Seltsame Geschichten

Kapitel 8

This time, the man in black didn't linger. He used a wet towel to wipe the stains off Yuan Li's hands, cleaned up the mess on the table, replaced the food with fresh food, and then turned and left.

The light switch was on the outside, and the man in black didn't forget to turn off the light when he locked the door.

Darkness holds a very important place in his punishment.

Chapter 11 Members of Independent Travel Groups

Yang Xing simply couldn't believe he had eaten so many grapes while asleep, but the facts were undeniable. The next day, Sha Bo brought grapes to visit him, and in front of Sha Bo and Xiao Fei, he devoured them all in no time. The grapes might not have tasted particularly good, but the fact that he had no adverse reactions was enough to make him ecstatic. However, the thought that he would have to rely on grapes for food from now on filled him with a bittersweet feeling.

So he thought that there must be other things in the world that he could eat, but he just hadn't discovered them yet.

Early that morning, he and Xiao Fei went to find Sha Bo. Sha Bo was stuffing a few changes of clothes into a large travel bag when he saw Xiao Fei and Yang Xing come in. Without even looking up, he offered them seats. Xiao Fei strolled over to him and asked, "Old Sha, are you going home?" Sha Bo shook his head and zipped up his travel bag. "You're here just in time. I have a question for you. Have you met anyone you met online?" Xiao Fei and Yang Xing glared at him. "Old Sha, are you in an online relationship?" Sha Bo blushed. "Don't talk nonsense. Does meeting someone online necessarily mean you're in an online relationship? What kind of logic is that?" Xiao Fei said, "Why would you meet someone online if you're not going to have an online relationship?" "I can't explain it to you. I'm just asking if you've met anyone you met online. If you have, that's good. You'll have experience. Accompany me to meet someone this afternoon. If you haven't, that's fine too. Come with me to see them." Xiao Fei became interested. "Old Sha, you need to be clear. Who are you meeting?" Sha Bo knew these two kids were shrewd. If he didn't explain clearly, they might gossip behind his back.

"Actually, I don't even know if the person I'm meeting is male or female. Here's the thing: last night I was searching online and saw a post on the local information portal forum about a self-guided trip. The person initiating it was named Qin Ge. He wanted to travel somewhere but didn't want to go alone, so he wanted to find some travel companions." Xiao Fei laughed: "So Lao Sha, you want to go on a trip? I thought you were having an online romance. I was happy for you for nothing." "You never know, that Qin Ge might be a pretty girl. Lao Sha, you'll be spending all your time with her, whispering sweet nothings. It's not impossible for you to win her over sometime." Yang Xing also teased Sha Bo.

Sha Bo smiled and didn't argue with the two kids. "Now you know what's going on, don't tell anyone outside." He glanced at Xiao Fei, then at Yang Xing, and slapped Yang Xing on the shoulder. "You've eaten some grapes, you look much better." Yang Xing smiled wryly. "I've eaten more grapes in my entire life than I have in the last two days." Sha Bo and Xiao Fei exchanged a smile. Sha Bo said, "You two don't have anything else to do this afternoon, come with me to meet my online friend." Yang Xing and Xiao Fei said in unison, "We couldn't be happier!"

Shabo searched online using the keyword "Sleepy Hollow." The famous Google search engine immediately returned over 300 results related to Sleepy Hollow, but more than half of them were about the film *Sleepy Hollow*, adapted by American director Tim Burton from Washington Irving's novel of the same name. Shabo browsed through them one by one, and finally, just as he was about to give up completely, he saw the entry for a self-guided tour.

Opening the content, it was a post from the forum. The post wasn't very long; it simply stated that the travel destination was a small town called Sleepy Hollow, and provided a brief introduction to the town, including its location, local customs, and unique pristine scenery. Finally, it included the travel dates and contact information.

Shabo had only intended to find information about Sleepy Hollow online, but this ad seeking travel companions immediately piqued his interest. The trip was scheduled for the middle of the month, coinciding perfectly with the school holidays. If the destination was indeed the town where Forget-Me-Not grew, then he could finally meet the ethereal, untouched-by-the-world girl from that small town.

Once the thought arose, it became uncontrollable.

Sleepy Valley. Forget-Me-Not. These two names echoed in Shabo's mind all night. Forget-Me-Not had been online for a long time; after that night, she had completely vanished from the internet. The story was far too dramatic, too contrived. Shabo had seen many similar stories online; disappearance was an indispensable element. The fact that such a thing could happen to him left Shabo feeling utterly helpless. However, the dizziness and the black flames in his dream left him uncertain, unsure of the flames' specific meaning in reality.

Let's go to Sleepy Hollow then, and see the quaint and beautiful town and the lovely girls there.

Qin Ge left an email address in that post, and Sha Bo emailed him that evening, leaving his contact information. This morning, Sha Bo went to the audiovisual education center and received a reply from Qin Ge. The reply arranged a time to meet that afternoon to discuss the specifics of the trip.

With increasing concerns about internet security, Sha Bo invited Yang Xing and Xiao Fei to go together, not because he was worried about his own safety, but because he knew he lacked experience in dealing with strangers.

Central bars are renowned online in the city, with many netizens using them as a regular meeting place. Anyone who shows up there could be a big shot online.

Sha Bo brought Yang Xing and Xiao Fei to meet Qin Ge here. He was a man in his early thirties, with an average appearance, medium height, and a thin build. He had a crew cut, and wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes when he frowned or smiled. No matter how you looked at him, he was someone who would be easily lost in a crowd.

When Qin Ge came over and shook hands with Sha Bo, Sha Bo was already quite at ease.

People with ordinary appearances have a unique charm that can make people lower their guard at first glance.

Qin Ge introduced himself as a reporter for an evening newspaper, who had recently taken a long leave to shoot a series of photos showcasing primitive landscapes for a publishing house. By chance, a friend mentioned Sleepy Hollow and he decided to travel there. However, no one around him knew about Sleepy Hollow, and no travel agency in the city offered tours there. Therefore, he decided to post on an online forum to find travel companions.

Such a reason is sufficient and reasonable, and no one can argue with it.

When Shabo asked about the specific travel time, Qin Ge waved his hand and smiled, "No rush, two more friends are coming with us to Sleepy Hollow. They should be here soon." About twenty minutes later, a man and a woman entered the bar and peered out from the doorway. Qin Ge, with his sharp eyes, immediately spotted the magazine the woman was holding, which they had agreed upon as a marker. Qin Ge quickly stood up and waved to the two of them, who then came over together.

The man who approached wasn't tall, but he appeared exceptionally muscular. His exposed arms were as thick as bowls. He walked with his head slightly forward and his arms outstretched, immediately catching Yang Xing's attention. Yang Xing felt the way he walked looked familiar. His mind raced, and then it dawned on him. The man's gait was exactly like Tyson, Lewis, and Holyfield's, and Tyson and the others were all professional boxers. Therefore, Yang Xing immediately concluded that this man was definitely a boxing expert.

The woman walked in front of the man, looking delicate and frail. She wore a beige suit, exuding beauty and elegance, and looked like the kind of girl who came from an office building.

The two approached. The man's gaze was vacant, as if he had an unresolved inner turmoil. The woman, on the other hand, was poised and confident. She nodded to the people present and then introduced herself: "My name is Tang Wan, and this is my boyfriend, Tan Dong." Qin Ge also introduced herself and Sha Bo in turn.

After sitting down, Tan Dong remained dazed, staring at an unidentified corner of the bar, seemingly having no intention of speaking to the people present. His mood affected everyone; even Yang Xing and Xiao Fei sat there silently. Later, Xiao Fei told Yang Xing that she felt a murderous aura emanating from Tan Dong the moment he entered.

That day at the bar, Qin Ge explained the details of their trip three days later, and everyone agreed with his plan. The members of the self-guided tour group would first take a train to the capital city of a southwestern province, then continue west to the capital of a minority autonomous prefecture. From there, they would transfer to a bus and head north, a journey that would take about a day, to reach Sleepy Valley.

When Qin Ge mentioned the itinerary, Sha Botandong and Tang Wan remained expressionless, while Xiao Fei and Yang Xing wore pitiful expressions. Xiao Fei whispered in Yang Xing's ear, "These people are crazy. They could go anywhere for a trip, but they have to go so far. Just the car rides alone would drive anyone insane. Besides, the name of the place they're going to sounds eerie." Yang Xing grabbed Xiao Fei's hand, "I think these people are a bit off. Maybe they're going to Sleepy Valley for more than just tourism." Xiao Fei moved her hand, gesturing for Yang Xing to talk elsewhere. The two stood up and went to sit at the bar. Xiao Fei said, "What are you thinking about now?" "You think about our Lao Sha? He's never mentioned Sleepy Valley before, and now he's suddenly going to such a faraway place. If there's no reason, he must be possessed." "That makes sense. What about Qin Ge?" "Qin Ge said he's a reporter and wants to take a set of photos of primitive landscapes for a publishing house. But there are so many famous primitive areas in China—Shennongjia, Lop Nur, ancient Loulan—he can take photos anywhere. Besides, even if he really wants to photograph places that no one else has photographed, it doesn't seem necessary to go so far. Can a reporter have such a long vacation to travel all over the world?" Xiao Fei thought for a moment, her smile fading.

“And then there’s Tan Dong and Tang Wan, those two are even more eccentric. Look at Tan Dong’s expression, people like that would never have the leisure to think about going on a trip, they look like they’re going out to escape something.” “Escape what?” Xiao Fei asked casually.

“I don’t know about that, but I do know that when those guys get together, there’s bound to be some excitement going on. Who knows, something might even happen.” Xiao Fei immediately perked up; excitement was what she loved most. Her eyes darted around, and she moved closer to Yang Xing. “Why don’t we join this tour group? I heard from Lao Sha that the town called Sleepy Valley is surrounded by vineyards on both sides of the mountain, and it’s grape harvest season now.” Yang Xing fell silent; Xiao Fei’s words had tempted him. After Sha Bo left, there wasn’t much people left at school, and it wasn’t very interesting for the two of them to stay there all the time. Besides, he really wanted to get away for a while so he could forget some things.

Sleepy Hollow. Is it a place where memories can fall asleep?

Yang Xing and Xiao Fei decided to go back and think about it some more, since they still had three days before they were supposed to leave.

It seemed Qin Ge and the others had finished speaking, so Tan Dong and Tang Wan got up to say goodbye. Xiao Fei watched them leave, their figures flashing and disappearing behind a glass window facing the street. Suddenly, Xiao Fei patted Yang Xing's shoulder. Yang Xing looked in the direction she pointed and saw a thin man in black standing by the window. The man in black was incredibly thin; although he was wearing loose clothes, his stick-like body was still clearly visible.

Xiao Fei laughed, "There are actually people this thin in the world." Yang Xing became worried and said, "I wonder if I will become like him one day if I continue to not eat." Xiao Fei felt a chill and a real sense of fear.

In the middle of the night, the entire city shook again. Many people awoke with a start, realizing that another earthquake had occurred. But this time, people didn't panic as much as before. In fact, many had a premonition that this night's earthquake would be just like the last one—a very low-level tremor, something you could feel, but not enough to cause damage to the city. Besides, so many people had been away from their homes for so long, living in makeshift earthquake shelters, waiting for an earthquake, hadn't they? Now it had arrived as expected, fulfilling the expectations of many.

Nevertheless, panic inevitably descended upon the city.

Sha Bo, Yang Xing, and Xiao Fei sat on the west side of the bleachers after the earthquake. From the bleachers, they could clearly see the entire playground. The earthquake shelters were now in chaos, filled with children crying, women screaming, men yelling at their families, and some pet dogs running around barking incessantly, having been separated from their owners during the earthquake.

The city's tremors had subsided, but the three were wide awake. An old cat suddenly darted past them, startling Xiao Fei, who shrieked softly and huddled into Yang Xing's arms. Yang Xing's gaze, however, fell on Sha Bo, who sat alone to one side. Sha Bo rested his hands on his knees, his head drooping, looking dejected.

"Old Sha," Yang Xing called softly to Sha Bo, "What are you thinking about? You look so deep." "I'm thinking about what would happen if I died in this earthquake tonight," Sha Bo said in a low voice.

"Old Sha, stop overthinking. You're sitting right here, aren't you? It's the middle of the night, don't try to scare us with talk of dying," Xiao Fei said.

“Death is actually everywhere in life. Countless people die every day. Death happens in an instant, so we live on the edge of death every day,” Shabo continued. “Sometimes, you can’t even distinguish the line between life and death.” Shabo thought again of the black flames in his dizziness and dreams. The flames burned in the vineyard, his gaze shifting rapidly. What was he fleeing from? What was he searching for? What was hidden behind those flames?

Xiao Fei dismissed Sha Bo's words, but Yang Xing trembled slightly at that moment. Xiao Fei felt it and snuggled closer to him. She thought Yang Xing was cold, unaware that Sha Bo's words had stirred up a deep, hidden pain within him. He could only keep those pains dormant in his heart, bearing them alone. But at this moment, on this night of earthquake, with death so close, he suddenly found himself utterly bewildered.

Just then, it suddenly occurred to him that his inability to eat anything except grapes might also be related to the hidden pain in his heart. Thinking of this, some strange feelings arose again. He hurriedly pushed Xiaofei away, got up and ran a few steps, then squatted down and made a series of dry heaving sounds.

Xiao Fei and Sha Bo rushed over, and Xiao Fei hugged Yang Xing from behind. Yang Xing was gagging so painfully that although he didn't actually vomit anything, the gagging had already made his face covered in snot and tears, and his whole face was distorted.

Through his tear-blurred vision, he saw a figure emerge from the darkness. The face was deathly pale, like wet lime, frost clinging to the protruding features and hair. His mouth was slightly open, but his eyes were wide open, devoid of any remaining light, as if even his gaze had been frozen mid-strike. It was an old man, his face already etched with wrinkles, now all the same color as wet lime.

Yang Xing remembered that this person was his father. His deceased father.

Yang Xing couldn't help but gag again. This time, he finally vomited something—a pool of bitter liquid and some grape skins and seeds. There was also some undigested grape pulp, which had now turned into a greenish paste mixed in with the bitter liquid.

Yang Xing felt dizzy and disoriented; vomiting had left him with no strength.

—Father, frozen with frost, father, as pale as wet lime, is this you?

Chapter 12 Please Kill Me

Yuan Li woke up and, almost without pausing, groped her way out of the box and headed towards the table. Now, even in the darkest darkness, she could pinpoint the table's location.

Hunger and drowsiness were the only two feelings she had when she was awake.

Her hand had already touched the edge of the table, but then she froze, her hands groping more widely. At that moment, she couldn't help but let out a soft scream.

No, that can't be. The man in black is a meticulous person; he wouldn't forget to put food on the table. He must have put the food somewhere else.

Yuan Li moved her feet tremblingly, reaching out to touch something else.

The room was only about twenty square meters, and she was confident that she could find the food quickly no matter where the man in black put it. The feeling of hunger was already overwhelming her, and she could even hear her stomach rumbling like thunder.

She was so hungry that she couldn't wait to find something to eat, otherwise she believed she would starve to death.

The room was still so dark that she couldn't see anything at all, but she could still remember the furnishings in the room, so she didn't have to worry about tripping in the dark.

She reached out in one direction and touched a smooth, upright piece of glass.

There was no glass in the room originally, so how did this piece of glass end up here? She paused for a moment, then immediately realized that the man in black had moved it in after she fell asleep last time. Why would the man in black bring in a piece of glass? She didn't have time to think about it further and continued groping. Food was more important to her than anything else at that moment.

She heard her own heavy breathing and the sound of stumbling footsteps. She suddenly paused, because in the darkness, she could also hear someone else breathing!

The breath seemed so close, she could almost feel it, but when she waved her hands, they could only move in the air.

"Come out! Come out!" Yuan Li shouted, but only a hoarse voice came out.

The only one hiding in the darkness could be that lean man in black. Why would he let her be immersed in darkness with him? Yuan Li felt she couldn't hold on any longer. The darkness around her became tangible, cruelly pressing down on her, threatening to crush her.

This damned darkness blinded her to everything. What was that damned man in black's punishment? Yuan Li screamed hoarsely, moving even faster. She crashed into the box, screaming as she fell to the ground. The cement floor was icy cold, and her naked body trembled instantly. She tried to get up, but found her arms weak and powerless, and her legs were also unusually weak, as if they lacked even the strength to support her body.

The damn drug's effects haven't worn off yet. Yuan Li thought, the man in black must have put the drug in her food every day.

Yuan Li thought sadly: I'm going to die in this room.

She collapsed to the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face, her sobs filling the dark room. Just then, the crying abruptly stopped, and a deep-seated fear gripped Yuan Li.

Yuan Li's hand accidentally brushed against her lower abdomen, the soft sensation terrifying her even more than the darkness. She ran her hands haphazardly over her abdomen, then across her waist, finally settling on her chest. She let out a heart-wrenching scream, her body twisting violently like a small animal caught in a tiger's jaws, struggling desperately to escape.

Her hands were touching something that wasn't her own body.

A thick layer of fat had appeared on her lower abdomen, and her once slender waist had grown considerably larger; a soft, flabby mass of fat could be pinched with a gentle touch.

This isn't her body; her figure was originally what she was most proud of.

Yuan Li wailed and struggled to her feet, lunging towards the door. She wanted to open it and let the light in so she could see herself clearly. The door was closed from the inside, without even a handle, making it impossible to get any leverage. She could only pound on the door, continuing her heart-wrenching cries.

As she pounded on the door, her arms accidentally crossed, and her crying stopped abruptly again. She frantically touched her arms, the familiar sensation striking her like a thunderbolt. The arms were the same arms, the legs were the same legs, only her body had become something else entirely.

A monstrous humanoid figure appeared in the darkness before her eyes. Could it be her?

She let out another desperate scream!

Her hands were too weak to continue pounding on the door, and her whole body went limp.

She finally understood what punishment the man in black had inflicted on her. The man in black was right there in the room; his breath was still on her ear. He lurked in the darkness, clearly seeing her despair and pain. This was what he wanted to see—that devil!

Yuan Li shouted into the darkness, "Come out! Come out now! I know you must be here!" Suddenly, a small light appeared, and Yuan Li felt a sharp pain in her eyes; the faint light burned her vision. She quickly covered her face with her hands, and after a while, she slowly peered out through her fingers.

She saw the man in black standing in the darkness, holding a lighter. The light from the lighter only illuminated a small area in front of him; his face remained hidden in the darkness, but his black clothes allowed him to blend easily into the shadows. The tiny flame in his hand was like a fiery scale from the depths of hell, meant only to let her see the path to hell.

Yuan Li let out a low roar, and with an unknown force emanating from her body, she charged straight towards the man in black.

He has ruined her; she wants to rush over and tear him apart.

The lighter went out, and darkness returned. Yuan Li rushed to the spot where the man in black had stood, but it was empty; the man in black had vanished. Yuan Li stood motionless in the darkness, breathing heavily. She listened intently, trying to pinpoint the man in black's location. But this time, she couldn't hear his breathing, nor could she sense his presence at all. He was like a patch of darkness, merging into another patch of darkness.

The darkness stretched endlessly into the distance, and Yuan Li collapsed to the ground again, feeling as if she were in a wasteland, the darkness boundless and limitless. She knew she could never escape this darkness.

She lay on the ground and cried for a long time, until she was exhausted and her voice became intermittent.

Suddenly, a pair of hands landed on her shoulders. She trembled and grasped them in return.

She knew she had caught the man in black; he was nowhere to hide in the darkness.

As the lights came on, all the darkness was instantly dispelled.

Yuan Li instinctively closed her eyes, but still held onto the man in black's hand. The light was too bright; Yuan Li could feel tears welling up, and her eyelids burned.

She couldn't remember how long it had been since she'd seen light, and when it finally came, she felt disoriented. Then she remembered she was still naked, and recalling the deformed body she'd just touched, she couldn't help but let out another low moan. Tears streamed down her face, and she slightly opened her eyes; she could already see the man in black beside her.

The man in black stared at her without moving, his eyes filled with regret and sorrow, making him appear like an innocent bystander. Yuan Li became furious, wildly swinging her hands at the man in black, but he easily grabbed her arms, rendering her immobile.

"Why did you ruin me like this, you devil!" Yuan Li cried out. "You might as well have killed me. I'd rather die than see myself like this." "I told you I'm increasingly disgusted with bloodshed and violence," the man in black shook his head. "Besides, you have no idea what you've become, so I specially prepared a mirror for you." Yuan Li suddenly woke up, remembering the piece of glass she had touched in the darkness—it was a mirror. She abandoned the man in black and rushed to the mirror standing by the door.

She saw a monster.

The monster's body was unusually bloated, with excess fat bulging out on its chest and abdomen. Especially on its abdomen, even when standing, three deep folds could still be seen, with fat bulging between the folds, like flesh-colored tires or life rings.

If it's just fat, it doesn't qualify as a monster.

In the mirror, the bloated body's legs and arms appeared unusually thin. Perhaps they weren't thin; perhaps they were always like that, only now the body had been replaced, the proportions were off, making them look like limbs were deformed.

The bloated body paired with thin limbs creates an unusually bizarre sight.

Yuan Li stared blankly at the monster in the mirror. In an instant, her mind went blank, and even her basic thoughts seemed to freeze. She just stood there in front of the mirror, neither crying nor screaming, her face expressionless.