Ed: I've just read the original chapters at his computer and..WHOOW~! It's is roughly describe but i understand most of it, thing's later will be crazy.
Anyways i hope you enjoy this chapter that I've edited! ( ╹▽╹ ).
And also TimA!, i didn't know you played "Hello Charlotte"
_________________________________________
The night air was crisp, the cold biting against Mira's skin as she pulled her jacket tighter around her small frame. The streets of Lungmen were alive even in the late hours. Neon signs flickered, casting fragmented reflections across the wet pavement. Conversations buzzed around her, snippets of life bleeding into the night like faint echoes.
Her steps carried her to a bus stop, the dim light from the overhead lamp illuminating a city map encased in scratched plastic. Mira scanned the intricate lines and bold letters, her breath forming soft clouds in the cold. She murmured to herself, tracing a finger across the map as she searched for her destination.
"The auction house... where is it...?" she whispered, her voice nearly drowned out by the passing vehicles and murmurs of passersby.
The wind picked up, a cold gust that sent a shiver down her spine. She clutched her jacket tighter and leaned closer to the map. A faint smile tugged at her lips when she finally found it. "There," she said softly, tapping the map with a finger. Relief momentarily warmed her.
Her satisfaction was short-lived. The conversation of two men standing a few paces away reached her ears. They seemed to be waiting for the same bus, their voices low but audible in the quiet bubble of the bus stop.
"Did you hear about the explosions?" one man asked, his voice carrying a mix of unease and bitterness.
"Yeah, Lungmen's getting worse every day," the other replied. "Two explosions in a single month. People are saying the city's been receiving threats too."
Mira's body tensed as she pretended to focus on the map, her ears honing in on their words. She dared not glance in their direction, keeping her head down as though absorbed in her task.
"Can't even feel safe walking down the street anymore," the first man grumbled. A car drove by, its headlights momentarily illuminating their silhouettes. "And if I catch a cold in this weather, I'll be stuck in the hospital with those damned Infected. No way I'm going near them."
The second man scoffed. "I don't blame you. The Infected are nothing but trouble. They shouldn't even be in the hospital, just a waste of resources. Better to get rid of them entirely."
Mira's grip on her jacket tightened, her knuckles turning white. She kept her head down, forcing herself to remain still despite the growing knot of fear in her chest.
The first man sighed heavily, his voice carrying a mixture of anger and sorrow. "You know why I feel this way. My father was killed by one of them. Stabbed right in the back. Died because of those monsters."
His friend placed a hand on his shoulder. "I get it. I really do. No one can blame you for feeling like this."
The man look at his friend, angry and grief where notice but tries to control himself.
"I think lets just not talk about this anymore, let them be rot or whatever.,"
The sights "Specially tomorrow is our presentation" the man shakes his friend off of his shoulder.
Mira's heart pounded in her chest, her ears burning as she listened. Every word they spoke felt like a knife cutting deeper into her fragile sense of safety. In Lungmen, Infected were allowed to exist, but only on society's terms. They were outcasts, restricted, and shunned, a scapegoat for the city's troubles. No one would help them, no one would care. The infected were disposable, like trash left to rot.
The man muttered again, his voice dripping with venom. "I hope they all die. Every single one of them. They're the reason this infection keeps spreading."
Another gust of wind blew through the bus stop, sending a chill down Mira's spine. She bit her lip, her eyes darting to the side as she risked a quick glance at the men. They were too engrossed in their conversation to notice her, but the hatred in their words was palpable.
Finally, the bus arrived, its headlights piercing the darkness and its brakes hissing softly. The two men sighed, their conversation shifting to lighter topics as they boarded. Mira followed, keeping her distance, her steps light and cautious.
She found a seat at the very back of the bus, away from the other passengers. Pressing her head against the cool glass of the window, she stared out at the passing city. The lights blurred together in streaks of color as the vehicle moved.
Her mind wandered, the men's words echoing in her thoughts. Their disdain, their anger, it wasn't new to her, but hearing it so openly stung in ways she couldn't explain. She thought of Elisa, Rico, Nia, Finn, Tobi, and herself. All of them were Infected. All of them carried the weight of a society that saw them as expendable.
What future awaited them? Would they ever be more than outcasts, struggling to survive in a world that wished them gone? Mira's chest tightened, her reflection in the window staring back at her with wide, uncertain eyes.
She gripped the edge of her seat as the bus rumbled on, her thoughts a storm of fear. As the city rolled by in streaks of light and shadow, Mira forced herself to focus on the task ahead.
As Mira sat quietly at the back of the bus, her breath fogging the window as she leaned her head against it. The city lights blurred past, but her focus was elsewhere, lost in a memory she couldn't escape. She clenched her jacket tightly, her fingers trembling as she stared at her faint reflection in the glass.
Her thoughts drifted back to that rainy night, the sound of raindrops pounding on the roof of the stockroom mingling with distant shouts.
"Why are we still here?" Rico's voice had been sharp, almost breaking with frustration as he stood in the corner, his arms crossed tightly. "We should've run when we had the chance!"
"And go where?" Elisa shot back, her voice firm but low, her eyes darting toward the stocky man who was pacing near the door. "We've got nowhere to go, Rico. You know that."
Mira sat near a stack of boxes, her knees drawn to her chest as she tried to make herself as small as possible. She listened as the tension in the room grew thick, her heart pounding in her chest.
The man stopped pacing and turned to face them, his lips curling into a sneer. "Enough," he barked, his voice harsh and commanding. "You brats think you can argue in my house? I feed you, I give you a roof. You owe me."
Elisa stood, stepping forward. "We don't owe you anything," she said coldly. "We do everything you ask. We work until we can't even stand. That's more than enough."
The man's face darkened as he took a step toward her. "Careful, girl," he growled. "You're treading on thin ice."
Mira could see Elisa's hands trembling at her sides, but her voice remained steady. "We're not doing your dangerous jobs anymore. The others are too young. You know that."
The man laughed bitterly, the sound echoing in the room. "Fine," he said with a shrug. "They don't have to. But you will."
Elisa flinched. "What do you mean?"
"You'll work off their share," he said with a smirk. "And if you don't… well, maybe I'll sell you instead. You'd fetch a good price."
The room erupted. Rico lunged forward, his voice a mix of anger and desperation. "You can't do that!" he shouted. "You can't just—"
The man's fist came down hard, striking Rico across the face and sending him to the ground.
"Rico!" Tobi ran to him, but the man turned on him next, shoving him aside.
Mira sat frozen, her hands gripping the edge of her jacket as she watched the chaos unfold. Elisa rushed to Rico's side, her voice frantic. "Leave him alone! He's just a kid!"
The man grabbed her by the hair, yanking her to her feet. "You think you're in charge here?" he spat. "Let me show you what happens to little girls who talk back."
Mira's heart raced as she saw him pull a knife from his belt.
"No," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Elisa struggled against his grip, her eyes wide with fear as he slammed her hand down on a nearby crate. "Stop it!" she screamed, but the man only grinned.
"This is what happens to brats who don't listen," he said, raising the knife high.
Mira didn't think. Her body moved on instinct.
"No!" she cried, charging at the man with everything she had. Her head collided with his stomach, the force of the impact knocking him off balance.
The man stumbled, his feet slipping on the wet floor. Time seemed to slow as he fell backward, crashing into a stack of boxes.
Mira stood frozen as the sound of something sharp piercing flesh filled the room. The man didn't move.
"Mira!" Elisa's voice broke through the silence. She grabbed Mira by the shoulders, pulling her away from the scene. "Don't look. Don't look!"
Mira's legs gave out beneath her as Elisa wrapped her arms around her, holding her tightly. "It's not your fault," Elisa whispered, her voice trembling. "It's not your fault."
Mira's breath hitched as tears streamed down her face.
From behind them, Tobi's voice wavered. "Is he… is he dead?"
"Don't look!," Elisa snapped, her tone firm despite the fear in her eyes. She turned back to Mira, her hands cupping her face. "It's okay, Mira. You're okay. You saved us. Do you hear me? You saved us."
Back in the present, Mira shook her head, trying to push the memory away. Her reflection in the bus window stared back at her, pale and haunted. She whispered to herself, her voice shaking. "It's not.....my fault. It's.. not my fault."
The bus jolted as it came to a stop, pulling her back to reality. She wiped at her face quickly, glancing around to make sure no one had noticed her distress. The auction house was still her destination, but the weight of her past hung heavy on her shoulders.
Her grip on her jacket tightened as she stood, stepping off the bus into the cold night. The memory lingered, but she forced herself to focus.
After about minutes has passed, Mira jolted upright from her seat as the bus lurched to a halt, her heart pounding in her chest. She quickly grabbed her things and stumbled toward the front, fumbling with her fare.
"Hey, careful! You're holding up the line," the driver grumbled.
"S-Sorry," Mira stammered, shoving the coins into the slot and rushing out of the bus. The chilly night air hit her like a wave as she stepped onto the sidewalk, her legs already moving before she could fully catch her breath.
"I hope I'm not too late," she whispered to herself, her voice quivering with worry.
She glanced at the park up ahead and decided it was the fastest way to cut through. Her feet pounded against the pavement as she ran, dodging fallen leaves and stray branches. The night was quiet except for the rustling of the wind through the trees and the faint sounds of the city in the distance.
Her thoughts raced alongside her. "If Xian's not there, I'll ask someone... someone must've seen him. He said something about going to the auction house. That must be it."
She remembered their brief conversation back at the house earlier that day.
Earlier that Day, Mira had been coming down from the second-floor hallway when she saw Xian adjusting his coat near the stairwell. He looked ready to head out, his expression calm but focused.
"Where are you going?" Mira asked cautiously, standing a few steps above him.
Xian glanced up, his lips curling into a small smile. "Just going around town, checking on some things," he replied. Then, almost absentmindedly, he muttered, "Might stop by the auction house too."
Mira blinked. "Auction house?"
Xian waved his hand dismissively. "Just some errands. Don't worry about it. I'll be back later." He gave her a quick nod and started down the stairs.
"Take care," she called after him, her voice faint but sincere.
He turned briefly at the bottom of the stairs, his smile widening slightly. "You too."
As the memory fueled her determination as she pushed through the park. The cold air stung her cheeks, and her breath came out in ragged puffs, but she didn't slow down. "I have to find him," she thought, her grip on her jacket tightening.
As she reached the edge of the park and stepped onto the sidewalk, she collided with someone coming from the opposite direction.
"Ow! Watch where you're going!" a man's voice barked.
Mira stumbled backward, nearly falling. She quickly scrambled to her feet, brushing herself off. "I'm so sorry!" she said, her voice shaky.
The man groaned, looking at the takeout container he had dropped. Its contents were now a ruined mess on the ground. "You've got to be kidding me!" he exclaimed, his tone sharp. "Do you know how much this cost? This was for my girlfriend!"
Mira flinched, holding her hands up. "I-I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to—"
The man stepped closer, his face contorted in anger. "Sorry doesn't cut it, kid! Do you have any idea how hard I worked to buy this?"
He grabbed her arm, his grip firm. "You're paying me back for this," he demanded.
Mira's vision blurred, the man's angry face overlapping with another memory—the face of the man from her past. Her chest tightened, and her breathing quickened.
"No, no, no," she whispered, her voice trembling. She couldn't move, her body frozen in fear as her mind spiraled into panic.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the tension.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"
Both Mira and the man turned to see a woman approaching, her voice firm and authoritative. Swire stood there, her hands on her hips, exuding a quiet but undeniable confidence.
The man blinked in confusion. "Is this kid yours?" he asked, his tone shifting slightly.
Before Swire could answer, Mira darted toward her, wrapping her arms around Swire's leg and burying her face against it. "Y-Yes, she's my mom!" Mira blurted out instinctively, her trembling hands gripping Swire's pants tightly.
Swire looked down at the girl, her expression briefly startled but in her mind, she was extremely shock "M-M-M-M-MOM?!?" She screams inside of her mind but she quickly composed herself. She let out a small sigh and placed a hand on Mira's head, giving it a gentle pat. "That's right," she said smoothly, her tone calm but edged with steel. "She's mine."
The man hesitated, glancing between Swire and Mira. "Well, your kid owes me for this mess," he said, pointing at the spilled food.
Swire raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp enough to cut glass. She took a step forward, Mira still clinging to her leg. "Let me get this straight," she began, her tone measured. "You're yelling at a child because she accidentally bumped into you? And now you want her to pay for your meal?"
The man stammered, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead. "I-I mean, yeah! It's only fair—"
"Fair?" Swire interrupted, her voice icy. She took another step closer, forcing the man to take a nervous step back. "You're a grown man harassing a kid over spilled food. Let me tell you what's fair: you walking away before this gets ugly."
The man scared and was unavailable to think rationality because of the pressure being inserted by Swire, he answered "B-B-BBut-Well-Ah she ruined my dinner! A-A-A-And It was expensive, a-and—"
Swire raised a hand, cutting him off. "I get it," she said, stepping forward with Mira still clinging to her. "But let me ask again, Do you think yelling at and grabbing a child is the best way to handle it?"
The man opened his mouth to argue but faltered as Swire took another step closer, her sharp eyes boring into him. "She's just a kid. You're an adult. Maybe act like it."
He stammered, "I-I just… I paid a lot for—"
Swire sighed, reaching into her purse. As she did, the man caught a glimpse of the LGD badge tucked inside along with an unmistakable black card. His face went pale.
"Here," Swire said, pulling out some cash and holding it out to him. "This should cover it. Now take your money and go."
The man grabbed the cash, mumbling a quick thanks before turning to leave, but Swire's voice stopped him cold.
"Hold on," she said, her tone icy. "You forgot something."
He turned back, confused.
Swire pointed at the spilled food on the ground. "Your trash. Clean it up."
The man hesitated, his face reddening as he glanced between her and the mess.
"Now," Swire snapped, her voice sharp enough to make him jump.
"Y-Yes, ma'am!" he stammered, scrambling to gather the remains of his ruined meal. Once he was done, he practically sprinted away, muttering apologies.
Swire smiles then glances to Mira who's still hugging her leg tightly. Mira scared, gulps looking at Swire like a little scared kitty.
Swire ask "Now, what are you doing here Mira?."