《Possessed By Devil:Delicate Girl Fights Against Evil Ghost》 The Bride in Crimson Back in the day, there was this blind man in our village getting hitched. My family was still living there at the time. The guy was over forty and, rumor had it, he''d shelled out a fortune to buy himself a wife from Vietnam. Normally, when folks in the village tied the knot, we''d be right there in the thick of it, sharing in the joy and soaking up the good vibes. But on the blind man''s big day, my parents shut the door tight early on and wouldn''t let me set foot outside. When I asked why, all they said was I was too young to understand. Daytime was quiet as a mouse, but things got real spooky once night fell. First off, there was this torrential downpour, and the air reeked of something fishy. Half-asleep, I kept hearing a knock at the door. Weird thing was, I seemed to be the only one who could hear it. As that fishy smell grew stronger, I swallowed back the nausea and dozed off. In my dream, there was this woman in a scarlet veil, her lips painted a deep, blood-red. She beckoned to me, her hands as white as freshly fallen snow. She didn''t utter a word, just smiled that eerie smile. When I balked at following her, she reached out, grabbed my hand, and yanked. Her hand was ice-cold, the kind of cold you only feel from the dead. I woke up in a cold sweat to find myself in an old, abandoned graveyard. The rain was still coming down in sheets, drenching me to the bone. I took off running for home as fast as my legs could carry me. But after just a few steps, there she wasCthe woman in the red wedding dress, smiling and waving at me up ahead. No matter which way I turned, she was always there, inching closer each time. I was scared stiff, but my voice seemed stuck in my throat. As I backed up, I suddenly stepped on something soft. I looked back and saw it was the blind man. Just as I was about to call out to him, a bolt of lightning split the sky, and I let out a scream. The blind man was slumped against a tombstone, clearly gone. His eyes were missing, leaving behind two gaping, bloody holes. My knees buckled. At that moment, I was sure I was a goner. And then, out of nowhere, he showed up. He was dressed in a way that seemed straight out of a period drama on TV. His long hair flowed down his shoulders, black as midnight. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. The rain was pelting down, but not a single drop touched him. I stared, dumbfounded. There was something dangerously alluring about him, with those slightly upturned thin lips and those smiling, almond-shaped eyes. But a shiver of fear ran through me, the kind you get when you''re face-to-face with something way more powerful than you. Stranger still, the second he appeared, the woman in the red dress vanished. He walked over to me, that smile still playing on his lips. "I''ve been waiting for you for ages, and here you are, still just a kid," he said, reaching out his hand. "Come on, let me take you home." He took my hand, and I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. After what felt like forever, I caught a glimpse of a pair of beautiful hands slipping something onto my left ring finger. "When you grow up, use this to get something good," he murmured softly. Then, everything went black. When I came to, I was back home. My mother had been crying her eyes out, they were all red and puffy. They told me I''d been running a sky-high fever and had almost kicked the bucket. When I asked about the graveyard, everyone looked at me like I''d lost my mind and said I hadn''t even left the house. But on my left hand, there it wasCa grass ring. After I recovered, the blind man''s family held a funeral. The village chief said they''d died from food poisoning and there was no saving them. But when I got close to the coffin, I caught a faint whiff of that same fishy, bloody smell. To this day, I still have no clue how the blind man and his wife met their end. Not long after that, my family moved to the city. If it wasn''t for that grass ring that popped up in my memories now and then, I''d have sworn it was all just a crazy dream. My parents worked their tails off. They started out selling clothes from a street stall and now they''ve got a pretty decent-sized wholesale business going. But they never gave themselves credit; they were convinced it was all because of my good fortune. I''m Anna. Apparently, when I was little, my mom took me to a monastery. A monk there said I had some kind of extraordinary destiny and was blessed by the heavens, that I could turn any trouble into a stroke of luck. My parents weren''t religious or anything, but they latched onto those words like they were gospel. And it did seem like I had a charmed life. Whatever I set my sights on, I usually got without breaking much of a sweat. Like when I applied to college, I barely studied for three years and still managed to squeak by and get into my top choice. Now, as I was on the cusp of turning eighteen, I had just about everything an eighteen-year-old could want. But that year, things took a turn. I started having these recurring dreams, all chaotic and messed up. There was this man who''d smile at me. He was in green robes, with long, narrow eyes and a devilishly handsome smile. But the kicker was, he had the lower body of a snake. Every time, he''d slither closer with that long, serpentine tail of his. His breath smelled sweet, but with a hint of blood. I always thought I was doomed, that there was no escape. But at the last possible second, another figure would materialize in my dream. All I could make out was his face was kind of blurry, except for those piercing, almond-shaped eyes that seemed to hold a world of secrets. He always managed to fend off the snake-tailed guy just in the nick of time. The snake-tailed man would glare at him with pure hatred. I had no idea who these two were, but I knew deep down they weren''t your average, run-of-the-mill humans. These dreams went on for a month. Then, just like that, they stopped. But that''s when the real trouble started. I began coughing up blood. The doctors at the hospital were stumped; they couldn''t find a thing wrong with me. But I was coughing up more blood each day until I had no choice but to be hospitalized. I was living on daily blood transfusions just to stay alive. My parents, who''d been so upbeat at first, were now worried sick and looking glum all the time. Even when my grandfather passed away, I couldn''t make it back to the village. My father went back to handle the funeral arrangements while my mother and older brother stayed by my side in the hospital. I was the only one in the ward. My mother gently wiped my face and asked in a hushed tone, "Anna, sweetie, can I go get you some water?" In a daze, I nodded. She hurried out. Maybe because of that special mother-daughter bond, I''d never told her about my nightmares. But ever since these dreams started, she''d been on edge, always sticking close whenever she could. Probably from all the blood loss, I was in a fog, neither fully asleep nor fully awake. I''d turn my head now and then to watch the birds flitting by outside the window. I was staring off into space when suddenly, something started inching up the window frame from below. I squinted, and my heart skipped a beat. It looked like... hair! I wanted to look away, but my eyes were glued. I could only watch, helpless, as a face slowly emerged. It was the man with the snake tail! Cold sweat broke out all over me in an instant. I pinched my palm hard. It hurt. This was no dream. The man with the snake tail was here, in the flesh! And we were on the eighth floor! How the heck had my nightmare come to life?! Your Life Belongs To Me His pupils were a deep, dark green, surrounded by an unmistakable aura of bloodlust. A voice in my head screamed: Run! I ignored the IV in my hand and tried to scramble out of bed. But after days of blood loss, I was weak as a kitten. I made it to the door and collapsed, completely spent. When I reached for the doorknob, I was thrown back. I knew it wasn''t a fluke, so I tried again. This time, I hit an invisible wall. "Hiss..." The sound of a snake''s tongue flicking echoed behind me. I started shaking like a leaf, frozen in place. I didn''t dare turn around. As I tried to run, I accidentally yanked out the IV needle. Warm blood trickled down my fingers and onto the floor. Something cold and slimy touched my fingertips. It sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn''t look away, even though I wanted to. I watched as the snake-tailed man slithered up beside me. He started licking the blood off my hand. I tried to scream, but the sound got stuck in my throat. I was screaming my lungs out, but no one in the busy hospital seemed to hear me. He coiled around me, his massive tail squeezing me tight. He touched my cheek with his forked tongue, covered in my blood. I stared into his dark green eyes and saw a mix of joy and hatred. "After running for centuries, you still end up in my grasp... Anna, it''s time to accept your fate. That damn fox can''t protect you forever!" Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. His voice was full of venom. "You owe me, and you''re going to pay!" With a flick of his finger, my hospital gown fell open. I screamed and tried to pull it back up, but I had no strength left. I could only watch as he started to strip me. I saw the excitement and hatred in his eyes grow more and more intense. I remembered reading in a book once that snakes are lustful by nature. I knew exactly what he wanted to do. No way! Sweat poured from my palms, but I couldn''t move a muscle. The snake-tailed man lowered his head and kissed me. His sharp fangs grazed my tongue, and I tasted blood. The taste seemed to make him even more excited. He pinned me down. I could barely breathe. The pressure was overwhelming. My vision started to blur. Was this the end? A bitter smile crossed my face. I''d never even had a boyfriend, and now I was going to die like this. I closed my eyes and prepared to accept my fate. Just then, I felt something warm in the center of my palm. It felt like a sharp scalpel. A calm, elegant voice whispered in my ear, "Aim for his left eye." The voice gave me a glimmer of strength. I decided to fight with everything I had, no matter what. I gritted my teeth and stabbed at his left eye. The snake-tailed man was so caught up in his own pleasure that he wasn''t even paying attention. Before, no matter how much I kicked, punched, or bit, I couldn''t hurt him at all. But now, as soon as the scalpel got within an inch of his eye, I heard a faint cracking sound. The knife broke through some kind of invisible barrier. Cold snake blood splashed on my hands. He let out an agonized scream that shattered the windows. Another voice laughed and said, "I''ll protect her life." "Dead fox! You again!" The snake-tailed man snarled, his hatred burning bright. As his figure faded away, my ears started to ring, and I almost passed out. Someone caught me. "Anna, what are you doing out of bed?!" It was my older brother, Anbay. When he saw me, I broke down and started crying. He quickly checked me for injuries. "No, I''m not hurt..." I lifted my hand and saw that the snake blood was gone. The broken glass was back to normal. I was so confused. I looked at my palm and found only a single black hair, wet with sweat. "Was I just hallucinating because I was about to die?" My brother''s face darkened. "Stop talking nonsense! Get back in bed right now!" His words were harsh, but his hands were gentle as he helped me lie down. "This isn''t the end, Anna," he said, puffing out his chest. "We''ll keep giving you blood transfusions until you''re a hundred. Our family has money, and I''ve got your back!" "Stop filling her head with nonsense," Mom said as she walked in. She gave my brother that look that only moms can give. "Anna will be fine soon." My brother hung his head, looking guilty. I was about to ask Mom if she''d heard any noises when she turned to pick something up. The second she turned around, I froze. A chill ran through me like a knife. There was a face stuck to her back, grinning at me with its white teeth. The cold was like a punch in the gut when our eyes met. My hand started shaking, and I spilled water all over the bed. Goosebumps covered my skin. If I wasn''t mistaken, it was a woman''s face, pale as death. "Anna, did you burn yourself?!" Mom turned around quickly to check my hand. "I, I''m okay!" I watched as the ghost disappeared like smoke when Mom turned. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. "M-mom? Could you... face the wall?" A Kiss That Saved My Life Huh? Mom spun around, but nothing. I couldve sworn I saw something, though. Maybe it was just my nerves playing tricks on me. I thought thatd be the end of it. Boy, was I wrong. Late that night, that creepy face came back for me. It was sweltering, and the AC in the ward was humming away, yet sleep was playing hard to get. My brother Anbay was conked out right next to me. I was so uncomfortable that I forced myself to close my eyes. In that half-asleep, half-awake state, I felt a cold draft blowing on me. Was the AC on the fritz? I cracked open my eyes, and bam! I was wide awake and shivering. There it was again, that womans face hovering just inches from mine. Her features were a blur, except for those blood-red lips, glistening and dripping with crimson. I wanted to holler for my brother, but my body wouldnt budge. My voice was stuck in my throat like glue. The face, as pale as a ghost, blew its icy breath all over me. It inched closer and closer until it was plastered against my face. I thrashed around, but my hands just passed right through it. Its cold, slimy skin clung to me, sending icy chills prickling through my pores. I couldnt scream, could only flail helplessly on the bed. As her mouth covered my nose and mouth, I started to suffocate. Just when the last bit of oxygen left my lungs, I blacked out. Next thing I knew, I was standing by a long, winding river. Across the water, someone was glaring at me with eyes full of venom. I couldnt make out his face, but something in my gut told me it was the snake-tailed guy. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! I tried to hightail it along the riverbank, but it seemed to go on forever. His long snake tail snaked around me in the end, and his red forked tongue darted toward my mouth. I was terrified out of my wits and squeezed my eyes shut. Then, a pair of hands cupped my face. I jolted in surprise. These werent the snake-tailed mans paws. They were warm and strong. I opened my eyes and saw those devilishly charming almond-shaped eyes. His figure was superimposed on the snake-tailed mans. One was out to get me, and the other was my knight in shining armor. Those eyes looked at me with pity. Still cant wake up... I felt weak all over and started to crumple. His see-through body wrapped around me, and his beautiful, thin lips brushed against mine. It felt so real. Even though it was a dream, my heart was pounding like a jackhammer, threatening to burst out of my chest. Sensing my racing heart, he flashed a brilliant smile and tapped my forehead gently with a finger. Wake up! I gasped for air and woke up in a cold sweat. Next to me, Anbay was looking at me with concern. Anna, did you have a nightmare? Looks like it... My heart was still going a mile a minute. I touched my lips and felt a lingering warmth. My cheeks flushed a bit. Whats wrong with your mouth? You feeling okay? No, no! I shoved him away in a hurry. Talking about this dream with my own brother? Embarrassing didnt even begin to cover it. As he lay back down, he suddenly remembered something. Hey, who were you calling for earlier? Somebody named Li? Li? That word made my heart skip a beat. I felt like I should remember something, but it was just out of reach. Li... I mumbled, and then, all of a sudden, it hit me. The next morning, I begged Mom to take me back home for Grandpas funeral. She was dead set against it, but I pleaded until she caved. Finally, Anbay stepped in. Mom, let her go back for a couple of days. The doctor said shes been doing okay and suggested some rest at home. I nodded like a bobble-head, pleading with her. Eventually, Mom agreed, but she made me promise to come back after two days. I wouldve agreed to just about anything to get home. I needed to figure out if that thing was all in my head or real. Mom got my discharge papers sorted. Maybe it was because I was excited to go home, but I felt lighter than air on the way. Even my usually pale lips had a bit more color. I thought everyone coming back for Grandpas funeral would cheer Dad up. Wrong again. Seeing Dads tired face and the dark circles under his eyes, I felt a pang of unease. The coffin in the main hall looked so heavy and solemn. Dads first words were like a bombshell. Somethings happened. Grandpas missing, he said. We didnt get it until Dad opened the coffin lid. It was empty. Mom was flabbergasted. Wheres Grandpa?! How could a dead person not be in the coffin? I want to know too! Dad exclaimed, biting his cigarette nervously. Grandpa... vanished. Mom whipped out her phone to call the police, but Dad stopped her. We cant call the cops. Someone stole the body, and were not reporting it?!Mom protested. Dad was getting frustrated. Thats what Grandpa wrote in his will! He handed her a piece of paper. It was a will without a fancy heading, but it was definitely Grandpas handwriting. It said that if anything strange happened after his death, it was payback for the An family and no one should dig deeper or call the cops. Meaning, Grandpa expected something wacky to go down after he died. Hows that possible? Mom, a die-hard skeptic, couldnt wrap her head around the idea of karma. To her, if something went missing, someone had to have swiped it. But whether it was a human someone was up for debate. Dad looked at us, hesitant to speak. Mom prodded him impatiently. He finally whispered, I saw the blind man. Which blind man? Mom was clueless. But my heart skipped a beat. There was only one blind man in our village. The Unraveling Disaster Dont talk crazy. The blind mans been dead for ages! But I swear I saw him, Dad said, his voice edging up a notch. He was starting to freak out. But freaking out wouldnt solve anything. Right now, the top priority was figuring out how to bury Grandpa. If you leave the coffin empty and unburied, itll bring doom for seven generations, Dad said, shooting me a glance and hesitating. We gotta find Dads body. Cant bury an empty coffin. Its bad juju for the descendants. Dad was worried sick about me. Truth was, my health was hanging by a thread. One more shock and I might crumble. Mom didnt waste a second. Lets go. Go where? Dad asked, looking lost. To the blind mans place, Mom said. You said you saw him. Besides, theres nowhere else in the village to stash a body. The blind mans got two empty, run-down rooms. My heart sank when I heard we were heading to the blind mans. Before I could open my mouth, my parents rushed out, telling Anbay to watch over me and not let me step foot outside. I knew what they were thinking. This whole mess was super strange. But they were in denial. They thought their booming business in the city had made some folks green with envy, and now someone was playing dirty tricks. But I had a hunch it was way more complicated than that. Anna, dont be scared. Its gotta be someone jealous of our sweet life. Theyre too chicken to face us, so theyre pulling this sneaky stunt. Mom and Dad will surely find something. Once theyve got proof, theyll come back and call the cops, Anbay said, trying to sound confident. That surely turned out to be a long wait. By sunset, they still hadnt shown up. The village wasnt exactly huge. It shouldve taken twenty minutes tops to hit the blind mans and hightail it back. I started to panic, and Anbay wasnt far behind. Ill go check it out. You wait here for me, he said. Im coming too! If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. I shot up from my seat. Seeing his hesitation, I blurted out, Im scared to be alone! Anbay caved and took me with him. There were no streetlights in the village, just the moon casting a faint glow. Anbay gripped my hand tight, like he was afraid Id trip and fall. When we got to the blind mans house, I held my breath without thinking. The door was ajar, and it was pitch-black inside. Even though it was the middle of summer, a chill ran down my spine. Dad! Mom?! Anbay called out. Silence. Anbay flicked on his phone flashlight and we inched our way in. The first thing that hit us was a musty smell. Then, there was this other smell I couldnt put my finger on. It wasnt sweet, but it wasnt fishy either. It tickled the back of my throat as I breathed, making me want to gag. And the source of that smell was... Anbay dropped his phone and slapped his hand over my eyes. His palm was clammy. His voice cracked. Dont look, Anna. Dont look. Too late. In that split second, Id already seen it. There was a chair in the middle of the main room. Someone was sitting on it. I didnt know who. Because their face had been peeled clean off and tossed aside. The pale slab of skin was lying at the corpses feet, and my heart lurched. Anbay practically dragged me out. My legs had turned to jelly from fright. He wasnt in much better shape, but with our parents MIA, he had to hold it together for my sake. After the initial shock wore off, I realized my clothes were soaked through with sweat. Brother, where are Mom and Dad? I stammered. Anbays eyes were wide with horror, but he forced a calm fa?ade. Its okay, Anna. Its okay. Ill call the cops right now! But the call wouldnt go through. We tried over and over, calling the police, calling our parents. Nothing. It was getting darker by the minute. Just thinking about that corpse made my skin crawl. Anbay clutched my hand. Lets go find someone! There were other people in the village. Surely someones phone would work. But as we went from door to door, desperation set in. The village was dead silent. Every house had its doors shut tight, not a single light on. No one even bothered to answer our frantic knocking. Anbay pounded on doors, sweating bullets. Brother, stop, I pleaded. No ones gonna open up. Anbay gritted his teeth and squeezed my hand harder. Anna, dont be afraid. Im here. I was still shaky from before, and all the walking had worn me out. Id been smelling a fishy-sweet scent for a while. It was familiar. I opened my mouth to call Anbay, and then I coughed up a mouthful of blood. Anna! Anbay screamed. I wanted to tell him I was okay, but the blood kept coming. I could feel my body getting colder as it drained out. Finally, I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in a bed. A wrinkled face peered down at me and let out a sigh of relief. Youre awake. Where was I? I could still taste blood in my mouth. The old man handed me a cup of strong tea. Rinse your mouth. Youll be okay now that youre awake. Grandpa.2?! I recognized him. Grandpa.2s frown lines smoothed out. If you can still recognize people, youre not in too bad a shape. Your brother carried you all over the village until he found me. Anbay walked in just then. Seeing me, he rushed over and pulled out a medicine bottle. Anna, take your medicine. This medicine could stop my bleeding, at least for a while. As I took the medicine, I heard Anbay say hed lugged me around, begging door to door for help. But nobody lifted a finger. It was only when we got to Grandpa.2s that we saw a glimmer of hope. I suddenly remembered the corpse. Grandpa.2 waved me off. No need to call the police. This is something the living cant handle. I was floored. What did he mean? The one you saw on the chair was your grandfather. My head spun. Impossible! Grandpa was the nicest guy. Hed helped so many people in the village. Hed never rubbed anyone the wrong way. Whod steal his body and do something so heinous as skinning it? Grandpa.2 took a long drag on his pipe. In the lamplight, his eyes looked a bit yellowish. Do you two know what day it is today? Anbay and I looked at each other, clueless. Grandpa.2 tapped his pipe on his shoe. Twelve years ago, on this very night, the blind man got married. My hands balled up into fists. Twelve years ago, that cold, rainy night was etched in my memory. But what did the blind mans wedding have to do with my family? Grandpa.2 gave me a hard look. Girl, your grandfather wasnt as innocent as you think. I was taken aback, then furious. Grandpa.2, I respect you as an elder, but you cant talk smack about my grandfather! I didnt want to hear anyone badmouthing Grandpa, especially now that he was gone. I grabbed Anbay and stormed out. Grandpa.2 didnt try to stop us. He just mumbled a few words as we left. Eyes in the Crimson Pool The blind man was old, broke, and blind as a bat. Why would any decent girl hitch her wagon to him? Unless she had a screw loose! I shot back. What the blind man did has zip to do with Grandpa. My grandpa was as straight as an arrow, no way hed do anything shady. Grandpa.2 let out a puff of smoke like a dragon breathing fire. Back in the day, it was your grandpa who set the trap and railroaded her into marrying the blind man. Thats nuts! If not, whys this spooky stuff haunting your family and leaving everyone else alone? I opened my mouth, but my brain seemed to hit a brick wall. I mean, like they say, Every dog has its day, and every wrong has its pay. Theres no smoke without fire. But still, I couldnt wrap my head around it. Grandpa had no reason to pull a stunt like that! What your grandpa wanted most back then was in the blind mans hot little hands, Grandpa.2 said as cool as a cucumber, not a flicker of emotion. My eyelids started twitching like crazy. Its worth mentioning that when Grandpa was young, he was a Wind-water master. He and Grandpa.2 learned their tricks from the same old school, though Grandpa.2 was always a few steps behind in the talent department. Over the years, whenever the village or the neighboring areas had some freaky things going on, theyd come running to Grandpa first. Grandpa lived a simple life, didnt ask for much, except for one thing he was obsessed with, he had half of an ancient book handed down from his master. Word on the street was that whoever got their hands on this book could crack the code of Lunar&Sunny. But he only had half, and the other half was MIA. Grandpa spent his whole life on a wild goose chase for it. If the blind man really had the other half, then... I started to waiver, like a boat in a stormy sea. Grandpa.2 got up and strolled into the yard, giving Anbay and me some space to hash things out. Can we trust this guy? I felt like a lost puppy. Not necessarily, Anbay peeked at me. But right now, hes our only life raft. Anbay was spot on. Plus, our parents were AWOL, and their lives were hanging by a thread. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. We couldnt afford to dilly-dally; time was money. After we made up our minds, Anbay whistled for Grandpa.2 to come back in. When they waltzed back in, they were hauling a bunch of stuff: a charcoal brazier that looked like it was from the Stone Age and an ancient copper basin that had seen better days. The three of us huddled around the basin, which was two-thirds full of crystal-clear water. Grandpa.2 blew on the charcoal like he was trying to wake a sleeping dragon until it was red-hot. I felt the heat wave hit me and instinctively reached up to touch my ear. It was like sitting next to a bonfire in the middle of a sweltering summer C not exactly my idea of a good time. Grandpa.2 picked up a small knife, Girl, I need a little of your blood. Anbay jumped in like a knight in shining armor, Hey, use mine instead! Grandpa.2 gave him the side-eye, This gig calls for virgin blood, kiddo. Anbay, looking as red as a beet, yanked his hand back. The guy was known for being a bit of a ladies man, so his V-card had been punched a long time ago. Grandpa.2 turned back to me, Girl, gimme your hand. Honestly, this was giving me the heebie-jeebies. As a kid, Id peeked at Grandpa doing his hocus-pocus, and none of it ever needed virgin blood. But we were backed into a corner. Worried sick about our parents, I stuck my hand out without a second thought. The blood draw was painless, like a mosquito bite. Three drops plopped into the water. Instantly, the blood started spreading like wildfire. Grandpa.2 hovered his hands over the basin, muttering some incantations that sounded like gibberish to me. All of a sudden, he reached into the brazier and snatched up two burning coals! He held onto them like they were gold bars, and the sizzling sound of his flesh burning was like bacon frying. If Grandpa.2 hadnt given us the stink eye to keep quiet, Id have screamed my lungs out. With veins popping out on his forehead like a road map, Grandpa.2 hollered and crushed the coals into powder that rained down into the basin. Then, it was like a scene from a horror movie. The water in the copper basin, which had been as calm as a millpond, started boiling like a witchs cauldron. A deep, dark red color spread through it like a virus, turning the water into what looked like a pool of blood. My heart started pounding like a jackhammer. Pale eyes bobbed up from the bottom of the basin. What the heck were those? I leaned forward, my curiosity getting the better of me, and instinctively grabbed Anbays hand. Rising up from the basin were a pair of eyes C cold, mean, and screaming death. Anbay slapped his icy fingers over my mouth, reminding me of Grandpa.2s warning to keep my trap shut. Grandpa.2s eyes were bloodshot as he snatched up the eyeballs like a pro and cupped them in his palm. I had to swallow back the vomit that was creeping up my throat. The smell in the room was like a toxic cocktail of cheap perfume and raw meat C enough to knock you out. Done, Grandpa.2 announced, and just like that, the stink vanished. I peeked at the basin again, and the water was clear as a bell. Swallowing my disgust, I asked about our parents. Life or death, its a coin toss, Grandpa.2 replied. At the crack of dawn tomorrow, well know if they made it or not. I checked my phone. It was 1 AM. Summer days start early, which meant we had only a few hours left on the clock! Grandpa.2, whats the game plan? Anbay asked after calming me down. Grandpa.2s face was as serious as a heart attack. Unless we squash this grudge, that ghost will keep coming back to haunt your family like a bad penny. He told us we needed to break the curse on the blind mans wife first by digging up her body. My heart sank like a stone. I didnt know much about Lunar&Sunny stuff, but I vaguely remembered Grandpa chewing someone out for messing with graves. He said it could open up a can of worms. Seeing my hesitation, Anbay whispered, asking what was up. I wasnt sure if I should spill the beans. I knew Grandpa.2 was our only hope. Our parents lives were on the line. But his solution... Should we go along with it or not? Sweat was beading up on my nose like pearls. Anbay, unable to sit still, piped up, Anna, you stay here while I go dig. No dice, Grandpa.2 cut in. Us menfolk carry a lot of Sunny energy, which might rile up the spirit. This dirty job has to be done by Anna. Even though his logic kind of made sense, I still felt like I was walking on eggshells. After a brief hesitation, I nodded, Ill go, but I need to swing by home first. Anbay was all for it. Growing up, he always had my back, even when he didnt get what I was doing. I needed to grab something, hoping it could be my guardian angel. All I could do was cross my fingers and pray for a safe journey. I Swear I鈥檝e Seen That Guy I hoofed it back home. Anbay and Grandpa.2 were twiddling their thumbs in the yard, waiting for me. The light was as dim and yellow as a sickly glowworm. Relying on my foggy memory, I shuffled over to the desk. The drawer wasnt locked. Nobody had given it a second glance in years, and a thick layer of dust had settled on the handle like a furry coat. I yanked the drawer open and stuck my hand in from underneath the desktop. After feeling around for what felt like forever, about ten-plus centimeters in, my fingertip brushed against something. I tugged it out. It was an envelope. Hidden away in this nook for ages, the paper was as yellow and brittle as a dead leaf, with a bit of a bulge in the middle. I ripped it open, and a round thing plopped into my palm. It was still a bright, tender green. After all these years, time hadnt laid a finger on it, not even a hint of yellow. It was really here. That rainy day wasnt just a figment of my imagination. I really had seen that man. This grass ring was the smoking gun! At the same time, a slip of paper fluttered out of the envelope. I scooped it up. On it were my chicken-scratch handwriting from when I was six. Moli. I read it out loud without thinking. The second I uttered the word Moli, a teeny-tiny gust of air whooshed past my ear. It was like someone had whispered sweet nothings, but I couldnt make out a word. I could practically feel a pair of invisible arms giving me a squeeze from behind. I got the chills and whipped around, but there was zilch, nada. While I was standing there like a deer in headlights, Anbay started hollering at me. There wasnt a second to waste, so I didnt dare dawdle. I slipped the grass ring onto my finger and skedaddled. It had been twelve years since Id set foot in the village. Id forgotten these roads like they were last years fashion trends. Luckily, Anbay had a better memory. The country paths were a nightmare to walk on, especially once we started climbing the mountain. If Anbay hadnt been tugging me along, Id have been stuck in the mud. Grandpa.2, where the heck are we going? I gasped when I finally caught my breath. In my hazy memory, I vaguely recalled that when someone in the village kicked the bucket, they were buried on the back mountain. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. But this wasnt the beaten path. People in the village were always hiking up there and had smoothed out a nice, flat trail. But the one we were on? It was barely a goat track. In some spots, we had to hack through the bushes just to keep moving. Tired? Buck up, kiddo. Were almost there, Grandpa.2 said. Almost there? I was as confused as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The moonlight was as bright as a spotlight tonight, and I could see just about everything in front of me. Only... Wheres the darn path?! Anbay chimed in, just as confused. Grandpa.2 led us right to the edge of a cliff. Since we were knee-high to a grasshopper, our family had kept us far away from here, saying it was a death trap. Plus, I remembered Grandpa yapping about how this spot on the mountain had bad Wind-water and nobody in their right mind would bury the dead there. Thats exactly the Wind-water we need, Grandpa.2 said. The blind man and his wife had died in a super freaky way, and everyone in the village knew it. They picked this place to use the spooky vibes in the Wind-water to keep them in check. It was like fighting fire with fire. Grandpa.2 let out a sigh that couldve blown out a candle. It still didnt work in the end. Anbay seemed to catch on. You mean their graves are down there? Yep. Grandpa.2 pulled out a rope and tied it to a big, old tree beside us. Anbay rolled up his sleeves like he was getting ready for a boxing match. Ill go down first. No can do. Why not?! Anbay was getting hot under the collar. She has to go down first, Grandpa.2 said, pointing at me. I was scared out of my wits. The bottom of the cliff was as black as a coal mine and already giving me the heebie-jeebies. And thinking about the blind man and his wife buried down there? It was nightmare fuel. My brother wasnt having any of it. But he was up a creek without a paddle. Grandpa.2 said I was an unmarried girl, sick as a dog, with a boatload of Lunar energy, and was the perfect bait to draw out the evil spirits. So, I had to go down first. Anbay hit the roof when he heard that. He was dead set against me taking the risk. But in the end, one sentence from Grandpa.2 shut him up like a clam. Theres at most three hours left. Mom and Dad were in a life-or-death situation. If we didnt hustle, they might be goners. Time waits for no man. I had to bite the bullet and told Anbay to zip it. Ill go. Anbay couldnt talk me out of it and had to suck it up. I didnt have much oomph. There was no way I could shimmy down that cliff by myself. Anbay tied the rope around my waist so he could lower me down bit by bit. Grandpa.2 shoved a piece of red string into my hand, with a bell on the other end that he held. Once you spot their graves, give this bell a jingle, and well come running, he said. I nodded like a bobble-head. Anbay held the rope and slowly lowered me down. I had no clue how high that cliff was. All I knew was it felt like an eternity before my feet finally touched terra firma. I craned my neck, trying to see them. The bright moonlight made this deep valley look even spookier, like a scene from a horror flick. I looked up and all I saw was a big, black blob. To be honest, I was scared stiff. I couldnt even watch a horror movie alone at night. What was going on now was way scarier than any movie! I swallowed hard and managed to calm my nerves a bit. The top priority was to find the graves. From what Grandpa.2 said, finding the grave mounds was basically the golden ticket. But... Where were the darn grave mounds? I looked around like a lost puppy. The bottom of the cliff was way wider than Id imagined. There werent many tall trees, just a whole lot of bushes, one after another, looking like a million tiny grave mounds. It was like finding a needle in a haystack to figure out which one was that womans grave. I had no choice but to do it the hard way, searching every nook and cranny. I pushed aside the bushes, not leaving a single stone unturned. I wasnt in the best shape and had just puked up blood. I didnt have much gas left in the tank and was wheezing like an old steam engine. I leaned on a small tree, trying to catch my breath. Suddenly, a female voice chimed in behind me. Little sister, whatcha looking for? I... I was about to answer on autopilot when I froze. Who in their right mind would be down here at the bottom of the cliff this late? Who was talking to me? A living person or... My heart was pounding like a jackhammer. I wanted to make a run for it, but in this creepy-crawly place, I didnt even know which way was up! That person seemed to sense my panic. Her tone was as soft as a feather. Did I spook you? I live here. Dont be scared, dont.... She really sounded like an angel, just like a kindergarten teacher soothing a scaredy-cat. Maybe... she really was someone who lived here? I hadnt been back in ages, so I truly didnt know. I wanted to crack a smile, but my legs were as wobbly as jelly from being scared, and I couldnt even fake it. But she didnt seem to care and kept on asking me gently, What are you looking for? I lost something too and Im looking for it. The moonlight was pouring down like a waterfall, and her voice was as gentle as the moonlight. Meeting a living person in this spooky place was like hitting the jackpot. I was just about to answer her. But right then, something tugged at my gut. It seemed like... something was off. He Prised My Fingers Open Tonight, the moon was shining bright as a spotlight. I stood with my back to the moonlight, casting a long, spooky shadow on the ground. The woman in front of me was facing the moon head-on. But how come, even with that bright moon, I couldnt make out her face? It was like she was wearing a mask of shadows. She just kept yapping, What are you looking for? Im also hunting for something. Could it be were after the same thing? Shed been harping on these few lines since forever. Ordinary words, but now they sent shivers down my spine. Her face, lit up by the moon, was still hidden in the dark. I was rooted to the spot, like a deer caught in headlights. Id never been in such a tight spot before. I didnt know if I should play dead or make a mad dash. If I ignored her, shed just talk even more. She inched closer, muttering non-stop, What are you looking for? Have you seen my thing? Where did it drop? Do you know? My heart, which had just calmed down a bit, started pounding like a jackhammer again. Cold sweat drenched my back. I clung to a skinny tree for dear life, my nails digging into the bark. Help! Somebody save me! In a panic, I yanked on the red string in my hand. But it was like waving a red flag at a bull C it didnt faze her one bit. She kept coming at me, blocking all my escape routes. Her body swayed in a freaky way, like a ghost dancing. Her voice got shriller and shriller, Have you seen it? Have you really seen it? This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. My scream got stuck in my throat, my heart feeling like it was being stabbed by a million needles. Where the heck were Anbay and Grandpa.2? Why werent they here yet? Through the shadowy haze, I thought I saw a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. She was almost on top of me. That same feeling of dread washed over me. I was so scared, my legs felt like jelly. I couldnt run if I wanted to. Her body was as slender and graceful as a willow branch in the night breeze. But the way her waist swayed wasnt sexy C it was just plain creepy. Tears welled up in my eyes from sheer terror. She reached up, brushing a strand of hair out of her face that the wind had blown in. Did you find it? She slowly looked up, and thats when I heard a sound in my head and a nameless fear exploded. Her face was skinless, with bloody flesh and muscles on full display. Her eyeballs, without eyelids, rolled around in a grotesque way, covered in some gooey stuff that was neither red nor white. Even through my blurry tears, the sight made every nerve in my body go on high alert. Finally, my scream ripped through the air. I barely remember how I bolted, but when I came to my senses a bit, I found myself a good distance away. I was leaning against a round mound, my palms sweaty and sticky. The woman was gone. Had I made a clean getaway? I was breathing hard, trying to catch my breath. I leaned back to relax, but the thing behind me gave way suddenly, nearly wrenching my waist. Thats when I realized what Id been leaning on. Under the moonlight, this bare mound looked just like a grave! Whose grave was it? I stood up, shaking like a leaf. In front of the grave was a wooden tombstone all tangled up with vines. With trembling hands, I pulled the vines away. On the half-rotten tombstone, a name was carved, all blurry. It looked like Red Plum. If I remembered right, that was the blind mans wifes name! Suddenly, that icy voice whispered in my ear, Youve finally come. I let out a scream and spun around to run. Her laughter, all haunting and spooky, chased after me. Id only taken a few steps when a hand grabbed my ankle. It was as cold and withered as a corpses hand. I hit the ground hard, and the hand started dragging me back toward the grave. I clawed at anything and everything around me, trying to resist. But the bushes snapped like twigs under the strain. I was so scared, my hands were bleeding from the scratches, and it hurt like crazy. But I knew I couldnt let go. If I did, it was game over, and thered be nobody left to save my parents. I gritted my teeth and held on with all my might. By some miracle, I managed to grab onto a tree. It wasnt exactly a mighty oak, but compared to those flimsy bushes, it was my only hope. The hand gripping my wrist was super strong, way stronger than any living persons. I clung to the tree like a barnacle, refusing to budge. I had no idea when Anbay or Grandpa.2 would show up, but I knew every second counted. I couldnt die. I had to save my parents! Finally, I heard footsteps. I looked up, praying it was help. It was Grandpa.2! He wasnt as powerful as Grandpa, but he should be able to yank me free. I called out weakly, Save... save me. But Grandpa.2 stopped dead in his tracks. He just stood there, staring at me. Grandpa.2? A chill ran down my spine. He squatted down, and if he just reached out, he could easily pull me away. But he didnt. I couldnt figure out what he was thinking. All I could hear was my own heartbeat, getting weaker and weaker. Finally, he reached out. My eyes lit up. But in the next second, my blood ran cold. Grandpa.2 reached out all right, but not to help. He started prying my fingers open, one by one. Grandpa.2?! Tears gushed out like a broken faucet. Fear swallowed me whole. I was so confused, but the writing was on the wall C Grandpa.2 didnt plan on saving me. He calmly pried my fingers apart, saying, Girl, dont blame me for being cruel. I dont have a choice. Who doesnt want to survive, right? Suddenly, it all clicked. Anger and disbelief boiled up inside me. You tricked us?! You Can鈥檛 Take Her Away I wanna live, girl. Why wouldnt your grandpa lend me a hand one last time? I was just tryin to make some dough. I did the blind man a solid. It aint that big of a deal, right? These shameless words spilled out of his mouth. I sorta figured out what had gone down. He took the cash and snatched the blind mans wife, then pinned it all on my grandpa! The blind mans wife was out for revenge on him this time, not my family. He mustve pulled some strings to sic this disaster on us. My parents vanishing act? Probably his handiwork too. Grandpa.2 was babbling while prying my fingers open, his grin creepier than a haunted house clowns. Im really not in the same league as your grandpa. I couldnt keep that young woman in check no more. But then you waltzed back at just the right moment. Since you call me Grandpa.2, do me a solid and go down there to keep her company, tamp down her grudge. I was fuming mad. One of my hands was already pried open by him, and with the other I was clinging to the tree trunk for dear life. My fingernails were almost peeling off, it hurt so bad tears sprang to my eyes. Thats when my brother showed up. I dont know what Grandpa.2 said to slow him down. He was only getting here now. Anbay saw the hand yanking me and his face went ashen. He hollered and charged over. Looking at Grandpa.2s mug, I got a real bad feeling. Dont come over! I screeched. Too late. Anbay was so gung-ho to save me he barreled in and grabbed me. Right away, there was a dull thud. A few warm drops of blood splattered on my face. Brother, I screamed my lungs out, my eye sockets feeling like theyd split open. The bloodstained rock rolled to Grandpa.2s feet. Hed offed my brother too. Next thing I knew, he kicked my hand hard. The pain hit me like a freight train, and I just couldnt hold on any longer. Without my resistance, that hand went berserk. My body scraped along the ground, then suddenly I felt my feet go airborne and I plunged into a hole. The hole was pretty deep, and I hit bottom with a grunt. After a bit, the pain in my body backed off a smidge. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. I looked around. But I quickly realized it was a waste of time. It was pitch-black in there, not a glimmer of light. There was a musty, rotten stench that made me woozy. Right, where was my brother? I remembered I was clutching him tight when I fell. Where was he? Brother? Brother! I hollered, feeling around on the ground with my hands. I guessed Id tumbled into the blind mans wifes grave. But why was it so darn big inside? I searched high and low, my fingers getting all scraped up, but no sign of him. I was hurting and scared out of my wits. The damp smell in the grave had me feeling like I was back on that awful, rainy night when I was six. I knew it was chicken of me, but tears just streamed down my face like a leaky faucet. In the dark, I heard a faint womans sigh. All of a sudden, someone grabbed my hand. Id never forget that icy, pale feel. When I was six, it was this same cold hand that led me to the graveyard. Goosebumps covered me like a rash, and my legs were so wobbly I couldnt budge. She was here again. In the darkness, a deathly pale face loomed before my eyes. It was the blind mans wife. She didnt say boo, just sighed. I started to lose control of my body, stood up, and let her lead me forward. Where was she taking me? I wanted to hightail it out of there, but ever since she locked eyes with me, my body was on autopilot and I could only follow. Id heard folks talk about this kinda thing. It was like being possessed by a demon. My rational side screamed that I couldnt go with her. If I did, Id be a goner! But I didnt have the strength to fight back. I was so frantic tears kept falling. When that gentle breeze blew past my ear, my eyes were already red from crying. The finger with the grass ring on it felt a bit warm. A mans voice, soft and muffled, came with a chuckle. Crying again, Anna. This aint like you. Who was it?! I shuddered all over. I was dead sure Id heard that voice before. Was it him?! Moli! I called out his name in my head. A tiny glimmer of fluorescence popped up before my eyes. I stared, bug-eyed. It really was him! Molis hair hung down to the ground, his pair of peach blossom eyes seemed to be smiling but not really, and he reached out his hand to me and called my name, Anna. He looked just like he did twelve years ago. No, he seemed a tad different. At this moment, Molis body was see-through and looked like it was floating ever so slightly, like it could vanish in a puff of smoke. He mustve come to save me. I wanted to run to him, but the woman was gripping my hand like a vise and I couldnt move a muscle. The woman was glaring at Moli, her bugged-out eyeballs full of resentment and hate, blood-red. She wasnt about to let me go without a fight. Shed been set up, married to a stranger and suffered. Shed rather die than leave empty-handed. Otherwise, she wouldnt be able to rest in peace! All those unspoken words were hiding in her bloodshot eyes. Moli took a step forward. Shes mine. You cant take her away. The woman didnt budge, but her resentment shot through the roof. I was so crushed by it I couldnt move and felt like I was gonna pass out any second. Moli didnt flinch either, just stared her down. He seemed to notice something. Your eyes have been mucked up, I see. So thats it. Moli whipped out his hand, put two fingers together, and zipped them in front of the womans eyes. The blind mans wife let go of me, staggered a few steps, wailed, and then suddenly got her bearings. In the blink of an eye, Moli had yanked me behind him. I watched the woman, petrified shed lose it and do something crazy. But there was just a strange look on her face. The gunk on her eyeballs was gone, and her blood-red eyes were clear. Moli stood there, hands at his sides, The guilty has his guilt, the debtor his debt. Go find the person you should find. The blind mans wife glanced at Moli, and there seemed to be a smidgen of gratitude in her eyes. Next second, a gust of putrid wind blew by and the woman was gone. She... just up and left like that? I was still in shock. Moli turned around and I froze. I knew hed come to bail me out, but I was still spooked of him. People are like animals. Whenever we face something way more powerful than us, we instinctively get the jitters. He reached out like he wanted to touch my face. My heart skipped a beat and I took a half-step back without thinking. You werent so skittish around me before, he smiled, a bit of loneliness in his eyes. I suddenly felt I should say something. At least I shouldnt treat my savior like I just had. Im not scared of you. Im... As soon as I opened my mouth, my face went red. I was lousy at talking. This was just a lame cover-up, wasnt it? But I had to suck it up and chat with him. After all, there were still people counting on me to save. Mo... I wanted to be more polite, but after mulling it over, I didnt know how. So I just blurted out his name, Moli. She Perched on the Coffin He eyeballed me, waiting for me to spill the beans. My familys in hot water. Can you lend a hand? I was on pins and needles. Moli flashed a gentle smile and out of the blue, pulled me into a hug. This time, I didnt wriggle away. He patted my back softly, his voice a whisper in my ear, Close your peepers, catch some zs, and when you wake up, everythingll be hunky-dory... Id been so worried I didnt feel like snoozing. But the second he opened his mouth, my eyelids got as heavy as lead. Before I knew it, I was out like a light. Right before I zonked out completely, I caught a few words loud and clear: Ill wait for you. I wanted to grill him about what he meant. If he could track me down whenever, whyd he need to wait? And where was this waiting spot? A million questions swirled in my head, but before I could blurt one out, it was lights out. I mustve only caught a catnap. Later, I was roused by a racket of footsteps. I pried my eyes open, groggy as heck, and saw Anbay with his noggin all bandaged up. Shes awake! Dad! Mom! Sis is up! My parents were back?! I struggled to sit upright. My parents hustled over, crowding around me. Anna, feeling better? Mom asked, worry lines creasing her forehead. Everything seemed peachy-keen, like nothing had gone down. I was befuddled. Howd they make it back? And not just themwasnt Anbay buried under the dirt with me? Howd he skedaddle? Seeing my puzzled expression, Mom filled me in. Our whole fam got food poisoning. Food poisoning? Dad chimed in, The tea leaves Grandpa left behind had gone bad. We all got poisoned and started seeing things. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Your mom and I keeled over at the village entrance and were lucky to get hauled back. Poor Anbay conked his head on a rock when he fell. The more I listened, the more confused I got. Then, what about Grandpa? Wheres his body?! My parents traded quizzical looks. Whatre you yapping about? Grandpas resting easy in his coffin. Anna, respect the dead. Even if he doted on you, dont go spouting nonsense. I was flabbergasted. Impossible. What the heck was going on?! Werent we haunted by the blind mans wife? And Grandpa.2, whered he vanish to? Maybe you oughta step out first. Ill stay with Anna. She just woke up, too many people in the roomll make her antsy, Anbay suggested. My parents split. I grabbed Anbay, You remember, right?! I flailed my hands around like a crazy person. There was a hand yanking my foot! And your head, it was Grandpa.2! Anbay slapped his hand over my mouth. Shh! If Id said that earlier, Mom and Dad wouldve dragged me to the hospital. You remember, it wasnt a dream, right?! We locked eyes. Yep. It wasnt a dream. Some heavy-duty mojo had yanked the rug out from under us and reset everything. Only Anbay and I remembered the wild ride. But... was it really not a hallucination? The whole thing was so bonkers I started doubting my own sanity. Anbay mulled it over for a sec. Real or not, well suss it out if we poke around. He led me to Grandpa.2s pad. It was dead quiet, the door ajar a smidge. Anbay gave my shoulder a squeeze, signaling me to keep my cool, and nudged the door open. Before I could set foot inside, I froze up. In broad daylight, even with the sun blazing, cold sweat dribbled down my back. In the courtyard sat a coffin. Having a coffin wasnt a biggiemost families with old-timers had one or two lying around. But what sent shivers down my spine wasnt the coffin. It was the woman grinning like a Cheshire cat beside it. The blind mans wife, decked out in a bright red wedding gown, was perched on the coffin. Her peeled-off face had been slapped back on all wonky, making her look like a Picasso painting. Yet, she was definitely smiling. Anbay couldnt see the woman. Sensing my jitters, he clamped down on my hand tighter. What do you see? I nodded, my neck so stiff it couldve snapped. Now I was dead certain. Everything that went down was the real McCoy. So, this old coot got what was coming to him and kicked the bucket? Without warning, Anbay made a beeline for the coffin. I yanked him back in a hurry. As I tugged, I peeked into the coffin. Grandpa.2 was barely breathing, his face swathed in a black fog. He was on his last legs. I didnt look any further. I sure as heck didnt want to save him. Thinking of the dirty deeds hed pulled, I wouldnt lift a finger to speed up his demise. Anbay spat at him and hauled me away. Wed only taken a few steps when a weak, warped laugh echoed from behind. It was Grandpa.2 laughing. His voice, so shriveled up it was barely recognizable, hollered out Grandpas name, dripping with resentment. Brother, my dear brother, you always hogged the spotlight. But in the end, you couldnt even save your granddaughter! Anbay halted. Old man, cut the crap! Crap, huh? Haha, crap... Grandpa.2s voice got weaker but nastier. Your daughters soul is nearly in tatters... Without finding her soul, even the gods cant save her! Haha... hahaha... Good, dying with a girl as company, good. Anbays blood boiled. His veins bulged like garden hoses. Ignoring that Grandpa.2 was on deaths door, he wanted to punt his coffin. After a lot of cajoling, I managed to drag him away. By evening, word spread that Grandpa.2 had croaked. Villagers said a murder of crows circled his house, tipping someone off to check. Lo and behold, they found him dead in the coffin. Good riddance, Anbay grumbled, handing me a slice of watermelon. Deserves to die for hexing Anna. Anbay was always upfront about his likes and dislikes. If Mom and Dad hadnt held him back, he mightve even cut a rug on Grandpa.2s grave. Forget it. Hes gone now, I soothed him. Biting into the watermelon, I let out a sigh of relief. At first, I thought our family was doomed. But now, being able to huddle up and chow down on watermelon was a godsend. However, something about the watermelon tasted off. Another bite confirmed its funky, gooey texture and a strange metallic tang. I looked up to ask Mom if the watermelon was rotten when I saw her face drain of color. Anbay chucked his watermelon and bolted over to steady me. Before I could figure out what was going down, a warm gush flooded my nasal cavity.