Infinite Nightmares

"I know," Zhang Wenda replied. "She and I are tired today. You can come whenever you want."

"Can I ask what you need my help with first? Is someone threatening you, or is there some other illegal matter? If so, I might be able to report it directly and let the Third Line handle it as a routine incident."

Zhang Wenda thought for a moment before shaking his head. "The Third Line can’t help with this."

As if sensing Zhang Wenda was looking down on them, 2826’s tone sharpened. "There is nothing the Third Line can’t do within any of the Tides of Thought."

However, Zhang Wenda silenced them with two words. "Family matters."

After a moment of silence, 2826 asked again, "What kind of family matter?"

"That’s confidential." 2826 left, thoroughly confused, while Zhang Wenda and Song Jianguo headed for the treehouse.

After everything they had been through, Zhang Wenda was exhausted. He thought he would fall asleep in no time, but he just tossed and turned, his mind replaying the events within the Tide of Thought.

He grabbed a cat, tucked it behind his head like a pillow, and stared at the fireflies on the ceiling.

’There’s so much about this world I don’t understand,’ he thought. ’I’ll have to question 2826 thoroughly the next time they visit.’

Just as he was thinking this, he heard the sound of stifled sobs. He propped himself up on his elbows and traced the noise to the nest of cats in the distance.

Zhang Wenda rolled his eyes. He forced himself to get up, walked over to the pile of cat-filled blankets, and asked, "What’s wrong, you damn cat?"

"Aunt Flo... is dead..." Song Jianguo’s voice was uncharacteristically sorrowful.

"Holy crap, talk about a delayed reaction. Don’t worry, Aunt Flo’s not going to die. She’ll be back next month."

Song Jianguo, her eyes red and puffy, poked her head out from under the covers. "How can you be so sure? What if Aunt Flo never comes back? What if she’s really, truly dead?"

In truth, Zhang Wenda wasn’t sure at all. Anything could happen in this bizarre world. If Aunt Flo could be a person, then it seemed entirely possible for her to die permanently.

’Did Aunt Flo really die?’ At the thought, a shadow fell over Zhang Wenda’s heart. Honestly, while they hadn’t spent much time together, he’d considered her something of a friend. And now she was dead, just like that. So suddenly.

"Nah, she’s not dead. If I say she’ll be back, she’ll be back. Now go to sleep." Zhang Wenda gave the blankets a few haphazard pats before turning over to try and sleep himself.

This time, with Song Jianguo’s sobs as a lullaby, Zhang Wenda drifted into a hazy sleep and didn’t wake until the next morning.

The moment he woke up, he heard a noise coming from the entrance. He immediately grabbed his flashlight from the ceramic jar.

A massive silhouette suddenly squeezed through the opening. Just as Zhang Wenda was about to strike with his sword, the red beam of light illuminated the figure’s bushy beard. "Aunt Flo?!"

It really was Aunt Flo, only she looked much smaller—about half her previous size.

"Goddammit! Wait for me! What are you running for? Don’t you know my body needs time to heal?"

Cursing, Aunt Flo shoved Zhang Wenda aside and headed toward Song Jianguo.

"Auntie!" Eyes filled with tears, Song Jianguo scrambled out from under the blankets. Her voice trembled with emotion as she ran toward the other woman with open arms.

The next second, they were locked in a fervent embrace. The touching scene, however, barely lasted a moment before a loud THUD echoed as Aunt Flo’s elbow slammed viciously into Song Jianguo’s abdomen.

"I knew you wouldn’t die that easily," Zhang Wenda said with a laugh, walking over to the groaning Song Jianguo.

"You wouldn’t even be sad if I died, huh? Hmph, you little brat!"

"Why would I be sad? Even if you died this month, you’d just come back next month. Anyway, how’d you get back here?" Zhang Wenda asked curiously.

"I dunno," Aunt Flo said with a shrug. "I just had a feeling Mimi was here, so I followed it."

’Is that it?’ Zhang Wenda mused, stroking his chin. ’Looks like Aunt Flo isn’t bound by the usual restrictions. Maybe I can use that ’feeling’ of hers as a tracking device next time.’

Despite having the wind knocked out of her, Song Jianguo clung tightly to Aunt Flo. "Auntie!" she said, overcome with emotion. "I’m so, so happy you’re okay!"

"There, there. Don’t be sad next time, okay? You just remember, your Auntie is invincible. She’ll never die."

"Okay!" Song Jianguo nodded emphatically.

"But Mimi," Aunt Flo said, gently stroking Song Jianguo’s head, "it’s about that time. I have to go."

Zhang Wenda counted on his fingers. Sure enough, it was about time for her to leave.

Soon, Aunt Flo was standing at the bus stop, carrying a small red clutch and waving goodbye. They had only just reunited, and now they had to part again. A somber mood settled over the bus stop.

As the two of them and a clowder of cats watched, a bus with an airbag on its roof came wobbling down the road.

"Mimi, you be good while I’m gone, okay?"

"And you, you little brat! If you dare bully her while I’m away, you’ll have me to answer to when I get back!"

After saying her piece, Aunt Flo clutched her small handbag and forced her way onto the bus. With a roar of its engine, the bus vanished from sight.

"Yes! Awesome! She’s finally gone!" Song Jianguo was so excited she was practically bouncing, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"You’re a real hypocrite," Zhang Wenda said, looking at her with disdain.

"What the hell do you know? It’s possible to feel both things at once, you know?"

"I don’t care if they conflict or not. Go on, take your cats and get to work."

Song Jianguo stormed off, muttering curses. Even though she wanted to tear Zhang Wenda limb from limb, she ultimately had to obey his command.

Zhang Wenda really needed money to buy candy. Since he couldn’t go to school or return home, he had to endure the rules’ punishment twice a day. Like right now.

He sat on the bus stop bench, his face ashen, as he felt wounds begin to rip open across his body. He bit his lip until it bled, enduring the inhuman torment and feeling his school uniform slowly become saturated with blood.

The punishment was worse this time. It had grown more severe every time since he’d left home.

Just when he wasn’t sure if he could take any more, an unwrapped lollipop was held out to his lips.

As the sweet, orange-flavored candy entered his mouth, a wave of joy washed over him, and the excruciating pain instantly began to fade.

By the time the agonizing ordeal was finally over, Zhang Wenda had chewed up and swallowed the entire lollipop, stick and all.

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Zhang Wenda staggered to his feet. He was about to give his thanks when he realized the one who had given him the candy was Teacher Rabbit.

"Where have you been these past few days? Why couldn’t we find you?" the rabbit asked.

"I ran into a bit of trouble, but it’s been sorted out," Zhang Wenda said, sitting back down on the bench.

Zhang Wenda didn’t elaborate, and the rabbit didn’t press. It sat down beside him. "Are you really not planning to come back to school? Teacher Ouyang isn’t mad at you anymore."

Zhang Wenda sighed and lowered his gaze to the ground. "Don’t you get it, Teacher Rabbit? You shouldn’t waste your time on me. I can’t go back. Even if Teacher Ouyang wasn’t a factor, I still wouldn’t go back."

"I don’t know what’s wrong with this world, but I was never supposed to be in this Tide of Thought. My body might be a child’s, but my mind isn’t. My consciousness just can’t resonate with this place."