cross

It's bound to be a special night.

I have walked the road in the thick fog that never dissipates outside Odiris Manor several times, and I would never have thought that there are monsters in that fog.

I was immersed in my own emotions, so I couldn't help being negligent.When I found out, I was gradually surrounded by those things. Although I couldn't see what it was, I could hear the sound of those things crawling in the fog, and they were constantly approaching me.

In the dark fog, walking on a road with an unknown direction, being chased by unknown things... everything was very similar to the situation in the nightmare, I couldn't help but start to panic, and ran until I ran into the intersection, subconsciously Looking back, I saw something faintly flashing behind the darkness. I seemed to see a taupe lizard tail.With a shake of his hand, the lamp fell to the ground and was quickly extinguished.

I rushed out of the intersection in a panic, losing my only lighting tool, so I could only run around in the dark, until the familiar scene appeared in front of me, and the sound of chasing behind me gradually disappeared.

I never thought that I would come to Hujing Village, and I didn't know how I could go back. I was in a mess and blamed myself for my impulsiveness.After this experience, the drunkenness brought about by drinking was gone, and my mind cleared up, thinking how unreserved it was for me to run out at such a late night.But in my subconscious mind, I always want to stay quietly for a while, to relieve the emotions in my heart by myself—maybe I can breathe a sigh of relief by leaving that lively party.The person who disappeared was like a stone stuck in my heart, preventing me from laughing freely or crying happily—even if I couldn't cry, I couldn't indulge myself to drink.

I sat on the ridge of a small wooden boat, sighed, and took out the pendant hanging from my neck to look at it.The reverse cross, which represents the devil, is the last relic left by my mother. It keeps reminding me that the past years are not my fantasy dreams, so that I will not be confused in endless time, so I feel that I am still alive. .I live in a false bubble, guarding a secret that cannot see the sun. Only Satan knows how it is.

Joseph came to me like a savior, dispelling my confusion and helplessness—those monsters turned out to be just a prank by Jack.But the reason why I ran out at night was undoubtedly because I wanted to see him. Although he was a supervisor and did not empathize with the struggles of the survivors, Joseph still comforted me.The cold embrace with a faint smell of ink is so nostalgic, and the next words are beyond my expectation.

"Would you like to be my lover?"

Under the beautiful and hazy sky, those blue eyes stared at me quietly, reflecting the faint light of the aurora.

The waves washed over the sand under our feet again and again, and then receded slowly, as if with a special rhythm, the whole world fell silent for a moment, and I heard the beating of my heart.

His eyes are like the deep sea, making people flustered.The wrist he grabbed was still wearing the bracelet... I couldn't tell what kind of mood I was in, and said slowly:

"Naturally willing."

The hand was grasped even tighter, a kiss fell gently on the hair, and words of unknown meaning came from the ear.

...is a language I don't understand.

Joseph held my hand tightly all the way, but no matter how late he never left me, he would send me back to the manor and wait for me to enter the gate in a gentlemanly manner.During the carnival night, no one had the energy to notice us outside the door. With Joseph around, the monsters along the way did not dare to approach.I stopped and looked at him, the silver hair outlined the profile of his profile, his delicate face was like a looming statue of a famous artist in Wudu.

The clasped hands still did not intend to let go, a different atmosphere was slowly flowing in the air, I waited in silence until he took my hand and pressed a light kiss on the forehead.

The voice was as clear and cold as ever, but it made my heart beat wildly: "Good night."

I couldn't help but blushed, and whispered: "...good night." Then I ran to the door with my head down, fled, opened the door, and looked back involuntarily.

He stood on the dark road, quietly staring in my direction, under the dim sky, I couldn't see the expression in those beautiful blue eyes.

I only know that this scene is something I have never imagined for many years, just like I never expected that such a beautiful and unreal young man will appear in my life. We should have nothing to do with each other, instead of him standing In the chaos, wait for me.

I opened my eyes, the man's unreal face faded away with the dream, and his wrist was empty.The ruby ​​bracelet has been put away—

"Why don't you wear it?"

Joseph lowered his eyes, and his eyes fell on my wrist: "Don't you like it?"

"I like it very much," I whispered sheepishly, "but survivors usually have to participate in the game, and I'm afraid of losing it."

He smiled lightly and said, "I won't lose it."

Pretty sure.

He is always indifferent. The ice on the top of the snow-capped mountain is the same as the snow, giving people a feeling of coldness.There are occasional mood swings, and the brilliance that seems to float on broken ice is not strong.But at the same time, he was very gentle to me, which made people have to think about it. I can't tell what kind of mood I felt when I got the bracelet for the first time. When he stretched out his hand to me, maybe for a moment he really wanted to hold it.So, are you excited?Is there joy?I refuse to answer those questions, and I don't want to think about the feeling of being out of breath that bracelet gave me...although, that feeling quickly passed.

I took off the bracelet and locked it in the cabinet. I didn't need anything else, as long as I was accompanied by my mother's cross.Thinking of this, he caressed the reverse cross on his neck, and his eyes became slightly sore.

On a rare sunny day, Joseph came here on a whim to make a portrait of me.I sat in the courtyard with a bouquet of roses in my arms, and the young man looked at me with a paintbrush in his hand, and came over to sort out the details for me.His cool fingertips caressed his ears, he lifted his long hair, his blue eyes focused on me, and his meticulous look made people feel a little tense... What would I look like in his painting?What does he think of me?I squeezed my fingers nervously, and he quickly caught and let go:

"Don't be too nervous."

He said slowly: "Leave it to me."

What do people look like in the eyes of their lovers?

I was a little shy, and looked away to hide my shyness, but I couldn't help but sneak a peek at him.Joseph was painting quietly not far away. I only saw him staring intently at the drawing board. The brush in his hand moved slightly from time to time, sometimes stopped, and his eyes lingered on me.

Every time this happens, I can't help but hold my breath.I thought of the pictures I had seen, and there was no doubt that Joseph was a pretty good painter.I began to be curious about my appearance in his pen, but unfortunately I couldn't tell from the expression on his face.

Light shines in from outside the hall, passes through the glass windows on the wall, and passes through the carved marble columns, leaving pieces of neatly divided light and shadow on the smooth ground.Joseph's profile became more and more unreal under the hazy daylight, and the knife-like lines were slightly blurred, which made him lose his usual coolness, and the delicate eyebrows and eyes were filled with a hazy color.

In fact, he himself has a face favored by God. It is really a pity that such a person does not become a model and preserves his art.But rather than becoming a carrier of art, Joseph obviously prefers to create by himself——

After finishing writing, I finally saw the scene on that one.The black-haired beauty is holding a rose in her arms, staring ahead affectionately, with a trace of shyness on her face, all the moving emotions are contained in those eyes that are still hesitant to speak, and the small mole under the corner of the eye is like the finishing touch.With just one glance, it is natural to think that the person in front of her must be the lover she wholeheartedly admires.

I only glanced at it, and then hurriedly looked away. Is the person in the painting really me?It's unimaginable - I can't understand something called love, but I can only vaguely remember the happy smile on my mother's face every time she mentioned her father.This painting made me a little flustered, so I could only barely compliment: "...it's beautiful."

Joseph curled his lips slightly, held my hand, and said slowly, "Artists always like to create for their lovers... Next time, I hope you can wear the bracelet I gave you."

His eyes fell on my empty arm, and he felt a little regretful: "But it's okay, there will be a long time to come."

"We still have countless hours and opportunities."

Tomorrow...

I didn't know how to answer such a question, so I had to change the subject and look at the bouquet of bright roses: "Is this bouquet of roses from the small garden? Mr. Jack took good care of these flowers."

"No." Joseph glanced at the flowers in my arms and smiled lightly: "I prepared this specially for you."

"Thank you, I like it very much." I blushed and said softly.

In the Odiris Manor, such beautiful things as flowers are hard to see...or in other words, except for Mr. Jack's small garden, which can be said to be a rare highlight, the whole manor looks lifeless, and no one cares about it Go groom and dress up.Survivor's garden has been deserted, and only the gardener lady takes care of it from time to time, but it seems that there is something hidden behind it. She is obviously passionate about her career, but Emma just prunes the original plants from time to time. , Never do unnecessary things.To a certain extent, she is indeed different from us. She doesn't have to borrow something to express her feelings. She is always carefree and doesn't seem to have so many troubles. Among the survivors, she is probably the only one who always lives very comfortably. .

Joseph said lightly that Emma Woods had given up on leaving the manor, and she would never die because of the game.

I started having nightmares again.

In the dream, I forgot everything, and stood on the floating wooden bridge in a daze, surrounded by the river water with no end in sight.Faces emerged from the water, staring at me, and asked in unison in my ear:

"Who are you? Where are you from? Where are you going?"

The deafening sound made me feel dazed and panicked, but no matter how hard I ran, I couldn't get rid of it.Faces in the water floated up in large swaths, as if they wanted to pull me into the water too.I couldn't find an answer, I couldn't find a way out, and I could only listen to the questioning that kept approaching La Gao:

"Who are you? Where are you from? Where are you going?"

It made people want to scream and feel dizzy. The floating wooden bridge was shaking desperately. I was pulled into the water by them and threw myself on the cold ground.

Someone helped me up: "The gift of fate."

"Thanks to time," he whispered in my ear, "Even if you are lost, you just have to wait."

I subconsciously wanted to grab him, but he avoided my hand and handed me a round object.

badge……

He paused involuntarily, fell to the ground without catching it, and couldn't find it in an instant, looked at the man in panic: "Don't go!" But it slowly disappeared like smoke and dust that couldn't be caught...

Waking up from the nightmare, the reality does not make people feel happy.Even with the windows closed, I still think about it day by day and dream at night, just like one escape game after another, it seems like a reincarnation that repeats itself, and I am always trapped in a strange circle.

After a moment of hesitation, I took out the bracelet, but finally locked it back—when I mentioned the word "token", I knew that I would never get my badge back again, and I tried to make myself forget about it... Maybe no one should talk to me about the promise, because I'm going to break the promise eventually.

I started desperately participating in the game.

Victory, failure, points increase little by little.Marta stopped talking a few times, and finally couldn't help persuading me: "Beth Fernley, take your time, you don't have to work so hard."

I closed my eyes and said softly, "Marta, I just want to catch up with you."

Not just trying to catch up, but…

I want to leave.