Mysterious Awakening

This is translated and hosted on bcatranslation

While Miles was fixated on his mobile phone’s display, a sudden email notification surged onto the screen. It unveiled a peculiar file name: “Supernatural Event File of Yellow Hill Village, Spear City.”

He scrolled down to find more information:

An unexplainable and supernatural event occurred on a specific date in Yellow Hill Village, located within the premises of Spear City. In just one night, the entire village and its residents mysteriously disappeared.

An accompanying satellite image followed this shocking revelation.

In the image, it was evident that every structure, every villager, and even animals like chickens, ducks, and dogs that once populated the village had vanished without a single trace. It was a haunting emptiness.

It looked as though someone had meticulously erased the village from a meticulously drawn map, resulting in an unsettling void.

Yet, within this vast emptiness, there was one anomaly.

At the exact heart of where the village was, an uncanny object was visible: a coffin.

The image’s clarity was astonishing. Miles could make out the shape, color, and even the tiniest features of the coffin. It was eerily similar to one he had come across in a mortuary not long ago.

But a notable difference stood out: the coffin placed at the heart of the vanished village was ajar. Standing next to it was a hazy human silhouette.

The figure was obscured.

It seemed as though some external force interfered, rendering even the state-of-the-art satellite incapable of capturing a crisp image.

Merely three days after this bewildering occurrence, Yellow Hill Village reemerged. Yet, its residents remained absent, transforming it into an eerie ghost town overnight.

The unprecedented event sent shockwaves through Spear City. Consequently, a ghost tamer named Frank was assigned to unravel the mystery.

The document hinted that this individual named Frank could very well be the predecessor of Right before he became Spear City’s City Head.

As Miles continued to read on, he quickly got the details of what followed in the ensuing investigation.

At 12:50 PM: Ghost Tamer Frank made his way into Yellow Hill Village. By 1:15 PM, he had officially commenced his investigation.

The subsequent details were sparse, but what followed was a chilling communication transcript:

“All villagers have disappeared, likely due to sinister spirits.”

“For safety reasons, I limited my time in the village.”

“I came across the open coffin, but the figure beside it from the satellite image was missing. My instincts tell me it could be a dangerous spirit, but I can’t determine the threat level.”

“I didn’t notice any unusual activity today. Nevertheless, I’ve chosen to risk an overnight stay in Yellow Hill Village to establish if the spirit genuinely haunts this place.”

“During the night, I detected footsteps outside.”

“The malicious ghost has manifested.”

“My circumstances have become precarious. There’s an unsettling aura about this village, and I’m concerned I might be trapped. It’s essential to isolate the village immediately.”

“I’ve exhausted all means at my disposal. But let this be a stern warning: NEVER tamper with that coffin.”

The communication ended there, offering only these fragmented yet foreboding sentences.

From the limited exchange in the transcript, it becomes painfully clear that the ghost tamer named Frank probably encountered a tragic fate within the confines of Yellow Hill Village. It seems he might not have left the village alive.

Furthermore, there are evident gaps in the conversation, pointing to some kind of selective editing. The missing details are likely of paramount importance. One can’t help but wonder, “After Yellow Hill Village’s mysterious disappearance and reappearance, is it even the same village that stood there originally?”

Miles’s grip on his phone tightened, and he pondered aloud, “If this isn’t the original village, then who are its current inhabitants?”

He observed the scene unfolding around him. Villagers congregated at the memorial hall, elderly residents chatted amiably in the alleyways, and the overall atmosphere exuded a sense of normalcy. Except for the ghost’s lingering presence, everything else seemed perfectly usual.

Miles was taken aback by a disturbing thought, “Could it be possible that the original residents vanished and these villagers are, in fact, apparitions?”

This unsettling realization sent a cold tremor down his back.

He locked eyes with an elderly woman diligently washing clothes outside her home. She reciprocated his gaze with a benign smile. Miles couldn’t detect any ghostly vibes from any of the villagers.

He mentally backtracked, thinking, “This hypothesis doesn’t hold water. It’s inconceivable that all the villagers are spirits. There’s no way this many phantoms could exist here, especially without any telltale signs or influence from malevolent entities.”

Quickly, he dismissed this unsettling theory.

Miles had encountered individuals under ghostly influence before. Such individuals emanated a unique energy distinctly different from regular humans. However, these villagers did not exude any such aura.

Yet, a perplexing question lingered: How have these villagers managed to coexist in this place for an extended period without falling prey to sinister spirits? Moreover, were they oblivious to the fact that the original Yellow Hill residents had mysteriously vanished post the initial paranormal incident?

Frank’s dire warning also added to the growing list of mysteries.

What did Frank imply by advising against interacting with the coffin? What catastrophic events might unfold if it were tampered with?

“While other matters can be put on the back burner, our immediate objective should be to restrain the malevolent entity within that coffin. That much is clear,” Miles reflected. “But what’s ambiguous is the possibility of another spirit’s presence in this village. The ghost causing the eerie cough and the entity responsible for Sheng and Tian’s demise might not be the same. If this suspicion holds merit, then where could the second spirit be lurking?”

Miles was now in two minds about his next move.

He surmised a deep-rooted link between the two spirits.

While one spirit exuded sheer malevolence – so potent that it could claim the life of a ghost tamer – the other appeared less aggressive. In addition, the latter seemed to consistently gather ghost tamers, shielding them from isolation and a subsequent grim fate.

If this speculation were accurate, their primary objective should be capturing the malevolent force accountable for the tragic end of the two ghost tamers.

The repercussions of wrongly imprisoning the benign spirit, the one that seemingly acted as a check on the malevolent entity, could be catastrophic. The hostile ghost could wreak unimaginable havoc without the moderate spirit to counterbalance its malevolent counterpart.

Miles felt a cold realization dawning upon him, a mixture of horror and apprehension coursing through his veins.

He silently expressed gratitude for his decision the previous night. Instead of taking hasty actions, he had wisely chosen to patiently assess the situation, which now seemed more complex than he initially believed.

The ambiance shifted abruptly with the roar of high-powered engines. Three sleek sports cars had roared onto the scene, coming to a screeching halt beside the roadway.

“Miles! Oh, thank God, you’re safe. Things have spiraled out of control. The malevolent ghost has created a barrier around the village. We tried to drive out, but our escape was thwarted, forcing us to retreat back to the village. The ghost ambushed us last night, and for a moment, we were certain you’d fallen prey to it. Evidently, we became its primary targets. Our swift reflexes saved us, or else the village would have witnessed another death.” Stretch, visibly shaken, emerged from one of the vehicles, recounting the terrifying ordeal of the previous night.

Regaining his composure, Miles looked at Stretch with a blend of astonishment and skepticism.

Piecing together the narrative from Stretch’s account, Miles felt his earlier suspicions solidify.

The village was indeed haunted by two distinct entities: One was confined within a coffin, while the other terrorized the village unhindered.

Gathering resolve, Miles declared, “If we join forces and act with precision, we can put an end to this haunting for good.” His eyes locked onto Stretch, emphasizing the seriousness and determination behind his words.