Chapter Two: The Dead Man Knows the Way

He remembered ambulances. A person in white asking survivors whether they wanted to “forget tonight.” Those who refused were loaded into unmarked black vans. Then the world ceased to contain Zhou Yuan. At 12:40, Zhou stood abruptly. “Someone's coming.” The hallway was silent. “How do you know?” “I've always been terrible with maps,” Zhou said, tilting his head, “but I always know the shortest way. If that person wants to enter this room, the stairs aren't it.” A black-gloved hand rose outside the window. Suspended from a window-cleaner's rope, an intruder swung a glass punch. Zhou dragged Lin into the bathroom and opened the ceiling hatch. Before Lin could ask where the route led, Zhou shoved him into the narrow duct.