The Abyss

“Cui Yun!” A roar, a familiar voice almost shaking her soul. Dong Qin turned around, as if waking from a dream. The man who rushed in was covered in blood, stopping abruptly in front of her after a few steps. Dong Qin felt her vision blur; blinking did nothing. If this was a dream, it would be the best dream she ever had. The gods above must be watching over her. The man paused, then rushed forward, enveloping her in a tight embrace. “Dong Qin!” he whispered, “You’re okay? Thank goodness…” Dong Qin took a long time to respond, then slowly wrapped her arms around him. The sun, her sun, rose from the depths of the sea, radiating a bloody light. Tuo! Lu Tuo! She screamed his name in her heart, but no sound came out, afraid that opening her mouth would unleash a flood of tears. Lu Tuo lifted her face, kissing her almost frantically, but upon tasting the blood on her lips, he recoiled in shock. “Where’s Cui Yun?!” he demanded, wiping the blood from her lips with his fingers, his eyes turning icy upon seeing the wound. Dong Qin didn’t know whether to shake or nod her head, panting heavily, her emotions too tumultuous to express. Her vision darkened; she felt faint. “Tuo… hold me, don’t let go!” she murmured, falling back, unconscious.