"Ugh… why is this world so noisy? I'm tired of this life." I sighed, feeling a deep weariness in my bones. I put on my headphones and walked home, listening to music.
When I arrived at my apartment, I opened the door. Kreek!
I went to the window and gazed at the clear night sky, filled with thousands of stars and a bright full moon. It was a beautiful sight, though it was strange to see a galaxy so clearly in the city.
In my heart, I spoke to myself. My name is Yang Bao. My parents passed away when I graduated from college. I had chosen literature, but now I had no purpose. I applied for jobs everywhere, but the world was not as kind as I thought. I was rejected just because of my poor eyesight.
I finally realized this world runs on money and connections, not on merit. I was born into a poor family, and my parents' life savings had all been used for my tuition. I didn't even want to go, but they insisted I'd be nothing without a degree. So, I obeyed. But after I graduated, reality was not what I expected. Huh…
"Stars, is there a life out there for me?" I whispered to the night sky. "It's too noisy here. I'm tired, and I want to change my fate. If it's possible, is there a planet I can live on?"
Suddenly, the noisy night fell silent. I jolted awake from my bed, falling to the floor. My headphones tore from my head, breaking under my weight. I got up, trying to understand what had happened.
"What is this? Am I deaf now?" I panicked. I could still see the buildings' glowing lights clearly through my glasses. Is it because I used my headphones too loudly? Am I disabled now? Cold sweat drenched my forehead.
I walked out of my room to the bathroom. I opened the door and stared at my reflection. My face was normal, but my eyes were slightly white. Blood flowed from my ears; I had been hitting them so hard. I grabbed the sink and turned on the water, taking off my glasses. My reflection was blurry. I splashed cold water on my face, washing off the blood from my ears.
I panicked, utterly terrified. Could I still live? Would this disability take my life? My heart felt empty, my mind surrendered, but my soul refused to give up.
After washing my eyes, I smelled a strange odor. It was cold. This wasn't my bathroom. I fumbled around, trying to find my glasses on the sink.
"Argh! Where are my glasses? Why did I fall on the ground?" I felt the dewy grass on my body. I groped around, and realized I was in a grassy field. I tried to open my eyes.
My vision was dark. I couldn't hear anything. Tears flowed down my face. I was completely disabled and didn't know where I was. The overwhelming smell of grass and dew filled my nostrils.
I was still wearing my T-shirt and jeans, but my feet were bare. I was so confused. Where was I?
I crawled aimlessly. Thump! "Damn it..." I hit a tree trunk. The bark was so rough, like a tree hundreds of years old.
"What's happening? Bastard!" I screamed, clenching the grass and gritting my teeth. "Is this bad luck happening to me again? Now I'm deaf and blind! Why is this happening? If I've been transported to another world, why am I still disabled? Damn it!" I shouted in frustration at the sky, even though I couldn't see it.
I pondered, then leaned against the tree. My eyes were open, but all I could see was darkness. "Hehehehehe. Fate? Is this my fate? I don't believe in it, but this is real, you bastard! You damned bastard, fate!" I screamed, laughing like a madman.
Soon, I smelled a person. I called out, hoping for help. "Is anyone there? Please help me. Someone, I know you're around. Please help me."
The scent approached. Someone stood in front of me; the strange aura made them feel very tall. My body shivered.
"I'm sorry for yelling. Please help me," I begged, prostrating myself before them. My voice was shaky from the cold and fear.
Crack! Suddenly, they stomped on me. My head hit the ground hard. I felt my nose break and my facial bones scrape against the hard ground.
"M-master, what are you doing? Why are you stepping on me? Did I do something wrong? Please forgive me," I said, trapped under their foot. "Master, if you're speaking, I'm sorry, I can't hear you. Please take your foot off; my face will be destroyed." Hot blood flowed from my nose.
They took their foot off. I tried to look up and said, "Master, if you'd be so kind, please save my life. I'll do anything." My teeth ached from hitting the ground.
They suddenly grabbed my hair and dragged me. "Aaaargh... Master, why do you hate me? What did I do to you? Please... this hurts so much, my hair feels like it's being ripped out. If you want to kill me, just do it!" I cried out in anger and frustration.
A moment later, they threw me hard into a room. I crawled, feeling my way around. It felt like a dilapidated house. Filled with deep fear, I pleaded again, "Master, what are you trying to do? If you want to kill me, just kill me!"
Ugh! My neck was choked. I struggled to breathe. I thrashed, scratching at their body. They wore a robe. When I tried to pull their beard, I fainted from lack of oxygen.
When I woke up, half-conscious, I smelled a strong scent of blood. My hands and feet were bound with cold iron. I had given up.
They forced my eyes open. "What are you doing?!" I screamed, writhing. The iron bindings were too strong.
Their hand touched my eyelid, then forcibly gouged out my right eye. "Aaaaaa... It hurts! It hurts so much!" Hot blood spurted out. I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain.
Then they pressed down on my left eyelid, trying to gouge it out. I tried to bite their hand, but they punched me hard in the forehead, and I fainted again. Darkness. In my heart, I could only weep.
I became conscious again. My eyes felt different. A tight cloth was tied around them, so I couldn't open them. I felt a tremendous pain in both eyes. My mouth was also tied, so I couldn't scream. I struggled to breathe.
Suddenly, their hand fumbled with my earlobe. They pulled it and inserted something. It felt like an insect was entering my ear.
This pain is unbearable, you damned bastard! my heart screamed. "Arrggghhh!" I writhed, hitting my head against the ground. The insect became even more brutal, and the pain gnawed at my right ear.
They choked me again, then put the insect in my left ear. Krukkk! The sound of the insect crawling echoed. The pain was excruciating. My skull felt like it was cracking from hitting the hard ground. The inside of both my ears felt like they were melting; the blood wouldn't stop, and I was utterly exhausted.
I surrendered and fainted for the third time.
I woke up. My lips and body were dry. I was so weak. It seemed I had been abandoned. My hands and feet were no longer tied. The cloth binding my eyes and mouth was gone. I slowly tried to open my eyes. The pain in my whole body was still there.
A blinding light from a hole in the roof pierced my eyes. I gasped as I opened my eyes wide. I could see again. My hearing was slowly returning.
"Did someone really save me? Where am I and where is that person?" I looked around. I was in a dilapidated room, filled with cobwebs and small insects. My body was thin and withered. The dried blood was peeling off like scabs.