TDU Chapter 56: Sitting

Chapter 56 Sitting

As Xiao Ran's scream began to rise, Doctor Zhao swiftly clamped a hand over her mouth, muffling her cry into a stifled groan.

The silence was suffocating as the four of them stood frozen, eyes wide with terror, fixated on the grotesque figure before them. Doctor Zhao, having followed them outside out of curiosity, was now rooted to the spot, his blood running cold at the sight of the bizarre creature.

The figure before them, resembling a cricket more than a {person}, moved with a nightmarish rhythm. He oscillated his hind legs with unnatural speed, pivoting erratically as if searching for something unseen. His emaciated body contorted in ways that defied human anatomy, and his two hollow eye sockets scanned the area, as if they could still see despite their emptiness.

The creature's neck twisted with inhuman speed, the range of motion so unnatural that it seemed as though his head might snap off at any moment. The rapid, insect-like movements sent waves of dread through the group, leaving them paralyzed in the oppressive darkness, desperately trying not to draw his attention.

A few seconds later, the {person} suddenly leaped into the air, springing towards the convenience store wall.

Qi Xia quickly raised the torch, its flickering light casting eerie shadows as he desperately tried to keep the figure in sight. He knew that in this oppressive darkness, losing sight of such a target could be fatal.

However, as the torchlight swept across the wall, Qi Xia, despite his confidence in his mental fortitude, nearly buckled under the weight of the horror that confronted him.

The wall was teeming with {people}—dozens of them, each as emaciated and grotesque as the first, their bodies moving with unsettling speed and coordination. They clung to the wall like insects, scuttling over its surface with a disjointed rhythm that made Qi Xia's skin crawl.

As the firelight flickered over the walls, the creatures seemed to react, scurrying back into the shadows, their movements eerily reminiscent of crickets, cockroaches, and spiders.

These beings bore little resemblance to humans.

A cold chill ran down Qi Xia's spine, and he felt the hairs on his body stand on end.

As he and Lin Qin navigated the dark path to the convenience store, they were enveloped by the persistent rustling of insects. The sound had been distant at times, and disturbingly close at others.

Now, the terrifying truth dawned on him.

They weren’t insects at all—they were {people}.

As the realization settled in, Qi Xia’s skin prickled with a cold sweat. The thought of having walked mere inches from those grotesque creatures, their presence hidden in the darkness, filled him with an indescribable dread that went beyond mere {aftershock}.

His breathing became shallow as he slowly turned, signaling to the others with a cautious wave.

They all understood the silent command and began to retreat.

Qi Xia, holding the torch tightly, kept his eyes fixed on the creatures clinging to the wall. He took deliberate, measured steps backward, guiding the others with him.

The four of them moved as one, each step painfully slow, their breaths held in fear of drawing attention. They dared not make a sound, inching back into the safety of the building with a quiet urgency.

These creatures appeared to have had their eyes gouged out, relying solely on sound to navigate. Thankfully, everyone understood that their survival depended on maintaining absolute silence, and not a single sound escaped their lips.

Once everyone made their way into the convenience store, Qi Xia quickly grabbed a wooden board and braced it against the closed door. The group continued their retreat until their backs were pressed against the far wall, its cold, mottled surface providing a small semblance of security.

Xiao Ran, her voice trembling, finally broke the silence. "What... what on earth are those things?"

"It's a person..." Doctor Zhao began, but then quickly shook his head, correcting himself, "No... no, human skeletal structure cannot accommodate such movements. They must be... insects..."

Qi Xia took a deep breath, his voice steady but laced with tension. "I heard these creaking and chirping sounds last night too, which means these things didn't just appear today—they've been here all along."

He turned to Lin Qin, his expression grave. "We were incredibly lucky we didn't step on any of them on our way here..."

Lin Qin nodded, her face pale with lingering fear. The shock of their narrow escape was still sinking in.

A heavy silence settled over the group.

Before witnessing this nightmarish scene, perhaps they could have found some rest in the darkness. But now, sleep was out of the question. They could only lean against the cold, rough wall, eyes locked on the door, dreading the possibility of those creatures breaking in at any moment.

The night, devoid of sleep and sound, dragged on interminably.

Everyone stood by the wall for half the night, their bodies aching from the strain. Their waists and legs were sore, fatigue weighing heavily on them.

As the hours crept by, they began to notice something peculiar. The {insects} outside the door, though unnerving, seemed to behave just like ordinary insects. Despite their grotesque appearance, they showed no intention of breaking into the brightly lit room.

Qi Xia tried to make sense of the strange phenomenon by applying the rules of this place. Despite their grotesque appearance—eyes perpetually bleeding and twisted inhuman forms—the creatures outside were, after all, just {insects}.

If the {insects} and the {shop assistants} were indeed manifestations of the same underlying principle, they would undoubtedly adhere to their designated roles with a certain rigor. This line of reasoning suggested that the insects outside, while terrifying, might not pose as grave a threat as initially feared. Even if they were inclined to attack humans, their actions would likely follow a predictable pattern; it was improbable for them to collectively attempt to force their way through the door.

With this thought in mind, Qi Xia slowly lowered himself to the floor, stretching his sore limbs. His deliberate calm seemed to have a reassuring effect; the other three followed suit, albeit with lingering tension etched on their faces.

"Qi Xia... what should we do?" Lin Qin asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Qi Xia, deep in thought, touched his chin before responding, "Sleep."

"Sleep?" 

"Yes, sleep for a while and conserve your energy," Qi Xia replied calmly. He found a relatively clean wooden board and laid it down beside Lin Qin. "We'll set out after dawn to find Officer Li."

"But... those things outside the door..." Lin Qin hesitated, her fear evident.

"Don't worry," Qi Xia reassured her with a nonchalant tone. "They won't come in. As long as we don't go out, there will be no danger for the time being."

Lin Qin nodded cautiously, almost like a child seeking comfort in his words, and then lay down, trying to find some semblance of rest in the midst of the night's terrors.

Qi Xia walked to a corner, found a clean wooden board, and used it to cover the pot before sitting down on the board to press it down.

Xiao Ran and Doctor Zhao exchanged uneasy glances, their apprehension palpable as they observed Qi Xia and Lin Qin.

How could anyone think of sleeping at a time like this?

Even if they managed to push aside their fears of the insects outside, Xiao Ran remained suspicious of Qi Xia. His earlier confession about being a swindler who had defrauded two million cast a long shadow over his character.

Xiao Ran's mind raced with paranoia. She feared that if she closed her eyes, she might not awaken the next morning. How could she trust him enough to sleep peacefully? 

Qi Xia paid no heed to Xiao Ran and Doctor Zhao's apprehensive looks. Instead, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, the disquiet of the others was of little concern to him.

Lin Qin, observing Qi Xia from her place on the wooden board, felt a twinge of sympathy. She shuffled over and said, "Qi Xia, the board is large enough for both of us. You can lie on it too."

Qi Xia lifted his eyelids and replied, "No, I'm used to sleeping while sitting."

"Sleeping while sitting?" Lin Qin mused for a moment, then stood up, moved the board to Qi Xia's side, and lay back down. "In that case, you can sit next to me."

Qi Xia didn't decline. Among Xiao Ran and Doctor Zhao, Lin Qin had left a more favorable impression on him.

Lin Qin, lying on the board, cast a curious glance at Qi Xia and inquired, "Why have you developed a habit of sleeping sitting up?"

Qi Xia raised his eyebrows and considered the question thoughtfully. "Sleeping sitting up prevents me from {fully relaxing}, keeping my mind alert and operational at all times."

Lin Qin nodded, though her expression suggested she was pondering something deeper. "Have you always slept this way?"

"Yes."

"And has this been your routine for many years?"

Qi Xia, sensing the unusual nature of her questions, turned to face her. "Is this question really that significant?"

Lin Qin hesitated, gathering her thoughts before asking, "But you have a wife... Even when you’re together, do you still sleep sitting up every night?"