Chapter 20: Streetscape
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
The first light of dawn gently illuminated the sky above the pedestrian street in Spear City. This particular morning was unusually calm. Usually teeming with activity, the vibrant commercial district lay dormant during these early hours. Storefronts, with their locked shutters, stood silent and unoccupied, awaiting the upcoming rush of shoppers and merchants.
However, this peaceful atmosphere was not to last.
Suddenly, the sequence of streetlights, which had been casting a gentle white glow over the street, underwent a startling transformation. They now exuded an unsettling crimson light. What made it even more chilling was that within each lampshade, it looked as if pairs of red eyes were staring down, seeming almost alive in their subtle movement, reflecting eerily off the lampshades’ inner surfaces. But just as suddenly as it started, this alarming display vanished with a brief flicker.
But the surprises didn’t end there.
Out of thin air, seven young people materialized on the street. At first glance, they looked like students. But there was an undeniable air of unease about them. Fear was evident on their drained faces, and their bodies shook uncontrollably, suggesting they had just been through something deeply traumatic.
Exhausted, a young man named Miles slumped to the ground, leaning against the glass door of a nearby store. The agony, which had felt like his body being ripped apart, was slowly fading. He had narrowly avoided a terrifying situation by invoking his own ghost domain just in the critical moment.
The group remained in shock, their eyes darting around anxiously. The familiar sight of the now-normal streetlights and the sun beginning its ascent offered a comforting reminder of their close call. Slowly, this realization brought a glimmer of relief to their terrified expressions.
After a moment, Grace hesitantly spoke up, her voice quivering with uncertainty. “I think… we’re on the street next to ours.”
William, recognizing his surroundings, quickly replied, “Yes, this is the main street next to ours. I grew up playing around here. My house isn’t far from here.” His tone carried a hint of enthusiasm, a strange contrast to their earlier ordeal as he clung to the familiarity of his surroundings.
Softly, Peter chimed in, aligning with William’s observations but still grappling with their baffling situation.
Miles, ever vigilant, examined their surroundings. Realizing they had successfully escaped the ghost domain, relief washed over him. However, the mystery of how they had ended up on this pedestrian street rather than outside their school was puzzling. But, for the moment, he chose not to ponder on it.
The mere fact they were still breathing was a marvel in itself.
The traumatized group spent a lengthy two hours on the street, trying to process their chilling experience. As their initial panic gradually diminished, the residual impact of their frightful encounter at the school remained deep-seated within them.
After a while, Coral, still visibly shaken, turned to Miles. “Miles,” she murmured, “what’s our next move?”
Miles had always been their pillar of strength, a beacon that shone brightest when they were lost. Through thick and thin, he had consistently demonstrated an unwavering sense of direction and determination. The group had come to trust him implicitly, especially after he had navigated them safely through the terrifying ordeal at the school.
Taking a deep breath, Miles surveyed the area where those haunting eyes had once been, then said, “We’re alive, we’re out of that dreaded school, and thankfully, none of us are gravely hurt. All we need to do now is head home, rest up, and reassure our parents that we’re okay.”
“But Miles,” Peter interjected, his voice quivering with emotion, “after everything we’ve just been through, can we simply go home and act as though nothing happened?”
Turning his gaze toward Peter, Miles asked pointedly, “Then what do you propose we do?”
Feeling the weight of Miles intense scrutiny, Peter hesitated and then lowered his eyes, deciding it was better to stay silent.
Sensing the tension, Grace quickly intervened, “Miles has a point. We’re fortunate to have come out of this relatively unscathed. This situation is bigger than us.”
William, however, seemed taken aback by their decision to simply go home. “Are we just going to head home, get in bed, and pretend this was all just a bad dream?” he inquired, struggling to come to terms with the enormity of what they had just faced.
Miles shot back, his tone laced with irony, “Unless you’re thinking of heading back to school for an impromptu study session?”
The mere mention of returning to the school caused a visible shudder among the group. The idea of revisiting the place of their trauma was unthinkable. Some of them even began entertaining thoughts of transferring schools or moving away from Spear City altogether.
With dreams and aspirations temporarily on hold, their primary desire was to embrace a semblance of normality without the shadow of fear looming over them.
“I’m worn out. I’m heading home to get some sleep. If anything comes up, give me a call,” Miles said, stifling a yawn. It was evident that the evening’s events had taken a toll on him.
He paused for a moment before adding, “One more thing—stay away from the internet, especially from ghost story forums.” He held up his phone, displaying a specific post. “See this audio file here? Never click on it. It’s a recording of that same eerie knocking sound we heard earlier. Anyone who listens to it will attract the attention of that creepy old man.”
Swiftly swiping his screen, Miles then displayed an image accompanying the post.
“No! Delete that immediately!”
Seeing the haunting visage of the old man, William and the others reeled back in sheer horror.
Miles tried to assuage their fears. “The photo itself isn’t the problem. I’ve verified that. It’s the audio that’s the real concern. Despite my warnings, this post hasn’t been removed, and thousands across the country have already played that cursed audio. If my hunch is right, that old man will soon be roaming our cities, knocking on countless doors in search of… well, who knows what.”
The harrowing experience that they had all endured was on the brink of becoming a sensation nationwide, and they were about to be relegated from main protagonists to mere witnesses of the story.
William, with a tremble in his voice, said, “Please, can we not talk about such creepy stuff? I might be taller than most, but I’m still just a kid inside.”
With a hint of a smile, Miles said, “Okay, no more ghost talk for now. Here’s your phone, William.”
But William visibly flinched, taking a step back. “Absolutely not. What if I get another call from that ‘138’ number? I want nothing to do with that phone. Dispose of it.”
Miles, feigning surprise, said, “But William, it’s the latest X phone model. Didn’t you mention it set you back more than nine thousand?”
Blushing slightly, William replied with a smirk, “I’ve got a little secret. You know all those storefronts we’re standing in front of? My family owns them. So, yes, I, William, am pretty comfortable, financially speaking. Later, I’ll just have my dad get me a simpler Nokia, or maybe even an old-school pager. That way, I won’t have to stress about receiving any chilling phone calls.”
Miles replied jokingly, “Why not opt for a walkie-talkie if you’re that loaded?”
William laughed, “Actually, not a bad idea. I might just do that.”
The mere mention of the dreaded ‘138’ had the others hurriedly setting their phones down as if they were handling hot coals.
“Don’t just ditch them like that; it’s such a waste,” Miles chided.
Grace, still shaken, asked, “Aren’t you scared, Miles? Those phones have been touched by the supernatural. What if the ghostly presence returns?”
Miles shrugged, “I’ve been through a lot tonight. At this point, what’s one more scare? And if I don’t use these phones, someone else will. They’re still valuable.” He began collecting the discarded devices, “Are you all certain about this?”
The group nodded unanimously.
With a cheeky grin, Miles added, “Alright then. Whatever I make from selling these is mine. And don’t think I’ll be picking up the tab the next time we eat out.”
As Miles made to leave, clutching a handful of phones, Coral, her face still drained from the trauma, spoke up, “Wait, can I come with you?”
Miles stopped in his tracks, glancing back, “You want to crash at my place?”
With a hint of vulnerability, Coral murmured, “I could use some company, maybe stay over for a bit.”
The group exchanged puzzled glances. While Coral wasn’t the belle of their class, she had a certain athletic charm, her toned figure and elegance evident. And Miles, as average as one could get, had never been particularly close to her. Why this sudden affinity, especially after such a night?
However, for Miles, the answer was clear. It wasn’t passion or a romantic spark that drew Coral closer. It was the sheer terror of their recent experience. She was still gripped by fear and just wanted someone by her side.