Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 430

“Who goes there?” A firm voice projected from a distance.
Hearing that, I rushed out of the room. Noticing the light beam from a newly-opened hole, I yelled, “Help! My name is Zhou,
I’m a construction worker who fell through the city wall. This structure is about to collapse, please help me!” I exclaimed. There
was silence. “Hello?” I asked frantically.
“Don’t worry Zhou. I’ve been sent to save you.” The person replied. I exhaled, feeling relieved. My despair was instantly washed
away by that reassuring reply.
Using a rope, the person lowered himself down to my level. He then looked me over from head to toe, his eyes lingering on
‘The Seed’.
“What is that?” He asked with a glint in his eyes.
“It..It’s ‘The Seed of Happiness’,” I replied, my voice shaky. Strangely, he appeared indifferent. He just stared blankly at the
glowing object.
“‘The Seed of Happiness’? The tale did say it was buried in the lair of the sorcerer who cast the spell.” He suddenly appeared
enlivened. I looked at him suspiciously. He is obviously acting. But why would anyone be under the city wall? Surely he is here
to rescue me?
“Here, let me attach you to this cord.” He looped a rope around me.
“I think it’s best if you hand me ‘The Seed’,” he suggested, “It will be more secure with me.”
My instincts told me not to trust him. “I’ll pass it to you once we get up there.”
The walls were almost crumbling now.
The person finally reached the ground above us. “Here, let me help you,” he said, extending his hand to me. I was almost at the
top when I noticed a greedy gleam in his eyes, accompanied by a wicked grin.