A cold breeze seeps under the door. A rustling outside — not footsteps, but something dragging, wet and slow
lee wanxia
(sitting near the fire, half-asleep)
....The flames feel wrong… like they’re not warm enough tonight
jiangshi
(sitting beside him, calm and still)
Because they know what’s watching.
lee wanxia
(rubbing his eyes)
My head… it’s pounding
(winces)
Flashes—faces—mine, but not mine.
jiangshi
(turns to him, voice low)
You’re remembering...
lee wanxia
(voice unsteady)
I saw... blood on the walls. Me, standing in the river. Your voice calling me from the fog.
(whispers)
And... something wearing my face, laughing...
jiangshi
(eyes darken)
The 12th loop.
(quietly)
That one ended with fire..
Fire pops loudly. One of the windows shudders—tap, tap, tap. Like fingers… or claws.
lee wanxia
(stands abruptly)
How do you know all this? Are you cursed to remember everything?
jiangshi
(smirks faintly)
A curse?
No.
(pauses)
A choice.
lee wanxia
(staring)
You chose to stay inside this loop?
jiangshi
(voice soft, distant)
I chose you.
And fate, in its cruelty, wrapped you in time.
(eyes flicker)
So I entered it willingly. Loop after loop... until you looked at me the same way again
Window cracks—just a line. A faint whisper through it: “Waaaanxiaaaa...” The voice is twisted, drawn out.
lee wanxia
(turns, startled)
That... was my voice..
jiangshi
(calm, stands up slowly)
don't press you brain
Ignore it...
(voice sharp)
That thing outside is a memory we should’ve buried
lee wanxia
(quietly)
How do I fight something that remembers me better than I do?
jiangshi
(steps closer)
You don’t.
(gently places a hand on Wanxia’s cheek)
You just have to trust me.
A beat of silence. The world holds its breath...
lee wanxia
(softly)
That’s the problem
(looks up)
I think I’m starting to...
Sudden gust of wind — one candle goes out. A figure appears at the window. It looks like Wanxia… but its eyes are empty black voids...
someone
(muffled voice)
Let me in. I’m cold, I am doctor lee wanxia... I need your warmth again...
Environment get tensed surrounding wanxia....
lee wanxia
(freezes)
That’s not me...
jiangshi
(steps forward)
yes
It’s your grief... with canine...
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