Crimson Instinct

A few minutes earlier before the blast.

*Bai Li*

When I sensed the wall's slab falling on Xin Lei and me, I knew we didn't have time. Only one of us had the time to slide ahead.

I smiled.

Of course, it had to be Xin Lei. 

So I pushed her away because I knew if I had said anything to her, then she would have stuck to me like fevicol. She wouldn't have left my side.

The slab collapsed. Even if I didn't hear Xin Lei's voice, I knew she was angry at me. She must be furious and crying hard. She must be searching for her phone. She must have wanted to knock some sense into me.

She must have wanted to come back.

So, I told Zhu Yusheng to take her away. There was no time to waste.

She must be resisting hard.

But I am sorry, Xin Lei. I cannot let you get trapped in here.

I promise I will come back to you. But in that infinitesimal chance that I couldn't, I pushed you away because I wanted you safe.

The building was rumbling and raining on me, and I could clearly sense it's killing instinct for me. As if that wasn't enough, Cocoa came back!

I was purposely lagging a bit behind Cocoa so that whatever may happen, he and the rest of them could quickly escape but damn!

He jumped back at the last moment!

Where should I bang my head on!?

I gritted my teeth.

"Damn you, Cocoa! Why did you come back? Are you crazy!? What if the slab fell on you, you stupid doggo! Count your lucky stars that you just barely made it."

"Arf! Arf!"

His growl was equally ferocious, as if he was scolding me. I felt him nudge his head on my thigh. He was biting my pants and howling at me.

But I didn't have time to think or criticize him now. There was just hardly more than a minute left.

I ruffled his head. 

"Just you wait! Once we get out of this, I will show you!"

"Arf!"

This time his bark felt more as if he was mocking me.

Alright, back to work.

Concentrate. Focus, Bai Li. Hear, feel, sense.

The slab blocked the path ahead. But there must be some other way cracked open with this rumbling and falling out.

"Grrrr...Arf! Arf!"

I felt Cocoa pulling me towards my right.

Right?

*THUD CRASH!*

Cocoa and I jumped to the side as another slab fell beside us.

Damn, this building won't hold on. We have to be quick.

"Do you sense an exit there?"

"Arf!"

He was right. I raised my palm, and I sensed a faint trickle of cold air passing my fingers. It was light, but it was there.

If there was air coming from the right, it meant that there was a hole somewhere which opened outside, and if I could feel it, then it must be close enough to us.

That was our only way to escape!

"Let's go!"

"Arf!"

Cocoa guided me through the obstacles, and as we quickly rushed towards it, I felt the light wave of the air grow stronger and stronger. 

We were near the hole. I sensed it.

"Arf!"

Cocoa stopped, and so did I.

How much time was left?

Fifty seconds maybe.

I sensed Cocoa sniff the area. I touched along the broken wall and found the hole's circumference.

Great. It was just wide enough for us to fit in and escape.

"Grrrr…"

I touched down to where Cocoa seemed to be pointing.

Damn, there was a lot of debris of rock on the ground. I sensed it blocking the hole. It would take a lot of time if we tried to force our way through this pile.

"Cocoa. Dig."

"Arf!"

I heard his claws digging through the mud and rocks.

I bent down and felt my way, and as much as possible, I threw the rocks away in front of me. 

Around twenty-five seconds left.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead. My breaths were heavy, but I cannot stop here.

For Xin Lei, for Cocoa, we had to get out. I promised her.

"Arf!"

Done!

Ten seconds left.

"Cocoa!" I signaled him to go first.

"Arf!"

I sensed him leap outside, and as soon as he did, I crawled out of the hole. I jumped on my feet.

Five seconds.

"RUN!"

We charged ahead and ran at top speed. I didn't think of the time left and just kept running.

*BOOOM*

"Ugh…"

The blast sent shockwaves in all directions which I felt from far away. The ground beneath me shook. Suddenly, it was hot, as if I was burning in a furnace.

"Arf! Arf!"

We had to run more. We were still in the danger radius.

*RUMBLEEEE*

The second wave of the blast shook the ground harder, and I lost my balance.

I tripped and crashed on the ground.

"Arf!" 

"No! Don't stop! Run! I said- Ahhhhh!"

W-what...what just hit me...My face…it hurts...

What is going on?

*CRASH*

A rock crashed on my shoulder.

"Ugh…"

I clutched my arm and huffed. I couldn't breathe.

I... cannot move...My face...it's burning...I feel...dizzy…

No...I need to get up.

"Arf!"

Who is it?

I felt something tugging me. I felt someone pulling me.

Who?

"Arf! Arf!"

I don't understand…

My head...it hurts...I cannot move. Xin Lei...No, she is waiting for me. I-I need to get up…

But why is my body feeling so heavy…?

"Ahhhh!!"

My eyes…They hurt. I don't understand. My head is so painful...

I touched it and felt something wet.

B-blood…?

I clutched the grass weeds and tried to stand, but I fell.

"Ughh.."

"Arf!"

Cocoa? 

No, run...you should run away…

What is happening to me?

I faintly chuckled.

Xin Lei...I am sorry. I think I cannot keep my promise, after all... Everything feels so…

"Grrr arf!!"

"Hey, buddy…"

"Arf!"

"Tell her that I really love her, okay…"

"Grrrr!!" He still seemed to be pulling me.

It's no use, Cocoa...I already cannot…

I…

"Arf!!!"

That seemed to be the last thing I heard before everything went silent.