Sleep became dangerous.
Xu Lin realized that quickly.
Because every time he closed his eyes
He saw things.
Things that didn't belong to him.
Or at least
That's what he kept telling himself.
White skies.
Endless light.
Voices echoing from far away.
And someone
Always someone
Reaching for him.
"…Lin Mo…"
Xu Lin woke up sharply.
Breathing hard.
Again.
The dream felt clearer now.
Too clear.
He pressed a hand against his forehead.
"…What's happening to me…"
No answer came.
Only silence.
But even silence felt different now.
Like something was listening.
The next few days passed strangely.
Xu Lin stopped sleeping properly.
Stopped focusing.
Stopped feeling normal.
Sometimes
He'd hear whispers.
Soft.
Unclear.
Other times
He'd see flashes.
Quick moments that vanished instantly.
A hand touching his face.
Chains breaking.
Blood on white robes.
And eyes.
Dark eyes
Watching him like he was everything.
Every single vision ended the same way.
Pain.
Sharp enough to make him gasp.
"…You look terrible."
Xu Lin blinked slowly.
His friend sat across from him
Concern obvious on his face.
"…Thanks."
"…I'm serious."
A pause.
"…You've been acting strange lately."
Xu Lin looked away.
Because how was he supposed to explain this?
That reality itself felt wrong now?
"…I'm fine."
"…That's a lie."
Silence.
Then
"…Did that guy come back?"
Xu Lin froze slightly.
Mo Xuan.
Even hearing his name in his thoughts
Felt dangerous.
"…No."
Another lie.
Because Mo Xuan never really left.
Xu Lin felt him constantly now.
Like a shadow following too closely.
Watching.
Waiting.
And somehow
That terrified him less than it should have.
That night
Rain fell heavily outside.
The city lights blurred beneath the storm.
Xu Lin stood near the window silently.
Unable to sleep again.
"…You should rest."
He didn't flinch this time.
"…You always appear without warning?"
Mo Xuan stepped out from the darkness slowly.
"…You're getting used to me."
"…That's not a good thing."
A faint smile appeared briefly.
Then disappeared.
Xu Lin looked at him carefully.
"…You look better."
"…Disappointed?"
"…Annoyingly alive."
For the first time
A quiet laugh escaped Mo Xuan.
Low.
Soft.
And strangely
Human.
Xu Lin's chest tightened unexpectedly.
Dangerous.
Everything about this felt dangerous.
"…Tell me something honestly."
Mo Xuan looked at him.
"…Do you hate me?"
The question came out quieter than expected.
Real.
Silence followed.
Long enough to hurt.
Then
"…I tried to."
Xu Lin froze.
Because that answer
Was worse than hatred.
Mo Xuan stepped closer slowly.
"…It would've been easier if I did."
The rain grew louder outside.
Xu Lin's heartbeat followed it.
Fast.
Unsteady.
"…Then why didn't you?"
A pause.
Then
Very softly
"…Because you looked at me."
The words felt heavier than they should have.
Xu Lin's chest tightened painfully.
And suddenly
Another flash hit him.
Bright light
A younger voice laughing
White feathers scattered across the sky
And Mo Xuan
Standing beneath them.
Watching only him.
Xu Lin gasped sharply.
The vision vanished instantly.
"…What did you see?"
Mo Xuan noticed immediately.
Xu Lin stepped back slightly.
"…I don't know…"
But that wasn't true.
Because for the first time
The memory felt warm.
Not painful.
And somehow
That scared him more.
"…Xu Lin."
Mo Xuan's voice dropped lower.
Serious now.
"…Your memories are returning faster."
"…I don't want them."
Silence.
Then
"…You don't mean that."
Xu Lin looked away immediately.
Because maybe
Just maybe
Mo Xuan was right.
A sudden pressure filled the room.
Cold.
Sharp.
Different from before.
Mo Xuan's expression darkened instantly.
"…What now?"
No answer.
But outside
The rain stopped unnaturally fast.
Silence swallowed the city.
And then
A voice echoed softly through the darkness.
"…We finally found you."
Xu Lin's blood ran cold.
Because this time
The voice wasn't coming from Heaven.
And for the first time
Mo Xuan looked genuinely alarmed.
Some memories return with pain…
Others return with the enemies buried beside them. 🖤🔥