Chapter 2

She heard a knocking sound on her door. She got up, opened it, and saw no one. Confused, she stepped outside and looked around the dark hallway.

As she walked further, she saw her parents in the kitchen eating. But they weren't eating food; they were devouring their own rotten skin. She froze in shock, covering her mouth to stifle a scream. Suddenly, her mother's head twisted unnaturally, turning toward her with a wide, eerie grin. There were no eyeballs in her sockets, only empty holes oozing with blood.

Fear gripped her. She spun around to run, but before she could, she collided with a dark figure. Looking up, she realized it was her father. A thick wire pierced through his chest, yet he stood tall, unaffected. His cold, lifeless hands wrapped around her neck, tightening his grip. She gasped for air as her vision blurred. Everything faded to black.

The Next Morning

She jolted awake, staring at the ceiling of her room. Her breathing was heavy, her body drenched in sweat. She swallowed hard and muttered, "What a terrifying nightmare..."

Trying to shake off the lingering fear, she got up and headed to the bathroom. But as she looked into the mirror, her breath caught her neck was red, as if someone had tightly gripped her throat.

Panic surged through her as she rushed to find her parents. But there they were, standing in the kitchen, greeting her like any other morning.

"Good morning, honey," her mother said with a warm smile. "Did you sleep well?" She continued preparing breakfast as if nothing was wrong.

Still shaken, she hesitated before replying, "Oh… yeah, I slept well. Thanks for asking, Mom." Absentmindedly, she touched her sore neck and walked back to her room, lost in thought.

Time Passed Quickly

Later that day, she decided to visit her childhood friends. But when she arrived at the village, she couldn't find anyone she knew. Instead, she saw a familiar older woman from the neighborhood.

Smiling politely, she greeted her, "How have you been, Aunty?"

The woman's expression shifted into something unreadable. After a moment, she asked cautiously, "Did you come alone?"

Her brows furrowed at the odd question. "Ah, no. My parents came with me, but they're staying at home," she replied casually.

Aunty's face paled. Without another word, she turned and ran away.

Confused, she watched the woman disappear down the street. "Why is everyone acting so weird?" she mumbled, shaking her head. Brushing it off, she returned home and settled in to watch TV.

As she flipped through the channels, a breaking news report caught her attention.

"A tragic accident occurred last night. Two people lost their lives in a fatal car crash."

The image of the wrecked vehicle flashed on the screen. Her heart stopped—it looked eerily similar to her parents' car.

Before she could process what she saw, her parents called her for dinner.

Outside, the sky darkened once more.