The Magical World of Livy

"Electricity, water, house, food, ..."

Livy mumbled the calculation, each amount on the paper added up into a long line of numbers. Livy depressedly put down her pen, she sighed and looked at the cup of noodles that she divided into two servings for two main meals a day, then looked down at her flat stomach that was screaming because of her hunger.

In the summer, in a room so narrow that one person can hardly breathe, there are now three people living together, the furniture is so messy that there is not enough room for one person to lie down straight or turn around comfortably. The room had only one fan, and this fan was so old that it turned weak and slow like a fly, so it's better than to fan yourself.

In this cramped and cramped space, how many odors, sweat, feet, shoes, socks, and even musty smells and smells coming from the toilet is uncomfortable. She can't stand it anymore.

Livy looked outside, at the city with crowded lights, noisy shopping centers and shopping malls. She reached out her hand, as if to touch those lights, but then that place for her was so far away, as if separated from this place were two worlds. On Livy's hand, now there is only the cold night dew that wakes her up, Livy subconsciously withdraws her hand. She turns to look at her roommate, who is glued to the phone.

"Hey, you have to go to work too. You can't just stay at home and leave everything to me like that."

The other girl's eyes still didn't leave her phone. She absentmindedly replied:

"If I go to work, I won't get much. I had better not go."

Livy snapped:

"What does not much? At least help me out a bit."

But the other girl didn't reply.

Livy turned to the other person.

"What about you? Could you buy less makeup and clothes to help me pay for the house!?"

The girl sitting on the bed was talking on the phone with someone, and when Livy said that, she quickly covered the speaker phone. Her face contorted.

"Why do you speak so? I'll be out of here in a few days. I don't need to stay in this rat-hole of yours. Until then, I'll pay you three times the rent now. Have a little money to put on airs!"

Then, she glared at Livy with a sharp glare and then changed her sweet voice to continue talking to the person on the phone.

Livy suppressed the anger in her body, kicked her chair, got up, and walked out.

Outside, with a single-colored earth, only a yellow light in the distance can make people see the way clearly, but that light bulb is not very bright anymore, sometimes it flickers, that's on it. Below it was also surrounded by countless insects. This place in Livy is a collective slum area, where all kinds of people live. At night, because they could not stand the closed room, which was as hot as a mountain of fire, they gathered in the corridor to sit in rows, the men were naked, the women were rude and did not bother to wear bras, just casually holding the bamboo fan and were waving, and the children were also running around under the house.

They talked and laughed, the laughter was so casual and the swearing made Livy uncomfortable, she left.

Not much better in this alley.

But at least it was the place that led her to the city lights.

She doesn't know when she will have a better life. She can squeeze into that narrow city, like a small star-like countless stars in the sky, insignificant, but at least she can still shine. But... that's still a long way off.

While walking, Livy suddenly saw a group of people ahead.

As a group of young people, they were gathering to discuss something.

In Livy's mind, she just thought that there must be a number of evils, focusing on smoking or stealing something. She thought that she should not go there, so Livy immediately turned her head, but she had just taken a step or two away when suddenly a voice called from behind:

"Livy?"

Livy recognized this voice, she turned her head, surprised to see Zalow - her classmate was standing with another youth.

Zalow saw that she had turned her head and ran happily.

"Didn't expect to see you here. Hey, do you want to join us?"

Livy slightly dodged, the two words that appeared in her mind were just some drug addiction, the evils of rebellious teenagers. But before she could refuse, Zalow continued:

"I know you're in need of money, I have something that can help you make money."

Seeing Livy's suspicious face, Zalow added:

"Not stealing, not an unethical act."

Hearing that, Livy was a little moved. She asked:

"So what to do?"

Zalow leaned into Livy's ear and whispered:

"Grave robbery."

_____________

All that night, Livy could not sleep.

She turned around every once in a while, her mind was full of Zalow's words.

"Tomb theft? Isn't this illegal?"

"No, it's not a grave robber in the city cemetery. It's an ancient grave."

Livy sucked in a cold breath.

"Ancient tomb?"

"That's right, don't you read the newspaper? In the suburban forest we just discovered an ancient tomb that is several thousand years old. It contains a lot of treasures. Let's go get some, our life will definitely get better."

Livy hesitated, after all, she felt that this job was both illegitimate and unethical, going to take the dead person's things, if the person's soul came back to find us and claim them...

She really can't think.

Seeing that Livy could not be persuaded, Zalow continued:

"If we don't take it, the archaeologists will take it. Besides, when we get it, we sell it for money. The object is also in the pawn shop, so we're not afraid to hold it. Moreover, we take a few things just to make ends meet, not to do nefarious things, the owner of that grave will probably sympathize with us."

And then those words attracted Livy. She agreed.

She looked at her damp black moldy wall. Then again, looking at the ceiling full of soot stains, every time it rains, it leaks like she's outside, finally, sighing and falling asleep.

________

The next night, waiting for the two roommates to fall asleep, Livy slowly woke up. She followed Zalow's instructions, put on a pair of boots, a black coat, flashlight and gloves and went out.

Livy carefully closed the door, but the rusty iron door still made a few harsh creaking sounds. This startled the neighbors' dogs, snarling at Livy.

To keep them from barking, she had to walk slowly.

And finally, out of the slums.

Outside, Zalow and the others were waiting, seeing Livy appear. They immediately discussed leaving.

In the dark night, the young people would rather whisper to discuss the plan than to act quickly. Livy was still wondering what means of transport they would get to the suburbs, when she looked away, she saw a truck driver waiting.

"This is my uncle, he will drive us to where we need to go."

Zalow introduced the man with a thin body, a face with a long scar, who was not very friendly.