Ethan Zhang screamed, the sound torn from his throat as laughter echoed all around. Sharp teeth clamped down on his thigh and arm, sending jolts of pain and terror through his body.
Suddenly, Deathbane Aura erupted from Ethan Zhang's body, a forceful wave that blasted the biting children away—except for Yolanda Zhou, who still clung to his neck, her teeth sunk deep, refusing to let go.
He raised his hand—a Deathbane Aura Dagger materialized in his grip. Heat and pain radiated from his neck as blood trickled down, each throb amplifying his dread.
A faint sound made me spin around. Instantly, the Deathbane Aura in my hand condensed into a small dagger. It was the old woman rummaging through the trash; she was staring at me.
"Don't let fear defeat you, Ethan Zhang."
I looked at her in confusion, but still nodded.
"You don't remember me, do you, Ethan Zhang? Go on, get upstairs."
With those words, the old woman vanished. I didn't hesitate and entered the building. It had nine floors, but I had no idea which apartment the ghost lived in.
The oppressive darkness pressed in from all sides, not a single glimmer of light. I stayed alert, gripping the Deathbane Aura Dagger tightly, its cold edge grounding me against the suffocating fear.
"Ethan Zhang, long time no see. So, did you miss me?"
"Children, do you know? This is Ethan Zhang—your friend."
"It's Ethan Zhang."
"Ethan Zhang, Ethan Zhang is back."
"Ethan Zhang..."
I walked over and crouched behind her, placing a trembling hand on her shoulder. She wore red overalls, and a blue butterfly hairpin adorned her pigtail. Recognition hit me with a jolt—Yolanda Zhou. The sight filled me with sorrow and guilt.
"It used to be me chasing you. Now, it's your turn, Ethan Zhang."
I clenched my fist and turned around—nothing was behind me. The anger in my heart was about to burst out.
Panicking, Ethan Zhang grabbed Yolanda Zhou and yanked her off his shoulder, desperate to escape.
Suddenly, bluish-green light flared up all around the room, casting ghostly shadows that danced along the walls. More than ten children crouched on the floor, their faces hidden as they sobbed—the missing kids, each one a childhood friend. The spectral glow made their forms seem almost unreal, and a chill of dread swept through Ethan Zhang.
Everything came flooding back—the ghost's lair, its precise location. Eighth floor, 8816. My home. The place where Ethan Zhang lived during his elementary school years.
I shut my eyes. My mind was full of fear. My whole body trembled, drenched in sweat. Suddenly, I felt something tugging at my pant leg—a persistent, pulling sensation.
Eyes squeezed shut, Ethan Zhang felt his skull splitting with pain, as if the cries clawed at his very mind.
"Do you know where my home is?"
A little girl's voice reached me. I slowly opened my eyes.
I screamed. It was Yolanda Zhou—her eyes were gone, just two bloody holes, fresh blood streaming down her face. Her mouth was twisted into a bizarre smile.
I looked around—every child was the same. None had eyes. They clung to my pant legs, endlessly asking, "Where is home?"
"I... I... I don't know. I don't know! Ah—"
I screamed, clutching my head. The kids surrounded me, each one asking the same question, their faces twisted in eerie grins.
"Come out! Show yourself!" I shouted, but all I got in response was a chorus of shrill laughter.
"Children, do you know? This is Ethan Zhang—your friend."
Suddenly, the ghost spoke. Instantly, every child's smile vanished, replaced by cold, emotionless faces.
"It's Qingyuan."
"Qingyuan, Qingyuan is back."
"Qingyuan..."
Suddenly, a chorus of childish voices echoed. All the children lifted their heads—two bloody holes where their eyes should be—staring straight at me.
Suddenly, Yolanda Zhou floated into the air, her small hands caressing my cheeks.
I stared at her in shock. A wave of indescribable sorrow welled up in my chest, making it hard to breathe.
"Qingyuan, since you're back, stay with us!"
My eyes widened. Suddenly, Yolanda Zhou opened her mouth—rows of razor-sharp teeth, stained with blood, lunged for my shoulder.
I screamed. Laughter echoed all around as sharp teeth clamped down on my thigh and arm.
Suddenly, Deathbane Aura burst from my body. With a bang, I flung the biting children away—except for Yolanda Zhou, who still clung to my neck, refusing to let go.
I raised my hand—a Deathbane Aura Dagger appeared in my grip. Heat and pain surged from my neck.
"Oh? Oh? Ethan Zhang, are you finally going to strike your childhood friend?"
I lifted my right hand and gently patted Yolanda Zhou on the back of her neck. Then, with my left hand, I hurled the Deathbane Aura Dagger toward the corner where the voice was coming from.
A scream rang out—it was the ghost. I saw its pitch-black face, two white eyes glaring at me, its skin scorched as if burned. The Deathbane Aura Dagger was lodged in its shoulder. It stared at me.
My mind buzzed. Childhood fears surged back—this was the ghost who knew I could see him, who would boast as he took one child after another from my side.
Even after I moved away, he never let me go.
"Why?"
I asked coldly.
"Heh, because you can see me, remember? You're the one who brought me back!"
I stared at him in horror, my head buzzing. Something surfaced in my memory, piece by piece.
It was a rainy day. I was heading home after school, without an umbrella, running alone through the downpour. The rain grew heavier, soaking me to the bone.
I spotted a nearly-collapsed house and ran over, planning to wait out the rain beneath a thick pillar before heading home.
Once inside, I felt uneasy. I'd heard stories—this family, the father went mad, dragged his wife and son into a suicide fire. The blaze burned all night long.
As I waited for the rain to stop, I kept feeling like someone was watching me. I wasn't sure, but the gaze seemed to come from the second floor—there was a staircase leading up.
The wind was fierce, and the rain kept blowing in. After hesitating for a while, I went upstairs.
As soon as I reached the second floor, I froze—a ghost, its body charred black, stood with its back to me.
I screamed, tried to run, but the ghost grabbed me.
"Why did you come to my house? Huh? Whose child are you, whose?"
The ghost screamed at me like a madman. What I remember most are his dead, fish-like eyes and twisted, ferocious face.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. The rain was too heavy, I..."
The ghost started laughing—he was genuinely delighted.
"Alright then. If it wasn't on purpose, but you've already been to my house, does that mean I can visit yours too?"
I didn't think about it, just kept nodding. Then, with the ghost's shrill laughter ringing in my ears, I ran home and dove under my covers.
For days, I didn't dare go near that place, and the ghost didn't come either. Then, one evening, just as I'd almost forgotten, a child went missing. Everyone in the courtyard helped search.
All us kids were gathered by the adults and questioned. When I got home and stepped inside, I screamed—it was the ghost, his two white eyeballs staring at me, a grin on his lips.
"I'm here to play. We made a promise, remember?"
Then I saw the ghost holding two eyeballs in his hand, fresh blood still dripping.
My memory ended there. I snapped my eyes open—the ghost was standing, staring at me.
"Where are their eyeballs?"
I demanded, fury burning inside me.
"I dug them all out. Without eyes, they can't find their way home. Now, they're all mine. With you, my collection will be complete. I hate children the most, heh."
"Damn it..." I roared, Deathbane Aura surging in my hands—a Deathbane Aura Sword appeared.
The ghost vanished into the wall, leaving only his head exposed.
"It used to be me chasing you. Now, it's your turn, Ethan Zhang."
The moment the ghost disappeared, the children—now turned into ghosts—charged at me in a frenzy.
Panicking, I grabbed Yolanda Zhou and yanked her off my shoulder.
"Sorry," I muttered. Deathbane Aura burst from my body, knocking aside the child ghosts. I dashed to the door, kicked it open, and ran out.
Everything came flooding back—the ghost's lair, the location. Eighth floor, 8816. My home. The place where I lived in elementary school.
A horde of child ghosts chased after me. Teeth sank into my neck, thigh, and arm, but I pressed on. With every floor I crossed, I chanted silently to myself.
On the seventh floor, I paused. Suddenly, a child ghost, glowing bluish-green, burst from the wall and lunged at me, mouth wide open.
I grabbed its head and flung it behind me, then climbed the stairs to the eighth floor.
In the darkness, I stood before the door of 8816.
"Found you."
Saying this, I lifted my foot.