Slimy drop of water slid from her hair and fell on him, the cold sipping into his skin and into his bones. His teeth clattered.
Its over. Shen Yu was sure he was going to die this time.
From the corner of his eye a red figure flashed by and the next second the weight pressing on him was torn off.
The water ghost let out a shrill scream and tried to escape but the little red figure had a tight grip on her hair, slamming her on the ground hard.
Shen Yu shivered his clothes half wet as he watched the little ghost. She immediately moved to end it, her sharp fingers aimed for the water ghost's neck.
"No. Wait, don't kill her." He jumped up quickly.
The air turned silent.
Shen Yu swallowed as the she cracked her head towards him. Beady, red eyes pressed on him as if wanting to rip out his heart and devour it that instant.
Her pale lips opened. "Give me my box."
"No."
"Give my box." Thin streaks of blood ran down her eyes, dying her already stained white dress more.
"No. Let her go." Shen Yu hand shook beside him but he forced himself to stay in place, holding her stare.
"I will kill you." Hau Lian stepped down and kicked the water ghost towards him. She then walked a small distance way, leaned against the bridge and crossed her arms over her chest, staring at him coldly.
Shen Yu looked at her let out a small breath, confirming his previous thoughts.
It seems for reason that she can't kill me..atleast for now.
He then shifted his gaze to the poorly beaten ghost in front of him.
She didn't even dared to raise her head.
Guess there are different classes even amongst ghosts. Shen Yu thought.
He ignored the fishy smell, bending down you her height. "You want some to help you right? I will help you, what do you want?"
The water ghost raised her head towards him.
"But of course it isn't free, there is you need to do for me in return." Although Shen Yu couldn't see her face, he sensed her suspicion and quickly added. "It's nothing bad. I am just looking for a place."
He then said to increase her good will. "Don't worry, I will still help you even if you can't find the place. Tell me what do you need?"
The water ghost hadn't spoken to people for quiet a long time so she was a bit slow to understand the many words and it was only after a few seconds later that she nodded.
Shen Yu shifted back as she crawled forward, then right past him.
Noy knowing what she was up to, he decided to follow a few steps behind her. Just in case anything happens he'd have a headstart.
The water ghost took him down the dirt trail and around the bridge to the bank of the river.
She pointed at the dark water and then drew something on the ground.
"Body?" Shen Yu read the crooked words, his brows dipped.
The water ghost nodded.
"You mean your body is down there and you want me to get it for you?"
The water ghost nodded again. She crawled to the edge of the bank and stared down without moving.
Can I take my words back now?
Although complaining in his head, he swiftly took off his pant and hoodie. Living just his underwears.
With a pause, he looked at the two female present. "I hope you don't mind?"
No one answered.
"Well then." He said to himself.
The first drive Shen Yu couldn't stay for long before he was forced out of the water by lack of air.
I should have gone for more swimming classes. He swept the wet hair out of his face.
The water ghost, although face not visible seemed to be staring at him anxiously.
Atleast this is better than dying.
The second time he entered the water he was able to find something that was strange. It seemed to have been wrapped up with a black bag but the problem was that it was tied to a huge stone that held it down to the bottom.
He had to go in two more time before he was able to cut the rope with a sharp stone before dragging the strange load to the surface.
The faceless ghost approached the moment he resurface, the temperature around her dropped several times more.
She circled around the black bag for a while, yanking off the plants and algaes that was already growing on it sorrowfully.
Shen Yu thoughtfully created some space for her.
The fact that there was a rope tied to the bag means someone must have done this to get ride of the evidence.
Yet, shoving such a big human into a small bag, they must have had to fold her, or break her bone first.
Then could it be that in the real world, that this bridge he normally passed, there was someone who was murdered and cruelly disposed of here.
Shen Yu shuddered just thinking of it.
Then he realised the water ghost was now standing by his side.
She wrote on the floor.
'thank you.'
'Help look'
Shen Yu quickly understood and said. "I am looking for a door."
The search was too wide.
He thought of it and took out the notebook from his pocket, and showed her the card he saw before. "Something like this. Have you seen this door before?"
Wait. She can't see?
Shen Yu gently used his other free hand to push her hair aside. "This door. Do you know where is it?"
The water ghost took one look at it and shrank it's neck back.
"What is it?"
It shook it's head, fingers flying on the sand.
Die! Die! You die!
Shen Yu knew she wasn't cursing him but warning him instead. "It's dangerous, still I need to know. Just tell me."
The water ghost hesitated then started to draw on the ground.
It looked.....weird.
"What is this?"
"A building." A voice came for beside him and he almost jumped.
He saw the little girl looking at him. "You are going to die."
"Oh...." Shen Yu focused on studying the amoebic diagram. It seemed to have demarcations...like floors.
The water ghost was still drawing.
"Give me back my box." Hau Lian started to kick up a fuss again.
One...two...three...thirteen floors?
Shen Yu counted. "A building with thirteen floors?"
The water ghost quickly nodded, pointing towards a direction north of the city. She also made some more gestures trying to explain more.
"I see. Thank you very much for your help." Shen Yu was elated.
With a nod, she crawled back to her body.
Shen Yu started at her for a while. If he had the chance he wanted to make a grave for her, but there was no time for that.
He took the direction the water ghost showed him Hau Lian trailing behind him.
The red mist thicken, creeping in like a fog, until he could barely make out what was in front of him or even behind him.
Although he couldn't see well, Shen Yu was able to make his way through the streets.
It was not familiar, but also not familiar.
He could tell it was his neighborhood but the buildings look odd. Either old and empty or completely different than he remembered.
It was as if some buildings were magically transported from somewhere else.
Walking in a fast pace it didn't take Shen Yu twenty minutes before he arrived at the place.
The 12 story apartment building sagged, as tho abought to collapse. It's wall was bare, almost peeling with old advertisment posters pasted all over the entrance door.
There was also dirty flyers of missing people on the ground covered with footprints.
In a hurry Shen Yu stepped over them and tried to open the heavy doors.
He then saw a thick chain wrapped around the door handle.
Shen Yu's heart dropped but he soon recovered.
It was just wound around it several times but not padlocked.
Without hesitation he started to pry them off, but the chain was rusty and also very heavy.
The clanky sounds increased his anxiety, hands tense as he struggled hard to remove the chain fast.
From the corner of his eyes, the red fog twisted and dance, advancing closer with each step.
He could faintly make out the shape of red figures shifting inside. They stretched out their limbs as if trying to escape, bound into one big intangible mass.
Shen Yu's scalp prickled. He quickly withdrew his gaze.
Hau Lian standing by the side watched him coldly.
Almost done, almost done. In the cold, a layer of sweat covered his arms.
Just as he yanked the chain off a burning pain came from the left side of his abdomen.
Shen Yu ignored it.
The door let out a reluctant creak as he forced it open. Without waiting, Shen Yu slipped pass the small space he created before shutting it.
Afraid that something might come in, he bolted the top and bottom lock.
Shen Yu let out a hiss when he folded up his hoodie to take a look. There was a deep purple bruise, about the size of an apple on his stomach. Black intangible threads ran over the surface as if it was festering.
He lowered the shirt not daring to touch it.
Thud....the glass door shook fiercely, a bloody handprint materializing on its surface.
Thud...thud...thud....
Several blood stained fingerprints mixed together and in no time the see through foot was completely dyed red still it doesn't stop.
Shen Yu cranked his neck as he observed it. Muttering under his breath. "This looks wrong."
As soft breeze hit him, as if someone was right next to him. Blowing on his face.
Then he saw the blood roll down in drops, spilling on the floor.
So that's it. A wry smile appeared on his lips. The fingerprint wasn't from outside.
It was from inside!!