“I asked him whether the people in Black Stone Town would age and die like those in real life,” Jiang Cheng continued, “And he told me yes.”
Chen Ran looked at Fatty and chuckled, “I can verify what Brother Hao said.” He tossed the dry torch behind him and patted away the ash on his hands. “I heard that too.”
Fatty tried to digest their words. A few seconds later, his face darkened. “So…” Fatty’s eyes widened with fear. “The mayor and the rest… They are already…”
“They didn’t escape from those things like the mayor claimed…” Jiang Cheng paused to figure out the right term. “Assimilation.” He glanced at Fatty. “Yes. None of them have managed to escape their friends and family who had been revived. They were killed, placed on the altar and were revived. They retain their memories, so they continue to live in Black Stone Town,” He resumed, “Just like when they were still alive.
“The difference is they will never grow old. Their lives are frozen in the last moments of their lives.”
“They can never escape from the city on the sea.” Su Xiaoxiao looked out the window. “The place is a prison for them.”
Fatty’s brain stopped because this was too much information. After a while, he turned to the door and asked blurrily, “So… Keeping the lighthouse burning will not aid us to escape the nightmare, will it?
“That is only beneficial to them from the Black Stone Town!” Fatty hissed, “They’ve lied to us!”
“We still can’t confirm whether the flame in the lighthouse can help us escape the nightmare or not. However, one thing is certain. Doing this is definitely beneficial to Black Stone Town.” Jiang Cheng glanced at the city on the sea. It was covered in lights. It appeared very lively.
The ‘night’ outside the window was like a swatch of ink.
After a long day, Jiang Cheng returned to his old spot and leaned against the wall to rest.
Fatty astutely came over. His large body rolled into a ball. “Doctor, you can go to sleep. I’ll stay guard for the night.”
“Go to sleep.” Jiang Cheng answered without opening his eyes. “The sky will brighten in another 2 to 3 hours. I’ll sleep when the sky is bright.”
“Then… thank you, Doctor.”
Fatty didn’t stand on ceremony. Since the Doctor told him to sleep, he would sleep. He would never go against the Doctor’s words in the nightmare realm. Fatty chose a spot close to the Doctor to ensure that the Doctor could see him at all times, especially his neck and back.
His jacket had been shredded to make bandages for Su An. All he could do was to curl up as small as possible. Thankfully, the flames kept the room warm. To be honest, Fatty also didn’t want the flames to go out.
He laid down and realised his head faced Chen Ran. His body was hidden in the darkness, which the flames couldn’t reach. Fatty couldn’t tell if the man was asleep… or staring at him. Why would Chen Ran stare at him? The Doctor was a better choice.
Fatty swallowed nervously. His body turned around involuntarily so that he wouldn’t face Chen Ran. However, the next second, he caught another gaze from the corner of his eyes. When he realised that, Fatty shivered involuntarily. It was a bodily reaction. It was like a natural instinct a prey had when in the surroundings of its predator.
A face slowly reached out of the dark.
The aged woman’s bloodshot eyes stared at him. Then, a ruby-red tongue reached out of her lips. It licked around the lips.
That night, Fatty squeezed up to the Doctor. He realised why the Doctor wouldn’t fall asleep. If he did, the aged woman, Chen Ran and Su Xiaoxiao could easily take advantage of that. If they wanted to harm them, Fatty and the Doctor’s heads would easily roll.
Fatty had many strange dreams that night. Some of them were absurd. He dreamed of a pure white giant stone path. People surrounded it as they chanted something. Boiling blood was splashed on the plate. It was glaringly red.
A strange painting was carved on the plate. The fresh blood flowed through the grooves, making the painting look clearer. Slowly, his eyes widened. This was a creature he had not seen before.
Just as the painting was about to be completed, Fatty was smacked awake. He shuddered. The person who woke him up lay down unceremoniously.
“Wake me up in two hours.” Jiang Cheng closed his eyes. He cushioned his head on his arms. “Stay here. Don’t go anywhere.”
Fatty did his best to stay beside Jiang Cheng. When it was about time, he patted Jiang Cheng, “Doctor, it’s time to wake up.”
Fatty called him three times before Jiang Cheng opened his eyes. After that, Jiang Cheng slowly sat up. After a while, he stood up and moved his limbs. Fatty suddenly pitied the Doctor. He was clearly tired. His eyes had some blood vessels in them.
“Where are they?” Jiang Cheng looked around.
Only the aged woman and Su An, who was still weakened but awake, remained. The latter leaned at the corner. His large eyes kept studying Jiang Cheng.
Su Xiaoxiao and Chen Ran… were gone.
“Doctor,” Fatty said softly, “They said they were going around to look for clues. They told us to stay behind to look after the fire and… Su An and that woman.”