Prologue, long nights bring many dreams

However, considering that this is a "nightmare," even if it is as clear as can be, it is still merely a "dream," so it is not entirely incomprehensible

Huff huff ... ...

If given a choice, he certainly would not voluntarily come to this disgusting, cold, and damp haze to undergo lung cleansing, nor would he engage in a thrilling and adrenaline-pumping death race with a madman who is completely uncommunicative.

Xia Ran even suspected that he might have contracted a respiratory illness. He now misses the smell of disinfectant in the hospital immensely. Although that smell was not particularly pleasant, he had previously found it utterly repulsive.

This foggy city seems like a dead city, or rather a ghost town. Xia Ran cannot even ascertain whether there are still people living here. Although through the thick, cold haze, one can vaguely see some dim, yellow lights flickering, presenting a desolate and ominous appearance

Dada dada dada ... ...

Severe gasping

However, when compared now, the latter is simply a true paradise

Just give up like this

I do not know how far I have run now, where I have ended up, or whether I have escaped from that madman behind me who is a murderer

Due to the frequent occurrence of such peculiar situations, Xia Ran has researched relevant theories and consulted experts in the field, thus understanding the underlying reasons.

At present, in this thick smoke and pervasive fog, it is almost impossible to see the surrounding scenery that is faintly discernible, making it difficult to distinguish whether it is day or night. Groping forward in this gloomy and dim environment is truly a torment for Xia Ran

Being chased by that madman behind me will only result in a brief moment of pain, which will soon pass. However, if I continue to struggle slowly like this, the torment will prolong, and I have no idea when it will come to an end

It is this moment

Finally, she could no longer run, her legs felt so heavy that she could hardly move them. Summer Ran leaned on her knees, bending down and gasping for breath desperately, her eyes, which were stinging and red, looked around in a somewhat vacant manner.

Xia Ran took a deep breath, and then... without any hesitation, rushed forward

In the world of utter silence, it seems that only his heavy breathing is manifesting a sense of existence

Although it is said that in the dark alley soaked by the cold, heavy fog, blood winds into a feast of criminal revelry, that scene is truly visually striking, and it inadvertently caused him to make a sound that exposed his presence, ultimately leading to the relentless pursuit by that madman

It is as if the more one struggles to breathe, the closer one comes to suffocation, which is unbearable. Coupled with other unpleasant sensations, including the stinging of the eyes, the dampness of the humidity felt on the body, and the greasy texture perceived through touch, it can be described as a comprehensive experience of discomfort and disgust

From a scientific perspective, when a person frequently focuses on the same aspect of information over a period of time, the brain cells do not completely rest during sleep. As a result, the information received during the day is integrated and processed, which may lead to the occurrence of similar dreams.

This appears to be an old street shrouded in haze, yet it is completely deserted, as if one has entered a lifeless world enveloped in thick fog

Xia Ran is now in a state that is close to this, with immense waves of emotion suppressed behind a calm facade

It is as if a drowning person who cannot swim is struggling in despair and helplessness, yet is gradually suffocating.

Well, perhaps this statement may seem somewhat exaggerated, but his constitution has indeed always been relatively weak, and his foundation is not particularly good. He often suffered from fevers and illnesses during his childhood, and in recent months, he has spent most of his time in a hospital bed

The sound of running footsteps

He did not complain much; after finally catching his breath while supporting his knees, he straightened up and rubbed his reddened eyes, feeling as if tears were about to fall. It was not because he felt wronged or was scared to the point of tears, but rather because the surrounding air was truly too irritating.

... ...

Of course, this does not mean that he will calmly accept everything that happens, passively enduring the fate imposed upon him.

Moreover, this peculiar foggy city, seemingly trapped in a demonic realm and shrouded in thick mist, features certain completely retro artistic styles, with the hazy light and shadows cast by gas lamps on the distant streets... Additionally, he had just seen some information on this subject a few days ago

Indeed, the moral standards of society are declining, and people's hearts are no longer as they once were

However, in reality, he was not overly anxious; rather, he exhibited a sense of resigned familiarity and a peculiar calmness.

Even the air that is breathed in seems to be stuck at the tip of the nose, unable to reach the lungs at all. It feels as if, even when air is inhaled, it gets blocked in the chest, unable to be delivered to the entire body

It is a very simple matter, unrelated to any emotional issues in other aspects

All of these have become important bases for his judgment, after all, even in dreams, it is impossible to truly create something out of nothing

If it were not for being very "familiar" with this type of situation, or even one could say very "proficient" at it, Xia Ran believed that she would definitely not be able to endure it

As Xia Ran contemplated these trivial matters, he continuously glanced around, surveying his surroundings. Although he was well aware that it might be of little significance, he still wished to see if there was anything he could make use of.

He seems to be trapped in a true "fog city," completely unable to discern the direction, unfamiliar with the terrain and routes, wandering aimlessly like a headless fly in the empty, cold, and dimly lit streets and alleys.

... ...

Yet even so, despite his repeated self-comfort and encouragement, constantly telling himself that this situation would not last forever and would eventually come to an end, ... he believed that by that time he would also find relief ...

It is akin to a solitary and arduous trek across the vast desert under the scorching sun and amidst the yellow sands, where one is at constant risk of succumbing to dehydration or heatstroke.

Fleeing is one thing, while fear and terror are another. His previous escape was due to the awareness of the critical situation, but that does not mean he was in a state of panic—just as a person drinks water because they know they are thirsty

Let's just do it this way

Eye pain

There is no change; it remains difficult to distinguish between day and night. The thick and gloomy haze seems to envelop the entire world, rendering even distant objects indistinct, both visible and invisible.

Despite appearing to be in a very disheveled state due to uncontrollable factors causing his eyes to sting and turn red, with tears streaming down, as well as persistent coughing and asthma, compounded by the frantic running for his life earlier

However, his mood inevitably began to decline little by little, becoming increasingly gloomy and depressed

Avoidance cannot solve problems, yet it is indeed quite useful. Such thoughts continuously emerge in his mind, lingering and refusing to dissipate

In the midst of fleeing, Xia Ran felt an immense pain, an extraordinary suffering... He was enduring an indescribable torment, and there was almost no hope of escaping this painful ordeal

difficulty in breathing

He could only gasp for breath as if he were struggling to breathe, occasionally raising his hand to rub his eyes, while stumbling and running laboriously through the boundless, seemingly endless expanse of thick haze.

At that moment, he heard the faint sound of footsteps coming from the end of the alley behind him

He finds this very reasonable, as he is a person who believes in science

Huff huff ... ...

After all, this is the reasoning behind it. There is an old saying that enduring hardship is a blessing, but it merely encourages people not to fear hardship, rather than advocating for individuals to actively seek suffering. Xia Ran considers herself to be a very normal person and does not possess any characteristics akin to a "masochistic disposition".

It was as if he were a gravely injured person, on the brink of death.

Especially as his lungs felt increasingly suffocated, his legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead, making it difficult to move. His throat and lungs were burning, and he felt an ever-growing weakness in his body, to the point where he was on the verge of giving up on himself.

A little more time has passed

Xia Ran's judgment is not without reason, and it is not solely because he happened to stumble upon the murder scene, witnessing with his own eyes that madman cruelly torturing and dismembering a woman who was struggling desperately.

That madman, the murderer, is closing in... Perhaps it should be said, Jack the Ripper? The infamous killer of late 19th century London

After all, this is not the first time he has experienced such a situation. Although not every instance is the same, they all involve very similar dangerous scenarios. Moreover, he has indeed had enough of these inexplicable occurrences, and such scenes naturally do not evoke much fear in him.

Accompanied by the rapid approach of footsteps, something dimly revealed its outline within the swirling mist that was moving. However, it seemed unexpected that the prey had actually come to a halt, causing him to instinctively pause for a moment and stop in his tracks

Coughing desperately as if suffering from asthma

One thinks during the day and dreams at night. This statement holds truth; Freud once said that every dream reflects the subconscious self and subconscious thoughts, which are manifested in dreams through certain transformations.

Perhaps it is like a spring; he had previously accumulated a sufficient amount of negative emotions such as depression, anger, and resentment, and now it seems that all of it has erupted at once, leading to even greater frustration as he continues to dwell on it

However, he had previously attempted to knock on the door for help many times, but received no response. It was unclear whether there was no one inside or if they simply had no intention of coming out to act heroically and lend a hand

The only thing that can be endured is death. In urgent situations, a horse will run through a field, and a cornered dog will jump over a wall; the same principle applies, which is that when a person is pushed to the limit, they can do anything. Except for math problems

In this thick, cold, and damp haze, it seems that the nose cannot breathe air normally; or rather, the air inhaled is particularly pungent and irritating. It not only stimulates the olfactory nerves but also truly stings the eyes, causing a painful sensation.

Indeed, why is it that he is always the only one suffering unilaterally? There is no rationale for this