Chapter 20: Streetscape
The break of dawn was just beginning to peek through the darkened sky over Dachang City’s pedestrian street. It was an uncharacteristically silent time, with the typical hustle and bustle of the vibrant commercial district stilled in the early morning hours. Closed shops lined the deserted street, their shutters firmly locked, awaiting the day’s commerce.
But suddenly, the tranquility was shattered.
The row of streetlights that had previously emitted a soft white light abruptly shifted, bathing the pedestrian street in an eerie crimson hue. The lamps inside the shades mirrored a terrifying spectacle of red eyes. Unnerving and uncanny, the eyes seemed alive, subtly shifting and reflecting off the lampshades. However, this chilling spectacle was as fleeting as it was sudden.
A quick flicker later, normalcy resumed. But what came next was even more unusual.
From seemingly nowhere, seven young individuals appeared on the street. They seemed to be students, but something about them was clearly off. Fear painted their pale faces, their bodies trembling as if they had just witnessed something deeply horrifying.
With a heavy pant, Miles sunk onto the ground, his back against the glass door of a nearby shop. The pain that felt like his body being torn apart was finally beginning to subside. The terrifying ordeal had come too close for comfort, but he had managed to activate his own ghost domain just in the nick of time.
Shock kept the others silent as their wide eyes darted around fearfully. The sight of the bright streetlights and the slowly rising sun in the distance reminded them of their narrow escape, gradually replacing their fear with a sense of relief.
“I think… we’re on the neighboring street,” Grace finally broke the silence, her voice filled with uncertainty.
William was quick to confirm, “It’s definitely the neighboring main street. I’ve been playing here since childhood. My home is nearby.” He seemed surprisingly excited, relishing the mundane details of daily life.