Chapter 2: Borrowing Life

Chapter 2: Borrowing Life

I retracted my hand and swiftly turned around, only to find no one behind me. It was as if the voice I just heard was merely an auditory hallucination.

Bai Rou was still wailing and begging me to open the door from outside. I withdrew my hand that was already on the doorknob.

"Little Rou, Uncle has a house in the countryside too. Your courtyard wall is quite low; you can climb over it. Just spend the night at your own place, and tomorrow I'll..."

"No! I want to stay with you!"

A thud echoed from outside, followed by the sight of a dark figure kneeling straight before my front door, pounding their head repeatedly against the ground.

Startled, I wondered what she was doing.

Bai Rou continued to weep and laugh while prostrating herself, muttering incoherently.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the window, making it seem like it was snowing. Yellow paper and white joss money swirled about, battering the windows with loud thuds.

Resolutely, I turned back and returned to my bedroom to sleep.

Bai Rou was no fool; she would eventually find a spot to rest when she grew weary.

Despite this reasoning, I still felt uneasy. I sent a message to Bai Rou and forced myself to sleep.

That night, I had a dream where I was lying on the back of a gigantic white fox.

The fox gazed at me for a while before speaking in human language, "Child, someone wants you dead."

My eyes widened, but I couldn't utter a word or move my body; I could only lie stiffly on its fur.

The fox curled up, its fluffy tail covering me. Yet, a subtle hint of fatigue could be seen in its eyes.

"Sleep now, I'll guard you tonight."

By the time it finished speaking, I was already drowsy, and soon, I sank into a deep slumber.

However, a persistent buzzing sound lingered in my ears, as if someone was vigorously pounding on my window.

The next day, I woke up due to hunger. The moment I opened my eyes, I jolted with fright.

My bed was positioned beside the window, and now it was adorned with an abundance of handprints, faint faces discernible within them, as if they were etched in a haunting embrace.

At that moment, terror erupted within me, threatening to bring me to tears.

The voice I heard in my dream was real! Someone had indeed been tapping on my window last night!

The window bore cracks but remained intact, implying that whatever had tried to enter my room last night had failed to do so.

Gathering myself with two deep breaths, I hastily prepared something to eat in the kitchen.

It was horrifying. This place can't be lingered in. I must leave immediately!

With this thought in mind, I grabbed my bag, ready to hail a taxi back home. But as soon as I stepped out, I tripped.

What had caused me to stumble was a hole. I noticed two deep grooves on the dirt road in front of my house. At the end of these grooves was an oval pit, filled with dark red soil – a sign of someone kneeling and bleeding.

My heart raced with panic. Not daring to waste any time, all I wanted was to escape quickly. But then, I collided with someone—my aunt.

"Auntie, you're back too?" she asked, smiling at me.

I greeted them and was about to leave when my arm was suddenly tugged.

"Little Ci, Ah Rou is sick. We're planning to return to our hometown for a few days of recuperation. She's been insisting on seeing you. Please come and visit your cousin."

I was about to decline, but I found Aunt's grip surprisingly strong; she pulled me all the way to her house.

Upon entering, I was stunned, a chill running down my spine as I broke out in a cold sweat.

The modest courtyard was littered with joss paper, and the door to the central room stood wide open, revealing a heavy black wooden coffin inside.

Two large wreaths were placed above the coffin, and in front of it stood two child-sized paper effigies.

One was bigger than the other, both with eyes that seemed to have been dabbed with blood, their sticky liquid resembling weeping tears.

This didn't resemble a home at all – it was clearly a mourning hall!

My mind went numb, and I turned to run, only to be held back by Aunt again.

"Little Ci, don't be scared. Ah Rou's grandmother passed away a few days ago. According to custom, we need to observe a three-day vigil. I'll take you to see Ah Rou..."

I took a deep breath. On the coffin was a black and white photograph of a kindly-looking elderly lady.

Following Aunt, I entered the inner room. There was only a bed inside, with Bai Rou leaning against the corner, completely wrapped in blankets. Upon seeing me, she reached out to pull me towards her.

It was almost summer break, with scorching heat during the hottest days of the year. Yet, Bai Rou's hands were shockingly cold.

"Big Cousin, I'm so cold...so cold... Can you lend me your clothes to wear?"

Bai Rou giggled foolishly, clutching at my sleeves, attempting to pull off my garment.

Something felt off, and Aunt stepped in with a cheerful tone to mediate.

"Little Ci, your cousin is not feeling well due to her illness. Besides, with your family's wealth, you wouldn't be lacking in clothes. Just lend her one to wear, okay?"

Aunt also took hold of my sleeves, trying to remove my clothes as well.

Whether it was my imagination or not, I found her face now sharp and rat-like, resembling a large, gray-furred rodent.

With Bai Rou kneeling at my doorstep last night and now wanting to wear my clothes, connecting these two incidents, I suddenly understood what she was after.

Borrowing Life!

She's borrowing my life force...!!

This usually happens when elderly people, fearing death, seek to borrow life from their children.

Moreover, the borrower cannot be of the same generation. Although Bai Rou calls me cousin, we're still peers. Why would she attempt to borrow my lifespan?

I had no time for such thoughts as I struggled desperately, managing to keep my clothes on while stumbling out into the courtyard.

The sky darkened, and a chilly gust suddenly lifted the joss paper from the ground, scattering it into the air like floating petals.

Rushing to the front gate, I tugged with all my might. Then, I was struck dumb.

Behind the gate was a wall.

My heart pounded audibly in my chest, and faint footsteps echoed behind me. I turned to see Aunt and Bai Rou emerging.

Their bodies were rigid, without shadows, and they walked with feet barely touching the ground, upright and stiff.

My grandmother once told me that only the dead tiptoe while walking!

Bai Rou is already dead!

She's not borrowing my lifespan; she wants to use me to prolong hers!

Without my knowledge, Bai Rou had donned the burial clothes. Her small face was as pale as paper, yet two bright red dots adorned her cheeks, identical to those on the paper figurines by the coffin.

"Cousin, I don't want to die. Lend me a few years of life. You've lived so long, so very long... I'm not asking for much, just eighty years..."

I was both startled and terrified.

She must be mad! Eighty years isn't much? Does she think I'm a wishing well turtle?

Auntie looked at me with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Clapping her hands, she sang in an eerie tune.

"Debts of elders, daughters repay, become paper dolls, enter the coffin..."

My scalp tingled upon hearing this, but covering my ears was futile. That shrill children's rhyme pierced through like needles into my eardrums.

The howling of the wind intensified outside, and a sudden, thunderous crash echoed behind me. A large gap had opened in the concrete wall behind the door, allowing an even stronger gust to rush in.

Struggling against the tempest, I forced my eyes open. Before me stood a figure, tall and slender, with eyes that shimmered with a reddish-gold glow.

Before him, a dark silhouette was confronting him.

"Bai Ci, wait for me outside," he said.

I didn't have time to respond before he pushed me out by the shoulders.