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墨書 Inktalez
There was someone in the room!
I focused my hearing again and confirmed that there was indeed someone inside. The sound they made was muffled, as if their mouth was sealed, producing a soft whimper that was barely audible unless one listened closely.
I placed my hands on the windowsill, rolled over, and slipped into the corridor on the second floor. Crouching low, I followed the sound deeper inside.
The entire second floor consisted of a large hall and a bedroom. The windows were covered with black curtains, making the interior as dark as night, illuminated only by a colorful wall lamp.
The hall was in disarray, with no space to step; discs, books, and clothes were strewn everywhere. It looked just like a garbage dump.
As I entered the living room, the whimpering grew clearer. If I guessed correctly, it should be coming from the adjacent room.
I coughed softly, and the whimpering immediately ceased. After waiting for a moment without any movement from within, I reached out and pushed open the door.
As soon as I opened the door, an indescribable odor wafted out. The room remained dimly lit, featuring a large color television displaying provocative images of women with stunning figures.
I felt my face flush and my body heat up. Quickly averting my gaze, I recited a few lines from the Heart Sutra to calm myself down. Beside the television was a video player piled high with discs, all of them explicit in nature. The covers were bold and outrageous.
To the left upon entering was a wardrobe, and in the center stood a large bed where a woman with pale skin was bound. She looked at me in terror, and upon recognizing me, she desperately nodded as if pleading for help.
Her hands were suspended in mid-air, her mouth taped shut, and she knelt on the bed. Various tools lay on the blanket, including a leather whip. Her fair skin was marred by large bruises.
There were bite marks and welts all over her body; not a single part of her was unharmed.
I cursed under my breath. This He Yong was truly more beastly than human. How could he imprison someone and torture them like this?
I made a gesture for silence and saw her nod in response before I whispered, “I’m also one of his captives. I’ll get you down first; once you’re dressed, we can escape together.”
The woman seemed very weak. After I released her, she collapsed softly onto the bed; judging by her condition, it appeared she had been drugged as well.
I hurriedly woke Fo Gua, "Fo Gua, wake up quickly! We're waiting for rescue!"
Fo Gua seemed displeased to be disturbed, "What are you yelling for? I can hear you. I'm not old yet! My ears aren't deaf."
Following Fo Gua's instructions, I placed my hand on the woman's wrist. After a moment, she seemed to regain some strength, dressed herself, and her voice was still a bit weak as she said, "Thank you for saving me. But how do we get out of here…"
I thought for a moment and replied, "Don't worry, I will definitely get you out."
The woman had likely been tortured for a long time and instinctively feared the outside world. She clutched my clothing tightly. Seeing her so anxious, I asked as we walked, "What’s your name? How did they capture you?"
She whispered, "My name is Tian Tian. I was sold here by traffickers." After saying this, she began to sob quietly, her shoulders shaking.
It was truly pitiful; at such a young age, she had been imprisoned and endured so much suffering. I reached out to pat her shoulder in comfort, but she flinched as if startled and cried out loudly, "Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me…"
Realizing the gravity of the situation, I quickly covered her mouth but it was too late; I didn't know if anyone downstairs had heard. After a long silence without any sounds of footsteps coming up, I finally felt relieved.
"I'll let go now, but you mustn't scream again. If we attract others' attention, we won't be able to escape."
Tian Tian nodded. I slowly released my grip. Although she trembled with fear, she bit her lip tightly and managed to stay silent.
When we reached the balcony, black smoke was billowing from the kitchen chimney. Aunt He was cooking while He Qian was locked in the secret room and He Yong had gone out. This was too good an opportunity to miss.
I whispered to Tian Tian, "Remember to hold my hand tightly and run as fast as you can when we go. Our chance to escape depends on this moment."
Tian Tian looked at me with tears in her eyes and nodded resolutely, "Even if I die, I want to die outside." With that, she gripped my hand tightly.
I returned her grip on her delicate hand and slowly made my way down the stairs. The moment the front door opened, the sunlight outside felt wonderful and the air was fresh.
Tian Tian shielded her eyes with her hand, taking quite a while to adjust to the bright light outside.
Fortunately, He Yong's house was at the far west of the village, and stepping out to the west led directly into a vast expanse of mountains. I grabbed Tian Tian and ran desperately; as long as we reached the mountains, we would be safe.
When I glanced back at Tian Tian, I noticed she was wearing Aunt He's blue floral dress that she had casually picked up when we left the house. However, Tian Tian was too thin, and as she ran, the dress fluttered in the wind like a blue butterfly about to take flight.
It was a sickly yet fragile beauty!
I was faring better, having some training under my belt, so running wasn’t too taxing for me. But when we crossed a narrow ridge, Tian Tian could no longer keep up; her mouth was wide open as she gasped for breath.
Looking at the village not far behind us, I said, “Tian Tian, look back. If we don’t get into the mountains, we’ll just be caught and tortured to death. Do you want that?”
Tian Tian glanced back at the ominous place behind us, gritted her teeth, and stood up to continue running.
Human potential is truly beyond imagination; I never expected that Tian Tian would stick so closely behind me. Of course, I slowed my pace deliberately to accommodate her.
Yet her determination surprised me. It wasn’t until the light began to fade that I found a hidden cave for us to rest.
The firelight at night was particularly conspicuous, so I didn’t start a fire. Instead, I went out to find some wild fruits to stave off our hunger. Initially, I planned to go alone, but Tian Tian insisted on coming with me.
She probably feared that I would abandon her.
I chuckled and said, “A man’s word is his bond. If I say I’ll take you out, then I will definitely take you out.”
When she realized I had guessed her thoughts, Tian Tian softly defended herself, “That’s not it. I believe in you!”
From our brief interaction, it was clear that Tian Tian was a quiet and well-behaved girl. My curiosity got the better of me as I asked, “Tian Tian, when were you taken?”
Tian Tian was taken aback for a moment, and after a long pause, she said, “I can’t remember clearly. It must have been three or four years ago!”
My heart sank a little. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s all my fault for being so foolish. Right after I graduated, a stranger told me my mom had been hit by a car and was in the hospital. I was so naive; that person knew my mom’s name, knew she had a mole on her chin, and even knew where she worked. I believed him and followed him. Who would have thought that after getting into a car, I would wake up in…” Tian Tian’s voice trailed off, heavy with emotion.
I sighed and tried to comfort her. “At least you got out!”
Tian Tian glanced at me and lowered her eyes. “Thank you! I still don’t know your name.”
“I’m Ling Feng; everyone calls me Ling Feng,” I replied with a smile.
Tian Tian looked puzzled for a moment. “Crazy?”
I laughed and said, “Yes! Crazy…”
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