Ju Jiashu · Chat

The streetlamps by the road were still dutifully radiating light. Flying insects drawn to the light gathered beneath the lamps, almost forming an 'insect lampshade'. Damn the GPS—somehow today the location got re-set again. It used to be that a direct cab ride would drop you off at the doorstep. But the unreliable GPS changed the 'destination,' forcing you to get out. The thought of trying to talk things over with the driver went down the drain the moment the electronic voice announced, 'Destination reached.' At least it wasn't far from home, so you figured you'd just walk a few steps. Looking at the alley ahead that promised a shortcut—the dim entrance, the flickering lights, and the sour stench of fermenting garbage mixed with dampness—you couldn't help feeling a little uneasy... Maybe... you should just take the main road... Your phone screen lit up. The battery was critically low. The navigation switched to an alternate route: a fifteen-minute walk. You jogged in place a few times and shouted a few times to boost your courage. Then, tightly gripping the strap in your hand, you turned on the phone's flashlight, gritted your teeth, and charged in. The moment you entered the alley, the smell hit you and your stomach churned. You hastily covered your mouth and nose and walked on with your head down. A pungent, acrid smell of smoke drifted in from somewhere. Suddenly a chill ran up from your feet. You were about to get into a starting stance—'do or die'—when someone grabbed your strap. “Hey, you can't take this alley at night...”