Unusual Storm

I wake up early and come out of the small broken house...

My companion is still asleep and the fire long died beside us.

The sky is quite dark and cloudy, but at least the rain stopped so I decided to take a stroll around the ghostly city... A few insignia are still readable.

"Shao's and family" reads one

"MianMen Mantou" another... Must have been delicious

"Li Ming's hot stone"... I couldn't tell what kind of place this was, maybe a blacksmith? Maybe a grill type restaurant?

"Headless Dancer"

-This... Is not really a good name for a dance school- I murmur looking at the insignia with my head tilted to the side

-But why would there be a dance school in the first place...?-

I hear some noise from nearby and it distract me from my thoughts, I hear it echoing down a side strees and the curiosity makes me walk into that venue...

I turn at a corner and come to meet a big plaza, at the centre a man dressed in red is running in my direction

-A... Man? Ehy you! What are you doing here?!- I yell

-Run!- he yells back, making me freeze...

That voice...!

-LingHe...?- The words comemout cracked and no reply reaches my ears, only his hand grabbing my wrist and dragging me along in a messed run

-What's happening? Why are you here? Why are you running? What...?!- I question all at once

-There's no time now, let's hide first-

-Hide? From what?-

I turn my head behind but he stops me, making me run even faster until he's satisfied and breaks into and house, locking the door with a few broken cabinets piled on another.

My mind is still clouded with questions and a lot of confusion.

-LingHe... Is that really you...?- I reach one trembling hand near his face but he's quicker than me and grabs it tightly

-I missed you so much- his voice is firm and deep as always,

and so are his eyes, while he embraces me before kissing me breathless

-What's... Happening?- I try to ask as he bites on my lower lip

-Someone has been following me...-

-Someone? Then let me fight him, I won't kill them you don't want me to don't worry- I try to push him away and talk but it's no use, he only drags me closer cupping my face

-What? No! Let's just hide, there's no need for you to fight-

-But... I can solve it- I say rising an eyebrow, finally putting some distance between us

-Shh... All we need to do his hide, then once it will be safe we can go back-

-Back? To where? The war...-

-Home- he smiles, cutting off my words

-You don't have an home LingHe... Not anymore. Are you...? Have you find a new place to call home?-

-Wherever we can be worryless is home, Lai'Er... Away from everyone... Just us-

-Since when you call me Lai'Er? I'm quite sure you never called me by my full name either-

-Why do you ask so many questions today? I'll take care of everything don't worry... Once we are back I'll spoil you everyday! I already made plans in these months we've been apart... Beautiful flowers... Silk dresses... Fine tea...-

I push myself away from his arms

-Are you really him?-

-Uh? Lai'Er what's wrong? Do you have a fever or something? Of course I am-

He first looks worried but then a light smile pops on his face

-You... Are not him-

-What?-

-He wouldn't tell me to hide, never! Nor would he spoil me... Or ask me to be together away from everything- I say almost as if I was just thinking and the words slipped by mistake out of my mouth

-No he wouldn't, I'm sure of it- I say more resolute

-Lai'Er?-

-You...!-

Before I can finish my sentence, the door break open and the next thing I see is LingHe's head getting separated from the body by a scarlet blade...

It falls on the floor and another man comes from behind him as I am watching his rolling head with wide eyes, purely petrified for once in my whole life...

A pool of blood forms at my feet as the head comes to a stop and the body fall to the ground.

The man behind takes an handkerchief, cleaning his blade as he walks over the corpse -What a shame, I dirtied my beautiful sword with such lowly blood... Ah... But I did what had to be done, right? Miss Ying?-

He smiles toward me as I hardly manage to rise my eyes

-Wang... Chia-Hao- I murmur as a thunder breaks the sky in two behind him.

I wake up with a jump once the same thunder echoes around me, I'm still shocked to the core and I cannot seem to catch my breath closed in this small falling apart place...

The fire I started already expired so the room is cold like the outside.

"Won't make much difference to stay here..." I take my sword and head out to get some air.

-A dream... It was just a dream... LingHe didn't come here, LingHe didn't die... He's somewher near the Capital, alive and safe... And that man...

That Merchant...

Mmhnn...- I close my eyes while walking.

-Maybe staying in this Ghost City was a bad idea afterall- I sighs and try to take in some cold air to regain control...

A kid's laugh

I open my eyes again and get on alert right away.

"I surely am awake this time...! I shouldn't be hearing anything in an abandoned city"

I hear it again... From one side, then the other... It seems to be everywhere!

From a side hallway a blow of cold air hits me and that creepy laugh follows it...

I run toward one direction, then another, trying to follow this sound that isn't meant to be here... But whenever I reach it, it starts echoing in another place.

And then... behind me...

But this time is more vivid, it's closer

I stop walking and turn around with my sword out, shining under the moon light

What I see isn't something I expected.

A child, around 6-7 years... He's full of wounds and missing an arm, but no blood comes from any of the fresh cuts... A hole is visible in the palm of his little hand.

-You... Why do you have a sword?- he tilts his head curious

-Uh? To protect myself-

-From who?- his big gold eyes stare into me

-I uh uhm...- I put away the sword as the betrayal in his voice makes me feel guilty

-Nobody, there's nothing harmful at the moment... But never say never, you should stay home with your family at this hour of the night-

-I don't have one anymore... They preferred my brother and sister... While I ended up like this- he rises his little hand, his voice is low and sad making me ache for his despair

-Who did this? I'll make them pay-

He shakes his head -It's fine, only one of us was meant for it... As long as the other are fine then I am too!-

-Meant for what?-

-Don't worry Jiejie, I'm a though guy! It doesn't even hurt anymore- he smiles hitting his little hand over his heart

-Oh? They are calling... I have to go now-

-Who's calling? I don't...!-

-Of course you don't... You're not part of the play... Bye JieJie! Was nice meeting you!- he waves his hand before dissolving into the air

-S see you... Soon...?

Part of the play? What's that supposed to mean?-

I remain dumbfounded a few seconds before heading back toward our hidespot

-Play... I don't think Ghosts would be so accommodating to play in a comedy... But what could that have been then...? Was it even a ghost?-