Guide Her to Nowhere (NPH) - Chapter 30: Are You a Guide?
Chapter 30: Are You a Guide?
“You are not the first person to try escaping, nor will you be the first to succeed,” Shen Qi said.
“How do you know that?” Qu Tang asked.
“There are aberrants outside the electric fence, and more than one,” Shen Qi replied.
Qu Tang was taken aback. “So this is an infected area?”
“No, it’s an isolation zone,” Shen Qi corrected.
“You’re keeping aberrants as guards in an isolation zone? And more than one?” Qu Tang was appalled at the depths of human depravity.
In the original story, there were noble families who kept aberrants as pets, but these people were using them as guards.
She suddenly recalled the four men she had killed, whose bodies had been retrieved – they were most likely fed to the aberrants.
Shen Qi did not respond, instead approaching Qu Tang and crouching beside her. He extended his hand. “Give me your hand.”
Since she had already made physical contact with Shen Qi, it was pointless to resist now. Qu Tang offered her swollen, reddened right wrist.
Shen Qi grasped her arm, his fingers pressing on her wrist, and with a firm motion, he realigned the dislocated joint.
Qu Tang tried to withdraw her hand, but it did not budge.
“Let go!” she demanded.
But Shen Qi only gripped her tighter, his pale grey eyes fixed on Qu Tang. “Are you a Guide?”
Qu Tang had imagined this scenario countless times. When Shen Qi voiced the question, her heart clenched briefly, but she schooled her expression into one of natural surprise and confusion.
“A Guide? No, I’m not. Why do you ask?”
Shen Qi lifted Qu Tang’s hand higher, leaning in close, his nose gently touching her skin.
They both trembled, as if struck by electricity.
“I’ve heard that Guides are like catnip to Sentinels – you smell so enticing, it’s hard to resist the urge to get closer,” Shen Qi said in a tone that lacked any trace of coyness.
“Heard from someone? Have you never encountered a Guide before?”
“No.”
“What about an Anchor?”
“None of those either.”
Gazing at the white crown of Shen Qi’s head, Qu Tang realized for the first time that this man, who she hadn’t found entirely unpleasant, was truly frightening.
Shen Qi was remarkably stable, showing no signs of needing to be anchored. He must either be a newly awakened Sentinel, untainted by the pollution, or possess exceptional spiritual fortitude and emotional control, able to withstand the torment of his heightened senses.
Qu Tang doubted Shen Qi was a newly awakened Sentinel.
“I’m sorry, I’m not a Guide, so I can’t help you,” Qu Tang said, again trying to withdraw her hand. This time, Shen Qi released his grip, but remained leaning close to her.
Qu Tang tried to get up, but Shen Qi suddenly pressed down on her shoulders, pinning her to the ground.
“What are you doing?!” Qu Tang exclaimed.
“It doesn’t hurt,” Shen Qi murmured, slowly lowering his body until it was pressed against Qu Tang’s.
“What?”
“Being near you, it doesn’t hurt my head or my senses.” Shen Qi’s voice was calm. “Let me hold you for a while.”
“No!”
“I’ll help you leave,” Shen Qi bargained. “Just let me hold you for a bit, and I’ll help you get out of here.”
Qu Tang hesitated. ‘For a bit’ couldn’t be too long, she supposed.
Shen Qi embraced her, resting his head on her shoulder, his breath tickling her neck.
Qu Tang endured it, discreetly keeping track of the time. Her limit for ‘a bit’ was five minutes, but in less than one, Shen Qi’s breathing had evened out, and a faint snore escaped him.
He had fallen asleep that quickly?!
Unconvinced, Qu Tang shifted in Shen Qi’s arms, but he did not stir.
She reached over and pinched his waist firmly. “Stop pretending to sleep, time’s up.”
Shen Qi opened his eyes, a rare flash of displeasure in his pale grey gaze. “It wasn’t even a minute.”
Qu Tang felt a twinge of guilt. “Let me sleep a little longer,” Shen Qi murmured, his white lashes fluttering as he closed his eyes again.