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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 149: Beneath the Dome (Part One)
A faint glimmer of light burst forth from the depths of darkness, tearing through the inky blackness like the dawn's first rays. In an instant, countless fragmented images surged forward alongside the dazzling light, replaying like an old silent film. The fragments flashed by so quickly that they were barely discernible, unfamiliar yet familiar faces flickering in and out of view, alternating between black and white. The air was filled with sounds—whispers of wind, cries, and rumbling noises—all merging into an indistinguishable cacophony, a constant buzzing that filled the space.
Lashes fluttered, eyelids trembled, and slowly opened.
The profound darkness finally receded completely, and the light that had appeared countless times in her mind now vividly materialized before her eyes.
Luci quickly shut her eyes again; after groping in the dark for so long, the sudden brightness made her eyes sting painfully. After a moment, the discomfort faded, and Luci opened her eyes once more. After a brief moment of disorientation, a spark of life finally returned to her gaze.
"Ugh." Luci felt as if her senses were somewhat dulled. After a while, her fingertips received the brain's command and moved slightly.
The sensation of having no strength was difficult to describe, but fortunately, Luci could feel energy slowly returning to her limbs. While waiting for her body to regain its strength, her brain shifted from stagnation to activity, piecing together the images and sounds that had continuously emerged in the darkness until they presented themselves anew to their owner.
"Fire... run... gun..." Luci's voice was hoarse as she murmured those words repeatedly, emotions beginning to flicker in her eyes. Moments later, her pupils dilated then constricted before finally settling.
"Everyone..." Luci remembered; she recalled their escape from Xiao Tian Village on the Loess Plateau, the blazing fire against the night sky, and the black-clad figures that had attacked like wandering souls... along with the final image: the spinning sky above the loess.
Luci blinked as she suppressed those memories for now; new scenes filled her mind with questions.
Before her was a stark white ceiling… Luci wasn't sure if it was just an ordinary roof or overhead panel. It was bright—this was her first impression upon opening her eyes. The light was somewhat blinding and definitely artificial.
Luci took a gentle breath; with renewed strength in her arms, she slowly propped herself up. A sharp pain shot through her side. She tried to move slowly until she managed to sit upright. Looking around, everything seemed unnaturally clean. Luci struggled to suppress her unease and confusion as she surveyed her surroundings, realizing she was in a very small "hospital room."
How small? Small enough to fit only two single beds where Luci now lies.
Luci lifted the white thin blanket covering her, revealing her bare body. For a moment, she felt dazed, as if her skin was merging with the white leather mattress beneath her. If it weren't for the stark contrast of the areas that couldn't be described, she would have doubted the reliability of her own eyes.
A gunshot wound was located at her side. Luci turned her stiff neck slightly, noticing that her waist was wrapped in a layer of pristine white gauze, with faint red spots dotting the area around the wound. It seemed like the injury was healing well; at least it had stopped bleeding profusely.
The "sickbed" was somewhat high. Luci wrapped the thin blanket around herself and used the edge of the bed to support herself as she got up. The floor beneath her feet was cold epoxy resin, and directly in front of the foot of the bed was a glass door. Aside from that, there was nothing else in the "room."
As her physical sensations and strength gradually returned, an increasing sense of unease settled in her heart. Luci slowly walked toward the door, pushing open the glass door that revealed nothing beyond it. Outside lay a long corridor, just like the room, with flawless walls and an unknown light source. The corridor was about two to three meters wide, lined on both sides with identical glass doors, all devoid of any markings.
The corridor stretched on for a long distance. Luci glanced around; she found herself in the middle position, with both sides extending nearly a hundred meters before turning a corner. At the end of the hallway, she could vaguely see a black object in the corner. Instinctively, Luci pulled the blanket up tighter around herself; she felt it might be a surveillance device. In this glaringly white building, that object stood out starkly.
Luci leaned against the smooth wall as she walked toward the opposite side and pushed open another door. Inside was exactly like the room she had just exited, but on the bed lay a stranger's face. With difficulty, Luci approached and pulled back the thin blanket to reveal a mutilated body.
It was a male of Asian descent, approximately thirty years old, with his eyes closed and breathing steadily. His left arm and leg were missing, and his wounds were covered with gauze. Trembling, Luci let go of the blanket and caught sight of a wristband hanging from his right wrist. Upon closer inspection, it bore the inscription 'c1-0376,' its meaning unclear.
Luci looked at her own wrists and ankles; there was nothing there.
“Hey, wake up.” Luci nudged the man, but he showed no response; even his breathing remained unchanged.
“What kind of place is this…” A chill swept over Luci as she stumbled out into the hallway again and opened the glass door next to hers.
“Yao Yao!”
Luci was stunned and hurried over to lift the thin blanket... Fortunately, Song Yao's limbs were intact; only her abdomen was wrapped in a layer of thin gauze, just like her own.
"Yao Yao? Can you hear me? Wake up!"
Just like the man from earlier, there was no response.
Luci leaned down to listen to Song Yao's chest. There was a heartbeat, steady and strong. Song Yao's face wore a serene expression, her chest rising and falling with even breaths, resembling someone in deep sleep.
Suddenly, a loud clatter of metal echoed through the room.
Luci jumped in surprise and quickly turned toward the door. The glass door was closed, and no one had entered. Gathering her courage, Luci cracked open the door and peeked outside. The hallway was empty, save for the fading echo of the metal clatter.
The sound felt very close; Luci sensed it was right nearby. She slowed her pace as she slipped out of the room, cautiously pushing open the glass door next to her... A man was struggling to stand up, propping himself against the overturned window sill.
"Brother Cao!" Luci exclaimed, startling the person inside.
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