
Zhen Ai wasn't surprised, but her anger only grew: "If you know, then let go! Or I swear I'll kill you!"
Daisy scoffed, "You're the one being contradictory! You want to use me to draw him out, but also worry about my safety—what a paradox!"
Zhen Ai tried to shake her off, but Daisy clung even tighter, running harder: "Zhen Ai, if you dare confront that guy, I'll throw myself to protect you, just like you did for me earlier! Think about it!"
She was actually threatening her.
Zhen Ai laughed in anger: "You think protecting me from bullets is helpful? Do you really think I care about your life?"
Daisy kept running, urging, "Zhen Ai, you're being foolish! The police will catch him. Why put yourself in danger?"
Zhen Ai didn't explain. What she wanted wasn't punishment; it was the truth. Yet she didn't shake off Daisy again; this cowardly yet kind-hearted girl…
Taking her along was truly a foolish move.
They twisted and turned through the maze, soon shaking off their pursuer. Even though the footsteps sounded nearby, the maze's peculiar structure kept them at a distance.
Once everything quieted down again, the two leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths. Daisy mouthed, "Is he nearby?" Zhen Ai listened intently for a few seconds, shook her head, and replied with gestures, "On the other side."
Daisy gestured: Let's get out!
Zhen Ai responded: Where's the way?
Daisy: …
The two looked up.
The sun had completely set, and the sunset glow from the windows turned dark red, deepening further. The white walls were cast in an illusory black, looking particularly eerie.
Without phones, they couldn't communicate.
In this maze filled with corners and exits, engaging in a battle of wits with the sniper, enduring a long and dark night made even Daisy feel a sense of dread and despair.
Better to die quickly.
Daisy sadly expressed her terror to Zhen Ai: The dark maze with someone hunting for them was so scary.
Unexpectedly, Zhen Ai smiled faintly: "Trust my eyes; I'll find and aim at him first."
Daisy was taken aback, looking at Zhen Ai. She wasn't made up or dressed up. Her hair was all tied up, hidden under a black baseball cap, making her look like a tomboy at first glance. The delicate neck exposed resembled that of a white swan. No, a girl like her should be a black swan—proud, resilient, with an indescribable aura.
She was staring at the ceiling, her clear yet tranquil gaze like timelessness itself, calm and pure, seemingly fragile yet incredibly resilient.
Where did she get her courage, unafraid of the dark?
Zhen Ai paid no mind to Daisy's stare, looking up at the window. Outside, the dim twilight remained. Tonight, there would be a moon, but the clouds were thick, making the maze incredibly dark with only faint light remaining.
The opponent wouldn't easily see her, but she could see him.
Once deep into the night, when he was resting, she would go find him alone.
Let the night turn this place into the dark room where she was often locked up!
Just as she pondered, a series of three gunshots echoed from the other side of the maze.
"Parker! The letters Anna wrote on the mirror are 'Parker!' Even if the police see it, they'll first think of Harry Parker, who died two years ago, believing the case has taken on more mystery and intrigue. But the Parker family has another son—Harvey Parker."
At this, the sound of gunfire trailing Yan Su suddenly stopped. In the maze under the night sky, four people stood in dead silence.
"I've always found it puzzling how someone as impulsive as Anna could devise such a meticulous murder plan, especially without a strong motive. It was you who taught her. You put a lot of effort into making her fall in love with you and even more into worsening Qi Mo's mental issues.
That day, I asked Qi Mo if he saw the murderer. He terrifiedly replied, 'It wasn't me.' That was strange. I realized it must have been when you were carving into Anna while hiding behind the mirror. Qi Mo was at the door, seeing your hand with the knife and his own distorted face in the mirror.
He was unstable that day, thought he had killed someone, and ran into the first classroom to hide in a corner, desperately searching for Daisy. Why didn't he call you? Because he recognized your hand.
Then you hypnotized him, telling him it was just a dream, and gave him hallucinogens. When he was dazed and the dry ice fog was about to clear, you brought him to the second classroom, turned on the fan and lights, waiting for the school administrator to discover something was off."
Somewhere in the maze, Harvey seemed to finally awaken to this speech, a cold laugh echoing in the darkness.
The next second, three bullet casings hit the ground.
The maze fell silent.
Zhen Ai's heart sank. Had Yan Su been hit? Panic seized her as she ran in his direction, accidentally kicking over a paint bucket, the metal clanging noisily on the ground.
Zhen Ai's heart dropped further as she heard Harvey's footsteps coming closer through three walls.
Just as she was about to engage the safety, Yan Su's voice emerged from behind two walls, mocking yet casual: "Harvey, you were the one who molested Lin Xing at the amusement park, weren't you?"
Zhen Ai froze. Was he deliberately distracting Harvey?
Pain shot through her heart. He was risking himself to save Daisy. This fool, usually so indifferent and proud, instinctively wanted to save others at a critical moment.
The words ignited Harvey's fury. After a moment of tense silence, he reloaded his sniper rifle, the cold, hard clink of the mechanism echoing chillingly in the dark.
Now, Harvey showed no restraint, walking while coldly laughing, "Lin Xing's death is of no consequence. But I'm surprised. An impeccable murder, yet you've seen through it all. Today, none of you will leave alive."
Before his words faded, he suddenly dashed toward Yan Su, unleashing a rapid series of shots. The maze filled with the sound of two distinct sets of footsteps, chasing each other in a frantic game.
Zhen Ai quickly found a dead end at a fork in the path, gripping her gun tightly. No matter which way Harvey came, she would be able to shoot accurately. But then, a voice came from behind the wall.
From just the other side, deep yet gentle, tinged with coolness, he said, "I'm coming to find you soon. Don't run around, don't kill him."
In the darkness, Zhen Ai leaned against the wall, trembling at the sound of his voice.
It was impossible! How could he know she was here?
And she wouldn't listen to him.