Two staffers came in carrying clean iron chains, the links glinting like cold snakes in dim light. Before entering, the two girls had already slipped off their shoes; the floor looked hard yet gave a soft, moss-like yield under bare feet, some special material breathing cool through the skin.

“Hm? We can’t take off the blindfolds yet?”

Hearing the chains clink, Meng Xiaoxiao asked the two staffers, voice thin as a thread in the dark.

“Yes. We’re simulating a palace where two captured vampires are held, then you do an escape. So the blindfolds stay on, and we’ll restrict your movement a bit.”

One staffer explained slowly. Both had pleasant faces and honey-soft voices, easy on the ears, like spring tea; clearly hired for that.

“Oh…”

Meng Xiaoxiao nodded, the realism settling like mist.

“Please put your hands behind your backs.”

At the cue, Tang Coco and Meng Xiaoxiao moved, shoulders tense like bowed bamboo. The staff wrapped a thin iron chain behind them and clicked on a lock. Tang Coco raised no questions; high-end escape room, just play along. With all her Anomaly Power, a mere chain was a reed in a river—she could snap it anytime.

“The keys for these two locks are in rooms two and three. Find them and you can unlock. You don’t have to, though—escaping in the end counts.”

“Oh…”

“Next, we need to restrain your legs.”

“…”

A flat line cut across Tang Coco’s mood; this felt close to an actual kidnapping, the shadow a shade darker.

“Will this be okay, Coco-jie…”

Meng Xiaoxiao’s worry bloomed first, then the question; danger wasn’t her fear, rejection was. Bound wrists and bound legs hit different—one pricks pride, one pricks the gut.

“Fine.”

Tang Coco sighed, helpless as a leaf, and yielded. She pressed her legs together in front; cold iron slid around knees and ankles, like winter water winding tight.

No lock on the legs—only a cinched clasp at the back. The chain’s rough bite kept it from loosening during struggle. Tang Coco tried moving; not too tight, yet she couldn’t spread her legs a single centimeter.

“Alright, we’ll start timing. Reminder: every ten minutes, a ‘vampire’ will patrol. If they see a chain off your body, it gets force-reset. The vampires won’t touch you; they’ll only check the chains.”

“And the floor is very clean. You won’t pick up dirt.”

The two staffers spoke in turn, voices smooth as polished jade.

“Okay, enjoy the game. We’ll wait for you on the first floor.”

Click—

The door shut behind them and locked, the sound crisp as ice.

“Wow! That girl was gorgeous, and her figure—when I tied her up, my heart went thump-thump.”

“Yeah, both VIPs are stunning.”

They whispered outside, having glimpsed Tang Coco and Meng Xiaoxiao’s faces when the blindfolds went on.

Inside the room.

Tick-tock—tick-tock—

After they left, a clock began to drip time like water onto stone.

Whoosh-whoosh—whoosh-whoosh—

A sound like wings fanning through a cave stirred the air.

“Coco-jie, what’s that sound?”

Blindfold on, Meng Xiaoxiao saw nothing but night pressing close.

“Probably bats being mimicked. Vampire palace, of course there are bats.”

“What do we do next?”

“Ah… lie down slowly. I’ll get behind you, and we’ll undo each other’s leg clasps.”

“Okay.”

Meng Xiaoxiao began to lower herself, like a leaf settling. Then a thought snagged.

“Eh? Why not remove the blindfolds first? Wouldn’t that make it easier?”

“You silly—if a vampire comes in, they’ll see it right away.”

Tang Coco’s tease flicked out, sharp as a sparrow’s chirp.

“Right…”

“We’ll undo the clasps but leave the chains on. After the ten-minute patrol, then we slide the chains off.”

“Mm.”

She nodded and sank to the floor. The ground held a thread of cool, like shade under bamboo, still bearable.

“I’m down.”

“Roll over. I’ll undo yours first.”

Tang Coco shuffled to Meng Xiaoxiao’s back. Her spatial sense was keen as bat-echo; even blindfolded, she fixed Meng’s position in a breath.

Clink-clink—

Tang Coco worked the chain behind Meng’s legs. A few touches mapped the loops; two, three deft moves, and the clasp came free.

“Okay. Don’t move your legs too much, or it’ll loosen and they’ll notice.”

Tang Coco warned quietly.

“Got it. I’ll undo yours.”

“Mm. I’m right behind you. Just reach back.”

She stilled, letting Meng Xiaoxiao focus, patience pooling like still water.

Meng Xiaoxiao reached back. Her fingertips brushed Tang Coco’s skin—silky-smooth, cool as satin.

“Uh…”

She hesitated.

“Hurry up. You’re so slow.”

“I—I know.”

She placed her hand, grabbing the back of Tang Coco’s thigh.

“Ah!”

A jolt like static snapped; Tang Coco yelped, startled.

“Where are you grabbing?!”

“I… I can’t find the chain…”

Meng Xiaoxiao’s voice carried a tremble, yet the corner of her mouth tucked a tiny triumphant curve.

“…”

She’s still a little girl, Tang Coco thought; first time, no experience. She spoke soft, helpless, a warm wind after frost.

“Easy… don’t rush.”

“But I can’t find the clasp…”

“It’s fine. Go a bit lower…”

“Okay.”

Meng Xiaoxiao’s hand moved down Tang Coco’s thigh, feather-light as willow catkins. The touch set off a nettle-itch, especially across the tender back of the leg.

“Oh! Got it!”

Clink-clink—

She felt for the clasp’s knotting, mapping loops like threads. Minutes slid by, and still it didn’t come loose.

“Uh… is it really that hard?”

“Mm… I can’t undo it…”

Tap-tap-tap—

Suddenly, faint steps brushed the corridor like rain.

“The vampire’s here. Stop. Split up.”

“Okay, okay…”

Tang Coco rolled twice, putting distance like a quick tide.

Click—

Tap-tap-tap—

The door opened. The steps clicked sharp, like high heels on marble. A vampire in heels?

Tang Coco wondered, a wry smile ghosting behind the blindfold.

Tap-tap-tap—

The steps circled. The patrol drifted around them like a cold breeze. Two rounds, then the steps moved toward the door; a lock clicked shut.

“Alright, continue.”

Sensing the presence fade, Tang Coco rolled back behind Meng Xiaoxiao. The clumsy girl fumbled again; Tang Coco endured a second act. Four minutes and change, and finally Meng Xiaoxiao freed the clasp behind Tang Coco’s legs.

“Whew—what next, Coco-jie?”

“Wait for the vampire again.”

They lay quiet. A few minutes later, the patrol swept once and left; the two began to move.

Tang Coco wriggled her legs. The slick chain slithered, looser and looser, like a snake shedding. In under a minute, it slipped off.

“You done over there?”

Tang Coco asked, voice low.

“Mm, mine slid off too.”

“Good. Don’t move. I’ll take off your blindfold.”

With her spatial sense, Tang Coco found Meng Xiaoxiao in one smooth arc. She rose, crouched, and reached behind to lift the blindfold, the cloth rustling like night lifting from eyes.

“All set. Then you take off mine—”

“Ah!!!!!!”

Meng Xiaoxiao’s scream cut like a knife through silk.

“What is it?!”

Tang Coco barked, alert snapping like lightning.

“T-there’s… a dead body…”

Her voice shook, tangled like vines.

“A corpse?”

Tang Coco’s brow tightened.

“System, anything abnormal nearby?”

“The System detects no dangerous elements and no other life signals.”

“…”

“Xiaoxiao… it’s fake. They warned there’d be scary stuff.”

“F-fake?”

“Puhahaha, and you claimed you weren’t scared. Sounds like you are.”

“N-no! I… I just wasn’t ready.”

“Alright, time’s tight. Help me take off my blindfold.”

“Okay…”

Meng Xiaoxiao stepped in and lifted Tang Coco’s blindfold.

With sight back, Tang Coco saw the “corpse” Meng meant—a headless body, all gashes and blood, dangling from the ceiling like a festival prop. One glance said rubber mannequin.

She turned to Meng Xiaoxiao. The girl sat on the floor with her head bent, small and shaken, fear clinging like dew.

“It’s all fake.”

Tang Coco came to her side, voice steady as stone.

“I… I know…”

“Sit for a bit. I’ll check the door.”

Tang Coco walked to the iron door. Simple build, one big lock, heavy as a winter bell.

“The key…”

She peered around. The room’s light was dim, a dusk trapped indoors. Besides the hanging “corpse,” a cluster of bats dangled from the rafters; fake as well, wings flapping by tiny motors, toy shadows against the dark.

“What’s wrong, Coco-jie?”

Meng Xiaoxiao asked when Tang Coco suddenly stilled, the pause drawing her eyes.

“No key. We still need to find it…”

“…”

“I’ll help too…”

She rose, inching forward like a cautious fawn.

“Wait.”

Tang Coco spoke, then moved toward her.

“What is it?”

“This floor tile is loose.”

She pressed her foot to a square tile; it dipped, a whisper of give.

“You can tell that?!”

Tang Coco sat down. Hands behind her back, she worked the edge and lifted the tile, the slab sighing open.

“What’s inside?”

She asked, unable to see behind herself. She called Meng Xiaoxiao over.

“Mm… let me… Ah!!!!!”

“…”

Tang Coco flinched again, a twitch of nerves.

“A h-head…”

Meng Xiaoxiao dropped to the floor, breath frayed.

“I told you, it’s fake.”

"I'm... I'm still scared," Meng Xiaoxiao breathed, her words shivering like a candle in a draft.

"Then turn your back and grab that lifted plank," Tang Coco said, calm as winter water. "I'll check what's inside."

"Mm..." Meng Xiaoxiao hummed, a timid note drifting through fog.

Meng Xiaoxiao nodded and turned, her fingers clutching the upturned plank like roots gripping soil.

Tang Coco turned and spotted a dummy head, pale as wax. Unfazed, she hooked it out with her foot, then saw a red button beneath.

"This must be it," she said, certainty settling like a stone in still water.

Tang Coco stamped down, her heel falling like a hammer.

Click-click— the mechanism cracked like thin ice.

Suddenly, the hook holding the prop corpse lowered, slow as dusk, and the fake body settled onto the floor.

"Looks like the key's inside," Tang Coco said, her gaze steady as a lantern.

She eyed the prop, facedown like a fallen scarecrow. She needed to flip it, but alone she couldn't— the weight sat like a stubborn stone.

"Xiaoxiao, help me flip it," she called, her voice firm as a drumbeat.

"R-really?" Meng Xiaoxiao whispered, doubt fluttering like a moth.

"Of course," Tang Coco replied, confidence bright as morning.

"I..." Meng Xiaoxiao faltered, the word trailing like mist.

Hesitation and fear clouded Meng Xiaoxiao's face like gathering rain.

"Don't be scared— it's all fake," Tang Coco said, her tone warm as a hand on your shoulder. "We crack the lock fast, we get out faster."

"Okay," Meng Xiaoxiao sighed, the word dropping like a small pebble.

Tang Coco gripped the corpse prop by the torso, steady as an anchor. Meng Xiaoxiao seized a leg, her fingers white as frost. They heaved together; success hovered like a breath. Then another shock fell— bats hanging from the ceiling dropped, their wings beating like black fans...

"Aaaaah!!!" Meng Xiaoxiao screamed, terror bursting like a firecracker.

Strung tight, Meng Xiaoxiao jolted again, nerves snapping like bowstrings.

Tang Coco had grown used to Meng Xiaoxiao's screams like summer thunder. But the fright made Xiaoxiao let go; the "corpse" flopped facedown again, heavy as wet cloth.

"Uuuuu~ I don't want to play anymore~," Meng Xiaoxiao whimpered, her protest thin as willow leaves.

She sat on the floor with her head bowed like a wilted flower and spoke.

Tang Coco stared, speechless, the promise of "not scared" dissolving like morning mist.

Tap-tap-tap-tap— high heels ticked outside like a relentless clock.

From beyond the door, high heels clicked, sharp as rain on tile.

"Not good— we've wasted too much time," Tang Coco said, urgency tightening like a drumskin.

There was no time to put the scene back; the chance had shrunk like a shadow at noon.

Outside, three "vampires" approached together, their movement flowing like a dark tide.