Ten Day Ultimatum

As Xiao Ran's scream began to rise, Doctor Zhao swiftly clamped a hand over her mouth, muffling it into a stifled groan.

The silence was suffocating as the four of them stood frozen, wide-eyed with terror, fixated on the grotesque figure before them. Doctor Zhao, who had followed them outside out of curiosity, was now rooted to the spot, his blood running cold at the sight of the bizarre creature.
The figure, resembling a cricket more than a {person}, moved with a nightmarish rhythm. His hind legs twitched at unnatural speed, his thin body contorting in ways that defied human anatomy. His two hollow eye sockets scanned the area, as if they could still see despite their emptiness.
The creature's neck twisted with inhuman speed, the range of motion so unnatural it seemed his head might snap off at any moment. His rapid, insect-like movements sent waves of dread through the group, leaving them paralyzed in the oppressive darkness, desperately trying not to draw his attention.

A few seconds later, the {person} suddenly leaped into the air, springing toward the convenience store wall.
Qi Xia quickly raised the torch, its flickering light casting eerie shadows as he tried to keep the figure in sight. He knew losing sight of such a target in this darkness could be fatal.
But as the torchlight swept across the wall, Qi Xia—despite his mental fortitude—nearly buckled under the horror that met him.

The wall was teeming with {people}—dozens of them, each as emaciated and grotesque as the first, their bodies crawling with unsettling speed and coordination. They clung to the wall like insects, scuttling across its surface with a disjointed, jarring rhythm that made Qi Xia’s skin crawl.
As the firelight flickered, the creatures reacted, scurrying back into the shadows, their movements eerily reminiscent of crickets, cockroaches, and spiders.
These beings barely resembled humans.

A cold chill ran down Qi Xia’s spine, every hair on his body standing on end.
As he and Lin Qin made their way to the convenience store earlier, they’d been surrounded by the constant rustling of insects. At times distant, other times disturbingly close.
Now, the terrifying truth settled in.

They weren’t insects at all—they were {people}.
Realization sent a wave of cold sweat down Qi Xia’s back. The thought that they had walked mere inches from these grotesque creatures, hidden in the darkness, filled him with an indescribable dread beyond mere {aftershock}.
His breathing grew shallow as he slowly turned, signaling the others with a cautious wave.

They all understood and began to retreat.
Qi Xia held the torch tightly, eyes fixed on the creatures clinging to the wall. He took slow, measured steps backward, guiding the others with him.
The four of them moved as one, each step painfully slow, holding their breath, terrified of making a sound. Inch by inch, they retreated into the safety of the building.

These creatures, their eyes gouged out, seemed to rely solely on sound to navigate. Thankfully, everyone understood that their survival depended on utter silence—not a word escaped their lips.
Once they were safely inside, Qi Xia grabbed a wooden board and braced it against the closed door. The group retreated until their backs pressed against the far wall, its cold, mottled surface offering the faintest sense of security.
Xiao Ran’s trembling voice finally broke the silence. "What… what are those things?"
"It’s a person…" Doctor Zhao began, but quickly shook his head. "No… no, the human body can’t move like that. They must be… insects…"

Qi Xia took a deep breath, his voice tense but steady. "I heard those creaking and chirping sounds last night too, which means they’ve been here all along."
He turned to Lin Qin, his expression grave. "We were unbelievably lucky not to step on any of them earlier…"
Lin Qin nodded, face pale with lingering fear. The shock of their narrow escape was still settling in.

A heavy silence followed.
Before seeing this nightmare, they might have found rest despite the darkness. But now, sleep was impossible. They leaned against the cold, rough wall, eyes fixed on the door, dreading the creatures breaking in at any moment.
The long, soundless night dragged on.

They stood by the wall for half the night, their bodies aching. Their waists and legs were sore, fatigue pressing down on them.
As time passed, they noticed something odd. The {insects} outside behaved much like ordinary bugs. Despite their grotesque forms, they showed no intention of breaching the brightly lit room.
Qi Xia tried to make sense of it using the logic of this place. Grotesque as they were—eyes bleeding, bodies twisted—they were still {insects} in function.

If the {insects} and the {shop assistants} operated by the same principles, they would rigidly adhere to their designated roles. Which meant that, terrifying as they were, the creatures might not pose an immediate threat. Even if they did attack humans, it would follow a predictable pattern. It was unlikely they’d suddenly swarm the door.
With that thought, Qi Xia slowly lowered himself to the floor, stretching his stiff limbs. His calm demeanor seemed to ease the others; they followed suit, though their expressions remained tense.
"Qi Xia… what should we do?" Lin Qin asked, uncertainty trembling in her voice.

Qi Xia, deep in thought, touched his chin before replying, "Sleep."
"Sleep?"
"Yes, rest for a bit, conserve energy," Qi Xia said calmly. He found a relatively clean wooden board and laid it beside Lin Qin. "We’ll set out at dawn to find Officer Li."

"But… those things outside the door…" Lin Qin’s fear was evident.
"Don’t worry," Qi Xia reassured her with an indifferent tone. "They won’t come in. As long as we stay inside, there’s no immediate danger."
Lin Qin nodded hesitantly, like a child seeking comfort, and lay down, trying to find rest despite the night's horrors.

Qi Xia walked to a corner, grabbed a clean wooden board, and covered the pot before sitting on the board to weigh it down.
Xiao Ran and Doctor Zhao exchanged uneasy glances, their apprehension plain as they watched Qi Xia and Lin Qin.
How could anyone think of sleeping at a time like this?

Even if they pushed aside their fear of the insects, Xiao Ran remained suspicious of Qi Xia. His earlier confession about defrauding two million still tainted his character in her eyes.
Xiao Ran’s thoughts spiraled with paranoia. If she closed her eyes, would she even wake up? How could she trust him enough to sleep now?
Qi Xia paid no mind to their wary stares. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes—their distrust meant nothing to him.

Lin Qin, observing Qi Xia, felt a twinge of sympathy. She shuffled closer and said, "Qi Xia, the board’s big enough for both of us. You can lie down too."
Qi Xia lifted his eyelids. "No, I’m used to sleeping while sitting."
"Sitting?" Lin Qin thought for a moment, then moved the board to his side and lay down. "Then sit next to me."

Qi Xia didn’t refuse. Among Xiao Ran and Doctor Zhao, Lin Qin left the better impression.
Lin Qin, lying on the board, glanced curiously at Qi Xia. "Why do you sleep sitting ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) up?"
Qi Xia raised his eyebrows, considering. "Sitting prevents me from {fully relaxing}, keeps my mind alert."

Lin Qin nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Have you always slept like this?"
"Yes."
"And… it’s been that way for years?"

Qi Xia, sensing the oddity in her questions, turned to face her. "Is this question really that important?"
Lin Qin hesitated, gathering her thoughts. "But you have a wife… Even when you're together, do you still sleep sitting up every night?"