Chapter Three: The White Platform

Something used every failure and shame to add weight to Chen and keep her there. “Look at me!” Lin shouted. “Your son is waiting!” Xu locked her arms around his waist. Cen held the maintenance crack open with her glowing hand. Together they formed a taut rope and pulled Chen free of the white outline. At the third bell, they crashed back into the abandoned tunnel. The wall closed behind them, ordinary concrete once more. Chen lay unconscious in the water, gripping Lin's hand. Xu called an ambulance, then turned for Cen. Only the broken phone remained. An unsent message glowed on it: Next time, don't save one person. Stop the selection. Chen became the first missing person to return.