Autophagy

"2..."

"1..."

"Here I come!" Ai shouted. Sounds of footsteps started sounding in the room. Every time they came closer, Song Lei's heart would beat faster and faster. He knew that considering the ghost's behavior, nothing bad would happen even if he was found. But even though he knew that, he couldn't stop himself from being scared.

He had been in complete darkness for an unknown amount of time. This was making him more and more paranoid. His head was being filled with scary thoughts. For example, what if there was a corpse lying with him under the bed?

Footsteps stopped just next to him.

"I've found you dad! Come out!" Ai said. Song Lei felt two weak hands tugging at his arms. 'Is this really a ghost? She's just like a little girl.'

Song Lei slowly rolled out and got up.

"Daddy? When will you be able to see again? I want to be the one hiding next time!" Said Ai.

'She knows I can't see..? Oh! I get it... ' Song Lei smiled and sat down on the ground. "Soon Ai... Soon..."

"Really!? I love you, daddy!" Said Ai. Song Lei felt a small body hugging him. Even though her body was cold. Song Lei could feel a different kind of heat coming from Ai.

'Maybe I should stay like this forever... With this little girl... Maybe I should become her new dad?' Song Lei thought. He was calmer than ever, he could feel his mind becoming cloudier and cloudier. Everything was okay as long as he was there. Even if he couldn't see, even if he couldn't go back to his little sister, it didn't matter. He would stay with his new daughter.

Suddenly, a stinging pain started inside Song Lei's brain.

"FUCK!" Song Lei shouted. 'This ghost was trying to consume my mind! I barely managed to hold myself together!'

"What is happening daddy?! Are you okay?" Ghost sounded anxious.

"I'm okay Ai." Song Lei said stiffly. "I have an idea!"

"What is it, daddy? Ai is okay with anything!" Ghost responded.

"How about we went for a trip? Just the two of us?" Song Lei asked. 'If I can bring this ghost into room 1407, I can make it fight the quake demon! If they devour each other, I will be the one who profits!'

"What!? What do you mean daddy!? Will you leave me all alone again!? Outside is dangerous!" Ai shouted. She was becoming more and more frantic. "You can't go out! I will not let you!"

The room was getting colder and colder. Song Lei could feel that something ominous was coming. His head was going numb.

"I know Little Ai... I know. But if I don't move on, I won't be able to become your once reliable daddy again." Song Lei said while trying to keep his cool.

"Why? You don't have to become reliable! As long as you are with me, you will be okay!" Ai shouted.

"That's why I need you to come with me! I need you to take care of me until then! If you're with me, I will be safe!" Said Song Lei excitedly. 'This should be it! I think I have managed to deceive her!'

"Okay... I will come with you. But don't stop holding my hand okay?" Said Ai. Song Lei felt a little hand holding his arm. He followed wherever that hand pulled him to. He heard a door opening but he didn't dare to open his eyes. He didn't know what he would see and he didn't want to alert the ghost by opening his eyes.

"Where are we going daddy?" Asked the ghost.

"Do you see the room with the number plate 1407 on it?" Said Song Lei quietly.

"I- I don't know how to read daddy... You should know that!"

Song Lei's heart ached after hearing those words. 'It's a ghost! I shouldn't be deceived!'

"It should be opposite to our room."

"Oh! I see it. Why are we going there?" the ghost asked curiously.

"Our neighbors have invited us over to breakfast. You shouldn't make any trouble for them okay? Let's go, make your dad proud."

The ghost didn't answer. It just pulled Song Lei across the hallway. Song Lei reached out with his hand and felt the door. 'This one!'

He pulled the door handle and threw himself in while pulling the ghost with him. He could finally open his eyes. The room was just like how he had left it before. But something was weird. The hand he was holding disappeared when he entered the room. There was no ghost, no little girl. He closed the door behind him and walked in.

The room suddenly started shaking.

'It's the quake demon! And this time, the tremors are very strong! Are they fighting?' Song Lei guessed. He quickly opened the door of the bathroom and threw himself in. He closed the door behind him and heard the sounds of walls being scratched and cutlery being thrown around. It sounded like a ferocious battle was going on out there.

After waiting for a bit, the noises suddenly stopped. A line of text appeared in front of him.

[Congratulations! You've managed to exorcise the Earth-Bound Spirit Yao Ai with the help of your friendly quake demon! You've leveled up two times, gained four stat points, and acquired a special skill by defeating a storied spirit.]

[Congratulations! You've gained the passive skill: Ethereal Eye! Things that are invisible to normal human senses will be revealed to you as your soul stat goes up!]

Song Lei's eyes widened. He quickly brought up his stats sheet and spent 3 points on the soul stat.

'Ugh... What is this..?'

Song Lei felt something he couldn't explain. It was like all of his body was bloated. Even though he hadn't eaten anything, he was full. His all being was enhanced. He could feel his vitality going up, not in a physical sense but in a spiritual way.

[Ethereal Eye activates. Your senses are being enhanced!]

Even though Song Lei couldn't tell, his eyes were glowing golden.

Song Lei carefully left the bathroom. When he looked around the room, he realized that there was a faint little silhouette lying on the ground. It looked like a disfigured human child. He slowly got near it.

Song Lei crouched next to the silhouette and examined it.

"You..." A faint voice resounded in the room.

"Hm?" Song Lei couldn't exactly locate where the voice was coming from.

"You can finally see again daddy..." The one who spoke was the ghost Ai. She sounded like she was about to die.

"Yes... I can." Song Lei answered quietly. He didn't know what to say.

"Was I a good girl?"

"What?"

"Did I make you proud daddy? Did the neighbors praise me?"

Song Lei furrowed his brows. "I- I..." Song Lei couldn't talk.

"It hurts so much daddy... Am I gonna die? At least you are able to see again daddy! So you will still be able to live on even if I die..." Little Ai said.

Song Lei felt his face getting warm with tears. He tried to hold the silhouette with his hands but he couldn't. His hands passed right through.

"You...- you were the best daughter I could ever hope for Ai..." Song Lei said while sobbing.

There was no answer. Silhouette slowly disintegrated and flew towards the corner of the room. There was another silhouette. This time, it was of a dog. It opened its mouth and devoured the little pieces that flew towards it.

"Why... Why does my heart hurt so much? Even though it was a ghost, even though it should have been just a monster..." Tears didn't stop falling off of Song Lei's eyes. He slowly got up and left room 1407. He picked up the cursed knife from the hallway and got back to his room. He laid down on his bed and closed his eyes with his arms....

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