Work Text:
Why did he suddenly come back? He hadn’t clapped, yet. The last thing he saw was Emma-
He tried not remembering what he had just witnessed.
Still kneeling on the ground, he surveyed the room.
No.
No, no, no.
This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening.
Lu Guang. On the sofa. With blood.
Why was Lu Guang laying on the sofa, covered in blood?
What had happened while he was still inside the picture?
With his chest heaving up and down, Cheng Xiaoshi looked to his right.
Qiao Ling. Wait, no. There was something different about her. Maybe it was the way she was standing, or how her eyes glowed a dangerous red, but everything about her was screaming to not go near her.
Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes roamed her body, trying to find out what was wrong. Suddenly, he saw it. She was holding a knife that was covered in blood.
Lu Guang’s blood.
“Qiao Ling!” he called out, but of course, it wasn't Qiao Ling. It was her body, but it was not her.
“This is your punishment for breaking the rules of the game.”
Cheng Xiaoshi looked at her, horrified. Game? It wasn't the mysterious man from before, was it? No, it couldn't be, but then, who else?
He couldn't breathe, his chest hurt, and from the corner of his eye he couldn't see any movement from Lu Guang.
“Now, the game has been reset,” the person controlling Qiao Ling said.
Cheng Xiaoshi couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and launched at her, trying to take the knife from her hand.
She swung her arm, trying to stab Cheng Xiaoshi, but he was faster. He dodged and grabbed the knife from her. Suddenly, he wasn't being glared at by red eyes, but by scared, black eyes. Qiao Ling was back.
Qiao Ling took a couple steps back, but before she could do anything, Cheng Xiaoshi screamed, “Qiao Ling! Call an ambulance!”
“But-” Qiao Ling began to say, confused and scared, but Cheng Xiaoshi interrupted her.
“Now! Please!”
Cheng Xiaoshi saw as Qiao Ling immediately began looking for her phone, leaving the living room in order to do so.
Cheng Xiaoshi ran towards the sofa.
“Lu Guang, can you hear me?” Cheng Xiaoshi was breathing hard, feeling tears beginning to fall on his face.
He checked Lu Guang for a pulse. It was barely there.
He vaguely registered when Qiao Ling entered the living room and said, “They’re on their way.”
“I’m here, Lu,” he grabbed Lu Guang’s hand, and squeezed it. “Please don't leave me,” Cheng Xiaoshi whispered, again and again. “You can’t leave me. Please don't leave me. Please, Lu. Please. Don't leave me. You can't leave me.”
Minutes later, the ambulance and the police arrived.
The ambulance took Lu Guang to save him. The police took Cheng Xiaoshi to interrogate him.
As Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling were being interrogated, the policeman got a call.
Cheng Xiaoshi took a deep breath.
Lu Guang, please don't leave me. You can't leave me. Please, Lu?
“Cheng Xiaoshi, Qiao Ling,” the policeman grabbed their attention, putting his phone down.
“Yes?” Qiao Ling asked, fear in her voice. Cheng Xiaoshi just listened, not looking at him.
“Lu Guang… did not survive.”
Cheng Xiaoshi looked up, and saw the policeman gain red eyes and smirk momentarily, but he blinked and it was gone.
Cheng Xiaoshi screamed, pulling at his hair.
He screamed and cried, hitting the table in front of him repeatedly.
“You said you would never leave me,” Cheng Xiaoshi whispered. “Why did you leave me?”
“It wasn't your fault,” Qiao Ling reassured him.
Suddenly, something inside him clicked.
She's right. It’s all that man’s fault, not his.
Cheng Xiaoshi breathed hard.
He would get Lu Guang back. He would kill the man who did this.
He would.
The game really had just begun.