Chapter 2: An Unsettling Lecture
Miles’s daily routine at school commenced punctually at eight in the morning and continued till late in the evening, culminating with an intensive study session. His day had been considerably more arduous than usual due to his exploits from the previous night, thus turning his day into an unending cycle of persistent yawns and relentless fatigue. Each time he succumbed to the temptation of a quick nap during lectures, the haunting image of an elderly man from the narrative would shock him back to consciousness. His subconscious was engaged in a sly game of manipulation, making him feel as though the hollow, frosty eyes depicted in the story’s photograph were observing him from a hidden corner of the room.
Attempting to reclaim his alertness, he couldn’t resist but murmur to himself, “Sleep is out of the question; that photograph is far too unsettling.”
Suddenly, his internal dialogue was interrupted by a familiar voice. “Hey, Miles, do you have a moment to chat?” The voice belonged to William, a slender figure who was leaning towards him. William was not just Miles’s desk mate in class but also a close friend.
Confused, Miles asked, “Chat about what, exactly?”
William let out a soft chuckle, “Oh, stop feigning ignorance. I’ve been watching you yawn repeatedly. It’s quite apparent that you were up to some late-night antics.”
He gave Miles’s shoulder a friendly nudge, then leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “Have you discovered any exciting material lately? Share it, my friend. Let’s all partake in the thrill.”
Miles retorted in disbelief, “Thrill, you say? I was absorbed in a ghost story on my phone that robbed me of sleep.”
“Ghost story, huh?” A classmate piped up from the nearby seat, “That reminds me, have you guys heard about the mysterious incidents happening in our city’s residential areas recently?”
“What incidents?” Miles’s curiosity was piqued. “I haven’t heard anything.”