Xu Dongyou was very sure that during the few seconds when he closed his eyes, he did not notice this person passing by him at all.
Except for the footsteps.
Xu Dongyou's hands were tightly gripping the stair railing, his fingertips were cold. He breathed slowly to calm himself down and looked at the man's back carefully.
This strange man exuded an even stronger uncomfortable aura than before, and his neck, which was vaguely visible under his hair, was an abnormal bluish-white color.
In addition, Xu Dongyou also noticed that there was no shadow under the other party's feet.
Even keeping still, Xu Dongyou took a cautious step up the stairs, tilted his head slightly and listened carefully.
Then he became surprised.
Not only was there no sound of this person breathing, there was not even a trace of a heartbeat.
This all seems to confirm a terrible thing.
The owner of these footsteps is most likely a ghost!
Xu Dongyou no longer hesitated, took a few steps up the stairs, and stood on the same step with Hou Mingjun.
From this angle, Xu Dongyou can clearly see the front of this "ghost".
It was a pale and eerie face, almost sticking to Hou Mingjun's back, with bloodshot eyes that were wide open.
It makes my back tingle.
The most important thing is that even when viewed from the front, this "ghost" is still wrapped in something gray, and the more you try to see it, the less clear it becomes.
The only thing Xu Dongyou could see clearly was the other person's face, which was so pale that it was almost bluish.
I don’t know if it’s an illusion, but if I look at that face for a long time, I even feel like the other person is a corpse that has been resurrected.
The uncomfortable feeling deepened.
Hou Mingjun saw Xu Dongyou out of the corner of his eye, so he turned around and whispered, "Dongyou, did you see anything?"
Then Hou Mingjun noticed that Xu Dongyou was staring at something, as if he saw something.
Hou Mingjun's body moved faster than his brain and he turned his head quickly.
But - still nothing.
The only sound in the silent corridor was Hou Mingjun's rapid breathing. He couldn't help but shout again, "Dongyou?!"
Xu Dongyou was startled and came back to his senses. He glanced at Hou Mingjun's slightly anxious and uneasy face, and suddenly realized something.
Even at this time, Hou Mingjun still couldn't see the creature that looked like a "ghost".
Xu Dongyou pursed his lips slightly, his soft face seemed a little serious, and waved his hand to tell Hou Mingjun not to speak.
The more rational you are, the more details and clues you can intuitively notice.
He tried to count silently in his mind to calm his chaotic thoughts, and looked carefully at this "ghost" that had not moved from beginning to end.
Heightened alertness comes into play at this moment.
Xu Dongyou could feel the uncomfortable feeling in the air becoming increasingly stronger.
But strangely, Xu Dongyou did not feel any danger.
This reminded me of what Hou Mingjun had said before: the footsteps stopped on the third floor last time, and this time they will stop on the fourth floor.
Xu Dongyou could only try hard to find abnormal information on this "ghost" and find a way to stop the ghost from following Hou Mingjun.
However, after looking it up and down carefully several times, Xu Dongyou still did not detect any more information from this "ghost".
In other words, the gray, unknown thing actually blocked a lot of information about this "ghost".
Although Hou Mingjun said nothing, his expression became more and more anxious.
He was afraid that once he really stepped onto the fourth floor, the owner of the footsteps would launch a terrible attack on him and even his family.
Xu Dongyou realized that since he could not find any new information from the static "ghost", he could only whisper to Hou Mingjun: "Go up a few more steps."
They were now on the second floor, and walking up a few steps wasn't dangerous.
Hou Mingjun did as he was told without saying a word and slowly walked up a few steps.
In the silent corridor, besides Hou Mingjun's light footsteps, there was also the sound of another person's footsteps.
“Boom—”
“Dongdong—”
It was emitted by the creature that was suspected to be a "ghost".
Xu Dongyou stood where he was and saw the ghost following Hou Mingjun closely, like a shadow that could not be shaken off.
The most important thing is that as the man and the ghost gradually moved upwards, the uncomfortable feeling that made Xu Dongyou gradually became stronger.
This doesn't seem to be good news.
Halfway through the walk, Hou Mingjun stopped and turned his head. He put one foot on the upper step and raised the other foot slightly. He glanced around the bottom of the steps, but still saw nothing.
Xu Dongyou's eyes suddenly fell on the sole of Hou Mingjun's raised shoe, and there was a hint of doubt in his bright eyes.
The facilities in the community are very new, and the lighting in the corridor can almost be described as daylight, but there was something dimly visible under Hou Mingjun's feet.
Hou Mingjun turned around and prepared to continue walking upstairs when Xu Dongyou's voice suddenly rang out, echoing in the silent corridor.
"Mingjun, wait."
—The footsteps stopped abruptly.
Hou Mingjun turned his head with a puzzled look on his face.
Xu Dongyou quickly walked over the stairs and passed by the "ghost" that was also stopped in place.
The moment they were closest, the more intense and uncomfortable feeling became stronger.
Xu Dongyou pursed his lips, resisting the discomfort and came to Hou Mingjun's side, then bent down and gestured, "Is there something on the bottom of your shoe?"
Hou Mingjun subconsciously lifted his foot and took a look. There was dust printed in the grooves of the sole, and nothing else.
But Xu Dongyou saw more than just this.
In addition to the dust, there was a gray mass in the center of the shoe that was impossible to see what it was.
The closer you look, the denser the gray appears.
The feeling this thing gives is exactly the same as that of the "ghost", and they are very similar.
A guess emerged in Xu Dongyou's mind.
Could it be that Hou Mingjun was entangled because he stepped on something related to this creature that was suspected to be a "ghost"
What exactly does this "ghost" want to do
This is the only time it appears when Hou Mingjun returns home, and every time it stops on a certain floor, waiting for Hou Mingjun to appear next time.
Is there some reason why it can't follow Hou Mingjun directly to the fourth floor
It's so weird.
All doubts cannot be reasonably explained.
To confirm again, Xu Dongyou looked up at Hou Mingjun and asked, "Take a closer look. Is there anything else on the bottom of your shoes?"
Hou Mingjun confirmed again, "There is nothing but dust."
No
Xu Dongyou simply took out a tissue and wiped the sole of his shoe, and there was indeed nothing on it.
Then this probably means that the thing is not stuck to the sole of the foot.
Xu Dongyou said seriously: "Then think carefully about whether you stepped on anything strange on the day you encountered this incident. Don't ignore any details."
Hou Mingjun cooperated and thought about it, then shook his head, "I didn't step on anything."
Xu Dongyou pursed his lips even tighter, feeling more and more confused.
Did you really not step on anything
Now it seems that there may be two possibilities. One is that Hou Mingjun did step on something at that time, but that thing was very inconspicuous.
That's why Hou Mingjun said he didn't step on anything.
As for the second possibility.
Maybe he really didn't step on anything, because that thing, like this "ghost", cannot be seen or perceived.
But this still cannot explain why the "ghost" did not go directly to the fourth floor after it entangled Hou Mingjun, but had to use methods that got closer to the fourth floor each time.
Suddenly, the bright lights in the corridor flashed.
In the blink of an eye, Hou Mingjun seemed to have seen something terrifying, and pointed in the direction of the "ghost", "Xu Dongyou! Did you see it?"
The lights instantly came back bright again.
Hou Mingjun looked around in panic, and seemed to become even more frightened. "Dong You, did you just see someone standing there staring at me?"
The pale and blue face and the wide, bloodshot eyes made him look like a ghost in a ghost-taking-revenge movie. It sent chills down one's spine and could evoke the most unknown fear in the depths of one's soul.
Xu Dongyou hurriedly comforted Hou Mingjun and glanced at the "ghost" out of the corner of his eye.
Its hand seemed to move slightly, moving slowly, and then it raised its foot and stepped onto the stairs, its eyes still staring straight at Hou Mingjun.
The lights went out again.
“Boom—”
The sound of footsteps suddenly sounded and echoed in the corridor.
In the blink of an eye, Hou Mingjun saw a person with a pale face there again.
He finally couldn't help shouting, "There, I saw him."
The lights flickered on and off faster and faster.
The footsteps gradually quickened.
The "ghost" was climbing up the steps one by one at a very fast speed.
Xu Dongyou sensed an extremely terrifying aura of danger, his face changed slightly, and he hurriedly pulled Hou Mingjun up.
The "ghost" became more aggressive.
The two had long legs and could cross four steps when they ran with big strides, and they quickly put some distance between themselves and the "ghost".
When Hou Mingjun was about to continue climbing the stairs to the fourth floor, Xu Dongyou hurriedly grabbed him and said, "You can't go up anymore. Your parents are still at home."
Hou Mingjun came back to his senses, looked around hurriedly, and suddenly pointed in the direction of the staircase exit, "Go that way."
Now I can’t go downstairs, let alone go upstairs to actively lead the “ghost” over, so I can only go somewhere else.
Even though Hou Mingjun was slow-witted at this time, he realized that something was wrong.
Would a normal human being cause the lights to malfunction? Moreover, he had only heard footsteps but no one in the past few days.
All this is enough to prove one thing.
That person is most likely a scary thing like a "ghost".
The two men pushed open the door and ran into the corridor. Many residents were at work or school during the day, so the corridor was empty, making it easier for the two men to run quickly.
Boom boom boom.
The hurried footsteps of the two echoed.
After running a few steps, both of them subconsciously turned their heads and looked towards the door.
It was still quiet there.
The "ghost" did not follow.
Hou Mingjun seemed to have lost all his strength. He leaned against the wall and panted. "That's great. It didn't catch up."
Xu Dongyou nodded, and just when he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, his expression suddenly changed slightly, "Oh no."
The reason why the ghost didn't follow me up was probably because it went upstairs!!