Chapter 45: River
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
“Before I handle anything else, my safety comes first. Ghosts can wait. I possess an innate power from an evil spirit within, but it’s best not to tap into it unless necessary. It won’t be any disadvantage if I refrain from using it. There’s also this man, Ethan, who’s caught my attention. What exactly is it that makes him stand out as a ghost tamer? I wonder if there’s something valuable I could learn from him,” Miles reflected.
Surveying the scene, Miles watched as the crowd scrambled in panic. But he remained calm and rooted in place.
He could, if he wished, have used his ghost domain to whisk those people away from there in an instant. But doing so would have come at a personal cost, draining his energy for no gain.
Miles wasn’t one for impulsive, self-sacrificing actions. He believed in stepping in only during the most dire of circumstances, when fear and hopelessness prevailed.
For him, it was about striking a balance – gaining the most while expending the least.
People rarely valued what was handed to them effortlessly. This might have been why he never even considered discussing compensation upfront.
“Let’s see how Mr. Calm, the boss, fared first. Then, I’ll make my next move.” Miles thought.
He’s also aware of Ethan’s intentions to usurp his business. Should this ghost prove to be an adversary too formidable, Miles is more than ready to step aside and let Ethan face it head-on. After all, Ethan came specifically for the ghost.
It wasn’t worth unnecessary conflict. Overuse of his dark power could lead to adverse consequences, potentially even shortening his lifespan.
With a myriad of thoughts swirling in his mind, Miles walked nonchalantly towards the men’s restroom, a flashlight illuminating his path.
As he took a moment inside, the light from his flashlight shone towards a corner of the bathroom. Unexpectedly, it revealed a woman’s foot, clad in black stockings, protruding from the furthest stall.
He raised an eyebrow, “A woman in the men’s restroom? Is this some twisted prank, or perhaps another victim?” he pondered.
With a mix of caution and curiosity, Miles approached the stall and gently swung the door open.
To his astonishment, he found a woman curled up inside, probably a mall employee. Dressed in a neat white blouse and skirt, her complexion was ghostly pale, and her eyes were shut tight. It was a mystery whether she had been merely unconscious or something far worse.
Miles gently checked for signs of life.
To his relief, she was breathing. She was alive.
However, the fact that she was alive perplexed him more than if she had been dead. Over the last few days, he had familiarized himself with most of the mall staff. Even if he hadn’t spoken to all, some faces had been memorable. Yet, this woman had been a stranger to him.
And it hadn’t been just her unfamiliarity that had struck him, but also her striking beauty. In contrast to most other female staff at the mall who had faded into the background, she stood out.
Trying to rouse her, he softly said, “Wake up, ma’am, wake up,” as he nudged her gently.
The woman gradually stirred back to consciousness. As her eyelids fluttered open, they immediately landed on Miles, and she froze in terror. It was as if she had gazed upon some malevolent spirit. Panic coursed through her, and she was about to unleash a scream, but Miles, sensing her intent, quickly placed a hand over her mouth.
“Calm down,” he whispered urgently. “Please don’t scream. Drawing the ghost’s attention here might be the end of you.”
Miles thought that women always seemed to present their own challenges. This belief is only reinforced in this case.
“I should probably leave before more complications arise.”
However, just as he was contemplating his exit, the woman, regaining her composure, reached out and grabbed his hand, desperation evident in her gaze. “You are real, aren’t you? You’re human?”
Slightly amused, Miles nodded. “Of course, I’m human. How else would I be here, talking to you like this? And, might I ask, are you an employee here at the mall?”
Gripping his hand tighter, the woman introduced herself. “I’m River, the mall’s accountant. But who are you? And why are you dressed this way?”
Miles chuckled softly, “I’m the new security guard here. Needed a restroom break. But you, why were you hiding in the men’s restroom? When I spotted your foot, I nearly had a heart attack, thinking you might be another unfortunate victim.”
River’s voice trembled as she confessed, “There’s a ghost out there. I’ve been terrified to leave this stall. It’s been four days. All I’ve had are a few biscuits and water from the tap. I’m starving. Do you have any food on you?”
Miles realized her paleness wasn’t just from fear but also from hunger.
He quickly patted down his pockets, “Unfortunately, I don’t have any food with me. But we could find some outside. What do you say?”
Her eyes widened with renewed fear. “But the ghost… it’s out there.”
Realization dawned on Miles. “You’ve seen the ghost, haven’t you? Can you describe it? Knowing its appearance could be very helpful.”
Knowing one’s adversary always provided an advantage. A ghost you could see and identify was far less ominous than one that remained unseen.
River nodded hesitantly.
Miles grew more insistent. “You need to share what you know. There’s chaos outside, and Mr. Calm’s solution is hiring some quack to handle the ghost. I would lose my earnings if we didn’t resolve this soon.”
Taking a deep breath, River replied, “Bring me some food, and I’ll share everything I know.”
Miles raised an eyebrow, surprised by her audacity. “Didn’t expect you’d drive a hard bargain. But looking at your state, I’ll find you something to eat first.”
Miles wasted no time exiting the restroom, his footsteps echoing through the eerily silent mall. Although the ground floor looked hauntingly empty, faint noises from above indicated that Mr. Calm and his crew had yet to depart the premises.
With a swift and practiced hand, he rummaged through a nearby snack shop, gathering a modest assortment of biscuits, assorted munchies, and a bottle of water. With his loot in tow, he retraced his steps back to the restroom.
River’s eyes widened in a mix of relief and hunger as she caught sight of the provisions. Without ceremony, she rapidly consumed the snacks, leaving behind only empty wrappers and the hint of renewed energy.
“Is there any more?” She inquired hopefully, casting longing glances at the empty spaces around them.
Miles chuckled lightly, “That was it. Although, there is a piece of sausage. Interested?”
She brightened instantly. “Where? Please, hand it over.”
Miles smirked, playfully teasing her, “Tell me where first.”
She responded with a mischievous grin, “If you ensure my safe passage out of this mall, perhaps we can negotiate other matters.”
Miles couldn’t help but momentarily appraise River. Despite her frazzled appearance, she exuded an undeniable allure. She may not possess towering height, but her figure more than compensated for it.
However, shaking his head to dispel distracting thoughts, he refocused, “Priorities first. Earlier, you mentioned witnessing this ghost. Describe it for me. What does it look like? Any unique traits?”
The mention of the ghost paled River’s complexion further, her voice quivering, “It was just an ordinary day, and I was at the mall, attending to my duties. I remember bumping into Blush, one of our cashiers, in the restroom. As I was about to exit, I spotted her in front of a mirror. She was… she was shaking her head as if trying to dislodge something. Just as I was about to call out to her, to my absolute horror, she used her hands to remove her head. Just lifted it clean off her shoulders.”
She used her hands to illustrate the gruesome act, her face a canvas of raw emotion.
“But it didn’t end there. As I turned on my heel to escape, she fixed her gaze upon me. I was so paralyzed with terror that I inadvertently dashed into the men’s restroom. Every time I mustered the courage to leave, I spotted Blush lurking nearby as if guarding the entrance. It’s as if she’s laying in wait, anticipating my exit. I’ve heard ghosts steer clear of men’s restrooms, which is probably why I’m still alive.”
The name ‘Blush’ seemed to ring a bell in Miles’s memory. “That can’t be. Blush couldn’t possibly be a ghost,” he responded almost reflexively.
River, with a frantic look in her eyes, reiterated, “I swear, it was her. I witnessed the whole ghastly scene. You must trust my word on this.”
Miles’s expression hardened, “It’s not that I’m dismissing what you saw. It’s just that I’ve witnessed something too. You see, Blush… she’s already gone. I’ve seen her head, detached and lifeless.”
The gruesome image of Blush’s decapitated head, eerily rolling around the mall, flashed across his mind.
If she indeed was a ghost, how could she be without her head? Did spirits end their own ethereal existence?
River emphasized, “I’m certain of what I witnessed. She literally took off her own head. The image is burned into my memory.”
But before Miles could respond, he motioned for silence, covered River’s mouth, and swiftly turned off the flashlight. The palpable silence of the restroom was disrupted by the deliberate sound of approaching footsteps.
The cadence of the steps was peculiarly regular – neither hasty nor leisurely, just like an average person taking a stroll.
But a growing sense of unease gnawed at Miles. Considering the mall’s ground floor was supposed to be deserted, and given the stifling darkness that enveloped it, those calm footfalls seemed eerily out of place.
Could it be Blush’s ghost?
The image of that rotten, odorous head he’d stumbled upon in the mall surged back into his thoughts.
“If Blush truly has become a restless spirit,” he pondered, “her being here, in this state, might not have been as implausible as it initially seemed.”