Past Mistakes

Ye Qingxuan woke from his nightmare with a start. He climbed out of bed, sweat pouring down his back.

Before him, a bloody conch hovered above a white palm. There were fine veins in the conch, detailed to the point of abnormality. Tiny music notes in the veins formed a vast and mighty music score.

The only sound in the silent sealed room was the youth’s breaths. A faint breeze blew past the conch, producing a faint echo. The echo was like a person murmuring in one’s ear, describing an unspeakably dark secret. As one listened, one could not help but focus on it entirely and become obsessed.

"Failed again?" On the chair, Lola played with the conch, unperturbed. "You need to get used to it."

Ye Qingxuan was dazed for a long time. "I had a nightmare."