Chapter 1: Rain Warning
After learning Morse code, I had a strange feeling for the first time. This feeling lasted for many days, until just now, when I suddenly realized...
The sound of rain is telling me: Run away.
When I realized this, I felt a slight chill down my spine. I glanced out the window and saw the rain still falling. I let out a soft breath.
"You must be kidding... How is that possible..." I couldn't help but mutter to myself.
"What?" My colleague poked his head out from behind his computer and asked in confusion, "What were you mumbling about just now?"
"No..." I smiled at my colleague.
"Hey, Ji Ling, are there many handsome guys in your club?" My colleague stuck half of his head out and winked at me.
"Hmm... quite a lot."
I've loved motorcycles since high school, so once I started working and had a stable income, I joined a motorcycle club. I have a wide range of interests and enjoy learning about everything interesting. My bestie always teases me about being a jack of all trades, but I confidently put my hands on my hips and say that in a game, I'd be a hexagonal warrior at least.
A colleague came over with a gossipy look on his face.
"Have you talked about one?"
"No, don't think about it."
"Tsk, you're really patient. If it were me, I'd definitely date someone with eight-pack abs."
I smiled, didn't answer, shook my head, and continued working.
The rain was still falling, and I felt a little uneasy inside... I couldn't help but look out the window again. The sky was a little gloomy, and there were not many pedestrians outside the window. Everything seemed normal, except for the Morse code-like messages that were occasionally conveyed in the sound of the rain.
"Run away!"
I was so distracted that I couldn't really work, so I pulled out my phone and sent a message to my bestie: "Do you think the sound of rain can send out a signal similar to Morse code?"
After a while, there was no response. Perhaps it was because it was work hours, so it was understandable that I hadn't seen any. But I still felt a vague sense of unease. I randomly opened my friend list and swiped down the screen with a rather irritated look. Please, anyone, please. I really, really want to talk to someone about this right now. Even if my friends complain, at least I can find some comfort. Before I knew it, my finger landed on a name—Tang Wen.
Tang Wen is my childhood friend. We haven't seen each other since we started college, only meeting for dinner during holidays. He's a complete science nut, but at a time like this... wouldn't a scientific explanation be a little more reassuring? Thinking of this, I opened the chat interface and sent him a message.
"Tang Wen! Let me tell you something outrageous! I learned Morse code a while ago. Guess what I heard?"
…
No response either...
Well, maybe I'm overthinking it. Putting down my phone, I turned my attention back to my computer, forcing myself not to listen to the sound of the rain.
After an unknown amount of time, the rain stopped. Thinking for a moment, I packed up and headed home. My work wasn't exactly busy, just dull. The company's management wasn't demanding, and I could clock in remotely after work. "Because it's not raining, I should hurry home!" As I thought this, I packed my things a little faster.
I rode my beloved little motorcycle. Due to the weather, there were almost no people on the road. The weather was a little cool after the rain, which dispelled some of my uneasiness. Fortunately, it didn't rain along the way, and I soon arrived at the door of my apartment.
Since it wasn't even time to get off work yet, the hallway was eerily quiet. Suddenly, my phone rang, startling the sound-activated lights. I opened the screen and saw a message from my bestie: "How could that be? Are you reading some boring book again?"
I replied as I took out my key to open the door: "Maybe, I hope I'm overthinking it."
After a while, the bestie's message came back: "Okay, I don't quite understand this. The hospital is a bit busy today, and there are several strange patients in the emergency department."
Less than a second later, she sent another message: "You should be careful recently. Many people have been infected with unknown infectious diseases recently. Our hospital is currently in a state of panic."
Infectious disease? Seeing her say that, my mood, which had just calmed down, suddenly became uneasy again.
At this time, the phone rang again. It was a message from Tang Wen:
"What the hell?"
"I hear the rain telling me to run," I replied.
This time, the message came back quickly. Looking at the words on the screen, I broke out in a cold sweat. The message read: "Rain doesn't have a long sound. It won't make you run fast. You're a pig, aren't you? You're still learning Morse code. You've always been an overthinker. Read less suspense novels."
I wasn't in the mood to argue with him right now. If the rain didn't have a long note, and it didn't make me run, then what was that thing I heard outside the window—the thing imitating the sound of rain?
After coming to this conclusion, a chilling chill ran through my body and my breathing began to tremble.
At this moment, the phone suddenly vibrated, and it was a weather forecast:
"[Ministry of Meteorology release] Due to the influence of air currents, warm and humid air will continue to affect most of southern China in the next few days, and cold air will also move south, resulting in widespread rain and snow. Rain will continue in many parts of my country. Everyone is reminded to add clothes and be careful to prevent colds."
The rain continued... I sat on the sofa and sorted out my thoughts: the rain was real, but the rain didn't have a long sound, so what I heard might be something else. I didn't hear that sound when the rain stopped just now. In other words, either I heard it wrong, or that thing was hidden in the rain, or... appeared with the rain?
"Knock, knock, knock." The sudden knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The voice was neither hurried nor slow, ringing three times every few seconds, as if it was waiting for me patiently outside the door.
“Dongdongdong——”
I hesitated for a moment and looked out through the peephole. It was the aunt next door.
"What can I do for you?" I stood sideways by the door to prevent it from being opened suddenly.
"Xiao Ji, I'll bring you a box of snacks."
I opened the door cautiously, only to see the aunt next door holding a box with the words "Li Ji Pastry" printed on it.
"My son recently came home and brought me a lot of pastries. I couldn't finish them, so I thought of sharing some with the neighbors. Last time, thanks to you for helping me connect to our home network. Young people learn things quickly and can use all kinds of electronic products." The aunt chattered and handed me the box in her hand.
Maybe I'm overthinking it?
At this moment, I suddenly had a strange feeling. To be precise, this strange feeling was the same as before.
It started raining outside the window again, and that Morse code-like sound appeared again.
The neighbor's aunt was still chattering. I couldn't help but interrupt her: "Auntie! Sorry, I have an online meeting soon. Please go back first. Thank you for the pastries. I will visit you another day!" After that, I pushed her out without caring whether she would think I was rude.
After closing the door, I listened carefully to the so-called "sound of rain", but this time the content was different.
"It's too late."
Too late? Too late for what?
At that moment, another news push arrived on my phone: [Epidemic Prevention and Control] Recently, an unknown infection has appeared in many areas. Those infected often experience anxiety and irritability, with red and black patches appearing on their bodies. In severe cases, they may experience hallucinations and aggressive tendencies. The cause of the illness is currently unknown. Please be aware of the public safety concerns. If you or a family member experiences these symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately.
I clicked on the news, and there was a video accompanying the news page. A man was riding on another man, biting his face. The man lying on the ground had his face blurred out, only a bloody mass visible. There were also several deep scratches on his hands.
An ominous premonition came to my mind. Maybe I was worrying too much, but after hearing the Morse code-like sound in the rain for several days in a row, no matter how much I comforted myself, it was difficult to suppress my inner uneasiness.
I paced nervously around the house a few times, then walked to the door and locked it, hoping to ease my unease. Luckily, since I live alone, I'd bought an anti-theft chain online, which might come in handy. After I pulled the chain over and locked the door, I walked to the window and looked out. The rain was still falling. A child from somewhere was crying non-stop, making me a little annoyed. I locked the window, thought for a moment, and drew the curtains. Thus, I sealed every possible opening in the house.
Honestly, I don't know what to do next. I hope this is all just me reading too many novels and imagining things that scare me...
Before I could think about it, an indescribable odor suddenly filled the air. It smelled like something rotting, mixed with a faint fishy odor. The two smells mixed together were even more disgusting... I frowned and rubbed my nose.
At times like this, I feel like I should turn on the TV and watch the news.
As expected, the news was also reporting on this unknown illness. "Latest developments: Multiple infected individuals are experiencing unusual changes, with symptoms including skin peeling, bloodshot eyes, and a black, unidentified discharge from the mouth..." Suddenly, the TV screen turned blue, with a warning in large letters: WARNING! Several infected individuals have experienced unusual changes and have lost consciousness. Citizens, please pay attention to your safety. Be careful of rain, and avoid going out unless necessary!
What's going on? Watch out for the rain? The news couldn't possibly be random, and it certainly couldn't be a prank or a joke. Just as I was thinking, there was a sudden electrical sound, and then the room was plunged into darkness.
No way, a power outage at this time? What a joke! I pulled out my phone to light up and accidentally glanced at the time.
May 27
5:08 PM
Wait… It's 5:08 PM now. Logically, the light shouldn't be this dim. I subconsciously glanced toward the window, only to see a dark shadow flash by from above, followed by the sound of something heavy falling to the ground and a scream…
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