The man looked at road and replied,"They're the ones who took them."Han Yi's expression hardened.He looked at Cai Lang.Cai Lang was already staring toward the road.A faint light appeared through the rain in the distance.A car was approaching slowly.Han Yi whispered, "Everyone move behind the containers." Zheng Rui helped the injured man up."What about him?"Han Yi looked at the man's pale face."We take him with us."Cai Lang stepped forward and took the man's other arm."He won't make it far alone."Lian Ziho looked toward the approaching headlights."Then we better move."They disappeared behind the row of containers just as the car reached the service road.
The headlights swept across the empty road.The injured man suddenly tightened his grip on Cai Lang's sleeve."Don't let them see me."Cai Lang looked at him."They won't." The car stopped and engine remained running.For several seconds, nobody moved then the driver's door opened. han Yi watched from the darkness as a man stepped out and looked directly toward the warehouse.Then he slowly turned his head toward the exact place where Han Yi and the others were hiding. Han Yi's hand tightened around his gun.The injured man whispered"He knows you're here."
Han Yi's fingers tightened around his gun. Everyone remained completely still.The stranger standing beside the car slowly turned toward the row of containers.His eyes moved across the darkness.He took one step forward.His shoes sank into the mud with a wet sound that seemed impossibly loud in the silence.Qin Yue held her breath.Zheng Rui slowly shifted his weight,ready to react if the man found them.Cai Lang remained motionless beside the injured witness,but his hand had already moved closer to his gun.
The stranger stopped directly in front of the first container. He looked down at the ground and noticed footprint was clearly visible in the mud.His expression changed slightly.He crouched and touched it with two fingers. The driver looked toward him."Someone came through here?"The stranger slowly stood."Someone who doesn't want to be seen."He looked toward the containers. "Stay here."The driver frowned."Should I call anyone?"The stranger shook his head."Not yet.I'll check first."
Han Yi's eyes narrowed.The stranger stood and followed the footprints.They led straight toward the containers.He walked slowly, without any hesitation.Qin Yue's heartbeat became louder in her ears.He's coming here...She glanced toward Han Yi.Han Yi gave her a silent warning not to move.The stranger reached the end of the first container.Then he turned the corner.The narrow passage between the containers was only a few meters away from them.He was getting closer.
Cai Lang's eyes hardened.The injured man suddenly began trembling.His breathing became faster.Han Yi noticed and immediately covered the man's mouth.The stranger stopped."Who's there?"Nobody answered. He took another step forward and faint metallic creak came from his shoe.The stranger looked down.Then his eyes slowly lifted toward the darkness where Han Yi and the others were hiding.He reached toward his waist.
Han Yi's entire body tensed.His hand moved toward his gun.The stranger took one more step.The distance between them was barely a few meters.Qin Yue's finger rested against the trigger.Zheng Rui prepared himself.Cai Lang shifted slightly,ready to move.But before the stranger could reach the end of the passage,a deafening alarm suddenly exploded from inside the warehouse.
Everyone flinched and stranger immediately turned his head toward the building.Red emergency lights began flashing through the warehouse windows.A second alarm joined the first then another.The stranger stared at the warehouse,his expression tightening. "What the hell is happening?"He took a step forward,then stopped and looked back toward the containers."No..."He glanced at the fresh footprints again."Not now."His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the warehouse entrance."If someone triggered that alarm,they're trying to pull me away."He hesitated for a moment."But why?"The alarm continued blaring.The stranger clenched his jaw."Damn it."He looked once more toward the containers."I'll check this later."He turned toward the warehouse. "Whoever you are,don't think you're getting away."Han Yi remained still until the man disappeared from sight.
The injured witness finally breathed again. Qin Yue whispered,"What was that?"Han Yi slowly lowered his weapon."I don't know." Cai Lang looked toward the warehouse. "Someone triggered the alarm."Lian Ziho frowned."Who?"Nobody answered.Then they heard boy's scream echoed from inside the warehouse."HELP!"Lian Ziho's face changed instantly."Jun Wei!"He started forward,but Han Yi caught his arm."Wait!" Another scream came from deeper inside. "PLEASE!"The injured witness suddenly grabbed Cai Lang's sleeve with surprising strength."Don't go in!"Cai Lang looked down at him."Why?"The man's face was filled with terror."That's what they want."
Han Yi stared at him."What do you mean?" The witness shook his head desperately. "The alarm...the scream...all of it."He looked toward the warehouse."They want you to enter."Qin Yue's expression tightened."Then what happens if we don't?"The witness's eyes slowly shifted toward the dark passage behind them."Then..."He swallowed hard. "They'll come looking for you instead."A sudden metallic sound came from behind them.
Everyone turned.The service road behind them was empty.But from somewhere in the darkness came the slow sound of footsteps. Someone was walking toward them.The injured man's face went completely pale. "They're here."Han Yi was ready to shoot. "Everyone stay together."Another step echoed through the rain then another.Cai Lang slowly looked toward the warehouse, and then toward the darkness behind them. "We're being pushed from both sides."
Han Yi's expression hardened."Then we have one choice."Qin Yue looked at him. "Which one?"Han Yi looked toward the warehouse where Jun Wei's scream had just echoed again."We go inside." Lian Ziho immediately moved forward."Then move." Han Yi caught his arm."Wait."Lian Ziho turned sharply."What now?"Han Yi pointed toward the darkness behind them."We don't know who's back there."Qin Yue looked over her shoulder."And we don't know if they're following us."
Zheng Rui adjusted his glasses."Standing here isn't helping either."Han Yi nodded."I know."He looked at the warehouse entrance. "That's why we're going in,but nobody runs ahead."Lian Ziho pulled his arm free."Fine. I'll stay with you."Cai Lang looked at the injured man."Can he walk?"Zheng Rui helped him up."Barely."The man winced and grabbed Zheng Rui's shoulder."I can walk." Qin Yue frowned."You don't look like you can."He forced himself upright."If I stay here,they'll find me."
Han Yi looked at him for a moment."Then stay close."A sound suddenly came from the road behind them.Everyone turned.Another slow step echoed through the rain.Lian Ziho whispered,"They're coming."Han Yi looked toward the darkness."I know."Qin Yue glanced at him."Shouldn't we hide?"Han Yi shook his head."We've already been seen." Cai Lang looked toward the warehouse. "Then standing outside is worse."Han Yi nodded."We need to move immediately. Don't waste your time in chatting."
They entered the warehouse together.The door remained open behind them.For a few seconds,nobody spoke.The rain sounded distant now,and the huge empty building seemed strangely quiet.Qin Yue looked around."Where did that voice come from?" Lian Ziho pointed toward the left."I heard it from there."Han Yi shook his head."I heard it from the right."Zheng Rui frowned."I heard it straight ahead."
Qin Yue looked at all three of them."So...we all heard it from somewhere different?"Han Yi's expression tightened."Looks like it."Cai Lang suddenly said,"Echo."Han Yi looked at him."You think?"Cai Lang nodded toward the ceiling.Qin Yue sighed quietly."Great.So even the building is working against us."Lian Ziho looked around impatiently."Can we figure out where Jun Wei actually is?"Han Yi raised his flashlight."We start with the last place we heard him."
They moved forward slowly.The beam of Han Yi's flashlight passed over machinery, wooden crates,and rows of metal containers then Qin Yue stopped. "Captain."Han Yi turned."What?"She pointed toward the floor.There was a small object near a container.Han Yi crouched and picked it up.It was a fox keychain.Lian Ziho immediately recognized it."That's Jun Wei's."His voice changed."Are you sure?" Qin Yue asked."Yes,I was the one who gave him this keychain."
Han Yi looked at the keychain,then toward the dark corridor ahead."Then we're going the right way."Cai Lang suddenly looked toward the ceiling."Wait."Everyone stopped. "What?"Qin Yue asked.Cai Lang pointed upward."Listen."They stood silently and faint sound came from somewhere above them. Lian Ziho looked up."Someone's there?" Han Yi raised his flashlight toward the steel beams but there was nothing.The sound came again."Could be the ventilation?" Zheng Rui said."Maybe!"Han Yi replied."But don't assume that."
Qin Yue looked at him. "You really don't like saying 'maybe',do you?"Han Yi gave her a brief look."Not tonight."Then something dropped from above.It hit the floor several meters away with a sharp clink.Everyone raised their weapons.Han Yi whispered, "Nobody move."Qin Yue stared at the object."What is that?"Han Yi approached.It was a keycard.He picked it up and looked at the name printed on it.His expression changed."What?"Qin Yue asked.Han Yi didn't answer immediately.He turned the card over.There was a warehouse number written on the back.
The injured man saw it and suddenly went pale."No..."Cai Lang looked at him."What?" The man shook his head."Don't go there." Lian Ziho frowned."Why?"The man stared at the number."Because that's where they take people when they don't want them to come back." Han Yi looked at the keycard in his hand,then at the frightened expression on the injured man's face."You know this place?"The man hesitated."I know what it is."Lian Ziho stepped closer."Then stop speaking in pieces and tell us."
The man looked toward the dark corridor."It used to be a private storage area.There were rooms underneath it."Qin Yue frowned. "Underneath?"He nodded."A basement." Han Yi's eyes narrowed."How do we get there?"The man pointed toward the far end of the warehouse."There's an old service entrance."Cai Lang immediately looked in that direction."That door?"The man nodded. "It used to connect to the loading road."Han Yi looked at Cai Lang."You know it?"Cai Lang's gaze remained fixed on the door."I saw it on the old property plans."Lian Ziho frowned."And you didn't mention it?"Cai Lang glanced at him."We didn't know this building was connected to the footage."Han Yi cut in before the argument could begin. "Save it.Let's move."
They crossed the warehouse slowly.The farther they went,the more old everything looked.Dust covered the floor,but a narrow section near the wall was strangely clean. Qin Yue noticed it."Someone uses this passage."Han Yi crouched beside the marks."Recently."Lian Ziho looked around. "Then why does everything else look abandoned?"Cai Lang answered quietly, "Because they don't want anyone to know this place is being used."They reached an old metal door.
Cai Lang took the keycard from Han Yi."Let me."He pressed it against the reader. Nothing happened.He tried again and faint green light appeared.The lock clicked.Qin Yue exhaled."Finally."Cai Lang pushed the door open,but stopped before stepping through.He looked inside."Clear."Han Yi nodded."One at a time."Zheng Rui helped the injured witness through first.Qin Yue followed,then Han Yi,Lian Ziho,and Cai Lang.The passage beyond was narrow and poorly lit.Pipes ran along the ceiling,and water dripped steadily somewhere in the darkness.
Lian Ziho looked around."This place is creepy."Qin Yue glanced at him."You just noticed?"He gave her a look.Han Yi looked back at them."Keep your voices down."Qin Yue immediately lowered her voice."Sorry." They continued deeper into the passage. After several meters,Qin Yue noticed a faint blue light coming from an open doorway.She stopped."Captain."Han Yi turned."What?". She pointed."There."
They approached carefully.Inside the small room there was an old surveillance desk. Several monitors were stacked across it. Most were dark,but one screen was still active.A live camera feed showed another section of the warehouse.Qin Yue stared at it."This is recent."Han Yi stepped closer. "How recent?"She looked at the timestamp. "Less than two minutes."Lian Ziho's expression changed."So they're still here."
Cai Lang studied the screen."Yes."Zheng Rui looked toward the passage. "Then why would they leave this running?"
Han Yi didn't answer immediately.Qin Yue leaned closer to the monitor."Wait."She pointed at the screen."Look."A shadow moved across one of the cameras.They all froze.Qin Yue whispered,"Someone just walked past."Lian Ziho immediately reached for his weapon."Where?"Qin Yue checked the camera number."Camera twelve."Han Yi looked around the room."Can we see where camera twelve is?"Cai Lang pointed at the monitor."That corridor."Han Yi followed his finger."How far?"Cai Lang's expression hardened."Not far."A second shadow appeared on the screen and this time it stopped directly under the camera.
Qin Yue's breathing caught."They stopped." Han Yi stared at the monitor."They know the camera is here."The figure slowly lifted its head toward the camera.For a moment,the face remained hidden by darkness.Then the screen suddenly went black.Qin Yue stepped back."They cut it."Cai Lang looked toward the doorway."No.They're coming here."A faint sound of footsteps came from warehouse.
Han Yi immediately turned off the monitor. Qin Yue whispered,"How many?"Cai Lang listened."I can't tell."Zheng Rui looked toward the injured witness."We can't fight in this room."Han Yi nodded."We won't."Lian Ziho looked at the doorway."Then where do we go?"Han Yi pointed toward a second door at the back of the room."There."Qin Yue looked at it."You think there's another exit?"Han Yi opened it slightly and looked through the gap."I hope so."The footsteps outside became louder. Someone stopped directly outside the surveillance room.The handle slowly began to move.Han Yi whispered to everyone, "Nobody makes a sound."The handle turned another inch.Cai Lang positioned himself beside the door.Qin Yue moved behind Han Yi.Zheng Rui kept the injured witness close to the wall.The door began to open.Han Yi's eyes hardened.
The door opened halfway and dark figure appeared in the narrow gap.Han Yi's eyes hardened.The figure didn't enter.Instead,it remained there,completely still,as if listening.Han Yi shifted his weight, ready to react if the door opened any farther.Cai Lang glanced at him.Han Yi gave him a silent warning to wait.The figure suddenly leaned closer.A faint beam of light swept across the room.The light passed over the turned-off monitor,then moved toward the floor.The injured witness held his breath.Qin Yue's eyes widened.The beam stopped near the wall where they were hiding.For one second, nobody moved.Then a loud metallic crash suddenly came from somewhere farther down the corridor.
The figure immediately turned its head. "What was that?"another voice called from outside."Check the other side!"The figure hesitated,then pulled the door almost shut and hurried away.The door remained half-open for several seconds.Han Yi waited until the sound disappeared."Go."Cai Lang quietly pulled the door open.Qin Yue stepped through first and checked both sides."Clear."Zheng Rui followed with the injured witness.Han Yi came last and carefully closed the door behind them.They moved through the narrow passage, checking every doorway as they went.
The first room was empty except for broken chairs and old boxes.The second contained nothing but rusted equipment.The third had several fresh footprints across the dusty floor.Qin Yue crouched beside them."These weren't here long."Han Yi looked down. "How many?"She counted quickly."At least four people.Maybe more."Lian Ziho looked toward the corridor."And they're somewhere around us."Zheng Rui quietly asked,"Should we go back?"Han Yi shook his head."No. We're already inside.If we retreat now,we could walk straight into them."Cai Lang glanced toward the next doorway."Then we keep going."
They continued.The building seemed to become more confusing with every room. Some corridors connected to others, and several doors had been deliberately left open.Han Yi kept checking behind them while Qin Yue marked their route in her mind.Lian Ziho suddenly stopped."Wait." Everyone turned."What?"He pointed toward the small strip of tape was stuck near the wall."That's fresh."Qin Yue looked at it. "Someone marked the route."Han Yi's expression tightened."Then we're getting close."
They moved again,slower this time and faint sound reached them from somewhere ahead.It was sound of chair scraping against concrete.Lian Ziho's expression changed. "Someone's there."Han Yi raised his hand. "Quiet."They approached the partially open door at the end of the corridor.Han Yi stopped beside it and looked through the narrow opening.At first,he saw only darkness then the emergency light flickered.He saw suo ran and Jun wei were sitting in the middle of the room,bound tightly to separate chairs.Their hands were tied behind them and tape covered their mouths.The light flickered again and Jun Wei's face became more visible.He looked exhausted and frightened,but he was conscious.
Beside him sat Suo Ran,his head lowered slightly.Lian Ziho saw them over Han Yi's shoulder.His breathing caught."Jun Wei..." He instinctively stepped forward.Han Yi immediately grabbed his arm."What are you doing?"Lian Ziho looked at him in disbelief. "He's there."His voice dropped,but the urgency in it was obvious."I can see him." Han Yi kept his grip firm."Then don't make him the easiest target in this room."
Lian Ziho glanced toward Jun Wei again. "He's tied to a chair,Han Yi.How am I supposed to just stand here?"Han Yi's expression hardened."By remembering that the people who did this may still be watching."Qin Yue moved closer and looked through the gap."He's right.We don't know if there are cameras,trip wires,or someone waiting for us to enter." Lian Ziho turned sharply toward him."They're right in front of us,and you're telling me to wait?"His voice rose despite his attempt to keep it low."What exactly are you trying to do?Stand here and watch them?"
Han Yi stepped closer."I'm trying to make sure you don't rush through that door and give whoever is watching exactly what they want."Lian Ziho pointed toward the room. "Look at Jun Wei.He's terrified.How long do you expect me to wait?"Han Yi's voice remained firm."Until we know what we're walking into."Lian Ziho shook his head in frustration."We already know what's in there. "Cai Lang suddenly spoke from behind him. "No.We know what's visible."
Lian Ziho turned toward him."And what's the difference?"Cai Lang's expression remained cold."The difference is that you only see Suo Ran and Jun Wei.You don't see the people who put them there."Lian Ziho's eyes hardened."Don't start."Cai Lang stepped closer."I'm not starting anything.I'm stopping you from making the same mistake again." Lian Ziho stared at him."You think I don't know they're dangerous?"Cai Lang's jaw tightened."I think you're too angry to think clearly."
Lian Ziho gave a bitter laugh."Of course.And you're perfectly calm?"Cai Lang looked toward Suo Ran through the gap."No."His voice dropped."I'm controlling it."Lian Ziho went silent for a moment.Cai Lang continued,"Because if I lose control now, Suо Ran pays for it."Lian Ziho's expression faltered,but his frustration remained."You think I don't care what happens to him?"Cai Lang looked directly at him."Then act like it."Lian Ziho's fists tightened."Don't tell me how to care about them."
Cai Lang's eyes became colder."Then don't make me tell you how to save them."Han Yi stepped between them before the argument could grow louder."Enough.Both of you."He looked toward the room."They're still alive.We have time,but we don't have the luxury of wasting it."Lian Ziho clenched his jaw."So what do we do?Leave them sitting there?"Qin Yue shook her head."No. We make sure we can get them out before we touch that door."
Zheng Rui quietly looked behind them. "Then we check every exit first."Han Yi nodded."Exactly.Nobody enters that room until we know what's around it."Lian Ziho took a slow breath and forced himself to step back.Han Yi looked at him.Qin Yue moved toward the left corridor while Zheng Rui checked the opposite side.Cai Lang stood outside room,his eyes fixed on Suo Ran. The emergency light flickered across the room,and for a few seconds everything remained completely still.Then a faint metallic sound came from somewhere behind Cai Lang.
Suo Ran's eyes moved toward the sound. His head lifted slowly.For a moment,he only saw the dark doorway then the light flickered again,and Cai Lang's figure appeared.Suo Ran froze.His eyes widened slightly,as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.Cai Lang noticed the sudden change in his expression and turned his head.Their eyes met.For several seconds,neither of them moved.Cai Lang's gaze shifted to Suo Ran's tied wrists,the tape over his mouth,the bruises on his face.His jaw tightened.
Suo Ran's eyes softened for only a second then the softness disappeared,and he immediately shook his head.Cai Lang frowned."What?"His voice was barely audible.Suo Ran shook his head again.He looked toward the corridor,then back at Cai Lang.Cai Lang's eyes narrowed."You want me to leave?"Suo Ran gave a small nod.Cai Lang stared at him for a moment."After I spent all this time looking for you?"Suo Ran's eyes tightened.He shook his head again,more urgently.
Cai Lang's expression became colder."No." Suo Ran stared at him.Cai Lang took one slow step forward."I'm not leaving."Suo Ran's breathing became faster.He looked toward the corridor again.Cai Lang understood that something was wrong. "Someone is coming?"Suo Ran couldn't.He only kept looking at him.Cai Lang lowered his voice."Then look at me."
Suo Ran's eyes returned to his.Cai Lang held his gaze."You're safe for now."Suo Ran's expression changed slightly.Cai Lang glanced at Jun Wei,then back at him."I'll get you both out."Suo Ran shook his head.Cai Lang's eyes hardened."Stop doing that."Suo Ran stared at him.Cai Lang continued,"You always do this.You get hurt,and then you worry about everyone except yourself."
Suo Ran's eyes narrowed as if he wanted to argue.Cai Lang almost smiled,but there was no warmth in his voice."Yes.I know you're angry with me."Suo Ran froze for a moment. Cai Lang's gaze remained steady."You can be angry later."He glanced at the restraints around Suo Ran's wrists."Right now,you just need to stay alive."Suo Ran looked at him for several seconds yhen his gaze dropped. Cai Lang's voice softened slightly."I know what you're trying to say."
Suo Ran looked back at him.Cai Lang pointed toward himself."You don't want me here."Then he pointed toward the corridor. "Because you think they'll come back."Suo Ran nodded.Cai Lang shook his head,"I'm already here."Suo Ran stared at him.Cai Lang's eyes softened."So stop worrying about me."Suo Ran looked away.Cai Lang added quietly,"You can yell at me after I cut those ropes."Suo Ran glanced back at him,his eyes carrying a tired mixture of disbelief and irritation."That look hasn't changed."
Suo Ran raised an eyebrow.Cai Lang's gaze lingered on him."I missed it more than I should have."Suo Ran stared at him for a moment,then slowly looked away,as if refusing to let Cai Lang see the effect of those words.Cai Lang noticed anyway."Still avoiding me?"Suo Ran glanced back at him with a tired,warning look.Cai Lang's expression softened slightly."Fine.I'll wait until you're free."Suo Ran's eyes lingered on him before he looked away.Before Cai Lang continued sound came from the corridor.