Ruan Fu had a dream.
In it, she was hog-tied on a chopping block. Mo Ran stood nearby, smiling as he handed a knife to Jiuyuan beside him.
The gleaming, ice-cold tip of the blade drew closer and closer. Just as it was about to pierce her skin, she woke up.
She woke up in an unfamiliar cave, its rock walls covered in creeping ivy. A drop of water landed squarely on her face, making her jolt. She reached up to wipe it away, only to find her hands bound.
Glancing down instinctively, she saw her feet were tied as well.
It was dead silent all around, save for the CLINK CLINK of iron chains whenever she accidentally moved. For a moment, the terror of her dream bleeding into reality consumed her. Ruan Fu swallowed hard, the hair on her arms standing on end.
Finally, footsteps echoed from outside. Tense yet hopeful, she looked toward the source of the sound.
Mo Ran stepped out from the sunlight.
