Chapter 009: Handprints on the Mirror

After another bout of deep sleep, I finally woke up. This time, I felt much more alert. As for the hazy moments of waking up, I have a vague impression, but it is not very clear. This is not the first time I have encountered such a situation, and I did not dwell on it. I glanced at the clock; it was nearly 9 o'clock. It seems that I really slept for a long time. However, when I sat up and turned my head, I inadvertently saw the dark, ominous camera.

I did not hide it from my mother, saying that there was a person standing under the streetlight downstairs, looking up at us. I felt that this person did not seem to be good, so I stood here and watched for a while. Hearing this, my mother also came to the window, but when we looked again, the area under the streetlight was completely empty, with no trace of anyone. I shrugged and said that they must have noticed us and slipped away.

At that moment, a sudden sound came from behind me, startling me so much that I shivered all over. When I turned around, I saw it was my mother. She was somewhat surprised to find me standing by the window in the middle of the night and asked me what I was doing, as if she thought I was about to do something serious.

I feel that this matter is not as simple as it seems. Indeed, we checked the entire house and found nothing missing. It appears that we have not been robbed, but rather that we are experiencing a haunting

My mother was very disappointed, which means it will have to wait until next weekend. I know what my mother is worried about. She asked some other specific questions and bought some paper money and incense. In the end, we left. On the way back, my mother remained somewhat dejected; she was afraid something might happen to me, and at that moment, she couldn't find any other practitioners. Eventually, she called back home, mainly to ask acquaintances there what to do next regarding this matter. I listened intently while driving, and my mother straightforwardly expressed that these matters were not right, which naturally included her hand being burned. On the way back, my mother remained somewhat dejected; she was afraid something might happen to me, and at that moment, she couldn't find any other practitioners. Eventually, she called back home, mainly to ask acquaintances there what to do next regarding this matter. I listened intently while driving, and my mother straightforwardly expressed that these matters were not right, which naturally included her hand being burned.

When I thought of this, I immediately pushed open the bathroom door. Indeed, the door was ajar, and as soon as I opened it, steam rushed towards me. However, there was no one inside at all. I turned off the water, but inadvertently caught a glimpse of the mirror and discovered a clear handprint on the steamed-up surface.

Then my mother asked my father if he had closed the door when he went out, and if he had turned off the television. My father said he had done both. At that moment, he realized that when we returned, both the door and the television were still on, which surprised him greatly. My mother was not satisfied, and he became anxious, insisting that he had indeed closed everything before going downstairs. My mother asked him what he had gone out to do, and he replied that he had just been downstairs soaking up some sun and walking around.

At that moment of confusion, my father unexpectedly returned home. Upon seeing that my mother and I were already at home, he asked us how things were going. My mother and I exchanged glances, realizing that if my father had not been inside all along, then who was in the bathroom?

They did not notice the palm print in the bathroom; at least they only found it somewhat strange and did not think too much about these unpleasant matters. I, however, felt differently. Upon seeing the palm print, a mix of emotions surged within me, and I could not quite articulate what I felt. It was neither fear nor terror, but rather an oddly bizarre sensation that lingered in my heart. In the end, I reassured my mother and the others, suggesting that perhaps we returned just in time, and the thief was unable to succeed.

Seeing this situation, I felt something was amiss. However, at that moment, due to my unwillingness to admit it, I comforted myself by thinking that it couldn't be that a thief was targeting our home. So, I continued to stand by the window watching him, and he remained motionless, looking up at me. Despite the distance of eleven floors, we were inexplicably staring at each other, creating a strange feeling that is hard to describe

At that time, I was pondering that since the old man's body had already been cremated, there shouldn't be anything for me to worry about. Moreover, as this matter continued to drag on, I felt it was becoming increasingly bizarre. I still didn't dare to tell my mother about the video; if she were to find out about it, who knows how upset she would be with me.

It turns out that my mother heard some noise coming from my room, which prompted her to get up and take a look. Little did she know that she would find the light on, and upon entering, she saw me standing motionless by the window, my head stretched outside. She didn't even hear me open the door, which startled her, and she exclaimed that my appearance had given her quite a fright

I was momentarily taken aback, and for a time, I held the camera in my hand, not knowing what to do. I even forgot to turn off the recording mode. To be honest, I didn't know what I was dazed about; I just felt a chill gradually rising from the soles of my feet. For a long time, a single thought kept swirling in my mind: was it really me who got up to do this, or was there something else at play.

We did not delay our departure; it was just that the journey was somewhat long, taking about two hours. When we returned home, we found the door ajar, and the sound of the television could be heard from the entrance. My mother and I went inside, but there was no sign of my father, and no one was on the sofa. My mother casually complained about the door and the television being on while no one was home, wondering what was going on.

The existence of the video has naturally become a secret of mine, and neither my mother nor my father is aware of it. Having reached this point, I do not intend to tell them. In the following days, I also did not have time to watch the video. I accompanied my mother to the market to buy vegetables, and after she cooked, we ate together. Afterwards, the two of us went to the old lady from whom we bought paper money that day, while my father, who does not enjoy activities, stayed at home to watch television.

I saw that the bathroom door was closed, and there was the sound of water. I said that Dad must be taking a shower. Mom clicked her tongue and said it was strange that he was showering in the middle of the day. She mentioned that after so many years with Dad, she had never seen him so clean during the day. I just smiled at this, but then Mom continued to grumble, asking why he left the door open while showering, not fearing a thief. I didn't say anything in response and just went about my own business.

About half an hour had passed like this, and the sound of water continued to splash, yet my father did not come out. My mother and I were puzzled; it had been half an hour already, so why was he still not out? Moreover, the sound of the water had remained the same throughout, as if no one were inside at all.

Yes, it was just a handprint. When I saw this handprint, I was startled. At that moment, my mother arrived at the door and asked what was wrong. I then stopped her from entering, not wanting her to see the handprint, and told them that our home might have been burglarized, suggesting we check if anything was missing.

I looked around other areas of the bathroom again and found nothing suspicious, so I came out. My mom and dad discussed the matter for a while, but it didn't lead to much. Eventually, it turned into my mom blaming my dad, who remained silent. I told my mom that this matter could not be blamed on my dad, and then she said nothing more, only letting out a sigh.

Yes, I do not know when the camera was placed on the desk, facing the bed, just like the few nights I recorded myself. However, now I cannot be sure if it is on. After seeing this, I immediately got out of bed and went to the desk, then picked up the camera, and indeed it was recording.

This sleep felt like an incredibly long time. When I woke up, I could hardly open my eyelids due to their heaviness, and my consciousness was completely hazy, leaving me with a sense of not knowing where I was. I stared blankly at the entire room, and I was struck by an unusually unfamiliar feeling. I felt as though I sat up for a few seconds, only to fall back into a deep slumber.

After arriving there, the old lady was still guarding the shop. She remembered us, and before my mother could say anything, she mentioned that she had asked her son and daughter-in-law to help make a call. Unfortunately, the recluse was away on a business trip and would not return until next week. The recluse did not refuse; he said he would contact us when he returned to see if he could be of any assistance.

However, later on, I completely lost my desire to sleep. I did not turn off the light, and just lay in bed, contemplating this series of events, yet I could not make sense of it all. Additionally, I was always reluctant to believe it, feeling that it was the result of human intervention, which only added to my confusion. In the end, I do not even know how I fell asleep; I simply drifted off.

Afterwards, I excused myself to go to the restroom and took a closer look at the mirror in the bathroom. By this time, the mist had long dissipated, and the handprints on the mirror had completely vanished. I breathed onto the mirror, and it was still there. I examined it for a while but could not discern anything. Instead, I saw my own reflection in the mirror. After staring at it for a while, I suddenly felt that the reflection did not resemble myself, which frightened me and made me hesitate to look any closer. I immediately stepped back a bit from the mirror. I examined it for a while but could not discern anything. Instead, I saw my own reflection in the mirror. After staring at it for a while, I suddenly felt that the reflection did not resemble myself, which frightened me and made me hesitate to look any closer. I immediately stepped back a bit from the mirror.

However, my mother's expression seemed somewhat unnatural, but she did not say anything else. She just told me not to think about these things anymore, as we live on the eleventh floor, which is not easy to access. The concern should be for those residents on the first or second floors. I thought about it and then closed the window again. My mother said I should go to bed early, and then she went out

After hanging up the phone, I asked my mother how it went. She said that they advised her not to engage in such activities anymore, and for the time being, if there is nothing urgent, she should just endure it like this. Once I have clarified things on my end, she should return to our hometown for a visit.

Moreover, the person I recalled immediately in my mind was the one standing under the streetlight last night. I do not know why, but I just thought of that person, even though I could not see anything clearly.