Chapter 4

Evelyn’s duplex house was located on the edge of the town. A small river flowed not far away, with clear water and willow trees lining its banks. Standing on the balcony on the second floor, I gazed at the old house across the river. My thoughts wandered—that was my home, the place where I grew up. Yet, it was also a place I tried to avoid at all costs.

“Have a bottle of water,” Evelyn’s voice suddenly rang out behind me. She held a bottle of water in her hand and handed it to me, her eyes filled with careful concern.

I took the water, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip, without saying anything. Evelyn didn’t press further. She simply stood by my side, watching the other side of the river with me. She knew that, though I seemed carefree on the surface, there was a wound in my heart that could never be healed. And that wound was closely connected to the house on the other side of the river, and to my parents.

After a long silence, Evelyn finally mustered the courage to speak carefully, “Madison, what if… we went there together? Ever since Uncle and Aunt had their accident, you’ve never gone back. It’s been so many years. Maybe we could find some clues there.”

“Yes, ever since what happened to Mom and Dad…” I murmured to myself, my voice low, my eyes filled with sorrow. The year Mom and Dad passed away, I had just been accepted into my dream university. I hadn’t even had the chance to show them how much I loved them before losing them forever.

Once again, the two of us fell into silence, with a dull atmosphere filling the air. Just then, Evelyn’s housemaid called us downstairs for dinner. We gathered our thoughts and headed downstairs.

Selina Doyle was already seated at the dining table. When she saw us come down, she immediately smiled. “You’re finally here! I thought you’d spend the whole afternoon on the balcony. Please have a seat. Auntie has prepared your favorite dishes from when you were kids.”

The dining table was filled with dishes—everything I and Evelyn loved to eat when we were kids. Those familiar flavors took me back to those days. Every time I visited Evelyn’s house, her mother would prepare a table full of delicious food, treating us two little girls to her best.

During dinner, Serena Doyle noticed that we were both in a low mood. She kept telling jokes and sharing funny stories to make us laugh. Thanks to her, the awkward atmosphere was finally broken. Evelyn and I also relaxed a little, and from time to time, we would talk with her as well.

After dinner, Serena Doyle suggested, “It’s still early, and it isn’t hot outside. Let’s go for a walk, get to know the town a bit, and help with digestion at the same time.”

Evelyn and I refused almost simultaneously: “No!”

Selina Doyle was momentarily stunned, looking at us in confusion. “Why not? It’s not even dark outside, and the town is so safe. What’s there to worry about?”

I was at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond to him. I couldn’t tell him that there were many strange things happening in the town. I couldn’t tell him that it was dangerous to go out at night during the Ghost Festival each year. Nor could I tell him that the strange incidents I encountered might be related to the town’s eerie legends. These things were too bizarre for him to believe. In fact, he’d probably think I was mentally unwell if I told him.

Just when I didn’t know what to do, Evelyn suddenly grabbed Serena Doyle’s arm and coquettishly said, “Oh, baby, I’m so tired from the car ride. I really don’t want to move at all. I want to eat watermelon. Could you cut it for me?”

Selina Doyle shook her head helplessly and tapped Evelyn’s nose. “You really have been spoiled by me. Alright, I’ll go cut up the watermelon for you. Just sit still.”

Watching Serena Doyle turn around and walk into the kitchen, I sighed in relief. I turned to Evelyn and gave her a thumbs-up. “Evelyn, you’re amazing. Thank goodness you’re here. I really wouldn’t have known what to say otherwise.”

Evelyn smiled smugly, leaned close to my ear, and whispered, “Of course. Who am I, anyway? But are you really going to keep it from Serena Doyle? She’ll eventually realize something’s wrong.”

I shook my head. “Let’s wait a little longer. Now isn’t the right time. I don’t want to worry him, nor do I want him to think I’m crazy.”

Selina Doyle soon came out with the cut watermelon. Evelyn immediately approached her, pleading with Selina Doyle to feed her the watermelon, acting very coquettishly. Watching their affectionate behavior, I felt a mix of envy and sadness. I thought about my own experiences and my parents.

While they weren’t paying attention, I quietly got up and went back to my room upstairs. Lying in bed, I finally couldn’t help but sigh in relief. Thankfully, Serena Doyle didn’t keep pressing questions. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known how to keep it a secret any longer.

Actually, it’s not that I don’t want to go out, but I simply don’t dare to let Serena Doyle go out. In this town, there’s a tradition since childhood: everyone has a special amulet made by the town, which is believed to ward off evil and bring safety, especially at night. Without this amulet, safety can’t be ensured. Evelyn and I both had such amulets since we were children. But this time, we rushed back, and I left my amulet at my own house. As for Evelyn’s amulet, I have no idea where it is.

Selena Doyle is from out of town. She doesn’t know the local customs, and she doesn’t have any amulets for protection. It’s too dangerous to go out at night. I’ve heard all these eerie legends about the town since I was a child. Although I used to dismiss them, after what’s happened recently, I can’t take them lightly anymore.

Lying in bed with my eyes closed, memories from my childhood flood my mind involuntarily. The town was quite large, with houses packed closely together. Everyone there was kind and friendly, and neighbors took care of each other. There was no scheming or competition like in the city. As a child, I loved running through the town’s narrow streets. I knew every brick and every blade of grass there intimately.

The people in this town truly believe in ghosts and deities. Rituals and ceremonies are considered extremely important. My parents are well-known experts in these rituals in the town. Whenever someone in the town has a wedding or funeral, or whenever anything strange happens, people come to ask my parents for help. My parents always agree to help without hesitation.

When I was a child, I was very mischievous and impatient. I simply couldn’t be bothered to learn the rules and procedures related to rituals and ceremonies. My parents never forced me to do so. But every time I acted up, the way they looked at me was filled with emotions that I couldn’t understand. Back then, I didn’t realize it. It wasn’t until later that I understood: in their eyes, there was worry, helplessness, and also a hint of guilt that was hard to detect.

I still remember that every year, as the Ghost Festival approached, the ritual ceremonies in the town became particularly solemn. Every household would clean their homes thoroughly and prepare everything needed for the rituals. The adults would constantly warn the children not to go outside at all during the night. As a child, I was curious and asked my parents why. But they refused to answer, simply staring at me sternly and forbidding me from going outside.

But there are always exceptions. The day something terrible happened to my parents was a month before the Ghost Festival. It was a gloomy day. I had just received my admission letter from my dream university. I was overjoyed and rushed home to share the good news with my parents. But when I got there, I saw several strangers in strange clothes sitting in the living room with my parents. I couldn’t tell what they were talking about, but the atmosphere was very strange.

I didn’t dare disturb them, so I quietly went upstairs and waited in my room for them to finish talking. After what felt like a long time, I heard my parents saying goodbye to the guests. I immediately rushed downstairs, excitedly holding my admission letter: “Dad! Mom! I got in! I was accepted to my dream university!”

Mom took the admission notice and read it over and over again. Her face was filled with joy as she kept praising me, “My Madison is amazing! She’s finally gotten into the university she wanted to attend.” Dad didn’t show much expression on his face, but the slight curve at the corners of his mouth revealed his happiness.

“Dad, you’re clearly very happy, but you insist on acting cool and unfriendly.” I muttered softly, trying not to let Dad hear me. Dad has a rather irritable temper. When he was young, he was the most troublemaker in the town—he was involved in every kind of fight and skirmish. But ever since he met Mom, he completely changed his ways and became much more restrained. However, his good nature is reserved only for Mom alone.

“You little brat, what are you muttering about?” Dad still heard me. He reached out and pinched my ear gently, not too hard, but with a hint of affection. “I’m sorry, Dad! I won’t do it again.” I quickly raised my hands in surrender, taking the opportunity to get away from his grasp. As I ran upstairs, I couldn’t help but turn around and make a face at Dad.

“This girl is getting more and more unruly.” Even from across the stairs, I could hear Dad’s voice, filled with both exasperation and indulgence, along with Mom’s gentle soothing tones.

Looking back now, everything that day seemed strange and eerie. Those strangers, my parents’ odd expressions, and the topics they discussed—all of it was beyond my understanding. But at that time, I was too overwhelmed with joy at having been accepted to university to think much about it.

Moreover, I’ve always found it strange since I was a child. I’m clearly a girl, yet my parents treated me as a boy. The toys and clothes they bought for me were all in boys’ styles. I hardly ever wore dresses throughout my childhood. Back then, I thought it was fine since boys’ clothes were more convenient to wear. But now, I realize that there must have been a reason behind my parents’ actions.

That day, I was so happy, and since Ah Xiu from the neighboring house invited me to go out, I forgot my parents’ warnings. Taking advantage of their inattention, I sneaked out of the house. Ah Xiu was the daughter of our neighbors. She was quite introverted and rarely went out. I don’t know why, but that day she actually invited me to go out, and we agreed to meet near a small temple that we hardly ever went to.

I hummed a little tune as I walked down the alley, kicking the small stones along the path with my feet. My heart was filled with joy. At first, the moon illuminated the path ahead of me. But as I continued walking, it grew darker around me. A cold wind blew, making me shiver.

The wind grew stronger, accompanied by the rustling of leaves. It was so loud that I couldn’t open my eyes. A sudden wave of fear overcame me. One thought kept echoing in my mind: “Go home immediately! Hurry back home!”

But every time I thought about Ah Xiu still waiting for me by the small temple, I gritted my teeth and kept walking forward. I followed the path I usually took to the temple, step by step. My fear grew stronger by the moment, and I had the constant feeling that someone was following me.

After much effort, I finally reached the small temple. But the scene before me left me completely stunned—the temple was completely deserted; there was no sign of Ah Xiu anywhere. The temple, which usually seemed quite ordinary, now emitted a eerie black aura. The incense burner at the entrance was scattered with ash, creating a gloomy and terrifying atmosphere.

My heart started pounding with panic. I turned around, ready to run. But at that moment, I felt a cold presence behind me. A familiar, deep voice whispered in my ear: “You’ve finally come…”