Drip…
Drip…
The sound of liquid dripping echoed in her skull, unnervingly close.
A cold, viscous trickle rhythmically struck her forehead…
Some slid between her brows, icy-cold, sending shivers down her spine.
Yueci Porcelain dimly sensed something wrong in her sleep. She frowned slightly, blinking open heavy eyes…
Above her stretched a shadowy, gray ceiling.
Blinking in confusion, she scanned the cramped, dim room.
Her limbs ached faintly from sitting too long.
She tried to shift—only to freeze in shock. She couldn’t move.
Glancing down, she saw her wrists, ankles, neck, and waist chained to a cold metal interrogation chair…
The icy bite of metal against bare skin jolted her fully awake.
*Wasn’t I sleeping at the Nishikino house…? Where is this?*
Water dripped from the ceiling above, each drop hitting her head, denying her peace…
Her neck, locked in place, couldn’t dodge the relentless drip…
Drip…
Drip…
Hours trapped in this room. Thirst clawed at her throat, dry and raw…
The dripping water shattered any chance of rest. Each shallow sleep ended with a jolt, fraying her nerves.
*If this is a dream… wake up. Now.*
Footsteps approached outside—sharp, rhythmic clicks of leather soles on floorboards.
Yueci stared at the bolted iron door, unaware of the desperate hope flickering in her eyes.
*Creeeak—*
The door groaned open.
*Click.*
Blinding light flooded the room. Yueci squeezed her eyes shut, tears pricking the corners.
Footsteps drew nearer. A shadow fell over her. Someone stood before her.
She forced her eyes open, squinting against the glare.
*Nishikino…?*
The face was familiar yet strange. It *was* Nishikino An—but without the long scar. Her features were younger, softer. Unmistakably how she looked twenty-three years ago.
*Is this her… in my dream?*
*Maybe the memory of who she was haunts me more than who she is now…*
Nishikino An wore a crisp uniform, a predatory smile playing on her lips. She idly swirled a wineglass. Dark red liquid sloshed inside.
Yueci’s gaze locked onto the crimson fluid. Her empty stomach growled. She swallowed hard, mouth watering.
“Still refusing to talk?”
Nishikino An hooked a finger under Yueci’s chin, forcing her head up. The grip felt bone-crushing.
*Talk? About what? What’s happening?*
“Fine.”
“Let’s start with a drink.”
The hand released her chin. Before Yueci could gasp relief, a sharp pain ripped through her scalp.
She jerked her head back, neck straining.
“Ugh—!”
Her pained gasp parted her lips—just as something cold and smooth pressed against her tongue…
Thick liquid poured down her throat. The coppery tang of blood flooded her mouth.
*Cough! Cough—!*
She choked, tears streaming as she twisted her head away. But each time she turned, a firm hand snapped her face forward…
Finally, Yueci bit down hard on the fragile glass rim. Before Nishikino An could react, cracks spiderwebbed from her teeth…
*Crack!*
The elegant wineglass shattered across her chest.
No sharp pain on her tongue—only a numb tingle. *A dream. This isn’t real…*
Blood-red liquid spilled down her chin, soaking her clothes, leaving her disheveled.
Her crimson-stained lips looked almost… beckoning.
Nishikino An held the broken stem, eyes dark and feverish…
“If you won’t drink…”
“Then it’s my turn to feast…”
The glass base hit the floor, shattering completely.
【...】
—
Darkness.
Yueci opened her eyes to a pitch-black ceiling.
She rolled over, squinting at the bedside clock.
3:30 AM.
A nightmare. But its details had already slipped away…
Her sheets felt damp and sticky. She frowned in the dark.
She strained to recall the dream—nothing surfaced…
*Forget it.*
Bad dreams were better left forgotten.
Still early. Time for a shower…
