Prologue
Under the scorching summer sun, the city streets buzzed with activity as people hurriedly traversed the bustling sidewalks, and the relentless honking of cars formed an urban symphony.
Amidst the cacophony, a sudden shrill noise pierced the air, capturing everyone's attention.
"Oh no, somebody fell from the roof!"
The middle-aged woman's voice echoed, drawing a crowd to witness the tragic scene below. A construction worker lay motionless, his broken body surrounded by a pool of blood, the grim reality of a fall from a great height.
Distressed onlookers dialed the police, while panicked co-workers rushed to inform their manager. Despite the somber occurrence, such incidents, sadly, were not uncommon for the marginalized migrant workers, overlooked by mainstream media.
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In this sea of apathy, Lu Wen, a thirty-year-old rural migrant worker, stood out. His modest education confined him to manual labor, and the harsh reality of his life unfolded tragically on the unforgiving pavement.
As Lu Wen's story unfolded, the narrative shifted to his perspective. The once bustling surroundings faded into an eerie silence as his consciousness waned.
A mysterious buzzing filled his ears, and a mental fog shrouded his thoughts. Unable to move or comprehend the gravity of his situation, Lu Wen grappled with the surreal experience.
As his senses dulled, the pain that initially consumed him subsided. Breathless and numb, he pondered whether this was the end.
Struggling to keep his eyes open, Lu Wen glimpsed blurry lights and the shadowy contours of the ground. Darkness beckoned, and despite his efforts, it inevitably embraced him.
Simultaneously, the crowd, once animated, fell into an abrupt hush.
"Where is the body?" a bewildered man questioned.
Confusion gripped the onlookers, intensifying as a group of migrant workers cleared a path for Mr. Zhang, the site manager, who approached with visible irritation.
This unfortunate incident meant lost commissions for Mr. Zhang, but upon reaching the scene, he found only a chilling puddle of blood, devoid of the fallen worker.
Amidst the unfolding drama, a global mystery overshadowed the local tragedy. Across the world, hundreds of thousands mysteriously vanished, leaving a profound enigma that no one could fathom at the time.