Chapter One: Free Water

A black fissure opened beneath Lin Xi's feet. There was no concrete inside, but an inverted stadium where indistinct figures sat upside down, staring at her. The boy slipped from her grip. She lunged and caught only a wet bottle cap. The scoreboard flashed: 00:00. The world jerked backward. “Ma'am, a screenshot isn't valid. Please open the original ticket.” Lin Xi opened her eyes. She stood beside the East Three turnstiles with the rain-softened slip in her hand. Her phone said 6:00 p.m.—one hour until kickoff. The impatient father shook his phone. His son had not yet received the bottle. Old Ma complained about the network in her ear. At the end of the concourse, a silver-vested promoter appeared with a cart of sealed water.