The Last Breath Chapter 8

The incident happened at 2 AM. The people at the tables had rotated several times, inevitably growing tired.

The kitchen fire had long been extinguished. People crowded into the bedrooms. The temperature rose, and gradually some began to doze.

The children who'd boasted about staying up all night were all talk—the courtyard had gone quiet. After checking with Uncle Samuel, the children went home to sleep one by one.

I thought tonight would be peaceful.

But when I saw Uncle Samuel's ashen face, I knew it wasn't over.

At first, it was a local man with a thick accent who sniffed and asked the person next to him: "You smell something? I think something's burning."

People around lifted their noses to sniff. Some said they smelled it, others said no.

As everyone searched for the source, a streak of fire flashed past the window, blindingly bright in the darkness. Then thick smoke began seeping through the door cracks.

"Fire!"

Like a command, flames immediately shot up outside the window. Dry grass on the roof and other combustibles turned into fireballs, raining down past the window.

The room erupted in chaos. People shouted and rushed outside in a panic.

Dad was calling my name. With my injured leg, I could only crawl bit by bit toward the edge of the bed.

Just as I reached my hand toward Dad, I saw something that made my hair stand on end.

In the smoke, Dad was bent over, and on his back was a figure dressed exactly like me.

The instant Dad ran out the door, I was stunned—that figure turned to look at me. It was me. It was smiling, as if its scheme had succeeded.

The villagers fled the courtyard like madmen, running at full speed until a sharp gong rang in their ears, finally making them stop.

It was Uncle Samuel. Carrying the gong and gasping for breath, he shouted: "Why the hell are you running? Look back!"

Everyone turned around. There were no towering flames. The old house stood intact, quietly standing in the darkness—only the lights inside had gone out.

Everyone came to as if from a dream. Hallucinations. They'd all been caught. They'd been bewitched.

The last person out was Dad. Seeing him, Uncle Samuel's eyes widened: "How did you get out by yourself? Where's your child?"

As Dad spoke, he turned to show Uncle Samuel. Everyone present gasped.

Dad was carrying a paper effigy.

Another gong strike, and Mom, who'd fled with the crowd, and Dad carrying the paper effigy finally awakened.

Forgetting their fear, Mom and Dad rushed into the house, but couldn't see a single person on the bed.