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墨書 Inktalez
Xiao He stood on the top floor of the Abandoned Building, the night wind whipping fine grains of sand against her face. She squinted, her gaze piercing through layers of mist towards the area shrouded in red signals in the distance. That was the core control center of Redemption Island.
"I found it," she murmured, her voice laced with both fatigue and determination. The tattered map in her hand fluttered slightly in the wind, the blurred lines and markings seeming to tell a story of their own.
Bai Zhi stood behind her, illuminated by the moonlight, her silver hair glowing faintly. She gently tugged at Xiao He’s sleeve. "Sister Xiao, it’s... very dangerous there."
Xiao He turned to look at the girl who always followed closely behind her. Bai Zhi's eyes sparkled with unease, but more so with resolve. She reached out and ruffled Bai Zhi's hair, marveling at its incredible softness.
"I know," Xiao He replied softly, yet with an undeniable strength. "But we have to go."
She looked down at the map in her hands, fragments of memories swirling in her mind. Explosions, chases, Professor Wang... these images flashed by like a revolving lantern. She closed her eyes, trying to grasp more details, but those memories slipped through her fingers like sand.
"Zhao Yi won’t let us pass easily," Bai Zhi's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Xiao He opened her eyes, a cold smile curling at the corners of her mouth. "Then let him try."
She began checking her gear, her movements practiced and precise. It was an instinct etched into her bones; even with her memories erased, these skills remained. Handgun, dagger, first aid kit... each item had been meticulously prepared.
"Sister Xiao, do you really not remember Professor Wang?" Bai Zhi suddenly asked.
Xiao He paused for a moment before continuing to organize her equipment. "I don’t remember him. But I know he’s important."
She lifted her gaze towards the distant Core Area, where the red signals blazed like blood. The monitoring signals from the Warden AI were strongest there, as if warning anyone who dared to approach.
"Bai Zhi, are you scared?" Xiao He asked suddenly.
The girl shook her head, her silver hair swaying gently in the moonlight. "I’m not scared. With you here, Sister Xiao."
Xiao He smiled; it was the first genuine smile she had worn in days. She stood up and patted Bai Zhi on the shoulder. "Let’s go. It’s time to set off."
They moved cautiously along the abandoned street, each step taken with care. Xiao He’s ears picked up every sound around them, her eyes scanning for any possible hiding spots. This was the instinct of a detective, still present even after her memory loss.
“Wait.” Xiao He suddenly stopped, grabbing Bai Zhi’s hand. She felt a faint tremor in the ground—the sound of a drone patrolling nearby.
They ducked into the shadow of a derelict building, with Xiao He shielding Bai Zhi behind her. The girl’s breathing was shallow, but Xiao He could sense her tension.
“Don’t be afraid,” Xiao He whispered. “Just follow me.”
As the drone’s noise gradually faded away, Xiao He let out a sigh of relief. She turned to Bai Zhi and noticed the girl was staring at her hand. Following her gaze, Xiao He realized her own hand was trembling slightly.
“Sister Xiao, are you okay?” Bai Zhi asked with concern.
Xiao He clenched her fist, forcing herself to calm down. “I’m fine, it’s just... some memories are trying to come back.”
She closed her eyes, and those images resurfaced—explosions, flames, screams... and Professor Wang’s face. This time, she seemed to catch more details. Professor Wang was saying something, but the words were muffled.
“Sister Xiao!” Bai Zhi’s voice pulled her back to reality.
Xiao He opened her eyes to find her forehead slick with cold sweat. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain composure.
“Let’s go,” she said, her voice more resolute than before. “We need to reach the Core Area before dawn.”
They continued onward, navigating through the ruins. Each of Xiao He’s steps was careful; she knew that traps lurked everywhere. The Warden AI’s defense systems were omnipresent, and Zhao Yi’s men could be hiding in any corner.
“Sister Xiao, look.” Bai Zhi suddenly pointed into the distance.
Xiao He followed her finger and spotted a group of figures. They were wearing matching uniforms and patrolling—Zhao Yi’s men.
“Let’s go around,” Xiao He whispered.
They changed their route, avoiding the patrols. Xiao He felt her nerves tighten; she could sense danger lurking nearby. Strangely, though, she wasn't afraid. On the contrary, she felt a peculiar excitement, as if this was exactly what she was meant to do.
"Sister Xiao, were you like this before?" Bai Zhi suddenly asked.
"Like what?" Xiao He replied.
"You know... brave and impressive," Bai Zhi's voice carried a tone of admiration.
Xiao He paused for a moment, then smiled. "Maybe. I don't remember, but it feels... familiar."
They continued onward and finally reached the edge of the Core Area. The defenses here were much tighter, with surveillance cameras and automated defense systems everywhere.
Xiao He stopped, taking in everything before her. She knew that once they stepped into this area, there would be no turning back. But she also understood that this was the only way to reclaim her memories.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
Bai Zhi nodded, her silver hair shimmering in the moonlight. "I'm ready."
Xiao He took a deep breath and stepped forward. Her heart raced, but her stride remained steady. She knew that whatever lay ahead, she had to face it.
Because this was her mission—a mission she had to complete.
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