Starting with dissecting ghost stories

The clock on the living room wall pointed to 8:55.

The DVD player was playing the disc, and on the TV screen, "Final Destination 2" was showing the classic highway multi-car pileup scene. Huge metallic crashes and screams came from the speakers, and blood and flesh flew everywhere on the screen.

Shen Yuan huddled on the sofa. Despite the sweltering rainy season, she felt her hands and feet were ice-cold, as if her blood had been frozen.

Just ten minutes ago, she was probably the happiest person in the world.

The refrigerator contained a cream cake she had bought with her hard-earned allowance. She had even planned how to bring the cake downstairs to surprise the little girl when Uncle Li brought her back at nine o'clock.

During those two hours, she watched a thriller while glancing at the clock hanging in the living room every now and then to pass the time.

Just now, the landline phone rang.

The caller was none other than anxious Granny Zhang.

"Xiao Yuan, have you seen Xiao Hua? I can't get through to that bastard on the phone..."

Grandma Zhang's words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the little flame of happiness in Shen Yuan's heart until it was completely extinguished.

She could only weakly comfort the old woman, saying that perhaps she just hadn't heard it and that she should wait a little longer.

She sat back down on the sofa, but she could no longer regain her previous composure.

The man didn't answer the phone.

Why aren't you answering the phone? In this tiny town, what could possibly require turning off your phone or not answering it?

Worry was like an invisible hand, gripping Shen Yuan's heart tightly.

It was she who encouraged Xiaohua to voice her thoughts...

It was the sight of the wrinkles on the father's face and his pleading expression... it was the reddening look in Xiaohua's eyes when she saw her try to hug Uncle Li but was stopped...

She thought she was doing a good deed by helping the father and daughter reunite.

If something really happened to Xiaohua... if that person really took Xiaohua away and sold her, or...

Shen Yuan dared not think any further.

The screams and gore in the movie no longer felt exciting at this moment; instead, they seemed to be foreshadowing something.

What should I do? What should I do now? Should I call the police? Or where should I look for help?

It's not even 9 o'clock yet...

She bit her nails, completely disoriented, her gaze wandering across the messy living room. Finally, like a drowning person searching for driftwood, her eyes landed on the tightly closed door to the master bedroom.

elder brother......

Although he was usually as cold as ice, and although she knew he didn't care about anything around him... at this moment, all Shen Yuan could think of was him.

It seems that as long as he's around, no matter how messy the situation is, he'll always find a solution.

Shen Yuan stumbled to his door and raised her hand.

"Knock knock knock".

The knocking was trembling, just like her heartbeat.

Not long after, the door opened.

Shen Xing stood behind the door.

But when Shen Yuan saw him clearly for the first time, the plea for help that was on the tip of her tongue got stuck in her throat.

He changed his clothes, but his face was frighteningly pale, and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat. He exuded a sense of weakness that even she could see.

This was the first time Shen Yuan had ever seen him so weak.

Shen Yuan suddenly remembered that she had left him some cold medicine before she left home that morning.

He is sick.

It perfectly describes the feeling of someone who is forcing themselves to be sick.

And what about me? Not only did I fail to take good care of him, but I also had to bother him with the mess I made because of my own cleverness when he was sick and resting.

A wave of guilt mixed with panic almost overwhelmed her. She lowered her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes tightly.

"What's wrong?"

Shen Xing's voice came through, sounding somewhat unsteady, but his tone was calm, giving people an unimaginable sense of security.

Shen Yuan's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She opened her mouth, her voice barely audible, "Brother... Granny Zhang just called and asked..."

"Ring ring—"

The landline in the living room rang, and Shen Yuan quickly ran to the living room, picked up the receiver, and put it to her ear.

"Hmm... Oh, okay, Grandma, wait a minute, I also bought a cake... It's alright, it's alright..."

Hearing the news on the phone that Li Xiaohua had returned, Shen Yuan's emotions fluctuated wildly, and she almost burst into tears.

At the same time, Shen Xing had already arrived in the living room. He didn't understand why his sister was so emotional, but it was normal; it was common for her to have large emotional fluctuations.

He rummaged through the cabinet in the kitchen where he usually kept snacks, but he didn't find glucose. Instead, he found a bag of QQ candy. Shen Xing didn't care about the contents; he just tore open the packaging and popped it into his mouth to chew.

After finishing her phone call, Shen Yuan wiped her eyes and came to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and took out a cake.

"Do you want to go out?" Shen Xing asked.

"Yes, to deliver a cake to Xiaohua." Shen Yuan nodded, giving Shen Xing's question in a rare normal manner.

"I'll go with you." Shen Xing walked towards the door and changed into a pair of slippers that were easy to wear when going out.

Shen Yuan didn't refute him. She knew that Shen Xing would definitely follow her, even if she refused. He wouldn't care what she thought at all.

The security situation in this small town is terrible. Robberies are common at night, and snatch-and-grab robberies are rampant.

Shen Xing had an obligation to follow along to prevent any accidents.

Shen Yuan changed her shoes and obediently followed behind Shen Xing.

Shen Xing was expecting his sister to talk back, but no one responded, which surprised him a little.

After finishing a bag of QQ candy, Shen Xing's blood sugar didn't rise as quickly, but he no longer felt dizzy.

Apart from the fact that the [0111] on his left arm was completely still, as if he were dead, he now felt that his body had almost returned to normal.

I walked through the dimly lit stairwell, down the stairs, and out of the residential area.

At this time, only a few streetlights were on, making the whole street very dark. Only a few small shops were still open. By around ten o'clock, almost all the shops would be closed.

Grandma Zhang's shop is not far from the neighborhood, only a few hundred meters away. Facing the cool evening breeze, the two quickly arrived at the only fried noodle shop with its lights on.

Shen Xing could see two figures waiting at the shop entrance. They were standing against the light, and Shen Xing could only see two black outlines.

"Little Flower!"

Upon seeing the two figures, Shen Yuan carefully carried the cake and ran over. From afar, Shen Xing could hear the sounds coming from that direction.

"Oh, don't be so polite. I bought a cake, Xiaohua, to thank your older sister."

"It's okay, it's Xiaohua's birthday today. Xiaohua is the oldest. When it's my birthday, you have to give me a painting, okay?"

"You're all good kids... Xingzai, come here quickly, I'll get you some late-night snacks."

At this moment, Shen Xing stood still, his legs feeling like lead, rooted to the spot.

His left arm, the one that looked like it was dead [0111], was now churning in the flesh and blood. He could feel his arm getting hot and engorged with blood again, as if it were being preheated.

And in Shen Xing's line of sight.

Grandma Zhang stood smiling, while Shen Yuan squatted beside her and reached out to touch her head...

A child mannequin, dressed in a pale yellow dress, stood upright between the two of them, its entire body shimmering with distorted black and white speckles, facing Shen Xing.

On its face was a cut-out photo of Li Xiaohua, which fluttered gently in the evening breeze.

Shen Xing's heart raced.

An anomaly... one that can be detected with the naked eye... a new anomaly...

Shen Xing suppressed the restlessness in his left hand and his thirst for knowledge, took a few quick steps forward, grabbed Shen Yuan's wrist, and dragged her backward.

You must stay away from...

We must get Shen Yuan away from us first.