I opened my eyes, returning to my physical body in the hotel room. "A lot of them here..." I murmured to myself, a thoughtful expression on my face. "But they don't seem to be doing anything bad."
A sense of curiosity mingled with a touch of empathy stirred within me. These ghosts, trapped between worlds, were echoes of lives once lived, their stories untold and their spirits restless. I wondered if there was anything I could do to help them find peace, to release them from their spectral bonds. But that was a task for another time.
For now, I decided to focus on the task at hand. The concert was tomorrow, and I needed to be ready. I had promised Hanna I would be there, and I intended to keep my word.
Thud! I lay down on the king-size bed, the soft mattress enveloping me in a comforting embrace.
Then I opened my phone, checking the family group chat.
[Dove: @Xian, are you in Singapore yet?]
[Me: Yep, what's up?]
[Dove: Nothing, just checking in]
I smiled at Dove's message, appreciating her thoughtfulness. I typed a quick reply, letting her know I was settling in and looking forward to the concert.
Swooosh! A sudden chill swept through the room, and I felt a presence beside my bed. I opened my eyes to see a translucent figure hovering there, its form shimmering in the dim light.
This ghost is trying to scare me, isn't it? I thought, a hint of amusement playing on my lips.
The ghost, a young woman with long, flowing hair and a melancholic expression, seemed oblivious to my thoughts. She simply stood there, her gaze fixed on the wall opposite the bed, a look of longing etched on her ethereal features.
I sat up, propping myself against the headboard. "Can I help you?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
The ghost turned her head slowly, her eyes widening in surprise as she met my gaze. "You... you can see me?" she asked, her voice a faint echo in the quiet room.
I nodded. "Yes, I can. My name is Xian. What's yours?"
"H-How... my name is Alicia..." she replied, her voice trembling slightly.
"Alicia," I repeated, committing her name to memory. "It's nice to meet you. Can you tell me why you're here?"
Alicia hesitated, her translucent form flickering slightly as if she were struggling to maintain her composure. "I... I don't know," she finally admitted, her voice filled with sadness. "I've been here for so long... I can't remember how I died, or why I'm still here."
I nodded sympathetically, my heart going out to her. "So you haven't been a naughty ghost, have you?" I asked gently, trying to gauge her intentions.
She seemed startled by the question. "I-I don't... I just want to play with people..." she replied, her voice barely a whisper.
"Play?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of play?"
Alicia's form flickered again, and a faint blush tinged her translucent cheeks. "I... I just like to... surprise people," she confessed, her voice barely audible. "Make them jump, or... or feel a chill."
I couldn't help but chuckle. "So, you're the one responsible for all the spooky happenings in the hotel?"
Alicia nodded shyly. "I didn't mean to scare anyone too much," she said, her voice apologetic. "I just... I get lonely sometimes."
A wave of understanding washed over me. Alicia, trapped in her spectral existence, was simply seeking connection, even if it meant resorting to harmless pranks. It was a poignant reminder of the isolation that ghosts often experienced, their longing for interaction with the living world.
"Well, I can't blame you, since you're still a kid," I said with a gentle smile.
Alicia's eyes lit up, a grateful smile spreading across her translucent face. "You... you don't think I'm bad?" she asked hesitantly, her voice filled with a childlike innocence.
"Of course not," I assured her, my voice warm and reassuring. "Everyone needs a little fun sometimes, even ghosts. Come here, sit beside me."
Alicia hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting between me and the empty space beside me on the bed. Then, with a hesitant step, she floated closer, her translucent form shimmering in the soft light of the room. She settled beside me, her ethereal presence surprisingly warm and comforting, a stark contrast to the usual chill associated with ghosts.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. "It's been so long since anyone has talked to me like this."
"You're welcome, Alicia," I replied, giving her a reassuring smile. "It's nice to have some company."
"So... you can see ghosts. How?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Since I was a kid," I answered simply, my gaze meeting hers.
Alicia's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That's amazing! I've always wanted to talk to someone who could see me."
"Well, now you have," I said with a smile. "We can talk all you want."
Alicia's face lit up, a genuine smile replacing the melancholic expression she had worn earlier. "Thank you, Xian," she said, her voice filled with joy. "This is the best day ever!"
"What do you like the most in this world?" I asked suddenly, curious about her spectral perspective.
She put her little finger on her chin, thinking for a moment. "In this world... butterflies!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with childlike wonder.
I opened my hands and held them out towards her. "Look at my hands..."
She leaned closer, peering intently at my palms. "What is it..."
Imagine, a butterfly appears in my hands, I imagined, focusing my will on the empty space.
Just then, a beautiful butterfly materialized in my hands, its wings shimmering with iridescent colors. It fluttered gently, then took flight, circling the room gracefully.
The ghost gasped, her eyes wide with surprise and delight. She lifted off the bed, following the butterfly's path with wonder and joy.
"It's so beautiful!" Alicia exclaimed, her voice filled with pure joy. She reached out, her translucent fingers brushing against the butterfly's wings as it fluttered past. The butterfly seemed to sense her presence, its movements becoming even more graceful and mesmerizing, as if dancing just for her.
I watched the scene unfold, a warm feeling spreading through my chest. It was a simple act, creating a butterfly with my imagination, but it had brought such happiness to Alicia. It was a reminder of the power I possessed, not just to fight evil, but also to bring joy and wonder to the world.
With a gentle thought, I guided the butterfly to land softly on Alicia's forehead. The butterfly rested delicately on Alicia's forehead, its wings gently brushing against her translucent skin. The sight brought a radiant smile to her face, a stark contrast to the melancholic expression she had worn earlier.
"You know?" she began, her voice filled with a newfound lightness. "The one thing I see when I remember... it's a lot of butterflies! Like they're welcoming me!"
"Oh, really?" I asked, intrigued. "Why is that? Can you give me more details?"
Alicia's eyes sparkled with a nostalgic light. "It was a warm, sunny day. I was running through a field, chasing after butterflies. The sun was shining, the flowers were blooming, and everything felt so... alive. Then, everything went dark."
Her voice trailed off, a hint of sadness returning to her expression. "I don't remember what happened after that. But the butterflies... they're the last thing I remember."
I nodded, a sense of understanding washing over me. "Maybe... they were saying 'welcome, we've been waiting for you'," I suggested, my voice soft.
Alicia's eyes widened, a flicker of hope replacing the sadness. "You think so?" she asked, her voice filled with a tentative excitement. The idea that the butterflies might represent a welcoming embrace, rather than a haunting memory, seemed to bring her a sense of peace.
I think I can help this ghost rest peacefully. She seems so lonely, I thought, a wave of compassion washing over me.
"Hey, Alicia," I said gently, "what's the one place you'd most like to go?"
Alicia's eyes lit up, a wistful smile gracing her translucent features. "CartoonLand!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with childlike excitement. "I've watched it on TV! It looks so amazing!"
"Then how about tomorrow afternoon, we go there? Do you want to?" I asked, a warm smile spreading across my face.
Alicia's smile widened, her translucent form practically glowing with happiness. "Yes! Yes, I'd love to!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with pure joy.
I nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction at being able to bring some happiness to Alicia's spectral existence. Then, I opened my phone and texted Hanna.
[Me: Hey Hanna, when's the concert tomorrow?]
[Hanna: Hey Xian! The concert is tomorrow night at 8 pm! 😊 Are you excited?]
[Me: Yeah, I'm looking forward to it! Just wanted to confirm the time so I can plan accordingly. Hey, do you want to go to CartoonLand near the city tomorrow afternoon?]
[Hanna: CartoonLand? Sure, that sounds fun! I've always wanted to go there! But why? Suddenly...]
[Me: You remember I can see ghosts, right?]
[Hanna: Yeah... I remember, why?]
[Me: It's a bit complicated, but I found a little kid ghost. I want to make her happy before she rests peacefully.]
I sent the message but there was no immediate response. Closing my phone, I looked at Alicia, a gentle smile on my face. "Are you excited?"
She nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Knock! Knock! Knock! The door rattled with three sharp raps.
"Come in, it's not locked!" I called out, a bit surprised by the sudden intrusion.
Creak! The door swung open, revealing Hanna and her four friends, their eyes wide with curiosity.
"Where's the ghost? I wanna see it!" Hanna burst into the room, her excitement palpable.
Alicia, taken aback by the sudden influx of people, instinctively hid behind me, her translucent form flickering nervously.
< Chapter 171 > Fin.