As we made our way back to the classroom, a familiar sound echoed through the hallway.
Whoosh!
I stopped abruptly, a cold dread seeping into my bones.
I turned slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. The shadowy figure was back, but this time it was different. It had grown larger, more menacing, its darkness threatening to engulf the entire hallway.
"What's wrong, Xian?" Marcel asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
I swallowed hard, my voice barely a whisper. "You go ahead. I need to... take care of something."
Marcel hesitated, his eyes darting between me and the empty hallway. "Okay," he finally said, a puzzled look on his face. "But don't be too long. We're already missing class."
With a final glance in my direction, he turned and hurried down the hallway.
I was alone, face to face with the monstrous figure. Its form writhed and pulsated, a swirling vortex of darkness. Fear gnawed at my insides, but curiosity, a desperate need to understand, held me rooted to the spot.
"Hello...?" I managed, my voice a mere croak.
The figure's voice boomed through the hallway, deep and resonant. "Do you believe in supernatural power, Xian Ying?" it asked, its words hanging heavy in the air.
"...I don't," I replied, my voice barely audible as I stared up at the monstrous creature.
Its head twisted unnaturally, its neck a grotesque spiral that stretched towards me. "Do... you... believe... in... supernatural... power...?" it rasped, its voice a cacophony of whispers.
My eyes widened in horror as the figure drew closer, its true form revealed. It was a grotesque amalgamation of shadow and bone, its face a contorted mask of malice.
"I... don't," I repeated, my voice barely a croak.
"Bwah!" The creature's mouth opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Shock paralyzed me, my legs rooted to the spot as the monstrous figure lunged towards me.
Sring!
Suddenly, the creature's body was sliced clean in two. A figure materialized from the shadows, its form identical to the one I had seen in my bedroom.
"You are useless," it said, its voice dripping with contempt as it addressed the severed creature. "Xian Ying is mine."
The severed halves of the monster dissolved into nothingness, leaving only a faint, acrid odor in the air.
"Y-You..." I stammered, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and awe.
The figure turned towards me, its shadowy form shimmering in the dim light. "Don't call me 'you'," it said, its voice resonating with an otherworldly power. "I have a name... and you shall decide it."
"Decide it...?" I repeated, my mind struggling to grasp the concept.
"Give me a name," it commanded, its voice echoing in the empty hallway.
"..."
I stood frozen, my mind racing. This was beyond anything I could have imagined. I, a mere high school student, was being asked to name a creature of darkness, a being that defied all logic and reason.
"I-I will give you the name, ." I hesitated, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. My mind raced, searching for a word that captured the essence of this enigmatic being.
...
Silence stretched between us as I struggled to utter the name.
"What...?" I stammered, a sense of panic rising within me. "I can't give it a name, ?"
The figure chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that echoed in the empty hallway. "It seems I must wait until you unleash your Eye of the Unseen, Butfear not, I will remain by your side, watching over you."
And with that, it vanished, leaving me alone in the dimly lit hallway.
This is so strange... Why couldn't I name it? What was stopping me?
"Xian Ying..."
The name echoed in my mind, a lifeline in the swirling chaos of my thoughts. If I could say my own name, maybe I could finally name the creature.
I took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage within me.
" ."
...
Nothing happened. The name died on my lips, unspoken, as if some invisible force prevented it from escaping.
"Why...? Why can't I say it?" I whispered, frustration and fear gnawing at me.
Panicked and confused, I turned and fled back towards the classroom.
Thud! The door slammed open, revealing a room full of students already seated and the teacher halfway through a lesson.
"Sorry I'm late," I mumbled, my voice barely audible as I rushed to my desk, the weight of the encounter pressing heavily on my shoulders.
I slid into my seat, avoiding the curious glances of my classmates. My mind raced, replaying the conversation with the figure and the inexplicable inability to name it. The questions gnawed at me, a constant thrum of anxiety beneath the surface of my forced composure.
***
Finally, the school bell rang again, signaling the end of the day. It had been hours since the encounter with the figure, but the memory of its chilling presence still lingered.
It was 3:30 PM, the usual time for students to leave school in this country. I joined the throng of students streaming out of the gate, my mind still preoccupied with the events of the day.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out my name.
"Xian!"
I turned to see my Uncle Antony striding towards me, a wide smile on his face.
"Uncle!" I greeted him, a sense of relief washing over me.
"Hey, bud!" He clapped me on the shoulder, his jovial nature a stark contrast to the unease I felt.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Your mother just called and asked me to pick you up," he explained. "Your father is busy today, she said."
I nodded, grateful for the unexpected ride home. "Okay, let's go then."
We both climbed into the car, a modest four-seater with a classic design.
Thud! The door closed, and the engine sputtered to life.
Vroom! We pulled away from the school, the familiar sights fading into the distance.
"So, how was your day?" Uncle Antony asked, his eyes flicking towards me as he steered the car.
< Chapter 006 > Fin.