Author's Note: Hello, my dear Wastelings! I'm back again. Welcome to season twelve of the Wasteland Project! Where last we left, Ju ended up going to the Dark Circus in her dreams and her husband's 2P!counterpart. She made it back to safety and discovered that a flight attendant from Shanghai went missing in Germany. I'm happy with how this turned out for a solid start to the season. Five pages and over two thousand words. I was worried that I wouldn't know what to write this season. But I think that I can pull it off. Next week, we're going to check in on America and his baby as per usual these seasons. Let's see where this season takes us. For now, enjoy this week's match.

Tea Leaves and Crimson Nails

Match One: Land of the Dying Sun, Red Plague Doctor, and Bad Omens:

-Ju-

Something isn't right. That's an understatement if there is one.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead.

I don't know where to begin with this. Well, there was that creepy circus I dreamt about days ago. And the missing flight attendant. I stared at my laptop screen, narrowing my eyes. I don't know how to put it.

"Are you still looking at that article about that missing flight attendant?" I heard Yao ask me.

"Yep," I said. She was only twenty-five. We are about the same age. I don't look up when Yao leans over my shoulder for a look.

"Why do you keep looking at that article?" he asked. "Do you know her or something?"

"No," I said. I couldn't tell him about what I know happened. I don't think he will believe me. Besides, I wouldn't know whom to tell about what I know happened to Han Li Hua. Do I contact the Chinese police or the German police?

"Qīn'ài de," Yao said. I lifted my head.

"I'm sorry, did you need something?" I asked.

"Not really," Yao said.

"Oh," I said. It was then I noticed him frowning at me. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"Look, I'm fine," I said.

"Didn't say you weren't," he said. I puffed up my cheeks.

"Right…" I muttered. I looked at my screen again. Li Hua's smiling face stared back at me. I couldn't get that image of her with the extra limbs sewn to her body. Each stitch looked like it hurt. She pleaded for me to run. I just wish that I could've helped her. But what could I have done? That place is evil. I wouldn't even know where it was.

I'm happy to know that I am not the only one who notices that something isn't right. You probably will think that I am crazy for saying any of this. You are going to have to bear with me here. Some of this comes from Reddit. (Thank goodness for the all-mighty VPN. I can pretend that I'm in Canada on my laptop! I digress.) There is a subreddit called r/DarkCircusSightings. The subscription count keeps going up. It's close to a thousand the last time I checked. Most of the posts are about theories about what it is. Some talk about the missing people they recognize. I myself have just been lurking around. I joined three days ago. Honestly, I don't know why I did this but I typed in "Dark Circus" and "Missing Persons" and came across the subreddit. I just had to join. I have taken the time to browse through everything. At first, it all sounded like conspiracy nuts. But now, I'm not so sure.

This morning, I came across a new post. It was a long post and I haven't finished reading it myself. From what I could read the Dark Circus came from hell. They are kidnapping souls and trapping them in their performances forever. The same thing goes for their audience. Until a few nights ago, I would've all but laughed at such a post. Now…

I rubbed my forehead as I groaned. What the hell is going on here?!

That wasn't the only thing that was amiss.

I've been hearing… things about Japan. Really bad things. Most of the news is coming out of Ikebukuro. Cell phone service has been cut off in the area. There are reports of ghosts, demons, and godlike creatures called "tadpoles." And don't get me started on the murders going around. It's crazy! Some people think that it will spread throughout Tokyo. There's already a nickname going around for Japan in the darker corners of the internet. "Land of the dying sun." All I have to say about that is I hope it doesn't come here.

I looked at the clock on my laptop. It's almost noon already? It didn't feel like it. I sat back in my chair and frowned. What am I doing? I don't have time to go down crazy rabbit holes. I have a clan to run. I closed out of everything and shut down my laptop. I had to force myself to walk out of the room and get on with my day.

I vowed that I would not check my phone unless it was related to work.

That's not the only I've had on my mind, however. I'm starting to have dreams again. Not about the Dark Circus this time. No, this is something different.

I pushed my bangs out of my eyes.

Well, do you remember those plague doctors from Europe? You know, those guys dressed in black with those masks with the long noses? Yes, them. I have been dreaming about one of them. Only, this one looks a bit different. Her cloak is a blood red. (I think it's a her. I want to believe that it is.) She has a mask but not the nose. Now, I only have bits and pieces of her. I just have her profile. This plague doctor is always holding something in her right hand.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure why I'm having these dreams. I haven't watched any plague documentaries lately. I haven't read anything about plague doctors anywhere. It's so weird.

"Is it possible to have weird dreams out of nowhere?" I asked. Bik looked up at me from across the table.

"Why do you ask?" she asked. I shrugged and shook my head.

"It is possible," she said. "Why? What brought this on?"

"Nothing, really," I said. Bik didn't look so convinced.

"Is something bothering you?" she asked.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "Not really." I picked up my cup and took a sip of my tea. She didn't take her eyes off of me. I frowned as I put down my cup.

"I'm fine," I insisted. "Really." Bik didn't say anything as she shrugged. I don't understand why she does that sometimes. But now, I am starting to see it myself. I'm starting to doubt me sometimes.

"Hey, Bik," I said.

"Yeah?" she asked. I started to say something but paused. What was I going to say? I had it but now it was gone. I lowered my hand as I shook my head.

"Nothing," I said. "It's nothing. Forget about it."

"You sure?" Bik asked.

"Yeah," I said. I picked up my cup and finished my tea. And that was it.

I'm sorry if I sound like I am rambling. There's just so much going on. And it's not because of lack of sleep. Despite my nightmares, I am sleeping rather well, thank you. Everything's been calm so far in China. Somehow, I don't pay that at all. Something is not right. Don't ask me how I know. I just do.

"Do I sound crazy?" I asked at the dinner table one evening.

"A little bit," Yao said. I frowned. I knew he was going to say that.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"You sure nothing is wrong?" he asked. I leaned back in my chair. I want to say it but it's not going to come out right.

"Do you want the truth?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said. I dropped my head back and sighed as I stared at the ceiling.

"I don't know!" I said. I looked at my oh-so-patient husband.

"It doesn't make sense to me either," I said. Yao stared at me as I said nothing. He already had that look in his eye. I threw back my head and groaned.

"Don't!" I said. My husband gave me a curious look.

"What?" he asked.

"You're going to suggest that I take something for my stress or something," I said. "Well, don't! I'm not stressed, okay?" Yao put up his hands.

"I never said that," he said. I glared at him.

"Forget it," I muttered. I shoved more fried rice into my mouth. Yao didn't stop staring at me. I lowered my chopsticks but said nothing.

"Look," I said. "If you are going to say, just say it. Just don't look at me like that."

"Look at you like what?" Yao asked.

"Like you pity me," I said.

"I don't," he said. "I' m just worried about you." Of course he is.

"Sorry, sorry," I said. "I just have so much on my mind."

"Is it that girl again?" Yao asked.

"No," I said. "Well… part of it." He narrowed his eyes at me.

"Dreams again?" he asked.

"That too," I said.

"Then… what is it?" Yao asked. I looked over at my husband. I had the words in my head, but how was I going to come out and say it?

"I feel like something isn't right," I said. I waited for him to say something. Was he going to give me that pitying look again? Did he really think I was crazy?

"What do you mean?" Yao asked. I opened my mouth as I tried to think. I gave up and shrugged.

"I can't really explain it," I said. "I just feel it." Somehow, I felt better for saying all of that. I leaned back in my chair. I looked up and saw an uneasy look on his face.

"Yao?" I asked. His hand trembled with his chopsticks.

"Oh," he said in a quiet voice. I cocked my head to the side.

"What is it? What's wrong?" I asked. He lifted his chin.

"I'm starting to have dreams again too," my husband admitted.

"About your past life? Why didn't you say anything?" I asked. Yao stared at me as if he didn't know what to say.

"How long have you been having them?" I asked.

"For a few months now," Yao said in a quiet voice.

"A few months?" I asked. "A few months?! Why didn't you say anything?!"

"You had so much on your mind," he said. "You were graduating. Then there was all that Qi business." Yao sighed.

"It wouldn't be right to burden you further," he said. I frowned as I stared at him.

"Burden me?" I asked. He might as well have just slapped me in the face.

"I am your wife! We are a team! We talk to each other when something is bothering us. I know I have been slipping lately but I'm here now. No more secrets, okay? We talk about everything from now on." Yao lowered his head.

"No more secrets, okay?!" I shouted.

"Fine!" Yao shouted. "No more secrets!" I bowed my head.

"Thank you," I said. I took a deep breath.

"Now what about those dreams of yours," I said. "Tell me everything. Don't hold anything back. It might be important. Anything you can tell me will help." I didn't know if it really would. But I just had to get to the bottom of what was going on around us.

There's still more to this. I saw the strangest thing last night. I wasn't sure if I was dreaming or not. Bear with me on this. I will try my best to make it make sense.

So I was asleep in bed last night when I woke up. I don't know what it was. It was like I was asleep at one point and then my eyes snapped open. I sat up in bed in the dark. Even then I knew something wasn't right. I don't know why I didn't wake up Yao. I probably should have. But my body just moved on its own. I got up and walked out of my room.

I made it down to Jing's nursery. When I got to the doorway, my heart was pounding in my chest. Even before I looked inside, I could feel the dark energy around me. It was so intense I thought my ears were going to pop. Everything seemed to shake and blur around me. I could feel my eyes watering. When I looked into the room, things were so much worse.

A shadowy figure stood over my son's crib. From what I could make out, it looked like a woman in a black dress and a long black veil. I couldn't tell what she was trying to do to my son. Her right head huddled over him in midair. I wanted to scream at her to stop, to leave my son alone before I couldn't move. I couldn't even scream. When she turned her head to look at me, her eyes glowed a dull white. I thought I was looking into the soul of hell itself. She didn't have to move or say anything to put the fear of death in me.

The next thing I knew, I woke up in my bed again. I was panting and covered in sweat. I don't remember how or when I got back into my bed. I couldn't feel that crushing darkness around me anymore. What was that just now? I didn't have it in me to try and piece together what I just saw. I should wake up my husband and go check on my son.

I clenched my hand to my chest. This is going to sound cliched, but I have a bad feeling about this.