Qu Yan finished reading and looked at the others.
"Shall I go first?" she asked.
No one objected.
Cheng Yangze and Zhou Zi, whose fear of heights ranged from moderate to severe, were practically trembling. They wanted to go last; any delay in dying was worth taking.
Seeing this, Qu Yan gripped the ropes on either side of the swing and stepped straight onto the narrow wooden plank, her expression resolute.
She did not look down at the abyss, which resembled a gaping maw of darkness, but stared straight ahead.
Thinking of her son waiting for her back in Instance City only strengthened her resolve.
Meanwhile, the swing began to rise, building momentum. It would shoot toward the other end of the amusement park along a semicircular arc.
A cheerful female voice sounded over the speakers.
"Dear visitors, you've completed more than half your journey. Now, please keep overcoming the obstacles ahead through the power of your convictions!"
The voice fell silent.
The swing finished building momentum.
It shot forward.
Qu Yan gritted her teeth on the swing, her mind filled with her son's sweet little face and his babyish voice calling her Mommy.
-I have to make it out alive.
The others watched the swing carry Qu Yan into the darkness ahead at a terrifying speed. When it swung back, she was no longer on it.
Not a sound came from the darkness.
No screams, no cries of joy.
It was as though a vast black sponge surrounded them, soaking up every sound.
Zhou Zi was on the verge of tears. "Qu Yan, what happened to her? Could she have..."
"Don't jinx it!" Cheng Yangze hurriedly cut her off.
Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Zhou Zi quickly covered her mouth.
"Who's next?"
Ge Yue's low voice