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墨書 Inktalez
Xiao He’s fingertips gently brushed over the bullet marks on the wall, the uneven scars seemingly narrating the pain of this city. She looked up at the towering skyscraper in the distance, once a symbol of pride for the city, now their only hope.
“Be careful, Zhao Yi’s people might be nearby,” Bai Zhi whispered, her gaze scanning the surroundings warily.
Xiao He nodded, feeling an indescribable sense of oppression hanging in the air. Occasionally, whispers from the Amnesiacs drifted from afar, resembling a strange chorus that sent chills down her spine.
“Let’s go this way.” Xiao He pointed to a hidden path overgrown with weeds, surprisingly avoiding the surveillance of drones.
Bai Zhi followed closely behind her, both moving like alert cats, silently navigating through the ruins. Every step Xiao He took was cautious, afraid of disturbing something. She felt her heart racing, not out of fear but from an inexplicable excitement.
“Wait.” Bai Zhi suddenly grabbed her sleeve and pointed to the ground. “Look at that.”
Following her gaze, Xiao He spotted an inconspicuous metal cover partially buried in dust. She crouched down and gently brushed away the dirt, revealing a rusted handle.
“Underneath this…” Xiao He’s voice trembled slightly. “It could be our chance.”
A flicker of hesitation crossed Bai Zhi’s eyes but was quickly replaced by determination. She nodded and together with Xiao He, they pulled the cover open with all their strength. A cold breeze carrying a metallic scent rushed out, mingled with the smell of disinfectant, causing Xiao He’s stomach to churn.
“I’ll go down first.” As she spoke, Xiao He slid down the ladder.
The underground passage was much more spacious than she had imagined. Xiao He switched on her flashlight, its beam cutting through the darkness to reveal walls covered in complex pipes and wires, some faintly glowing as if recounting the glory of what once was here.
“This place…” Bai Zhi’s voice quivered. “I think I’ve been here before.”
Xiao He did not answer; her attention was drawn to a control panel on the wall. It was covered in dust, but some buttons and indicator lights were faintly visible. Compelled by an unknown force, she reached out and gently touched it.
In an instant, a flood of memories surged forth. A bright laboratory, people in white coats, massive instruments... Xiao He stumbled back a step, nearly colliding with Bai Zhi behind her.
"Are you okay?" Bai Zhi asked with concern.
Xiao He shook her head, trying to calm her rapid breathing. Those images felt too real, so real that they terrified her. She suddenly realized that she might have once been a part of this place.
"Let’s keep moving," Xiao He said hoarsely. "We need to find more clues."
The two continued down the corridor, with Bai Zhi occasionally stopping as if recalling something. Xiao He noticed that whenever they passed certain intersections, Bai Zhi would instinctively point in a direction, as if something was beckoning her from the Core Area.
Finally, they found an office. The door was warped but still barely opened. Xiao He pushed it open, and a musty smell rushed out to greet them. The room was in disarray, papers scattered everywhere, computer screens shattered, but the most striking feature was the enormous "Mnemosyne Project" logo on the wall.
"The Mnemosyne Project..." Xiao He whispered, feeling an inexplicable familiarity with the name.
She crouched down and began rummaging through the scattered documents. Some were burned to the point of being unrecognizable, but the content was still shocking: "Personality Restructuring," "Behavior Correction," "Target Group Number"... Xiao He’s hands began to tremble as realization dawned on her.
"This isn’t a prison..." she murmured to herself. "This is a laboratory."
Bai Zhi stood nearby, her face pale. She picked up a charred document, where a name was faintly visible: "Professor Wang."
"Professor Wang..." Bai Zhi suddenly said, her voice trembling slightly. "74A..."
Xiao He suddenly looked up, but before she could react, a piercing alarm echoed throughout the Underground Facility. Red warning lights began to flash, and the gate slowly started to descend.
"Run!" Xiao He shouted as she grabbed a few crucial documents and pulled Bai Zhi toward the exit.
Suddenly, several small robots appeared in the corridor, emitting harsh mechanical sounds as they attempted to intercept the two. Instinctively, Xiao He assumed a fighting stance, her body seemingly remembering every movement, every technique. She deftly dodged the robots' attacks while searching for an opportunity to counterattack.
"To the left!" Bai Zhi suddenly yelled.
Xiao He sidestepped, avoiding one robot's strike, and kicked another robot at its joint. The robot emitted a shrill metallic screech as it collapsed to the ground.
"Go!" Xiao He urged as she pulled Bai Zhi forward.
Finally, they spotted the exit. With all her strength, Xiao He pushed open the last gate, and they stumbled out into the open air. The sunlight outside was blinding for Xiao He, but she knew they were safe for the moment.
Xiao He collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. She looked at the documents in her hands, singed at the edges, filled with confusion and unease. The name "Professor Wang" echoed in her mind, as if reminding her of something important.
"We need to continue our investigation," Xiao He said as she stood up, her gaze resolute. "There must be a bigger secret behind this."
Bai Zhi nodded, her eyes reflecting the same determination. They exchanged a smile; although the road ahead was uncertain, at least they were no longer alone.
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