The Red Lanterns

The Jade Estate was ablaze with red lanterns. The sound of firecrackers popped in the distance, masking the sound of Mei’s footsteps as she crept through the servant’s corridor.

She wore her old sneakers and the polyester uniform she had arrived in. It hung loosely on her skeletal frame now.

She reached the kitchen. The chefs were shouting, plating dumplings. No one noticed the shadow slipping out the back door.

The cold air hit her like a physical blow. Mei stumbled, clutching her chest. Her heart fluttered wildly, weak and erratic.

*Move,* she told herself. *Just move.*

She crossed the garden. The gravel crunched under her feet. She could see the service gate ahead. It was open. A truck was unloading crates of fireworks.

Fifty meters.

Forty.

Suddenly, her left shoulder—the spot where Feng had marked her—ignited.

It wasn't heat. It was agony. It felt like a hook had been embedded in her flesh and was being yanked backward.

Mei screamed, falling to her knees in the mud.

Her limbs went numb. She couldn't breathe. The invisible tether tightened, paralyzing her lungs.

"You shouldn't be out here without a coat."

The voice was calm, disappointed.

Mei looked up through her tears.

Feng stood on the path. He wore a long cashmere coat, his hands in his pockets. The red lanterns reflected in his eyes, making them look like pools of blood.

"I know," Mei wheezed. "I know about the wives."

Feng didn't flinch. He walked over to her. He didn't look angry. He looked... sad.

"They were noble sacrifices," he said. "Just like you."

He bent down and scooped her up. She was light as a feather now. She tried to hit him, but her arm fell uselessly to her side.

"Why?" she sobbed. "Why me?"

"Because you were ordinary," Feng whispered, carrying her back toward the house. "You had nothing to lose but debt. I gave you a year of queenship. Is that not a fair trade?"

"I want to live," Mei begged.

"You are living," Feng said, tightening his grip. "You are living inside me. Your energy keeps the madness at bay. You are the dam holding back the flood."

He carried her back into the warmth, back into the trap. As the door closed, muffling the sound of the fireworks, Mei realized the terrifying truth. He didn't hate her. He loved her. But he loved his own survival more.

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