Escape from the Lost Paradise

Parallel world, Los City.

“Hush, don’t make a sound, little sister! It could mean death!”

On a night of thunder, lightning, and stifling heat, the rain brought not relief, but a heightened sense of danger. Xi Yan and his younger sister, Xi Lin, cowered in the corner of an abandoned building. Xi Yan held his little sister tightly as Xi Lin trembled in terror.

A sudden flash of lightning outside illuminated their hiding place. Before them stood a figure—once human, now rotten and decayed—staring straight at them.

“Brother…”

“Run, Linlin!”

Grabbing her hand, Xi Yan pulled Xi Lin into a desperate flight, the grotesque creature lumbering after them, mumbling words that were barely intelligible. Yet Xi Yan could still make out the meaning of its speech.

“Don’t run, my delicious ones. It’s me, Uncle Chen from next door…”

The bizarre voice echoed in their ears. Xi Lin sobbed in terror as she ran, and at last, they burst into a room with only a single iron door—perhaps some kind of storeroom for the building.

“Brother, are we going to die here?” she whimpered.

Xi Lin was seven years younger than Xi Yan, who was himself only a nineteen-year-old boy.

“Don’t be afraid. Stay here and lock the door tight. I’ll lure the monster away.” Xi Yan patted her head gently and was about to leave, but Xi Lin grabbed his arm.

“Brother… please, don’t let anything happen to you…”

Xi Yan turned, giving her a fond, reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, silly girl. I still have to look after you.”

With that, Xi Yan left the