Chapter 59: The Ghost Hidden Among Them
Even before extinguishing his flashlight, Miles had caught sight of a crowd gathered outside the boutique. Their faces had the pallor of the grave, their bodies emanating a nauseating stench of decay.
These were the same figures that had earlier entrapped Mr. Calm, Master Catch, and Manager Li. Having mysteriously vanished once, they now reemerged, blocking every exit. To an average person, escape seemed an impossibility.
In such cramped and congested conditions, one couldn’t guarantee safety from an attack.
“We’re outmatched… Too many of them. Get down quickly and we’ll try to escape,” Ethan urgently suggested upon assessing the dire situation.
“No, don’t get down. Something feels off,” Miles replied, a hint of apprehension fleeting across his face. Swiftly, he turned on his phone’s flashlight.
Under the harsh artificial light, seven or eight of the figures had already infiltrated the boutique, with more continuously trickling in. Their movements were sluggish, but within a minute, they would be within arm’s reach, encircling him entirely.
“Why shouldn’t we? Weren’t we safe from attack if we lay low?” Ethan questioned, puzzlement showing.
“That was then, this is now,” Miles elaborated. “Earlier, we weren’t dealing with genuine spirits, hence their predictable attack pattern. If someone lay down, they lost their target, froze, and then swiftly retreated until their next manifestation.”
“But look at them now. We’re standing our ground, yet they’re still advancing. Can’t you see what that suggests?”