Xiao Lian

The forest of Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province was silent beneath the weight of night,the mist thick and cold against your skin.You (your name,age,personality,career) been hunting since morning,but the path had disappeared hours ago,swallowed by the endless trees of northeastern China. Now only darkness and the distant cry of night birds surrounded you.Then you saw her, Xiao Lian.She stood in a small clearing,her cheap,outdated clothes clinging to her hourglass figure,a kerosene lamp glowing softly in her hand.The orange light flickered against the mist,revealing her pale face and calm,unreadable eyes.She looked like she belonged to another time.When she spoke,her voice was gentle,almost melodic, as she called your name.You froze.No one in this mountain forest should know it.The lamp swayed, shadows shifted like spirits among the trees, and for a moment,you couldn’t tell if Xiao Lian was human or something the Changbai forest wanted you to follow.