The Lost Souls

The humidifier at the hospital cabin was on full. Dai Lu sat on couch dozing off. She has been awake all night and the morning, having flying back within hours after reaching Beijing. She was about to go to sleep when her phone rang. An unknown number displayed on it.

Dai Lu, "Wéi?"

A man's voice spoke, "Lu gūniang?"

Dai Lu, "Yes."

Man, "We found your number as the emergency contact for our Chang gūniang."

Dai Lu sat up worried and asked, "Yes. Is she alright?"

Man, "She is in hospital. She suddenly fainted on our excavation site and is unresponsive since then. We found your number in her diary and so we called you."

Dai Lu, "Please take care of her. I will take the next flight to Yiling. Kindly text me the hospital address too."

After disconnecting Dai Lu immediately got ready, called in sick leave form her work for a week and left. She reached the hospital in Yiling with the next few hours. The doctor in charge of Lin Chang ruled out any serious ailment. However he said that Lin Chang fainted out of severe stress and overwork. He prescribed medicines and a complete week of rest for her. Dai Lu was relieved but she knew that life hasn't been not easy for Lin Chang these days. So she decided to take care of her for the time being.

In order to relax Lin Chang's mood and de-stress her she pulled some connections via her embassy contacts and booked a gateway destination at a hilly resort village at Jiangnan province. The resort usually caters to the ultra-rich of the society but Dai Lu has a strong connection of acquaintances to able to pull this off. She was already worried about Lin Chang's stressful life situation and hence is determined to make her feel a little relaxed.

Lin Chang came around after a one night two days. Her unconsciousness baffled the doctors. She wasn't physically hurt anywhere to be deep into coma. Dai Lu was worried and perplexed hearing the doctor's diagnosis. As such there wasn't any particular medication to be prescribed to her because nothing was physically wrong with her except for a few sleeping pills to help her sleep well and de-stress. He also approved Dai Lu's idea of the vacation.

Lin Chang opened her eyes and looked around. Her vision was a little blurry and they stopped at a figure on the couch a meters away from her bed. She blinked a few times to adjust to the light until her vision became clearer and a faint smile appeared on her face recognizing who it was. Dai Lu head was drooping as she was dozing off with her mouth slightly open. Lin Chang slowly sat up and looked out from the window. It was evening and the weather was rainy, with a mild drizzle. The raindrops were hitting the window glass pane and reflected Lin Chang's face foggily. Suddenly out of nowhere a thunder-less lightning struck and the gloomy room lit up for a second making Lin Chang jump. A pale white handsome face with red glowing red eyes overlapped her reflection before it vanished again.

She shut her eyes and shook her head and looked again to find her own reflection. In the meantime Dai Lu woke up to find her sitting up staring at the window. She hurriedly went by her side and asked,

"Chang'er, how are you feeling? Ahhhh I was so scared."

Lin Change replied, chuckling, "Hey hey, I am fine. What could happen to me."

Dai Lu was taken aback. She scrutinized her best friend and said, "You seem changed. Since when do to chuckle and speak?"

Lin Chang, "I don't know. I am just being myself."

Dai Lu shrugged off and said, "Alright fine. I am glad you are up. Listen, you have been under a lot of stress and fainted at work. So here is what I have decided, and you will do exactly as I say."

Lin Chang, rolling her eyes, "Ok tell me what is it?"

Dai Lu, "I have booked a place for us at Jiangnan. It's more like a mountain resort away from the city and we will stay there for some days and refresh you up. You need a break badly."

Lin Chang, chirped, "Well that's great. I was thinking of doing the same. But you did it already so."

Dai Lu, "Wait wait wait. You actually thought of a vacation?"

Lin Chang, "Yeah. Why?"

Dai Lu, confused, "This is so not you. Normally as your nature you would have straight away said no."

Lin Chang, "Well , this me now so.."

Dai Lu, "Ahhhh fine fine let's get you discharged and get ready for the trip. I had the tickets ready."

Both of them came out of the hospital an hour later. They took a cab back to Lin Chang's apartment where she packed up for the vacation. The last thing she took was the dízi (transverse flute) of her. They then went to the airport. Their flight was scheduled around three in the morning. The duration of their flight was around three to four hours. They reached Jiangnan's airport at dawn and took a private taxi. Dai Lu had prepared in advance by talking to the authorities to let them through the gate.

Lin Chang, asked casually, "These people have a time for opening their gates? I thought resorts and hotels are open 24X7"

Dai Lu, "Yes but this place is a little different."

Lin Chang, "Like what?"

Dai Lu, "This place has a historical importance. Dating back to the Yu the Great's Xia dynasty."

Lin Chang sat up hearing the name. Dai Lu knew she would be surprised so she chuckled and said, "What? You didn't think I wouldn't consider your passion. Who knows, your life might take an unexpected turn here."

Lin Chang smiled brightly and let out a long hoot.

"Wooooohooo!"

Now it was Dai Lu's turn to be shocked. Since when Lin Chang started to hoot. However she brushed it off again thinking that it is best this way. At least she won't be seeing her friend all depressed and hopeless. They are best friends from high school and Lin Chang wasn't an introvert or reserved. Though she wasn't as gleeful as she is now but Dai Lu always felt her as a cheerful happy go lucky type.

The taxi reached the entrance of the resort. Lin Chang was busy with her headphones listening to music and didn't notice that now they were far away from the crowded city into the serene hills of Jiangnan. Not until the taxi stopped and Dai Lu stepped out to do the check-in with the security of the gate. Something churned inside Lin Chang as she looked at the resort hill through the entrance. She slowly came out of the taxi and looked ahead.

As she laid her foot on the ground foggy scenes flashed in her eyes. Ancient scenes of the place, groups of disciples, giggling laughs and chatting. For a second they flashed and disappeared. Tears appeared in Lin Chang's eyes as she kept looking at the place. She was so engrossed that she didn't notice Dai Lu came and stood by her shaking her shoulder.

"Hey, you ok?"

Lin Chang, snapping out of the trance, "Yes. Yes I am fine."

Dai Lu, "Are you sure? You seem a little off."

Lin Chang bringing forth her cheerfulness and replied,

"Ehhhheheehhe, no no I am fine."

Dai Lu, "Then let's go come on."

They got into the taxi which drove through the broad path way up on the hilly area of the resort. It was a rocky area with several small streams and water streams all over. The weather was cool and foggy as if they entered into the clouds. Lin Chang's weird feeling started to crept in even more as they proceeded. Suddenly she asked,

"Lu'er! What is this place called again?"

Dai Lu turned and answered, "This a resort owned by a very old family. I don't know exactly about them."

Lin Chang, "No. I mean the place. What is the name of this place."

What Dai Lu replied made Lin Chang grappled in a weird déjà vu. She repeated the name whispering....GUSU!