Chapter Three: A Living Person's Ticket

“Living child,” she said, “if you enter, you must dance.” Helan Ye stepped between them. “The Long Night guarantees her.” “The Long Night owes me more names than all the guests in this hall.” She smiled. “What can you guarantee with?” She snapped her fingers. Tang Li appeared at the center of the floor, translucent and unaware, rehearsing her solo in the real world. Each movement made her more solid here. “The round hasn't begun!” Lin Wu cried. “Fear has. The audience already hopes to see her lose what she treasures. Expectation is invitation.” The White Lady offered her hand. If Lin Wu refused, Tang Li would become a guest when the song ended. If she accepted, memory would be the price. Lin Wu took the freezing hand.