Chapter 18: The Approach of Death
Miles was in the midst of a mental turmoil, his mind operating at breakneck speed as he attempted to devise a strategy. There wasn’t a shred of doubt in his heart that the mysterious knocks he had noticed during previous phone calls were bound to attract the attention of the elderly man eventually. When that moment arrived, he was certain the outcome would be unavoidable.
Inside the depths of his mind, an array of elements – the online forum, the puzzling narratives, the unsettling audio recording of the knocks, the list of dialed phone numbers – clashed together, giving birth to a cyclone of bewilderment. Although he had identified a certain pattern amidst the chaos, he had hit a dead end, failing to extract any further insights.
This was the first time Miles was facing an apparition of this kind. In contrast to Jing, who boasted an unusual prescience for future events, Miles was navigating through uncharted waters. Yet, considering his novice status in dealing with the supernatural, he was managing to maintain his composure remarkably well.
“Hold on, Jing’s prophecy…” His facial expression morphed as a sudden realization struck him. “The parchment!”
Without wasting a second, he drew out the dark brown parchment from his pocket.
“Miles, Miles, look, look there,” William stuttered, his finger trembling as he pointed in the direction of the school.
Following William’s cue, Miles looked up, and what he saw sent a bone-chilling shiver down his spine. Several hundred meters away, an ominous, impenetrable darkness was steadily creeping towards them, consuming everything in its path. Wherever it spread, the earth rotted, trees withered, concrete structures turned to mold, and streetlights rusted, teetering on the brink of falling.
A decrepit elderly man, clad in a long black robe, his skin scarred with wounds resembling post-mortem spots, was making his way towards them.
“Damn it, he’s here?” Fear caused Miles’s heart to pound erratically in his chest.