The tombstone was blank, so simple it looked like a stone slab someone had found and stuck in the ground. Yet, for some reason, a wave of sadness washed over me the moment I saw it.
"Lu Ziye, have you lost your mind? Why are you dragging me to a graveyard in the middle of the night? Did one of your relatives move in here?!"
All the pent-up frustration from so long, coupled with the annoyance of having my pleasant dreams interrupted twice today, finally erupted. I could no longer control my emotions, and with a cold expression, I roared at Lu Ziye.
"Hold on, hold on. I wouldn't bring you here to joke around. Strictly speaking, there is indeed a friend of mine buried here. And, believe it or not, you knew him too."
Lu Ziye's gaze was calm, as if he had anticipated my outburst. He pointed to the tombstone with great composure.
"Spit it out! I want to see what you've got to say for yourself!"
I crossed my arms, a little annoyed, but a sliver of curiosity had been piqued.
I knew the person buried here? How was that possible?!
Since arriving on this island, I had been with Lu Ziye and the others. I hadn't seen any outsiders, and everyone seemed fine.
"If I have to tell this story, it's going to be a long one. After we arrived on this island, do you remember how many people there were in total?"
He's bored and wants to test my memory, is he?
Despite my annoyance at Lu Ziye's condescending tone, I silently counted the people who were here when we arrived.
Lu Ziye, Shangguan Yao, Li Degui, Pan Lili, and then later Luo Yaqin and Guan Haier. That made six people.
"Not counting Qu Xiangyun, who mysteriously disappeared halfway, there were a total of 7 of us, including me. What, can't you count anymore? Are you developing Alzheimer's already!"
I had completely let myself go now. I wasn't thinking about how I'd deal with Lu Ziye later, only about how to vent all my resentment right now.
Even in my answer, I couldn't resist throwing in a jab at him.
"No, you're the one who's mistaken!"
I had expected Lu Ziye to be angered by my words and lose his temper. But to my surprise, he remained unfazed, even with my provocations. He just shook his head at me.
"How can that be!"
I looked at Lu Ziye with utter disbelief. At this point, I was convinced he had brought me here in the dead of night just to mess with me.
"It's normal for you to forget some things now. We had an accident before, and after that, you forgot some things."
What the heck? I had amnesia?!
Lu Ziye's expression was dead serious, not a hint of joking. I stared at him, speechless for a moment.
I had watched documentaries before that said people with amnesia might lose their memories, but their subconscious could still retain impressions, and these impressions would sometimes resurface.
I thought back carefully. I couldn't even recall any lingering impressions, let alone what I did every day, which I remembered perfectly. The idea that I had amnesia was ridiculous.
"Lu Ziye, am I giving you too much leeway? That you'd make a joke out of something like this!"
"I remember everything that happens to me every day crystal clear, and you're telling me I've had amnesia? It's utterly preposterous!"
I had completely lost my patience now, and my dissatisfaction with Lu Ziye grew stronger. If I had a magic lamp in my hand, my first wish wouldn't be to leave this place, but for Lu Ziye to disappear from this earth, turning to dust.
Having said my piece, I turned and started walking back to the campsite. But as soon as I turned, Lu Ziye grabbed my arm.
"What are you doing?!"
I forcefully shook off Lu Ziye's arm. Anger had taken control of my brain. Disregarding everything, I charged at him, balled up my fist, and swung it hard at his face.
"Enough! Everything I've said is true. If you don't believe me, just look behind you!"
Lu Ziye grabbed my wrist and shoved me hard. I stumbled back a few steps.
"Look at what! Did you guys dig up the bodies and put them on display!"
I kept my words sharp, but my body obediently turned to see what Lu Ziye was referring to.
Damn it, damn it! If Lu Ziye wasn't a few inches taller and bulkier than me, I'd make sure he knew why the flowers were so red today!
Following the direction Lu Ziye had pointed, I saw a smaller tombstone behind the first one. I hadn't noticed it before because of the dim light and obstructed view. And there, clearly written, were the words:
"Tomb of Pan Lili"
!!!
Pan Lili is dead?
But Pan Lili wasn't in the camp...
My mind instinctively replayed everything about Pan Lili. I found that the memories of Pan Lili moving around in the camp were vanishing, replaced by the stark reality that Pan Lili had died long ago!
And it was I who had personally buried her body!