Chapter 5: The Chase
860 Words
*"Ugh..."*
A low groan from the floor shattered the tense silence.
The woman—formerly "Mom"—rubbed the back of her head as she stood up, her bones emitting faint cracks. *"That actually... kinda hurt."*
Lin Sanjiu’s eye twitched. *This is bad.* Two against one. Even ignoring the hulking man, she was exhausted, her limbs trembling with fatigue. No way to defend herself...
"Mom" stretched her neck, and with a series of unsettling pops, her features melted into those of a teenage boy.
*"Ugh, of all the luck. Millions of people with living parents, and we get an orphan..."* The boy sighed, shooting his companion a look. "Dad"—now a red-haired Caucasian woman—nodded silently and stepped forward.
*"Did she damage you?"* the woman asked in flawless Mandarin.
The boy flashed a grin. *"Nah. She hits like a kitten."*
Their casual banter made Lin Sanjiu’s stomach churn. She edged backward. *"You’re from the ‘New World’ too?"*
The boy’s eyes lit up. *"Oh? You know about that? No wonder you reacted so fast."* He studied her with sudden interest. *"You’ve already started evolving... Your potential must be high."*
His tone was light, almost playful, as if discussing a video game. If not for the fact that he’d just impersonated her dead mother, Lin Sanjiu might’ve lowered her guard.
*"My friend... Is she really dead?"*
The boy shrugged theatrically. *"Bathroom. Dehydration, I think? Wanted water, but the taps were dry. Fair warning—she doesn’t look great."*
Tears welled up unbidden. Lin Sanjiu wiped them away fiercely, her gaze locked on the duo as she retreated another step.
After Ren Nan, she wasn’t taking any chances with these so-called "evolved humans." *"If you didn’t kill her, why are you here? Why lure me in?"*
*"We don’t pick where we land!"* The boy spread his hands. *"This place had a bed, so hey, bonus. Your friend was already gone when we arrived."*
*"Then why impersonate my parents? How did you even know about them?"* The boy seemed chatty—Lin Sanjiu deliberately prodded, hoping for more intel.
But the redhead cut in, her voice icy. *"I wanted you inside."*
With a metallic *shing*, her nails elongated into half-meter blades, glinting ominously in the dark. *"I was curious about this world’s evolution progress."*
Lin Sanjiu didn’t wait for the attack. She kicked the chair toward them as a barricade and bolted for the door—thankfully still ajar.
She didn’t look back.
Her lungs burned as she hurtled down the stairs, the boy’s whine echoing behind her: *"She hurt me again!"*
Then, all she heard was her own ragged breathing and the thunder of pursuit.
The scalding air seared her throat with every gasp. Fatigue and injury slowed her, but she reached the courtyard gates just as a metallic *whistle* sliced the air behind her. She threw herself into a roll, dodging the redhead’s razor nails by inches.
Scrambling up, she turned—
And hurled a white card into the air.
With a thunderous *crash*, the iron gates materialized midair and slammed down, pinning the boy beneath them. Lin Sanjiu collapsed, her strength spent.
No triumph filled her—because the redhead stood unharmed outside the gates.
But Lin Sanjiu couldn’t run anymore. Converting the gates had drained her last reserves. She could only glare up, defiance masking despair.
To her shock, the redhead sat down cross-legged and sighed. *"You’re such an i***t,"* she said to the squashed boy.
*"I’m flesh and blood, not some agile freak like you!"* The boy wheezed from under the gate. *"Can’t... breathe..."*
*"Excuses. All that ‘high potential’ and you still get flattened by a newbie."*
Lin Sanjiu blinked. *Are they... bickering?*
*"Uh... Aren’t you going to kill me?"* she ventured.
The boy’s head popped up between the bars, incredulous. *"Lady, why the hell would we do that? I’m highly evolved—killing a fledgling like you nets me nothing."*
Lin Sanjiu’s eye twitched again. *This* was a "highly evolved" being?
Still, relief flooded her. No immediate threat. But—
*"Hey, mind moving this gate? I’m pancaked here,"* the boy grumbled.
Lin Sanjiu eyed the redhead—why wasn’t she helping? *"After you introduce yourselves,"* she said coldly.
*"Right, right. I’m Luze. This is Marthé—my alternate personality."*
*"Alternate... personality?"*
*"Yep. Pre–New World, I was the second confirmed case of dissociative identity disorder worldwide."* Luze puffed up with pride. *"Post-evolution, I can manifest Marthé physically. But we can’t separate too far yet. Oh, and don’t ask how I knew about your parents—that’s part of my ability—"* He caught himself. *"Anyway, Marthé’s a biochemist. She’s just... really eager to study newly evolved humans."*
Marthé nodded solemnly.
*"And the nails...?"*
*"For blood draws. Lets her analyze basic data. Useless in combat,"* Luze admitted.
*"Wait—your *split personality* can evolve abilities too?"* Lin Sanjiu stared. *"Couldn’t you basically become an army?"*
*"It’s not that simple,"* Luze groaned. *"Right now, all she’s got are those nails. Now, *please* move this gate—"*
A guttural *"Glorrk?"* interrupted from the guard booth.
Marthé sprang to her feet, face pale. *"...Trouble."*
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- Writer
