Chapter 24
I sneak out of the room looking around with my drowsy eyes which didn’t have enough sleep. It’s been only a few a hours that we all came back to rest after writing in the library. Turning around I take another look at Feng Lei to check on him again as it’s been only a few hours that we even returned and he is already is deep slumber.
Hugging the wooden basin in which the towel and dress is placed in I stroll out cautiously to the bath place, making my way to the last one which is in corner I look around peeping over the side curtain making sure no one is there, confirming that I’m alone I undress myself removing each layer of the material one by one, the sound of water drops landing on the cemented floor echoes in the empty place when I pull the filled basin to a side. Lighting up the candle I place it closer to the wall a little farther from my bath area preventing the water splashing over it, to get some light as the moonlight cannot make it’s way to the corner, taking a deep breath in I pour the water over my shoulders my skin reacting like a drought land which had no rain for a long period of time due to the sweat and tiredness of today. I sit there my body moving but my mind is working onto something else.
My mind is caught up by the letter which I received from Doctor Zonghua indicating that he is fine and came back to consciousness a couple of days ago. He told something which he missed to talk about on the day we met and it’s about the butcher who works at the end of the second street market. Wales found out that he acts to be poor and weak seeking help from the people who are travelling in the forest.
Doctor ZongHua told he saw him stopping the guards, holding his head which was bleeding and his dresses were torn like he was beaten up. I suspect that he stopped the cart and guards purposely from moving and then the enemies can take that as an advantage to attack out of nowhere, there is no doubt in that.
Everything seemed to be planned which means the person behind all these knew that father was going to stop the smugglers because usually only the migrants travel in the forest path. I’m pretty sure that the smugglers didn’t intend to do any of these as they were caught by other state for doing illegal business.
I run my hands through my wet hair frustratingly taking a deep breath in I insert my head into the water, closing my eyes I hold my breath in. The scene of my five year old self and father playing in the snow flashes in my mind, I squeeze my eyes shut, gripping the surface of the basin tighter when WanKe appears in front my eyes, I pull back immediately staring at the water which is flowing creating small waves due to the sudden release of pressure, my eyes are fixed to the unclear reflection of my myself where the droplets of water from my hair and eyelashes are dropping into it. Folding my arms I rest my elbows on the surface of the bucket and bury my face inside my palms. I slide my palms down slowly from my eyes to the chin, getting the butcher to open the mouth will give me some pieces of information as for JiangYi I better stay away from him for a while because I could tell that my upper image is glued into his mind from the portrait which is painted, the details are so accurate.
My mind comes to reality when my inner being alerts me of some sound, standing up swiftly I grab the towel which is hung on the pole of the curtain, wiping my body in a second I tie it around my waist and begin to cover my breasts, my actions pause when I hear the footsteps. My heart beat rises when the sound of the owl echoes in the dark place making the environment creepy.
Am I not the ghost which others were talking about. I thought it’s me but seems like it’s a… it’s a ghost itself.
My inner voice drives me crazy creating different scenarios. Slowly I keep a step forward making no noise of my presence I move behind the curtain raising my hands up I grip the hook of the curtain sliding slowly to the right spreading the whole material so that the side is completely covered.
Clutching the edge of the curtain I peep out to see the dark entrance of the bath place where the moonlight is shining upon the floor, the sound of the cool breeze and the swaying of trees and leaves captures the surrounding where I could hear my own sound of breathing.
The moonlight which is passing through the entrance blocks when a dark figure covers it. Being uncertain about my inner being saying that no one is around I step back, turning around I lean forward taking the candle holder I hop forward behind the curtain making sure to cover my body as I’m still undressed where only my lower part is covered and my breasted wrapped around with the lengthy vertical material.
Raising the candle holder high forward I furrow my eyebrows staring at the empty way deeply examining every corners, my heart beat rises when I feel someone’s presence the feeling of someone around you when you are alone and especially in the dark.
My inner being laughs at my own thoughts of ghosts. Letting out a sigh of relief I spin around grabbing my dress, unfolding the dress I turn around my vocal code expands.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh,” I scream aloud forgetting where I am my eyes falls out of it’s sockets in astonishment and I stop when my throat goes dry as my feet gets rooted to the ground.
I try to speak but I couldn’t my body freezes when I realise what is happening right now, it’s something which should not be happen in my whole life.
“You……,” My voice comes out as a mere whisper my mentality alerting my appearance, moving eyes from him I look down at myself, my heart beat racing and I have no idea of what I’m feeling now whether it’s fear, nervousness or embarrassment.
A loud shriek leaves my lips when I felt the stinging pain on my upper arm, I look up when my back hits the wall he moves his face closer to mine our face just an inch away.
“Your life is screwed if you’re caught,” his voice comes out dangerously low his eyes digging my grave.
I gulp down the saliva my eyes fixed to his dangerous ones, my body couldn’t react or move as it stopped functioning as my mind has gone blank and all I could hear is my pumping heart beat and his raging breath.
I can trust him on that he would keep it a secret according to the amount of knowledge I know about him but yet I feel like I’m drowning.
“Why? How?….” he grunts under his breath biting his lower lip “You should leave,” he orders sternly bringing myself alive.
Pushing his hand away from my arm in a flash I push him against the wall and cage him with in my arms making sure that a distance is maintained between us.
“Let me explain,” I adjure my eyes pleading him to listen.
“What if it was someone else and not me,” he questions his voice maintaining the low volume.
“Then… I would…,”I look around except him and my eyes fall on him again “This should not be happening in the first place, Why are you even out at this ti..”I stop, dropping the ‘me’ of time , pressing my lips against each other my eyeballs roll around when I hear someone call out.
“It’s HenYu,” he blurts out like almost telling it to himself.
HenYu?… What is he doing around here at this time… Today is the worst day in my life… I’m screwed
He brushes pass me in a blink of an eye and blows out the candle fire while I stare at an empty space, I come back to reality when hear him call out which makes me to look at him. He throws my dress to me immediately and I catch it automatically my eyes still trying register his quick moves, he jumps forward and holds me behind him.
“Feng Lei?,” HenYu says questionably in a look of what-are-you-doing?
“Is that KeKe?,” He steps forward making Feng Lei to stretch his arms slightly keeping a small step to his left.
“He is changing,” Feng Lei answers dryly and I make my movements quick to dress up hiding myself behind him and my presence is not clearly visible due to the darkness.
“Ohh, he doesn’t like to be with others when changing,” HenYu reminds himself of what I’ve told him earlier, he scratches the back of his neck smiling crookedly.
“What are doing at this hour?,”
“I’ve been out doing the bet and then I heard someone scream, so I came to check out,” he explains.
“What are you both doing anyway?,” He asks making us speechless for the answer.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.