CHAPTER 4: A STRANGE LAND

Daisy wakes up startled, she feels like she had slept for a very long time. It is still a cloudless blue sky in her eyes, but the surrounding air was extremely hot. Daisy's whole body aches. It is as if her limbs no longer belonged to her. Daisy struggles to sit up with her hands’ strength. Her hand sinks to the ground, it makes her stumble. This is not cement pavement, this is… sand. It's the sand!

Daisy glances around. An immense stretch of sand, one after another, extending endlessly. Is this a desert?

Daisy pats her head with her hands and tries to recreate what had just happened. Daisy left New Generation company and was about to cross the road to catch the car back home when a motorcycle hit her… He snatched her phone… Then… after that… Daisy can't remember anymore.

Is Daisy dreaming? Daisy tries to move her fingers and toes to pull herself out of her dream but she fails. She pinches her hand, the pain that comes to let her know that what appears before her eyes is the truth, not in a dream.

Did Daisy already die?

She had read many books about what happens when people die. Within 49 days after the death, the period of transition from death to the next rebirth, the body and mind have separated independently, no longer connected to other. Depending on the blessings that each person has built while living, the bardo body will go to a good place, taking fragrance as food or going to a scary place, taking uncleanness as a source of life. Daisy is not a very gentle person, but she has never intended to harm anyone.

This desolate place is for sure not paradise. But to say this is hell would be strange indeed. This place is too bright, and there are no ghosts or demons.

Daisy stands up and tries to step forward. The four sides are all sand and the sun is at the top, she can't distinguish the direction. Daisy laughs to herself, discriminating the direction for what, if she has a compass in her hand now, she also doesn’t know where to go in this strange land.

Daisy puts her heels in her bag. She takes off her blazer and stuffs it in. Daisy is the type of person who likes to hold all things, she is often worried that she does not bring enough supplies for necessary cases, so she always chooses a large bag. The sun shines on Daisy's face burning. The white shirt is also clinging to the body because it is drenched with sweat. Daisy's feet start blistering because of the hot sand. Daisy wants to take a sip of cool water and soak in the tub to chase away the scorching sun. How luxurious is that simple dream now!

When Daisy is about to collapse from exhaustion, from afar, transmitting the sound of hooves and footsteps, getting closer and closer. Daisy tries to listen and stares into space. The wind blows the sand away and creates a terrible sandstorm. In the sound of horses' hooves, she hears the sound of people screaming and shouting in pain.

The layer of dust gradually melted away, revealing a scene that makes Daisy take a few steps back and then fall on the sand. She can't even control her legs. In front of Daisy is a barbaric carnage. Soldiers on horseback wearing helmets and armor are using spears and swords to slay the people below. Blood spews out, soaking into the sand. Then both the corpse and the blood are quickly buried in the sand.

Based on their costumes, Daisy can know that two armies are fighting and one side is rumored to be in a dead position. The soldier on the horse wears red clothes and a black belt. Their hair is tied up to half his back. Those who lost the battle are mercilessly slain, dressed in black from head to toe. Their head is bald and smooth.

Daisy feels like she is watching the battle scene of a swordplay movie, but the murderous intent is filled in each person's eyes, spreading to the surrounding air, making the scene so dark and scary. The carnage soon ends with the triumph of the savages on horseback.

They see Daisy, never knew when. One man in the army points a finger at Daisy. Just then, two of them step forward, pull Daisy by the arm, and drag her across the hot sand. The tight office dress becomes horribly wrinkled. Daisy's legs are unusable, they seem to be frozen.

Daisy is pushed to her knees in front of the horse-rider just now. Her face almost touches the sand. He asks:

“Who are you?”

Daisy's mouth seems to be frozen by that majestic shout, she can't say anything but automatic hums from her throat. Her body trembles constantly. The man on horseback speaks again:

“Let her free, she can't escape anyway.”

When she is no longer being pressed down by two muscular men. Her arms are limp from the pain. Daisy slowly looks up. The man who is questioning her has a murderous expression on his face, a ferocious expression evident in every muscle on his face. The thick eyebrows on the copper-colored face added more majesty and violence to him. Beside him was a young man, looking younger. He has a slim figure and a calm demeanor. He is also the least malevolent person in this army. And behind the two of them is a row of muscular men with their bows and arrows, pointing straight at Daisy.

“Tell me, who are you? Are you from Scorpion Country? If you dare to lie, today will be the day of your death.”

The man speaks again, it seems he is the highest-ranking person here. According to the sword-play movies Daisy has seen, he must be an army general. Daisy hastily kneels and bows again and again, until her forehead touches the sand and burns red.

The man beside the army general speaks up. His voice is so gentle as well as his appearance. He is like a scholar, standing among the slaughtermen at the slaughterhouse, can still maintain his elegant character:

“Judging from her outfit, she doesn't seem to be from Scorpion Country. You see, this frightened look can't be faked, she must be from some kind of tribe that got lost in here.”

The army general glances at the strangely dressed girl in front of him and growls:

“You, look up!”

Daisy continues to bow her head. What scared her is not only the aggressive attitude of people in front of her, especially when they had just killed others, but also because she does not understand what they are saying.

Daisy has studied many foreign languages for work, but this is the first time she has heard this language. However, by their intonation, and the way they look at her, Daisy can tell they don't mean well. They may even think she is a spy for the enemy and just want to kill her. Therefore, Daisy bows and shakes her head vigorously, she hopes that they will understand her body language and let her go.