Memetic Hazard(Arknights Modern AU)

[Prologue]

A/N: this is a story out of a special request from some old friend of mine who asked me to make this, consider it a spiritual successor to one of my old story in my old account.
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(3rd POV)

"Get that brat!" A group of teenagers are seen running across a remote street of Lungmen where people are absent.

Save for those who live in the slum or homeless but they are far few to be seen.

"Don't later her escape!" A young gray haired child no older than eight jumps through obstacles scattered through the quiet streets.

"Ugh! Why wont they stop." She muttered annoyed yet anxious as she ran left hoping to lose her pursuers.

"She's trying to lose us! Hurry!" She didnt show any distress even as she can hear her pursuers voices growing louder each second.

"Come on, come on just give up already." She grew ever anxious as she felt her legs grew weaker from all the running.

"Ah!" Her steps halted staring at what's seems to be an abandoned court with walls too tall for her to climb.

And with no way out at that. "No, not a dead end." She cried in frustration as she looks back hearing footsteps growing.

"I can smell her over there! She's close I can feel it." In a panic she did the only smart thing she could do... hiding.

She stared at a loose crack in the wall though it doesn't lead to anything it was enough to fit her in and the few parge planks spread across can help conceal her.

"Oh, please work." Without hesitation she slip into the crack and carried the large dilapidated planks to act as cover as she hid inside the crack in the wall.

She heard their footsteps halting as they entered the empty court. "Where the hell is thay half-breed?!"

Sounds of frustration and anger evident in one of her pursuers tone as they tried to look for her.

She shuffled quietly trying to blend in as she used the planks and overgrown vines she picked to cover herself inside the crack on the wall.

"She must be hiding, quick look around there's no way she could've escaped." That was true but she refused to be caught.

Nervous she stayed quiet hoping that they wouldn't find her. "I'll check over here." Her breath hitched seeing a shadow loom over where she was hiding.

"Damn brat I swear if I get my hands on her, I'll snap that horn of hers." She shivered at her pursuer's words.

"Uwah... I shouldn't have gone off like uncle said." She lamented in her mind, having regretted her actions now that's she's in danger.

"Nothing... just damn rotten planks and vines." The shadow vanished and made her sigh in relief. "Any sign of her?"

"The brat's gone as far as I can tell haven't found any trace of her." One of her pursuer remarked in frustration.

"Damnit! How did we lost a kid who's barely 4 feet tall?" She hopes they leave soon so that she can return back home even if she'll get a scolding of a lifetime from her uncle.

"Tch! Let's go, we'll get the brat someday." She heard their footsteps moving and growing faint.

"Finally..." She though in relief as she slowly and quietly left her hiding spot.

"Phew... they're gone." She muttered in relief seeing as their gone. "They're you are brat." Or so she thought.

"N-No." In her horror she looked up to see on of her pursuer standing over the wall with a ferocious smile.