There were quite a few of them, and they'd all been drinking, so they made a real racket as they walked. The guys were shoving and messing around. This wasn't a major road to begin with, and at night the street was full of vendors and stalls taking up space.
With my drunk, unsteady sister on my back, I didn't want to bump into anyone, so I quickened my pace. At the intersection up ahead, I caught the light just in time.
My sister patted my head again, looking uncomfortable. "Don't run. You're jostling me."
"Okay, okay," I coaxed her, slowing down.
Once we crossed the zebra crossing, I slowed my pace. The light changed from green to red, then from red to green, and I continued across the road.
When I stepped back onto the sidewalk, I sensed something strange in the air and couldn't help turning around.
The group of students was still on the sidewalk behind us. Some of the girls were looking at the little trinkets on a vendor's stall, while the boys were gathered in groups of three or five, arms slung over one another's shoulders.
My gaze swept over them and settled on the boy at the very back of the group.
It was the boy named Yu Jiaming. He was lagging far behind the others, head bowed as he stared at his phone, his face full of confusion. He tapped the screen, then held the phone to his ear.
My heart skipped a beat. I watched the confusion on Yu Jiaming's face turn to terror.
The noise of the street didn't fade, but a faint static hiss crept into my ears. Soon, a buzzing joined it. The sounds around me warped and blurred, growing near and far, speeding up and slowing down.
I