Chapter Two: The Price of Going Viral

“The common element isn't fear.” Wanzhao circled the reports. “It's love. A nightmare is sometimes the shadow love leaves after loss.” Xinghe remembered his sister in the fire. “What if my song came from those dreams?” “Then every play may be helping it digest them.” They looked at his phone. The number kept climbing. They found Mianmian behind equipment cases, brushing a stray cat. Xinghe shoved the screen toward it. “Give the memories back.” It wrote: I DON'T KNOW HOW. “Then stop eating.” I WILL DIE. “Who will?” After a long pause: THE DREAMERS. WHEN DREAMS GET TOO FULL, PEOPLE DROWN INSIDE THEM. Wanzhao crouched beside it. “Did you know you were taking memories?”