She stepped over a corpse — eyes flicking to it, then away. I then remembered that Zhou Xue mentioned her being sick and having to take medicine.
Her face looked pale and oozed with a thick sweat.
"Do you need medication?"
She tapped her sweater pocket — a soft jingle from a small bottle inside.
"Enough for today. Maybe tomorrow."
Her voice didn't waver.
Didn't complain.
I nodded once.
She moved to my side without waiting for permission. Still breathing slowly. Still holding her chest like a sheep cradling its silence.
I started toward the hallway again.
We had minutes at best. Maybe less.
Liang Mei followed.
She didn't ask where we were going.
Didn't ask if it was safe.
Just said, softly:
"Don't leave without warning. Some of us scare more easily than you do."
I glanced sideways.
She didn't smile when she said it.
But somehow, it still felt like a pillow to the back of the head.
I didn't answer her.
