The night is getting deeper, the wind darting from the top of the street to its tail, scattering leaves everywhere. The lights on the street side are somewhat dim, and not a soul can be seen in the alley. I wrap the scarf around my neck tighter and hasten my pace back home.
The street lights cast a long shadow trailing behind me and suddenly, the light flickers. The sound of loafers clicking resonates in the alley. The hair on my skin stands straight at that moment, and inwardly I'm praying "May Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva bless me, Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva bless me, Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva bless me."
Master once said that if you come across something unclean, never call for the Buddha's blessing. For the Buddha is compassionate, guiding all living beings, and only Kṣitigarbha can handle those things that don't belong to this mortal world.
But it doesn’t seem to be of much help, because the clicking sound is getting closer and closer, to the point where it stops right behind me!
The alleyway is just in sight, but I dare not go any further. I'm well aware of the icy hands stretching out slowly from behind, wrapping me in his embrace.
By my ear, I hear his breathing.
"Gotcha…"
"No!"
I wake up from the nightmare, gasping for air. The sensation from the dream hasn't disappeared and my heart is still pounding.
I brush my tousled hair behind my ears, glance at my phone on the pillow. It shows the time: 10:02 p.m.
I’m about to be late for the night shift.
I hastily get off the bed, freshen up quickly, then leave without even having time to eat.
This lift apartment I rented before the New Year is a bit out of the way, but because of the cheap rent and nice landlord, I took it. The only drawback is that the lift's power cuts out from time to time.
Standing alone in the elevator, watching it descend floor by floor, I silently pray that the power doesn’t go out at this moment.
"Ding..."
Finally, the elevator door opened, and I quickly realized something was wrong as I stepped out.
The area outside the elevator was pitch black, with the faint moonlight barely illuminating the open surroundings. But I clearly remembered that on the first floor, there should have been a security room. The old security guard, Chen, always enjoyed playing loud music while eating his beef and humming a tune.
I immediately turned around to glance at the elevator. The number ‘5’ was clearly displayed in red. Because of the dream I had earlier, I felt a little scared.
Fortunately, the elevator door hadn't closed yet, and I grumbled at myself for being in too much of a hurry and getting off the wrong floor.
I closed the elevator doors again, then suddenly felt a chill by my ear. I scratched my slightly itchy ear, not paying it much mind.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but the temperature inside the elevator seemed much lower than before. I rubbed my cold arms, but as my eyes swept over the corner, my movements suddenly froze, a chill creeping up from my feet.
I saw a man dressed in ceremonial attire.
"Ah!"
Frightened, I quickly closed my eyes, not daring to look at him again. Yet, his face inexplicably crystal clear in my mind's eye. His handsome face, with fine features as if skillfully sculpted.
His complexion was pale, and he was staring at me intently.
...
"Ah!"
With a start, I opened my eyes to the sight of a white ceiling.
Yet another dream.
With lingering fear, I looked around, recalling that I was indeed on the night shift today. I had arrived at the hospital early to avoid being late, and had unintentionally dozed off in the break room, having consecutive dreams.
I glanced at the clock on the wall of the lounge. It was ten fifty, and in another ten minutes, I would have to go on shift.
The digital clock in the hallway jumped to eleven and I emerged from the dressing room. My colleague, Xiao Wei, was hunched over at the nurse's station, penning something down.
"What are you writing?" I put on my cap, asking curiously.
"Don't even ask…" Xiao Wei sighed longingly, her face worsened as she complained, "The handsome guy in bed twelve just died."
"Ah? Sun Zhe?" I was puzzled, "Wasn't he all fine yesterday? How did he suddenly…" Just as I was saying this, Sun Zhe's family walked past the nurses' station with red eyes. I immediately lowered my voice, "How could he suddenly die?"
Xiao Wei turned around to glance at the relatives surrounded outside the ward and also lowered her voice, "I don't know either. I have checked on him many times in the night, he was perfectly fine, around ten o'clock, his blood pressure suddenly dropped to unmeasurable levels. It's really strange."
As Xiao Wei ended her statement, the hallway lights suddenly flashed. Startled, I felt as if I saw something in that fleeting moment of darkness.
"What's up?"
Her recording finally over, Xiao Wei noticed my odd behaviour and asked.
"Nothing, is there anything particular you need to pass to me?"
"Nothing, nothing, it's just about him. His relatives will come to collect his body later, so no need to inform the morgue."
I nodded in acknowledgement.
Just as Xiao Wei finished speaking, Sun Zhe's relatives finally emerged, wheeling Sun Zhe along. Other ward patients' overnight relatives hurriedly retracted into their rooms, superstitious of the scene.
Several relatives collectively pushed the gurney towards the elevator. As they passed by the nurses' station, a gust of cold wind suddenly blew in, flinging apart the tight white sheet that had originally covered Sun Zhe.
A shudder ran through my body because, I saw, Sun Zhe's eyes were visibly wide open!
He was looking at me!
And at that moment, a faint sigh echoed in my ear, "Caught you now…"