Chapter Two: Ominous Happenings

Since then, every time I finish work and return home at night, Teacup would fix its gaze on me and unleash blood-curdling roars. It would only quiet down once I walked all the way into the yard.

After consulting a vet, Teacup was found to be healthy and not sick. Through my observations, I gradually realized that Teacup's reason for roaring at me was not that it didn't recognize me, but rather it seemed like there was something sinister following behind me!

This was what filled me with unease and confusion, as I always took the last bus home from work alone without accompanying anyone. So who was Teacup roaring at?

Furthermore, I also noticed that the woman closest to me was starting to behave increasingly strangely. Our conversations became less frequent, and her actions carried an indescribable sense of peculiarity. Sometimes, she would sit aside and sneakily stare at me with eyes filled with indifference and unfamiliarity, sending chills down my spine.

Every night, I would have nightmares where I would witness my own body lying in bed.

However, what truly unsettled me was waking up every morning to find black paper ashes on the floor under the bed, sometimes more, sometimes less. And that eerie burnt smell never seemed to dissipate from the room.

These subtle yet tangible changes tormented me, causing sleepless nights and a dazed state during the day. I even went to see a psychologist without telling Ivy, but I was told everything was normal and that it was just stress causing me to overthink.

Deep down, I knew clearly that if I wasn't sick, then all these strange yet real occurrences were definitely not just due to stress!

One Saturday evening, due to working late, I missed the last bus and hesitated to spend extra money on a taxi, so I decided to walk home.

Although the route was not close, it would take me at most half an hour by foot.

As I walked alone down the dimly lit and sparsely populated Chengming Road, I began to faintly sense someone following behind me…

As time passed, this feeling of being followed became more pronounced. I couldn't help but turn around to check, but there was nothing but darkness behind me, not even a ghostly figure.

Continuing to walk forward and feeling the sensation of being followed once again, I couldn't resist looking back, only to see the empty, pitch-black street with no one in sight.

The heartbeat slowly quickened at this moment, and the strange incidents I had encountered before began to slowly emerge in my mind, making my already somewhat palpitations become even more terrifying.

Silence enveloped the entire road, sending a shiver down my spine, prompting me to quicken my pace towards home.

Just as I turned out of Chengming Road, I was suddenly startled by a series of urgent barks.

Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a young woman in her early twenties walking towards me with an Alaskan Malamute by her side.

The Alaskan Malamute she was holding onto, upon seeing me, behaved exactly like my family's dog when it goes into a fit, with wide eyes fixed on me, barking wildly as if it wanted to rush over and tear me to shreds!

The owner of the Alaskan Malamute seemed taken aback by her dog's sudden change in behavior. After a brief moment of daze, she began shouting at it repeatedly.

"Buddy! Stop barking! What... What's gotten into you?!" The girl appeared somewhat flustered at this moment, completely unsure of how to deal with her giant Alaskan Malamute suddenly going "berserk."

As the barking from the Alaskan Malamute grew louder, its fur stood on end just like my dog, Teacup.

At the same time, I clearly saw tears welling up in the Alaskan Malamute's eyes as it continued to tremble uncontrollably!

Although I was equally startled by the Alaskan Malamute's continuous barking, I quickly reacted and stared at the Alaskan Malamute as I slowly backed away.

As I stepped back, the Alaskan Malamute finally quieted down, but still kept a watchful eye on me... No! Wait, it seemed like it wasn't staring at me, but at something behind me!!

In an instant, my hair stood on end, feeling a chill down my spine, and involuntarily swallowing hard, I slowly turned around to look behind me.

Behind me was pitch black, an empty street with only the thick, impenetrable darkness of the night, devoid of any human figures.

"Hey, handsome guy across the street, did Buddy scare you just now?" At that moment, the voice of the girl walking her dog across from me rang out.

Upon hearing this, I turned to look at her and softly replied, "No... I'm fine..."

"I'm really sorry about earlier, Buddy never bites people, he's very gentle usually, but today I really don't know what's gotten into him. He went crazy barking as soon as he saw you, and even scared me." The girl spoke to me while gently stroking the raised fur on the Alaskan Malamute's head.

Although the girl herself didn't understand why her Alaskan Malamute went berserk upon seeing me, I knew deep down that its behavior just now was like Teacup's, continuously barking wildly behind me. Could it be because there was something... behind me?

Thinking of this, a chill swept over me, making me shiver involuntarily. I turned around to take another look but dared not continue thinking about it. Hastily, I greeted the girl and hurriedly made my way back home.

Upon returning home, accompanied by the frantic barking of Chasing Fate, I rushed into the house. It was pitch black inside, and Ivy, who usually got home before me, had not returned. I turned on the lights, walked over to the sofa, and sat down, exhaling deeply as I lowered my head to gaze at the floor.

What on earth was going on? Why did every dog go "crazy" upon seeing me? And what was following me from behind? I had always believed in science, but it failed to provide me with an answer.

I picked up my phone and dialed the number of a childhood friend to whom I could vent my feelings in my current state of depression.

Even though venting may not be of much use.

I didn't have to wait long before hearing Paul's voice on the other end of the line:

"Hudson, what can I do for you, calling me?"

"Paul, I don't have the mood to joke with you now. I've encountered strange occurrences recently," I cut to the chase.

Upon hearing what I just said, Paul pondered for a moment and then immediately asked, "What kind of strange occurrences?"

"I can't really explain, but there have been many bizarre events happening around me. Every dog I encounter, including Chasing Fate, goes crazy barking at me. Also, I frequently smell a burnt odor in the room, and in the morning, I find black paper ash under the bed. I told Paul all this because, firstly, he is my childhood buddy, and secondly, he is indeed very intelligent, always able to calmly analyze situations beyond ordinary people.

"I say, Hudson, are you scaring yourself for no reason? Did you perhaps bring a chicken leg with you when you went out, and the dogs are barking at you because they want to bite it?" I didn't know if Paul was joking with me or simply not taking what I said seriously.

Indeed, if I hadn't personally experienced these bizarre occurrences, I would find it hard to believe if someone else told me.

"Paul, I'm not joking with you, and I keep having the same dream lately—I see my own dead body in the dream every day! Right now, I just want to figure out why those dogs go crazy when they see me and why there's burnt paper ash and that damn burnt smell in my bedroom every morning!" By the time I finished speaking, I was almost hysterical. These bizarre occurrences had nearly driven me mad in recent days.

After I fell silent, Paul remained quiet for a while before saying, "Hudson, if what you've told me is true, I have a suggestion."

"What suggestion?" I felt hopeful.

"Install a surveillance camera in your bedroom to record everything that happens after you fall asleep. The truth will naturally be revealed. If there's nothing, then it's definitely just your imagination." Paul's words made me suddenly see the light, and I sighed with relief, wondering why I hadn't thought of such a simple solution earlier.

Just after ending the call with Paul, Ivy still hadn't returned. I tried calling her, but her phone was switched off. Left with no choice, I set out alone to buy a surveillance camera.

I couldn't wait, I couldn't wait another day. I had to figure out the truth behind these bizarre occurrences.

After returning home and installing the camera, Ivy finally came back. Seeing her weary face as she walked into the house, I poured a glass of water and handed it to her, asking, "Ivy, where have you been? You're back so late."

Ivy took the water I offered but didn't drink it. She sat on the sofa and looked at me, saying, "I had to work overtime at the company tonight, and I forgot my phone charger at home. Were you worried?"

I grabbed her arm and stared into her fair face, asking, "How long has it been since we last make lo..."

After hearing my words, Ivy slowly pulled her arm away from mine and replied, "Let's do it another day. I'm really tired lately..."

As I watched her walk away and heard the crisp sound of the door closing, it felt as though a sledgehammer had struck my heart hard.

Can people really change?