She'd lost count of how many times she'd fallen from a tall building.
Sooner or later, under the combined influence of alcohol and the high-altitude fall, her heart would slam against her sternum one last time—and then, Jin Xueli would cease to exist.
But this time, at least, she was still alive. Still, with every frantic beat, her heart pumped blood that lashed at her brain, sending waves of dizziness through her.
The warm alcohol burst from her pores as sweat. The needle-like heat on her back faded, replaced by a cool dampness.
Jin Xueli might never overcome her fear of falling. But after so many times, she could at least stop herself from screaming upon landing. All that escaped were gasps, so ragged they bordered on sobs. Fear, like a centipede, scrabbled at her chest and throat.
She had once again landed in the usual spot.
The air in the room was filled with the smell of old dust, reminiscent of aged cardboard boxes. It was dim and cool. The darkness wasn't thick, more like a half-drawn curtain that one could simply reach out and part, revealing someone hiding behind it.
Jin Xueli didn't move.
The alcohol was still a turbulent tide within her, making her sway.
Some unknown force must have been watching over her. No matter how she jumped, she always landed on her feet, like a cat favored by the heavens.
She crouched for a few seconds, reaching out with her right hand in the darkness, fumbling for the wall. Every time she landed, the alcohol made her unsteady, and she always had to brace herself against the wall to her right. 'If I were to shine a flashlight on it, I'd probably see a patch of plaster polished smooth by the oils from my hand.'
The moment her hand touched a smooth, square plastic plate, she snatched it back as if shocked, cursing under her breath. A fresh wave of fear made the hair on her arms stand on end.
'It's impossible to guard against everything,' she thought. 'The light switch definitely wasn't on this wall last time.'
Luckily, her touch had been light, and she hadn't pressed the eager, waiting switch.
Jin Xueli slowly made her way to the corner, fumbled for the faucet in its usual spot, and turned the handle. She cupped her hands and drank several large gulps. The handle gave a few SQUEAKS as she turned it off, and then silence returned.
Unlike the food, the water in the Nest was usually safe.
Jin Xueli took a squashed doughnut and a can of coffee out of her bag.
Numb the fear with alcohol before the fall, then dilute the alcohol with fried food and coffee after landing—Jin Xueli had to follow the same procedure every time she entered a Nest.
She leaned against the wall in the corner. Even though she had no appetite, she forced herself to finish everything, then carefully packed the empty can and paper bag back into her backpack.
Never leave personal belongings in a Nest, not even a piece of trash—that was the first lesson for a Hunter. Jin Xueli had forgotten when she'd learned it.
Opposite the sink was a locked storage cabinet.
She fumbled in the dark a few times before finally fitting the key into the lock. From behind the silently swinging door, she retrieved a cool, heavy, box-shaped radio.
The CRACKLE of static floated up from the depths of the darkness and settled beside her. As she turned the knob to find a station, the static slowly resolved into a man's voice.
"Welcome to Nest 173 Radio," the man's voice said, low and story-like. "You're listening to 'A Virtual Guide to the Infinite Illusion Realm,' and I'm your host."
No name. Just "the Host."
His—or perhaps *its*, since humans couldn't live in a Nest—entire identity seemed to depend on the radio station for its existence.
No matter when Jin Xueli turned on the radio, the first thing she heard was always, "Welcome to Nest 173 Radio"—as if the Host was perpetually waiting, brought to life the moment a listener turned on their device.
"Today is Monday, November 16, 2026."
Time in the Nest passed at the same rate as in the human world. A glance at her phone confirmed it.
Over a hundred ugly, unread messages were frozen on the screen. With no signal, no new ones could get through.
"First up, the Nest news."
In the darkness, Jin Xueli listened, waiting for the coffee and food to take effect. She was likely the only one who knew about this safe spot, so she didn't have to worry about intruders.
In a Nest, where a single moment's distraction could mean the difference between life and death, she was sitting perfectly still, listening to a radio. The thought was almost laughable.
She was a solo Hunter, lacking the support of a Family Faction. The Illusions she'd managed to acquire in the past were all second-rate at best. Logically, she wasn't in a position to be picky; she should have taken any Illusion she could get, and sold any Illusion she had.
But this radio was the one thing she would never sell. It was her lifeline.
"...I'm sure all residents who truly love the Nest will be delighted. A great threat to the Nest, one that had only just begun to sprout, has already been promptly snuffed out thanks to a multi-pronged effort. We hope you'll share this good news with your friends and family... assuming you haven't made them into dinner yet."
Jin Xueli listened absently. Honestly, she didn't understand a word of it, let alone what "great threat" he was referring to.
The broadcast wasn't meant for humans. The Host's audience was presumably the other residents of the Nest, which was why she couldn't understand eight out of every ten sentences.
As long as it didn't seem to concern her, Jin Xueli couldn't be bothered to investigate further. The curiosity she'd felt when she first got the radio had been completely extinguished after a near-death experience.