Chapter 002: The Deceased Playmate

"Going home?" As my voice faded, a faint sound suddenly came from the side of the dam near the water.

Upon seeing the appearance of Da Huang, I immediately felt something was amiss. Da Huang would certainly not be so quiet upon encountering a stranger in the middle of the night; why did it not react when it saw that person just now

As that thing drew closer to me, I found myself unable to breathe, and my eyes were completely shut in fear

Ah! I almost instinctively let out a sudden cry, frightened to the point of sitting down on the ground. At that moment, I felt the world spinning around me, my entire body turned cold, and my heart felt completely twisted together. I felt as if I could hardly breathe, only sensing the increasingly menacing face of the second duck growing larger before me, while his twig-like hands drew ever closer to my neck.

I was so frightened that I didn't even react to call out to Da Huang. In just a few seconds, Da Huang had already pounced in front of that thing

This was my first reaction. I hurriedly climbed back onto the embankment with Dahuang and looked at the water's surface.

At that time, I did not know what was wrong with me. In any case, I was looking at the entrance of the small grass house where the bodies of the two ducks were parked, and I could always vaguely see a faint, indistinct shadow. I could not determine what that thing was, but I was certain that it made me very uncomfortable. I always felt that it would harm the already deceased two ducks

"Two Ducks!" I stood at the door, gazing at the two ducks lying inside, and shouted out loud, unsure of what to say. But at that moment, a chilling sensation surged through my heart, for I clearly saw the already deceased two ducks, who unexpectedly grinned and suddenly sat up, their eyes blood-red, staring intently at me.

Just now, someone spoke, and I heard it clearly. There is absolutely no mistake; on the side of the dam facing the water, there must be someone.

Although the second duck has passed away, he was still my little companion, so I feel it is my duty to do something for him

Who is it? After confirming it was a person, I asked again.

I momentarily set my mind at ease and thought to myself: It seems to be a person

This time, I truly feel as if a pair of eyes is staring directly at me from behind

However, that person still did not speak, merely raising their head slightly to look at me

At first glance, it seemed that nothing was wrong, but upon running over to take a closer look, I discovered that it was actually a swarm of fireflies

Is anyone there

I suddenly burst into the room, an event that no one had anticipated. However, during my rush, I distinctly felt that the indistinct black mass retracted abruptly like a tentacle back into the house, hiding within the body of the second duck.

At that moment, I was so shocked that my whole body went numb, and it took me a long time to react and ask: "Who drowned?"

However, at that moment, my parents suddenly returned home through the front door, talking about something as they walked.

However, I was also powerless, as at that time I had just begun to sense a slight difference in certain unusual things, and I could not be certain that certain things truly existed. Nevertheless, from that moment on, I always felt that the death of Er Ya Zi was, to some extent, related to me

I took a shower; it was too hot in the evening. After saying this, I turned and swam towards the lake, creating gentle ripples in the shallow water

I was once again taken aback

The large yellow one was sniffing around in place with a "crunching" sound, while continuously eating something.

After speaking, he hurriedly ran back with the big yellow dog

I could not help but sit down on the ground after listening.

I would like to see who has come here at this late hour

I patted the big yellow dog's head and said, "Let's go home."

The moonlight was dim, and I could not clearly see his face; I only felt two gazes staring directly at me.

To be precise, it is the silhouette of a child

I climbed up to the embankment in a few quick steps and looked down

When I woke up the next day, it was already around eight or nine in the morning. There was no one at home. I thought my parents had gone out to work in the fields early, so I didn't pay much attention. I just rubbed my eyes, got up, and looked for something to eat

There was no echo, yet I clearly saw a figure.

I couldn't help but stand up suddenly, breaking out in a cold sweat. This time, I dared not linger any longer and shouted, "Dahuang, run!"

I want to move, but I cannot move at all

His lower body was submerged in water, while his upper body was lying on the slanted concrete slab at the edge of the embankment

Upon listening carefully, I finally understood that someone had drowned in the mountain lake last night

I was startled, woke up, and upon opening my eyes, I found that Da Huang had already pounced on that thing

"What is impossible about this?" My mother, seeing my expression, thought I was sad because I had lost a friend, and continued to explain: "It seems that last night, he went swimming by himself and drowned. His clothes were left on the shore. When we found him in the morning, he was already dead, entangled in the water plants."

After the previous two instances of scaring myself and the circumstances surrounding the books, I have opened my mind and no longer believe in any nonsensical things

Thus, I made every effort to break free from the adults' obstruction, and then I rushed straight into the room of the second duck.

That person looked at me and spoke

The glowing little boy walked towards me step by step, leaving me so astonished that my entire body went numb, and I could not muster any strength in my legs.

You really scared me quite a bit

"Oh, the two ducklings, look at the good children, what a pity," Mother casually remarked

How could the second duck have died? How is that possible? Did it go swimming last night?

Thinking of this, I already feel a chill running down my spine. I somewhat regret that I did not inform his parents at the first sign of Er Ya Zi's strange behavior, thereby preventing him from returning to the water's edge again

aquatic plants

With a low roar from the giant yellow creature, that object instantly shattered into pieces, with light spots scattering in all directions

I came to my senses and hurried to look at the water's surface, but there was no trace of the person from earlier; the water was completely still.

The room is merely a typical low thatched cottage found in the countryside, illuminated by a dim yellow candle. In the center of the room lies a straw mat, on which the body of the second duck, now stiff and turning blue, is positioned with its feet facing outward and its head inward.

I never expected that just one sentence would provoke the greatest terror of the night

"Who?" I asked instinctively

Because this reminds me of what my younger sister said when I came home from taking a shower yesterday. At that time, she also mentioned that the second duck had water plants on its face. Now, the second duck has died in a pile of water plants. Is there some connection between these events

I ran all the way home in one breath, my whole body trembling. Fortunately, I have good stamina; otherwise, after running like this, I would either have fallen or exhausted myself.

I took a breath and sat down on the dam. The big yellow dog lay down beside me, seemingly completely unaware of that person.

I was thoroughly frightened by his appearance. In a moment of panic, I took a step down and, striking the concrete slab with the peach tree branch in my hand, asked him: "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

That day, I went to Er Ya Zi's home with a heavy heart, wanting to take one last look at him. However, his parents were crying profusely and urged me not to go in, saying that children should not see such things. My parents discovered this and also tried to stop me, but I did not listen to them at all and desperately tried to bypass them to see Er Ya Zi.

I was stunned at that moment, how could this be possible

But just at that moment, the big yellow dog barked and dashed out.