Chapter One: The Extra Man on the Screen

Pain opened in her right palm. A new wound took the shape of the number three. A child cried outside. Ye Lan ran into the corridor. A dozen departing customers passed the popcorn counter again and again: a man knocked over a cup, a woman turned, a child cried, and the clock advanced from 23:59:40 to 23:59:50 before snapping back. Ten seconds had been cut out and pasted endlessly into reality. Only Ye Lan and Lu remained free. “The first rough cut,” Lu said beside her. “He's testing the projector.” On the man's fifth pass, Ye Lan caught the falling cup. The moment her action left its track, every light died. Film rattled rapidly in the dark. A gentle male voice came from every speaker. “Leading lady in position.”