Dr Lus words were a much-needed fla in the darkness.
Our hospital is equipped with a fallout shelter, he said giddily under the gaze of six hungry eyes. It just so happened to be rebuilt during the nation-wide construction of underground air shelters, plus were at a very important location, so they added in a nuclear-grade shelter.
Is it far from here? SuHe asked.
Its inside the hospital, Dr Lu answered. The doors outside the outpatient building, but that ones solid steel and really hard to open. Luckily for you,Iknow where the back door is!
He looked at his companions expectantly for praise but eventually continued when he was t with tense silence. Its around the A block ergency hallway. As soon as sumr cos around everyone hides in there to take naps during the day because its cooler than the aircon.
If the entire experience thus far was a rollercoaster ride, then Dr Lus information was the final stretch in which they pull into the station. For the first ti in far too long, QiLeren could feel the solid ground beneath his feet.
XueYingying saw no reason for further delay. Why are you just standing there? Lead the way!
At XueYingyings urging, Dr Lu turned around with a call of Alright kids, follow and ushered them towards A block.
The four waded through the misty hallways that ford their tomb. No amount of lighting could neutralise the chill they felt at the sinister desolation, the paranoia from ghosts they walked among.
Mutilated corpses littered the path they travelled. From the numbers that decorated the ground beside them, the identity of the killer was obvious. It was fortunate that the murderer had been taken care of already; to take a path with so many surveillance caras would be suicide.
Do you think there are any other players left? XueYingying asked softly.
Maybe a few of them are hiding sowhere? Dr Lu suggested.
Maybe. But they may also have beco victims of the murderer, or perhaps sacrificial offerings to the ghosts.
We can go give a holler over the PA system if you really want, Dr Lu shrugged. Thats about all we can do. If they still end up dying then thats not really our problem anymore.
eting no opposition, the party changed routes to the broadcasting room. Dr Lu strode in and spoke solemnly into the mic:
To all those who are still alive: good evening. The sudden sound was startling to say the least, but Dr Lus llow voice softened the edges of their midnight announcent. It is currently twelve forty-three a.m. Beijing ti, leaving approximately four hours until the X City Earthquake. Yes, you heard correctly we have reason to believe that the hospital were in right now is one whose ti overlaps with that of twenty years ago. The two tremors that occurred not long ago is, I believe, proof enough.
If you wish to live, I highly suggest seeking shelter in a stable location. According to a teammate who wishes to remain anonymous, all that waits outside the hospital is a sea of ghosts, so we wouldnt really recomnd leaving the building. As a side note, we have eliminated the problem of our friendly neighbourhood serial killer so for anyone still worrying about him, feel free to turn your attention to the matter at hand. If you think you can trust us, please co to the level one foyer in A block; we have found a safe shelter that is sure to protect us from the impending earthquake. That is all.
Satisfied, Dr Lu turned to his companions. Anything anyone wants to add?
XueYingying shook her head.
After a mont of consideration, sothing occurred to QiLeren. Do you think the goldfish jumping out of their fishbowl was, like the foreshocks, a sign of the earthquake?
I think Ive heard about that before. Most animals display strange behaviours before earthquakes, and I believe fish tend to jump out of the water? This horror ga is more well-researched than I thought. Dr Lu nodded and turned to SuHe, who was deep in thought. Did you want to add anything over the PA system?
SuHe took a second to respond. I have a question
His three teammates prompted at the sa ti, About?
About the ti. SuHe frowned slightly. Are we sure that ti of the earthquake is four thirteen?
Uhprobably? It was soti after twelve, but I was on holidays in Arica with my family around then so Im not sure of the exact ti Hey, whats that look for? I know visas were tricky twenty years ago but my grandma is Arican and my grandpa has permanent residence after their marriage. Its totally normal for to go over and visit family! My mum actually wanted to move overseas after the earthquake, but my dad was so against it that they ended up just staying here, Dr Lu reminisced. He shot QiLeren a suspicious look. Do I have sothing on my face?
No, I was just thinking about your hair colour. Not dyed but inherited from your grandma, huh Can good luck be inherited? No wonder your entire family was able to avoid that earthquake. Here, QiLeren let out a defeated sigh. Unfortunately for him, his genes had decided to ignore his mothers beauty and acting ability in favour of his fathers terrible luck.
Of course! I dont think weve ever been short on anything before; my parents would just win whatever random supermarket raffle that they enter. Im pretty sure we have more than a few TVs just lying around.
So what youre saying is, SuHe cut in, watching with resignation as his topic raced further and further off track, we dont know the exact ti of the earthquake.
Isnt it four thirteen? Thats what it says on all the screens, XueYingying said with conviction.
SuHe quietly looked at them before sighing softly.
Why was there such a heavy feeling of condescension?
SuHe tried again. Four thirteen in which month?
I know! Dr Lu answered eagerly. It was the fifteenth of August!
Which would place this earthquake at four thirteen on the morning of August fifteenth, twenty years ago.
Yeah!
None of them could see where SuHe was going with his prompting, but the concerned expression on his face steadfastly held their attention for the reveal.
SuHe didnt disappoint.
If I recall correctly, he said asuredly, this country operated under the daylight saving ti system in the sumr of that year. His tone was light, voice unwavering, but his words brought to light a dangerous trap that had very nearly cost them their lives.
Daylight saving ti.
Daylight saving ti I think it was around when I was really little. XueYingying was very confused. Is there a problem with that?
Dr Lu and QiLeren, on the other hand, finally understood what SuHe had been trying to say for the past few minutes; there was a ti difference of one whole hour between standard ti and daylight saving ti!
Daylight saving ti is typically implented during the sumr months to save energy and to make use of daylight hours. All clocks within the country will be pushed forward one hour during daylight savings and pulled back to standard ti in September. SuHe explained patiently to XueYingying. If the ti given on the screens is indeed in daylight saving ti, then the earthquakes onset in standard ti would actually bethreethirteen.
Oh my god, then what are we standing around for? We need to get to the shelter!
We still have plenty of ti, but I suppose theres no use to loitering around, SuHe agreed. Lets go.
This ti the party took no detours and imdiately headed to the ergency hallway. After a violent upheaval of the nearby furniture Dr Lu triumphantly uncovered the key hidden away in a drawer and lead the party to the door.
QiLeren would never have believed that a fallout shelter laid behind the slab of unassuming concrete before them if he hadnt been told.
Movent from the door triggered the ergency lighting to reveal a space, large enough to fit more than a hundred people, boxed in by secure walls of reinforced concrete that gave a peculiar sense of security.
Ventilation and air flow here is basically as good as it gets. Theres so new dicine and food stocked less than a few days ago when the higher-ups ca for their routine check, so they should all be safe to eat. Dr Lus voice held a slight tremble as it echoed off the walls, still nervous about SuHes hypothesis.
SuHe smiled gently in response. It was just a guess, he soothed. Perhaps the four thirteen was actually in standard ti. We dont need to worry so much.
No, youre right, Dr Lu said insistently. I think weve all been missing sothing. If you think about everything weve been through today, its obvious that what this tutorial village is testing isnt our combat abilities but our capability for logical analysis.
From the very beginning, thats what pushed us forward.
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