"Creak~"
The iron gate groaned loudly, startling the boy into stopping what he was doing.
The door, which had been ajar, slowly swung shut again.
"Bang~"
Just before it closed completely, a hand braced against the door.
Then the iron gate swung wide open.
The boy turned around. "Xiao Xiao?"
"Go on in."
After the boy went inside, Xiao Xiao let go of the door and followed him into the abandoned factory.
"Qian Qian,"
the boy called softly.
The quiet, dilapidated surroundings made him tense up instinctively as he walked forward with caution.
The air smelled rotten.
"Qian Qian, Qian Qian..."
"This way."
Xiao Xiao turned and headed toward a room with its door half open.
"Huh?"
The boy jogged a few steps to catch up. "Xiao Xiao, wait for me."
"You—"
His words died in his throat.
Through the crack in the half-open door, he saw a figure lying on the floor.
Even though the person was facing away from the door, he recognized her at a glance.
"Qian Qian!"
The boy shouted.
He shoved the door open and rushed inside.
His heart was pounding.
The way Qian Qian lay there... she looked as if she had stopped breathing.
"Qian Qian!"
The boy ran to the girl.
She was curled up, her long hair covering her face.
"Qian Qian..."
The boy's voice trembled. He reached out, but his hand stopped in front of her hair, shaking badly.
Though her hair was right in front of him, he didn't dare brush it aside.
He was afraid.
"She's not dead."
The sudden voice made the boy jump in fright.
He nearly leaped into the air.
A moment later, he understood what Xiao Xiao meant and looked at him as he came to stand beside him. "R-really?"
"Why