Mysterious Awakening

Miles gazed at the photo on his phone, his disbelief definite. The figure in the security uniform was difficult to discern, but only one other person in the entire mall donned the same attire – Strong.

There were only two security guards in the mall, Miles himself and Strong. Since Miles was not in the picture, it left only one possibility – Strong was the so-called ghost.

Upon his initial arrival at the mall, Miles recalled a faint, corpselike stench. It’s there that Strong had appeared from the shadows, casually greeting him with an explanation of a restroom visit.

The restroom? If Strong had indeed been there, how had he failed to notice River in hiding?

The puzzle pieces began to fit together.

Miles scrunched his eyebrows due to the troubling revelation. “It doesn’t add up. If Strong is the ghost, why wasn’t I attacked when we shared the dormitory? I met all the criteria to be this ghost’s target.”

Even with Strong as a solid suspect, Miles couldn’t shake off his lingering doubts. Mere speculation would lead him nowhere; more investigation was required. Armed with his newfound insight about the ghost, he felt prepared to confront it.

River’s voice trembled with fear, “Is the ghost gone? Are we safe now?”

Miles tried to reassure her, “We’re safe for now. The ghost has departed.”

“Can you stop pressing on me? And something is poking me,” River grumbled. Her back was pressed against the door, with Miles’ body looming over her.

“That’s just a sausage. Weren’t you hungry? Do you still want to eat it?” Miles asked.

River was taken aback, “Right now? Shouldn’t we focus on escaping first?”

“If you’re not interested, never mind. I wasn’t keen on sharing anyway,” Miles retorted.

After a moment of hesitation, River finally conceded, “Alright then. But could you hurry? Don’t take too long.”

“Someone’s talkative today,” Miles muttered.

He switched on his flashlight, bathing their surroundings in a warm glow. He then took out a sausage from his pocket.

“Here. I bought this for breakfast this morning. It cost three dollars. You’re getting a bargain, considering the circumstances,” Miles said, handing the sausage to River.

Her hand held the sausage as she looked on, speechless by the spectacle.

“Eat slowly. I’m about to head out,” he added.

Miles stepped through the door, flashlight in hand. He swept the beam across the empty space, finding nothing but calm, silent emptiness.

However, as his flashlight highlighted the nearby stalls, he stiffened. The door of the stall that the ghost had previously obliterated was now perfectly whole.

Indeed, the door was closed tight, with no signs of previous damage, which defied all reason.

“Well, encountering a ghost isn’t exactly a logical experience to begin with,” Miles thought, shaking off his doubts about the ghost’s capabilities.

“Where are you going? Isn’t it safer to stay here until daylight?” River called out anxiously.

River stepped out cautiously with ruffled hair and messy attire.

“I’ve got a task ahead,” Miles announced firmly, “I’ve finally got a lead on this ghost. It’s high time I ruffle some feathers. Moreover, my primary motive here is to earn. If Mr. Calm were to die, wouldn’t this whole trip be fruitless? After all, his million-dollar reward for solving this mall haunting is what brought me here.” Saying this, he exited the restroom, the flashlight guiding his way.

River hastened to catch up, “What am I supposed to do in your absence?”

“Listen, I’m not your guardian or caretaker. I can’t decide what you should do. Perhaps you could stay in the restroom? I’ll notify you once everything’s settled, and then you can leave,” Miles replied, casting a glance back at her.

“That’s not an option. What if the ghost reappears while I’m in the restroom? Do you have a strategy to tackle that ghost?” River queried.

“I have a preliminary plan,” Miles responded.

“Could you ensure my safety, please?” River implored.

“Why should I protect someone I barely know? Heroes may save damsels in distress, but they often meet an untimely end. I have no desire to be a hero. I simply want to attend to my own business.” Miles stepped out to the mall’s main hall, sweeping his surroundings with the flashlight’s beam.

River followed and clung to his arm, “What if I became your girlfriend, would that work?”

“You’re not only dreaming but being impractical. You don’t even know my name, so how can you be my girlfriend? Once we’re outside, will we even acknowledge each other? Or are you just hoping that I risk my life for you?” Miles asked, looking at her.

“I’m serious. I won’t go back on my word,” River said.

“I don’t trust you,” Miles replied, “Besides, having you as a girlfriend brings no advantages for me. It’s simply an inconvenience, perhaps even a threat. I’ve had enough of problematic team members.”

While speaking, he continued to probe the area with his flashlight.

“I assure you I won’t be a hindrance. I’m intelligent. Believe me,” River insisted.

She was close to her breaking point. As an accountant, she was used to a white-collar lifestyle. Though not exceptionally tall, she was attractive, with a slender figure and a fair amount of attention from suitors. Now, she was practically throwing herself at a security guard and getting rejected.

Despite everything, River kept pushing. She understood that he was her only hope.

“I’ve found it,” Miles declared, directing his flashlight onto something.

A human head.

Decaying and foul-smelling, it was Blush’s head.

It had lain here all this while, undisturbed since its discovery.

“The ghost River saw was Blush, and the ghost in my photograph was Strong… She has no reason to lie, and I couldn’t have been mistaken. Therefore, the only logical explanation is that this ghost can change its appearance. It could impersonate Blush, Strong, Sister Pear, or any other employee.”

“Everyone here could potentially be a ghost,” Miles mused, his brows knitted in deep thought. “Actually, we should also consider Mr. Calm, Mall Manager Li, Master Catch, and their group. They’ve been around here for a while by this point.”

“The surveillance room is the key to identifying the ghost.”

Everything that had transpired recently must be documented on the security cameras. Accessing that footage should unveil the truth.

“River, are you aware of the surveillance room’s location?” Miles inquired.

“Yes, it’s on the fifth floor,” River responded.

“Guide me there, and I promise you’ll survive this ordeal,” Miles pledged.

“Really?” River questioned, her eyes gleaming with newfound hope.

“That’s right. However, it’s crucial you adhere to my instructions. If you act out of panic or run aimlessly in fear, I won’t be accountable for the consequences,” Miles stated firmly.

“I vow to obey you,” River immediately promised.

“I hope you uphold your word. Not for my sake, but for your own. Let’s head to the fifth floor,” Miles directed.

Gazing upward, the upper floors were dimly illuminated but discernible, appearing in better condition than the ground floor. Yet, there were no signs of any activity.

He contemplated the fate of Mr. Calm, Master Catch, their group, and the ghost tamer, Ethan. Perhaps they had managed to escape, or maybe they had already succumbed to the vengeful ghost’s attack. Regardless, he had to ascend and verify. If they had indeed perished, he would have no reason to linger.