On a stormy night, two hands slapped the window, leaving a few trails of mud and water on the glass - what a classic horror movie scene.
The sky outside was brighter than inside, so the two hands pressed against the window were particularly obvious, their skinny, slender fingers like branches.
Mei Li was so frightened that she woke up completely. She lay in the warm quilt, watching the two hands slowly tapping on her window. Her scalp kept throbbing and it felt like a bottle of soda was poured into her head.
Her room was on the second floor, and the ground floor was almost three meters high. If she wanted to clap her hands on the window on the second floor, it would undoubtedly be the long swamp monster.
Was it because of the rain that he was able to escape from the swamp and come to the vicinity of the house? Mei Li pressed his chest and felt his heart beating rapidly.
She stared at the two hands, stood up slightly, and touched a stool beside the bed with her sweaty hands.
If swamp monsters can get into the house, she's not going to sit there and wait for them to die!
However, as the rain gradually subsided, the hand knocking on the window slowly moved away, and it became quiet outside.
On the misty glass window, which was covered with water vapor, there were only two faint handprints.
Mei Li couldn't fall asleep again after being awakened. She stayed up half the night with her eyes wide open. When the night passed and the dawn came, she rubbed her slightly sore eyes and got up with dark circles under her eyes.
The rain here fell quickly and decisively, without any dragging or lingering rain. The sun came out early in the morning, chasing the tail of the drizzle, and the light penetrated the mist in the woods, presenting a beautiful golden color.
Mei Li stood under her window and saw that the base of the wall, which was originally covered with weeds, now had a small puddle of mud with a layer of rainwater in it.
Next to the mud pit, there were two muddy wooden sticks. Looking at the two broken sticks, Mei Li's eyes couldn't help twitching.
It was the stick that was broken when she hit the monster.
Did the swamp monster follow her because he held a grudge? I wonder if I can put an end to this matter if I let him fight back.
She was silent for a moment, went back to pick up the tools, scooped out the water from the mud, then put a pile of firewood on the mud and started to make a fire.
As long as the soil can be burned solid, the quagmire will no longer exist.
In order not to waste firewood, she also put a pot on it to boil water.
Mei Li, who believed he had escaped death three times from the swamp monsters, was determined to plug all possible loopholes that might appear in the swamp monsters. He did all this with a heavy expression as if he was facing a formidable enemy.
As for the two broken sticks, she cautiously pushed them into the fire and burned them together. She didn't dare to touch them, in case there was a curse.
After making sure that all safety hazards around the house have been resolved, Mei Li welcomes a visitor.
Hersha stood at the garden gate, carrying her basket, looking around hesitantly.
"Hesha?" Mei Li didn't ask why she came, but went straight to open the gate and said, "Welcome to come and play."
As expected, Hesha immediately showed a relaxed and happy expression. She came over suddenly, and she thought Meili would be a little unhappy, but she was so friendly that she felt that Meili really regarded her as a friend, and she was very happy.
"Yesterday I heard you say you wanted to grow vegetables. I have no experience, so I came over today to see how your vegetables are doing. Do you want me to help?"
Mei Li brought the enthusiastic little girl into the house and said, "It would be great if you could help me. I don't know if I planted these vegetables correctly. Can you take a look for me?"
The two walked to the edge of the vegetable garden, and Hesha really gave her some instructions, "... These are planted too densely, it's better to plant them a palm's width apart. Also, don't water them too much, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow easily..."
As she was talking, she suddenly felt a strong gaze, and when she looked up, she saw a figure by the second-floor window. She was startled, and looked again, but there was nothing, only dark green curtains.
Seeing her suddenly pause, Mei Li asked, "What's wrong?"
Hesha hesitated, shook her head, and continued to explain to her some common sense about growing vegetables. Meili invited this little friend to stay for dinner, and Hesha gladly agreed and promised to cook.
Mei Li was satisfied - that's great, she could finally see how a local girl cooks.
Mrs. Peg ate very little of the weird dishes she usually cooked, and she was worried that the funeral would be held soon.
Lunch was taken in the garden which was full of gorgeous flowers, large trees providing shade and flower arches.
When Mei Li first came into this world, the yard was overgrown with weeds and lacked care. Later, while thinking about life, she tidied up the yard. Now the garden has regained its vitality and beauty.
The knowledge of repairing the yard and pruning flowers and trees was mentioned by my sponsor and pen pal, Mrs. Qin, when she occasionally wrote to share her life. Mrs. Qin seemed to be a middle-aged lady who lived a leisurely life and had a large garden at home.
Influenced by her, Mei Li also consciously read some content related to gardening and flower planting.
However, if I had known that I would fall into this situation, perhaps I should have read more about vegetable growing knowledge.
Hersa was envious of her garden and kept praising it, "Great, Meili, your garden is so beautiful. We don't have such a beautiful garden here!"
Mei Li concentrated on tasting the food Hesha made, feeling a little disappointed. Not being born and raised here, she really couldn't adapt to the taste here.
While Leuchera was playing in the garden, Meili brought food to Mrs. Peg, but she still looked like she had no appetite.
After going downstairs, Hesha asked to go back because she needed to help with housework and could not play freely every day.
Seeing that her eyes were still lingering on the flowers in the yard, Mei Li specially cut a few flowers and put them in her basket.
"Give it to me? Mary, you are so kind!" Hesha sniffed the flower intoxicatedly and waved goodbye to her, "It's too lonely for you to live in this house alone. I will come to visit you next time!"
Seeing her turn and leave, the smile on Mei Li's face suddenly froze.
Why did Hertha say she lived here alone? Wasn't there Mrs. Peg
She stood at the gate of the yard, with the brilliant garden and the silent house behind her. The sun was still shining on her, but she felt a chill on her back.
Seeing Hesha's back running farther and farther away, she called her with difficulty, "Hesha..."
The little girl stopped and looked over in confusion, asking if she had anything else to do. Mei Li gave her an ugly smile, "I suddenly remembered that I need to buy something. I'll go to the market with you."
She didn't even enter the house, but closed the gate and caught up with Hesha.
She was too silent along the way, and even Hesha noticed something was wrong. She thought her friend was reluctant to let her leave, so she said to her, "Meili, don't worry, I will come to play with you often in the future. Even if my parents don't allow it, I will go there quietly."
Mei Li: “…” It seems like he discovered something again.
"Is it because of me that they don't want you to come to my house?" she asked.
Hesha immediately waved her hands, as if she was afraid that she would be sad. "No, no, no, it's not because of you. It's... your home is too close to the big forest. I heard that there are many wild animals there. It's not safe, so people usually don't come here."
She was a child who could not lie, and Mei Li easily understood the other meaning in the words.
After walking on the path for a while, Mei Li calmed down a little. She thought for a moment and spoke again, "Your family cares about you very much. I suddenly thought of my mother, too."
Secretly observing Hesha's reaction from the corner of her eyes, she indeed showed a sympathetic look, and took her arm to comfort her: "Meili, don't be sad anymore. Mrs. Peg has passed away. She must have hoped that you would forget her and live your own life well."
Mei Li took a deep breath and suppressed the scream in her throat.
Mrs. Peg is dead
Already dead?!
So who is the woman she sees every day during this period
Mrs. Peg's... ghost
The feeling of fear was like bubbles that kept rising up and then exploded in her heart.
Calm down! Calm down! Calm down!
It's okay, she has lived with that guy for so long, and I haven't seen her do anything to her, so it should be safe.
Since we have already seen the swamp monster, we are not afraid of one more ghost.
Mei Li kept convincing herself in her heart and managed to keep her expression. She took the opportunity to buy things in the market and found out more about Mrs. Peg.
I finally understand what I meant by the word “what a pity” I heard before.
Mrs. Peg died two months ago and was buried in the forest near her home, not in the same cemetery as other people in the town.
Mei Li sat on the white stone beside the low wall, staring at the wild flowers at her feet. If anyone knew there was a ghost in their home, they would not want to go back. But if she didn't go back, where else could she go
She was alone in this world, homeless, and had nothing but herself.
There was a gurgling sound from a mud puddle not far away, and a gray figure emerged.
The swamp monster is back again.
Mei Li raised his eyelids and took a look, his face expressionless and he did not move.
If it were yesterday, she would have jumped up and run away immediately, but now, she has not been able to accept the reality of living with a ghost. She feels a little numb and even a little irritated.
Ghosts, swamp monsters, come if you have the guts. Do you really think I’m afraid of you
The swamp monster that grew out of the mud broke away from the mud and approached Mei Li at a snail-like pace.
Mei Li was even getting a little impatient, and with his arms folded, he took a closer look at the terrifying swamp monster for the first time.
His hands, which hung down to his knees, were holding something. It was covered in mud and it was unclear what it was. It made a creaking sound as it moved.
Looking up from the knees, the skin was grayish white and covered with mud. The thin muscle lines were somewhat obvious, and there was even a piece of rag wrapped around the waist, with mud dripping down.
Chest, shoulders, head, Mei Li didn't see clearly what he looked like. Her eyes were first attracted by the large and small white mushrooms growing on his shoulders and head.
The white mushrooms growing on damp rotten wood and on the body of the swamp monster seem to have adapted to the environment, standing upright with their little umbrellas.
Those white mushrooms that she had hit his head with before actually grew directly on his body.
“Puff—”
When she heard the voice, she realized that she was amused by the funny appearance of the swamp monster.
Because the other person looked so funny with a head full of mushrooms, Mei Li's fear of him suddenly eased a lot.
The swamp monster finally came to her, stretched out his long arms toward her, and handed the squeaking mud ball in his hand to her.
Mei Li leaned back and unconsciously followed his movements, and saw clearly what was wrapped in the mud.
It was the lantern she had lost earlier.