"What exactly is your reason for coming to this city?"
The pale-skinned woman asked.
My reason? I don't know if I can really trust Akoto completely. Especially since I only met him a few days ago. I'm not sure if I should tell her the truth—or the opposite.
"...You don't have to say it if you don't want to."
I takes off her neck collar and sat pensively on the floor. So, what should I do if I'm alone in a city full of masked people? I don't understand why there have been so many strange events.
"I won't be gone for long, just some important business."
I sat down on the sofa and chuckled, especially at his serious tone when she mentioned 'important business'.
"Do all vampires have the same kind of business as you?"
I spoke teasingly.
She picked up a rattan bracelet decorated with two deer antlers hanging from it. Then she took a few steps and handed it to me.
"Break the two deer antlers when you're in danger, the moment you do it. I'll come."
Two antlers? I examined the rattan bracelet he gave me and it did look a little fragile. However, the color and silhouette that shone on it were very beautiful. It would be a shame if these two bones were broken.
"Isn't there another way? You have a cell phone, right?"
"If my kind finds out I'm in contact with the outside world, they'll happily hunt me down."
I just nodded slowly in response, thinking about it. I had never seen any mystical creatures other than vampires, but Akoto told me that she wasn't the only source of mysticism in this city. Could there be other creatures like her? Or other types of creatures?
"Hey, Akoto—"
"I've transferred the money to your account, you should check it."
Wait, how did she know my account number?
"Sorry, orange hair, I don't have much time left, they're calling me."
After she said those few words, her body disappeared into dust. Leaving me alone with this cold tea.
To be honest, I was afraid to face the outside world. If I acted wrongly, I could turn into a ghost like those who lived in this city.
As the problem was solved, more questions arose. If they all turned into ghosts, how did they become witnesses to my uncle's death?
Akoto didn't explain it in detail, whether the ghosts still behaved the same way they did when they were alive? Or the opposite.
There was only one way to find out. That is, to attend school and study the behavior they reflected. Maybe that way I would get used to and adapt to this new environment.
Besides, I won't go home until my uncle's case is solved.
Wait for me, uncle, I promise I'll uncover the truth.
I immediately returned to my room, planning the activities I would do the next day.
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However... things changed. I ended up not going to school, using illness as an excuse. I was too lazy to get out of this soft bed.
Besides, I had already done a lot of strenuous activities before. Maybe I was just worrying too much about the situation in this town. In fact, the ghosts were floating or walking like humans.
I watched their movements through the window, and they weren't much different from their daily routines. It was true that fear only came from within oneself, except for the soldiers with guns because they were indeed real.
I wanted to go out and get some fresh air, but my body said otherwise. I had been living in this remote city for about three months. However, I still hadn't found any information about Uncle John.
It seemed like I had to dig for more information, so I took my smartphone and opened several websites about the murder or disappearance of my uncle.
Actually, the police haven't confirmed whether he was murdered or not. However, most of my family already consider him gone from this world. I don't blame them, because ten years have passed.
Nevertheless, my determination to save Uncle John remains strong. He was a good person; why would anyone want to harm him?
I ruffled my hair and couldn't stand the cold room. I covered myself with extra blankets and pillows. Red blankets with green bed sheets.
Feeling bored, I went downstairs with my blankets and pillows. I won't lie, my broken leg made it quite difficult for me.
Creak
Again, the sound was very loud, step by step.
It turns out that people with leg disabilities experience this kind of thing their whole lives.
It seems impossible that no one in this area knows Uncle John. Even after 10 years, they answered as if Uncle John had never been here. Could he have been kidnapped?
I don't have any family or close relatives living around here. Akoto said that I could see the illusion of the masked ghost. I became curious if there were any newcomers or outsiders who had come to this town.
If only Mom and Dad were still here, they could help me find out the cause of Uncle John's death. After all, they were the ones closest to him.
Ahh! I can't stand this boring routine, even though I'm actually skipping school. I immediately changed my sweater for a thick jacket. Then I grabbed my walking stick and left my neighborhood.
I went back to the dense forest to get some fresh air. Snow had fallen, and the river had frozen over.
Interesting!
It's a pity that the fanged woman couldn't see this view. I wonder what a vampire's daily life is like.
In the forest, I looked at the river. The water, which had previously been very fast-flowing, had now turned to ice, so I threw a rock at the river in the hope that the ice would melt again.
But it didn't.
I leaned back and placed my walking stick under a pine tree while rummaging through a pile of green leaves and picking up some pine cones that were lying around. I felt so bored today.
Then, I heard footsteps getting closer.
Clackety-clack
I immediately grabbed the wooden stick and stood up. Damn! I forgot that this town was still inhabited, even though they were lifeless.
I quickly put on the mask that I hadn't been wearing. And immediately faced the transparent ghost that was right behind me.
However, I was surprised. Instead of finding a masked ghost with a human-like expression, I encountered an old man whom I had met on my first day in this forest.
Strangely, he wasn't wearing a mask? Akoto never warned me about people who don't turn into ghosts.
What is actually happening?