ii

After buying some instant ramen and snacks, Lan went straight back to his house. If his mind wasn't in a mess, thinking of what had happened to him, he would have bought actual food to cook. But he didn't want to stay out any longer, and wasn't in the mood to cook anymore.

He unlocked his apartment, and got in. He walked to the kitchen, and put everything, on the counter. He quickly made himself a bowl of ramen, and left the kitchen with his new book, not bothering to put the groceries away.

He walked to his bedroom, and sat crossed-legged on the bed. He placed the book in front of him, looking intently at it as he ate.

Lan had always lived in his own little world, making up new lives and new worlds for himself, in his head. He spent all his time reading books, or writing his own stories. He was almost detached from the real world, and all he wanted was to be able to experience something similar to what he's read about, or watched.

So naturally, after what happened today, it would be a lie to say that he wasn't excited. Along with the excitement was a tinge of worry, but it was so small, it couldn't be compared. He couldn't help but think that his bland life would finally get interesting, and had very high hopes for that !

He rushed to finish his ramen, and put the bowl aside, on his bedside table. He then picked the book, and looked at it for a long time. All kind of thoughts crossed his mind. He wondered what would happen if he opened the book. Would something surge out of it ? Or would he find a hidden page that would turn out to be a map, leading him through an adventure ?

He softly brushed the newly added characters, depicting his name. Huang Lan. How could his name suddenly appear ? Even if it was the woman doing, but she didn't know his name. Was she so powerful that she was able to know it ? What even was she ? A witch ?

He took a deep breath, and opened the first page again. Back in the bookstore, he didn't feel like anything would happen. But the old lady said that he had already made the pact, and his name had appeared on it, so it would most certainly be different now.

Or so he thought. After opening to the first page, he waited. He waited for about two minutes, before his patience ran out. Nothing had happened. He frowned slightly, but didn't give up. He turned a page, and waited. Then he turned another one.

He had turned about twenty pages, and still, nothing had happened. Was he doing it wrong ? In fact, he wasn't even sure of what he was doing. Was he really expecting something to surge out of a random page ? And if he was waiting to find a mysterious page, would he be able to, by simply turning the pages ?

He sighed. How silly of him. Maybe he got too excited. But he had no clue of what else to do of this book.

Well, why not read it ?, the voice in his head seemed to sneer at him.

If it was said like that, he surely seemed a bit dumb. Of course, a book was made to be read. He had been so focused on the thought that something would happen, that he almost forgot that it was a book with an actual story.

He flipped the pages back to where the story started. There was no mention that it was the first chapter, or an introduction. Could it be written in a single big block ? Wether or not it was divided in chapters, in the end there was still the same amount of content to read, but it honestly discouraged Lan a little.

He shook this thought away, and started to read. It was a long while later, when he lifted his head again. When he looked at the hour on his phone, he saw that two hours had passed.

His legs were numb, from sitting in the same position for so long. He stretched them, wincing at the small pain he felt when moving them. He then found a random piece of paper on his bedside table's drawer, and used it as a temporary bookmark. He got up, exited his room, and went to the bathroom.

Despite living alone, he locked the door. As he was brushing his teeth, his ears perked, and he stopped his actions. There was a sound... of footsteps ? Frowning, he got closer to the door, and stuck one side of his face against it. He held his breath, and waited to hear something else.

There were indeed sounds of footsteps. Lan frowned, and got away from the door. He didn't know if he was scared or confused. After some seconds, he decided that it was his imagination.

He went back to stand in front of the mirror, and resumed brushing his teeth. When he was done, he went back to his bedroom, and his eyes fell on the closed book on his bedside table. Could it be ? Could the steps he heard be associated with this book ? He had been so convinced that something would happen, but it didn't even cross his mind when he heard the steps.

Then again, he couldn't be completely sure. Although it was weird, who could say they never heard weird noises at night, which turned to be nothing in the end ? He didn't want to be quick to assume.

He turned off the light and went to lie in bed, but didn't close his eyes. Instead, they were wide open, as he looked at the book. As he thought about today over and over again, his eyelids started to feel heavier.

Before he knew it, he was falling asleep. His eyes fluttered, but before they could close, they shot back open. There was another noise outside. This time, it was something falling and breaking.

Lan sat up in his bed. For the second time, he didn't know if he was scared or confused. Something else he didn't know, was what to do. Should he go out and check, or stay in his bed ?

Another thought crossed his mind —what if he had been wrong all along, and these sounds had nothing to do with the book at all ? What if someone had actually broken into his house ?

Thinking this way, he jumped off his bed and rushed to lock his bedroom door. He then took two steps back, and pondered some more on the situation. The smart thing to do would be to call the police, if there indeed was someone else in his house. He walked to his bedside table, where his phone was charging.

As he was about to compose the number, he retracted his fingers. What if I was in fact right, and this is a result of opening the book ?, he couldn't help but ask himself. He stared blankly at his screen, wondering what to do. In the end, he sighed and locked his phone, putting it back at its previous place.

He walked back to the door. He put a hand on the handle, and the other on the key. After taking a deep breath, he unlocked it. Fear welled up in his chest, making his heart pound. He knew he was doing something risky, and if it wasn't for what happened and for the book he brought home, he wouldn't have thought twice before calling the police. But no one ever broke into his house before ! Was it really a hazard that it happened today ?

He carefully made his way through the living room, and looked around. It was dark, but his vision had been used to it already, and thanks to the streetlamp's light coming through the window, he was able to have a good view of the room. He could confirm that it was empty.

Next was the kitchen.

He slowly walked there. The first thing he noticed was the open cabinet above his counter. He didn't have to think to know that he had closed it after taking or a bowl to make ramen, earlier. His eyes fell on the counter. His grocery bag was still on top, but not where Lan had put it. He remembered clearly that he had placed it near the end of it, so why was it beside the faucet now ?

He was tensed, and his ears were perked. He even started to breath slower, so he could catch the slightest noise. But after waiting for what felt like hours, he couldn't even hear the leaves rustling outside. It was deathly calm, and somehow it didn't make him feel better at all.

He took a step forward, to take a look around the isle in the middle of his kitchen. However, a unexpected pain was felt on his foot. He hissed, and looked down. He mentally cursed, as he had just been reminded of the breaking sound he heard. So what had been broken was a glass, and he had just stepped on it.

He felt a liquid flow out of his foot, and a crimson color covered the ground around it. In this darkness, it looked almost black.

"Damn it," Lan cursed, as he lifted his injured foot.

The piece of glass was stuck in it, and he bent down to pluck it out. He hissed again, feeling annoyed. He put it on the counter, and limped his way to the bathroom, leaving a trail of blood behind him. After all, he didn't think anyone was in the kitchen. If they were behind the isle, he would have seen them when he was at the door. But he didn't think enough, and got himself injured instead. What bad luck !

He turned the light of the bathroom on, and opened a cabinet. He took out some ointment and bandage, and clumsily cleaned his injury. He clenched his teeth, so he wouldn't let out unnecessary hisses. Thankfully it didn't seem too deep, so he didn't even think of getting it checked.

Afterward, he cleaned his house and picked the remaining broken glasses from the floor, throwing them in the trash can. Lan usually wore slippers inside his house. He didn't clean it everyday, so there would inevitably be a bit of dust, and maybe crumbs or other dirts. He couldn't stand to have dirty feet, so he never forgot them. This time, he thought it was just a few steps and he would come back to his bed, so he didn't bother. He cursed himself, at how poor his judgements were.

So before going back to clean the house, he went to his bedroom and wore them. He swept the ground where the glass had been broken, making sure there wouldn't be any piece left. When he was satisfied, he went back to his bed.

He sat on it, and thought. His injury didn't bother him, but how come no one had broken the glass ? He was obviously relieved to not have met some killer or thief, but how could he explain what had happened then ? His front door was still locked, so there wasn't the option of them running away. Even if he wanted to save himself the trouble, and put the blame on his imagination, this injury was a solid reminder that it couldn't be.

His eyes darted toward the thick book once again. He picked it up, and examined it. Was it the culprit ? Surely it wasn't what had broken the glass, but did it have some kind of interference ? Lan couldn't think of a way this book could have played a part. Was it haunted ?

As he thought this, he frowned. It overlapped with a previous thought he had : 'would something surge out of it ?'. Did something come out of the book ? It would explain the step sounds and the broken glass. But no one was outside !

Lan looked at the time. It was almost one am. His classes started early tomorrow, so he should go to sleep. Well, he was used to not get enough sleep, but he felt it was a good excuse to end this day. The excitement had been replaced by the irritation of not understanding anything. Perhaps more things would happen tomorrow, and he'd be able to find at least a clue.

Putting his book back down, he covered himself with his blanket, and drifted to sleep.