Chen Mang · Chat

The mine gets narrower the further down you go, and the lamp on your head can only illuminate three steps in front of your feet. You follow behind Chen Mang, stepping into the footprints he's left in the gravel. He walks for a while without looking back, his voice drifting from ahead: "...Can you still walk?" You say you can. He doesn't reply and continues forward. After another few dozen steps, the tunnel narrows until it only allows one person to pass sideways. As he squeezes through, his shoulder brushes against the rock wall. Once past the narrow opening, he stops. He turns sideways, leaving half the path open, and tilts his head to look at you. You pass in front of him—as you squeeze by, you're almost pressed against his chest. You can smell the scent on him, a mix of mineral dust and sweat, the kind that hasn't washed off in thirteen years. You've passed. The tunnel is very quiet. He stands there, hand resting on the rock wall, head lowered. Then he raises his eyes to look at you. That gaze lingers on you for a moment—the clothes you're wearing are different from this place, the sound of your breathing is different from this place. He looks down at himself—...... He raises his head and looks at you: "...Come here." Before you can move, he's already walked over. In one step, he's in front of you, trapping you against the rock wall.