Chapter 7 The Ghost Figure In The Mirror

• After the woman in white had made that threat, she immediately turned around and left.
• I was downright puzzled and couldn't help but ask, “Grandfather, what are you—”
• “Hold it first, and listen to me!” My grandfather cut me off, taking a small cloth pouch out of a tiny wooden box and thrusting it into my arms. In an urgent tone, he instructed in a lowered voice, “Tomorrow morning, leave this place and head to Emerald Wave St. in the east of Hofcaster. Look for a traditional medicine clinic. You'll recognize it by a shamrock on its signage. Just tell them I sent you. Also, there's a book in this cloth pouch. It records some rather unique things. Don't show it to anyone or let anyone know you have it. Heed my words!”
• “Grandpa, I—”
• “Three months! Wait for me for three months!” My grandfather cut me off again, a flicker of complexity flashing across his eyes. He said softly, “After three months, if hadn't gone and looked for you, stay at the traditional medicine clinic forever. Don't ever come back! I initially planned to move houses there. But you'll have to go there on your own now.”
• “Grandpa, where are you going?” I asked, filled with anxiety and urgency.
• My grandfather ruffled my hair, a deep sense of helplessness reflected in his eyes. He murmured, “To deal with something that happened a long time ago. I've hidden for so many years that I thought they would have given up on pursuing things. But it now appears I'd been too naive. I intended to tell you some things about your parents, but they found us much sooner than I expected. It'll be better for you to remain in the dark for now. Wait for three months. If I return alive, I'll explain the ins and outs of everything to you. If I can't come back, you... Oh, well...”
• The more he spoke in such a manner, the more the puzzlement within me intensified. Just as I was going to seek answers again, his large hand suddenly came down on the back of my neck.
• A wave of numbness instantly surged up from the back of my neck. My vision went black, and I promptly passed out.
• After an indeterminate amount of time, I slowly woke up to find that the sky outside was already starting to lighten.
• An entire night had passed, and I was alone in the room without any idea where my grandfather had gone.
• I shook my head and rubbed the back of my neck, where a dull ache still lingered from my grandfather's heavy blow. Once my mind had cleared a bit, I hurriedly got out of bed and dashed downstairs.
• In the burial clothing shop downstairs, the black coffin was already gone.
• My grandfather, the woman in white, and the girl in red had all disappeared as well.
• For a moment, I was completely at a loss, standing there blankly, unsure of what to do next.
• The events that transpired in these brief few days completely subverted everything I knew over the years. It felt as though my worldview was on the brink of collapse.
• All of it felt incredibly strange to me, my mind a total mess.
• In the end, I decided to obey my grandfather's instructions. I went upstairs, packed my belongings, and carefully stowed away the cloth bundle he gave me. With my backpack slung over my shoulders, I hastily left home.
• The town wasn't too far from Hofcaster, just about an hour's bus ride away. I attended high school there, so I was no stranger to the city.
• On the bus, my mind kept revisiting the events yesterday night. A sense of unease lingered within me.
• Even though I didn't know the reasons behind the events that occurred recently, my grandfather's words last night made it abundantly clear that he must have encountered a significant crisis.
• Please be safe!
• I've been with my grandfather since childhood, so my bond with him was something no one could ever replace. If anything were to happen to him, I honestly didn't know if I could withstand such a blow.
• After arriving in Hofcaster, I hailed a taxi to Emerald Wave St. in the east of the city.
• Despite having studied in Hofcaster for three years, I had never visited Emerald Wave St. once. After all, Hofcaster was a vast city, so it was impossible to have been everywhere.
• Upon arriving at Emerald Wave St., I found myself momentarily stunned.
• Bars and nightclubs were aplenty on the street, not to mention numerous pedicure clubs and karaoke lounges. It was practically an entertainment avenue.
• The traditional medicine clinic Grandpa mentioned is really here?
• Feeling skeptical inwardly, I started searching along the street. After over twenty minutes, I finally found the traditional medicine shop at the end of the road.
• It was known as Macroflora Hall.
• The signboard of the traditional medicine clinic bore a tiny shamrock. If one weren't paying close attention, it would be easy to miss it.
• On that bustling street, the traditional medicine clinic seemed somewhat inconspicuous and a little old. Is this truly the place Grandpa asked me to find?
• The doors of it were firmly shut. I knocked, but no one answered. Left with no choice, I sat on the steps at the entrance and waited.
• My wait lasted for an entire day.
• Even when dusk fell, the traditional medicine clinic remained closed.
• Like a fool, I sat there all day. Helplessly getting to my feet, I left the entertainment avenue.
• After grabbing a bite at a food stall, I found a hotel to stay near the entertainment avenue, planning to revisit the traditional medicine clinic the next day.
• The hotel I found was decent enough. Although the room was a bit basic, it at least had an attached bathroom.
• After an entire day of contemplation, I came to the realization that no matter how the situation evolved, I wouldn't be able to provide any substantial help. Instead of worrying blindly, it would be better for me to obey my grandfather's instructions and stay obediently at the traditional medicine clinic for three months.
• Three months later, when my grandfather came to look for me, I would naturally understand everything. If he couldn't return, he would deal with it then.
• I took a cold shower, washing some of the gloom within me away. After I had washed up and was about to leave the bathroom, the bathroom lights suddenly flickered.
• At that moment, my heart inexplicably lurched, instantly leaping into my throat.
• Had it been in the past, I might not have found anything amiss with the lights flickering. However, after all the previous incidents I experienced, I was already traumatized.
• Buzz!
• The bathroom lights began to flicker violently, emitting faint sounds of electrical currents, bright one moment and dim the next.
• Oh, no! This is definitely not natural!
• I swallowed hard, my eyes darting around in mild terror. My legs trembling slightly, I moved toward the bathroom door.
• Just then, I caught sight of the mirror above the washbasin out of the corner of my eye.
• Suddenly, my reflection in the mirror put on a peculiar smile, my eyes shimmering with an eerie green glow.
• On the heels of that, my reflection twisted his neck and slowly crawled out of the mirror, reminiscent of the female ghost in The Ring. Such a sight sent a shiver down my spine, and I almost fainted from fright.
• “Since I can't find your grandfather, finding you is just as good!” My reflection in the mirror grinned eerily and said ominously, “Once you're in my hands, I don't believe that old geezer won't show up!”
• “Ahh!” Screaming, I yanked open the bathroom door and darted out.
• Bolting out of the bathroom, I did not even bother to grab my bag but raced out of the room.
• However, something that plunged me into despair happened—the door was jammed.
• No matter how much I yanked and pulled, the door didn't budge. I pounded and kicked it with all my might, but it was all in vain.
• The temperature in the room abruptly plummeted, and the flickering lights dimmed unprecedentedly. In the bathroom, the figure had fully crawled out of the mirror.
• Trembling, I backed up to the edge of the bed, my eyes wide with terror as the looming figure gradually closed in on me.
• His appearance had changed entirely, taking on the look of a middle-aged man. His complexion was pale, and a sinister smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.