The rain grew ever heavier. Bean-sized droplets landed on our faces. We were unable to keep our eyes open, and it even stung painfully!
We left in a panic, not knowing east from west, north from south. We just instinctively went the opposite direction from the pond. When there was no path, we would go through the undergrowth.
The sky was too dark. It wasnt just the rain. It was as if there was a layer of mist rising from the trees. We couldnt see each others faces clearly despite being a foot away. The storm blew against the trees, the swishing making it hard to hear our own footsteps.
We were going uphill and the road was slippery in the rain. People were constantly falling over. To avoid rolling down the mountain and to keep track of each other while blinded and deafened, Ah Zhan had us use a rope to form a chain. We would walk single-file and count off every now and then.
He was in the very front, using a branch to clear the way forward. I stood at the very back to prevent any accidents.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
..
Fifteen!
The final voice ca from in front of . It was Zhao Jiang. I could tell it was his voice. But how was he the last person? I was clearly the last one!
I was startled, but then comforted myself. Soone must have miscounted due to their anxiety. Itll be fine. As long as we arent missing anyone, it ans everything is fine! Itll get back to normal next ti!
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
.
Fifteen!
Once again, the count ended before I spoke up!
Then again, and then again! Every ti, the counting stopped when it reached Zhao Jiang!
I started panicking. I didnt know what to do. Ah Zhan was in the very front and no one checked up on . Was soone repeatedly ssing up due to fear? Or was sothing within our group?
As I was hesitating, the counting started once again.
As the numbers started getting closer and seeing it about to end with Zhao Jiang again, I gritted my teeth. When fifteen ca from the darkness, I imdiately shouted sixteen!
I shouted rather loudly and it was especially obtrusive in the dark. I felt the rope in my hands tighten, almost causing to fall. Then ca several cries of aiyo. I was sure Ah Zhan heard my shout and suddenly stopped, causing the others walking forward to stumble!
Wan Li, keep hold of the rope and dont let go! Ah Zhan called to .
I loudly agreed and felt the rope swaying. Then, soone started speaking. I watched a figure edging over and knew it was Ah Zhan. We were so familiar with each other we could sense each others presence without interacting!
He walked over and touched my hand. Fifteen! You are the fifteenth, there isnt anyone extra! Stop ssing around, youre making it hard for everyone to walk! He scolded , seeming very irritated, before turning to leave.
I was about to explain when I suddenly felt sothing in my hand. It was that tiny bloodwood sword. Ah Zhan had clearly realized sothing was off but didnt reveal it.
This made calm down. I heard Ah Zhan counting off nas as he walked back to the front. He paused at every na, as though verifying it.
The group started walking again and the counting off started. However, I was still the sixteenth person! I lacked confidence as I followed behind silently. I didnt know when we would get out of this strange situation!
Once again, Zhao Jiang said fifteen. I suddenly wondered why Zhao Jiang didnt feel it was strange when he called out fifteen. He clearly knew I was the last one!
I braced myself and walked forwards a few steps. The strange thing was, I couldnt catch up despite being a ter away. He was still that skinny little figure walking unhurriedly in front of !
I lost my temper, thinking that I would catch up no matter what that thing was. Therefore, I stubbornly pursued. It took ten minutes before I got close to his back!
Zhao Jiang had a backpack that jostled around on his shoulders as he walked. Since I couldnt catch up to him, I stretched out and grabbed his backpack. Unexpectedly, it suddenly opened and sothing white shot out!
A naked infant was clinging onto the backpack, looking at ! He was completely pale and held sothing in his hand. Although he had the appearance of an infant, his gaze was calculating like an adult. Can you imagine it? An infants face with the eyes of an adult. It was especially cunning and sinister, and gave off a rather horrifying feeling. Furthermore, his eyes glowed green like those of a wild beast!
There was a crack. There hadnt previously been any thunder or lightning, but the sky suddenly rang out accompanied by a flash of light. I clearly saw that the infant was holding a human finger. It was chewing on it with great gusto, using its toothless mouth. Its lips were covered in blood. That finger was clearly fresh!
My heart almost stopped in fear. I gripped the bloodwood sword and swung it at the infants eyes. I wasnt being cruel. Those eyes truly creeped out!
There was a tearing as the bloodwood sword cut across both its eyes. I felt as if the sword had dug into mud and was about to be stuck. I hurriedly pulled it back.
At that mont, its entire head seed to be a tin can as the top portion lifted up and flipped open. A large swarm of ants and bugs welled up from within. Despite the darkness, I could clearly see the weird infant had no brain. Its head was a nest for bugs!
Before I could react, that weird infant let out a wail. It was especially clear in the rainy night, stunning everyone. Zhao Jiang had also turned around!
Youre asking for death! Zhao Jiang glared at viciously and spoke. The voice was actually a womans and I watched as he turned into a skeleton. Pale light flashed within his eye sockets.
Its withered hand stabbed towards my eyes. I instinctively raised my hands and its claws touched the bloodwood sword. With a crack, the hand turned to dust.
It cried out tragically and imdiately drifted off into the woods. The weird infants head which was half cut open swayed incessantly, as though it were nodding in greeting!
What happened? Ah Zhan was the first to run over.
Weve encountereda ghost! I finally managed to speak, hiding the bloodwood sword in my hand. I knew Ah Zhans secret couldnt be revealed to the others.
Who was that? Soone asked.
Zhao Jiang. I had just spoken when soone responded to my words, startling . Then, the pale, frail Zhao Jiang squeezed out from within the group. Only then did I realize that the fifteenth person hadnt been Zhao Jiang. She had just taken his appearance!
This forest is also weird. We must get out of here quickly! Ah Zhan issued an order. However, we wont use the rope anymore. Its better to go hand in hand. You mustnt let go. If you do, you must stay in place without moving, and call over to take a look!
Everyone was currently terrified. As the only calm one, Ah Zhan beca everyones backbone. They imdiately followed his orders. He shone the flashlight on their faces as he personally linked their hands together. I was still in the very back. When Ah Zhan ca over, I planned on giving the bloodwood sword back. However, he stuffed it in my hand. Youve offended them. You need it more! He said.
We thus struggled onwards. What accompanied us wasnt just the wind, rain and occasional thunder and lightning. There was always a womans sobs, an infants laughter and that woman speaking to herself. It drifted over every now and then from the surrounding woods!
Oh, my son. What a vicious person. Your heads been cut in two. Co, dearest, dont be scared. Mommy will sew it up!
The sound of sewing thread rang out. It sounded right by their ears, making them feel like touching their own faces to make sure the needle and thread wasnt going through them!
Mom, Im hungry! A male voice said.
The voice caused everyone to freeze, especially . It was clearly an infant. It cried and laughed like one, but why was it an adults voice? No wonder it had the eyes of an adult. But this was too weird! Or was there another person!?
The womans infant started crying. Mom has let you down, my dearest. WuwuIve let you go hungry! Wuwulets go find so people to eat, ok?
The infant started laughing, seeming very happy. The sound of gnawing on bone rang out in everyones ears at the sa ti!
Crunchcrunch.
It sounded like grinding on a rough tallic surface, like nails over stone, making people feel it was their own bones being gnawed on!
One of the girls finally couldnt take it any longer. She scread and let go of the other two students, covering her ears.
Everyone get down! Ruan Zhan suddenly cried out!
The frightened students hurriedly went prone. From the ground, I looked up and saw Ah Zhan standing there. He waved his hand in an inexperienced manner, drawing a seal in the air. There was a bang and a burst of sparks. A dark, twisted shadow was revealed in the light wearing red silk clothing. It cried and scread as it fled!
It was the floating red clothing from the pool!
Take a headcount! Ah Zhan gave out orders once again. He confird it twice, yet still had to announce that one of the girls had gone missing!
At this ti, the worst situation unfolded. Due to the extended period of ti spent frightened in the dark, the students started causing a disturbance. They started having their own opinions and were no longer unified.
So said that girl hadnt listened and let go of them. It was her own fault and they couldnt risk everyone elses lives by trying to save her. So said they couldnt just abandon her, and no one should be left behind. So wanted to stay and wait for dawn. Others wanted to leave as soon as possible. So wanted to stay together while others said there was a better chance of surviving by splitting up!
Regardless, there were more who wanted to flee. Only Nana, Zhao Jiang and I were willing to listen to Ruan Zhans orders and try to save the girl. Ah Zhan didnt comnt and watched coldly as the group argued!
Quiet down you guys! Arguing like this will only get us all killed! I truly couldnt stand it anymore and started yelling.
I dont know if my angry appearance was too fierce or if my voice startled everyone. Regardless, everyone fell silent. Yet before I could speak again, the conversation between that woman and the weird infant could be heard from the trees.
Oh son, dont run around. Those bad people want to cut your head open again! Mommy doesnt have needle and thread to sew it up anymore!
But mommy, its too cold here. Let out!
Ah. There was another cry. However, it didnt co from the mother and son in the woods. It was one of the guys from our group!
He charged out as though he had seen sothing, running towards the voices in the woods. His cries dragged on, echoing, alternating between near and far. He ran a circle around in the woods before charging back out!
He yelled as he ran, running back towards us. Yet when he got backhis head was missing!
Reviews
All reviews (0)