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墨書 Inktalez
Xiao He and Bai Zhi found an abandoned underground room near the supply point. The damp, moldy smell hit them as they entered, and the walls were covered in moss, but at least it provided shelter from the wind and rain, allowing them to avoid the watchful eyes of the Amnesiacs on the island. Xiao He used some discarded wooden planks and debris to block the entrance, leaving only a narrow passage that was just wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways.
Every day, the Warden's voice would sound on cue, its mechanical tone echoing in the empty underground space as it announced new rules and tasks. In addition to basic survival instructions, there were stricter prohibitions: "Do not leave the designated area," "Do not form alliances without permission," "Must obey the management of higher-ranked Criminals." The consequences for breaking these rules included resource deductions and even worse punishments.
Xiao He leaned against the damp wall, her fingers unconsciously tracing patterns on the ground. Through careful observation, she realized that the island's surveillance system was omnipresent. Small drones buzzed overhead, cameras hidden in building corners flickered with faint red lights, and they might even be monitored through some form of technology that tracked their actions and locations. She felt as if she were living in a giant glass box, every move exposed to an unseen Warden.
"We need to find a way to understand this island," Xiao He whispered, her gaze sweeping across the dim corners of the underground room.
Bai Zhi nodded, her fingers gently brushing against the moss on the wall. "It's too damp here; we need to find something dry to use as padding."
They began to explore the area surrounding their hideout in small increments, trying to grasp the boundaries of the island and identify safer zones. The map in their minds was blank; they could only rely on their feet and observations to build their understanding. Xiao He noticed that the island seemed divided into different areas, with clear boundaries that triggered piercing alarms or an invisible force pushing them away when approached.
During one exploration of an abandoned store, Xiao He and Bai Zhi stumbled upon a waterlogged book on a broken shelf that was nearly rotten. The text on its pages was blurred, but as Bai Zhi flipped through it, her finger accidentally brushed against a pattern, causing her body to freeze instantly. Her eyes became vacant, and she let out a low groan of pain.
"Bai Zhi!" Xiao He rushed to support the swaying Bai Zhi, feeling her body tremble.
Bai Zhi seemed to see or hear something beyond comprehension, but that momentary anomaly quickly passed; she still couldn't remember anything. The flashbacks of Memory Fragments left her both terrified and yearning.
Xiao He began to seriously contemplate what it meant to be labeled a Criminal by the Warden and what "atonement" entailed. If she truly was a Criminal, what was her crime? Why was she here? The skills and instincts displayed by her body stood in stark contrast to the identity she had been given. Could an ordinary Criminal possess such keen observational skills and combat instincts?
She noticed that although Bai Zhi had completely lost her memory of the past, there were moments when she exhibited calmness and knowledge that contradicted her fragile appearance. For instance, when tending to wounds, she used professional terms that Xiao He had never heard before; her speed and accuracy in identifying plants astonished Xiao He. It seemed she harbored some ability or past identity even she herself was unaware of.
Through observing the island's rules and environment, Xiao He sensed that the behavior patterns of the Warden AI were not entirely consistent; sometimes it appeared mechanical and rigid while at other times it seemed to have more complex intentions. Its task directives occasionally contradicted themselves, as if there were some underlying logical confusion or deeper manipulation at play.
"We must find more Memory Fragments." Xiao He clenched her fists, her gaze resolute. "They are the clues in the chaos, the keys to understanding this island and ourselves."
They began to search more actively for anything that might trigger memories or reveal significant locations, leaving no detail overlooked. Xiao He's thirst for the truth far surpassed mere survival. She could not tolerate being defined and manipulated by others. She needed to know who she was, what this island was, and why she was here. This sense of defiance and anger became the driving force that propelled her forward.
She understood that, aside from the omnipresent surveillance of the Warden, there were more immediate and dangerous threats on the island—those Amnesiacs who had become either mad or compliant in their struggle for survival. They had to remain vigilant, wary of malice from their own kind. Among them, the most concerning was the one who called himself "the Manager," Zhao Yi.
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