NOVEL WEB The strange dream [3/last]
After leaving the gaming club, Evan and his friends went their separate ways. Evan bid farewell and set off, but he still hadn't mastered the route and pulled out his trusted guide: the map. He activated the map function and selected his home address. It displayed both his current location and his destination. He began to follow the directions, and after a while, he could see his building in the distance.
"Phew, I'm on time," he muttered, glancing at his phone screen and noting he still had some time before reaching home.
"Maybe I should ask Aunt if she needs anything from the store," he thought, and dialed her number. She answered after a few rings.
"Evan, are you alright? Are you lost again? Tell me where you are, and I'll come get you right away," Rossy blurted out without waiting for him to speak, ready to dash out the door until Evan interjected.
"Aunt, I'm fine. I was just wondering if you needed anything from the store since I'm nearby," he explained, and only then did Rossy truly halt, though she was poised to leave.
"Oh, that's a relief. I thought you were in trouble. Well, I was about to ask Jason to pick up a few things, but if you're offering to help, then listen," she said, listing a few items she needed and even transferring money to his phone, which he insisted she could give him later. But she wouldn't have it any other way.
He walked into the store and, after selecting his items, approached the counter where a man with a chubby face was packing another customer's goods.
He waited patiently for his turn, and when the man left, he reached the counter and placed his items on the table.
"Hi, are you new here?" the man behind the counter asked Evan, who nodded in response.
"Oh, I see. My memory is quite sharp, and I instantly recognized that this is your first time here," the man said, quite chatty.
Evan replied politely, which seemed to please the man, who then offered him a small discount in good spirits.
"Hey, where do you live, bro?" he inquired after a series of questions.
"Oh, you see, I'm staying with Mr. Jason, who owns the large building behind the store. I'm on the first floor, room number 103," Evan shared, now feeling more open with the man after their conversation.
"Oh god, bro, it looks like you've hit a rough patch, oh by the way my name is Leo." the man said with a grim expression.
"Huh? Why do you say that?" Evan asked, puzzled.
"Well, you know, the house you're living in is said to be cursed," he explained with a look of horror.
"But why? I've been living there for some time and haven't noticed anything amiss," Evan questioned.
"Yes, because it only starts to happen after one week; before that, both of your lives were destroyed there. One even had to leave the kingdom because his social image was so tarnished," Leo explained, which piqued Evan's curiosity further.
"But how?" Evan asked. The man nodded, picked up a chair beside him, and sat down.
"Well, the story is old when some time ago the first guy appeared, he was living happy when the girl beside him called police on him and get him arrested on peeping and harassment on her. His life was destroyed as he wanted to suppress the news but somehow it got spread like fire and he had to leave the city to live clearly. The second was the same like him who shifted on the same room and was living happily when a month later, a news came that the girl living beside him was seduced by him and he tried to ra*e her which destroyed his whole life as he was arrested, got jailed and his whole family and friends abandoned him and he transferred to another kingdom to live a miserable life now." The Leo explained and Evan nodded while clapping for his great story telling skills.
"Some say the girl ensnared them, others claim the house is cursed, but be careful, brother. I don't want a kind kid like you to end up like them, so stay alert and cautious," he advised, and Evan nodded, fully comprehending.
After further discussion beyond the topic of the cursed room, Evan decided it was time to leave the store and head home.
"Take care, brother, hope to see you soon," Leo said, returning to his counter as new customers began to shop.
Evan nodded and left the store, making his way to his building. He mulled over the story of the two men, questioning how a seemingly innocent girl could be involved in such deeds. For safety, he decided not to trust her completely and to remain discreetly vigilant.
He did not wish to meet the same end as the others.
Arriving at the building, he entered Rossy's apartment and gave her the items. She received them with a smile, suggesting he watch TV while she cooked.
As he watched TV, Jason came and sat beside him. Evan handed him the remote, contemplating the unusual situation of a younger person taking control of the TV in the presence of an elder.
He sat quietly, observing Jason's choice of program. Shortly after, Rossy called them to dinner.
Jason turned off the TV, and they both approached the table, ready to eat.
Rossy had prepared everything, so they began their meal, and within fifteen minutes, they had finished eating. Following a brief conversation, Evan left for his apartment.
Climbing the stairs, he was close to his floor when he noticed the boyfriend of the girl next door knocking on her door. A few minutes later, she let him in, looking around to ensure no one was watching, unaware that Evan was secretly observing the entire scene.
He harbored some doubts about them, yet he could do nothing but live here peacefully, avoiding any interaction with them. Swiftly, he opened his door, entered, and after attending to a few minor chores, lay down on his bed. Settling on his bed, he soon fell onto his back and drifted into sleep.
However, half an hour later, his expression began to change as he entered a familiar dream, which normally wouldn't surprise him. But this time, something astonishing occurred. Just as he was about to be killed in his dream, he found himself transported to a room with a white sky and dark floor, standing alone between heaven and earth.
Looking around, he saw nothing until he turned back. Ten beings stood before him, their features indistinct, but they were undoubtedly large, slender, and towering, standing fifteen to twenty feet tall. He was speechless, and their appearance was incomprehensible. The world began to crumble within seconds, and then he heard something that startled him awake.
The tallest among them spoke in a commanding tone, "The time is coming." These were the only words he could discern or perhaps hear.
He was soaked in sweat from head to toe, despite the fan spinning at full speed.
"Well, today's dream was quite different from the usual, huh?" Evan remarked as he gazed out the window, surprised to see the sun already on the verge of rising, its rays beginning to glow.