Demons Beside You

“You mean this key?” Pamela tugged at the key hanging on her neck. “My teacher gave it to me. Why are you suddenly asking me this?”

“My wife seemed to have a key like that too, but it’s made out of gold. She gave it to that b*stard.”

Pamela shook the key in her hands. “Too bad. Why isn’t mine made out of gold?”

“It’s too weird to have a key hanging from your neck.”

“You wouldn’t say that if your wife does that.” Pamela rolled her eyes at Laurent.

A while later, the food delivery arrived at the entrance of the neighborhood. Pamela went out to pick it up.

Laurent waited leisurely, but Pamela just wouldn’t return.

He was bored, so he took a book off of the shelf.

This was a very ancient book. The cover had already cracked and he couldn’t read the title clearly.

He opened to a random page and saw a picture.

It had images of 13 keys with different colors.

But he couldn’t read the words on the bottom. Rather than words, they were more like pictures.

Laurent had never seen such a strange written script before.

It wasn’t far, so why hadn’t Pamela come back yet?

Laurent looked out the window.

It was getting late and the sun had set.

He picked up his phone to call Pamela.

But what he heard was, The number you called does not exist.

What? He’d just called her earlier.

How come the number didn’t exist anymore?

Laurent decided to go out to find Pamela.

But when he walked out, his foot sank. The wooden floorboard had caved in.

He took his foot out and discovered something inside.

“What’s this?”

He picked it up. It was a dust-covered box.

Opening it, he saw that it was filled with pictures of him, Asand, and Pamela when they were young.

Clink—

A key fell onto the ground.

Laurent picked it up and studied it. Wasn’t this the key hanging from Pamela’s neck?

How come it was here?

Was it just the same type?

Laurent saw that the bedroom door was half-open.

He pushed it open and entered.

A sour smell flooded out.

The bed, chairs, table, and closet in the bedroom were covered in dust.

Creak—

The closet was half-open too and made piercing sounds.

He pulled open the door. It was filled with familiar clothes that Pamela had worn before.

But they were covered in dust too. He didn’t know how long they’d been hanging here.

Laurent shuddered suddenly.

No, it looked like no one had lived here in decades.

Laurent wanted to run out of the house, but he heard a noise outside.

Pamela had come back. But instead of feeling relieved, Laurent felt even more terrified.

“Laurent, what’s wrong? You look really scared. Did something happen?”

“No, nothing.” Laurent’s expression was unnatural.

“Come eat,” Pamela said.

“Pamela…you…” Laurent gulped. “Are you already dead?”

Laurent thought of what Pamela had said earlier.

Twelve years ago, there had been a plague here.

More than 100 people had died.

Was Pamela included in the 100 people?

“F*ck you, you’re dead,” Pamela swore. “What are you talking about?”

“But your place looks… It looks…”

“Looks like no one lives here, right?”

Laurent wondered if he saw a ghost today.

He didn’t know if he was scaring himself, but it felt wrong after Pamela had left.

“It’s obviously to make it seem more mysterious. You don’t know how annoying my job is. We have to work to make people trust us.”

“Are you sure? You’re still alive, right?”

Pamela lifted her old leg and kicked Laurent.

“Stop bullsh*tting. Are you going to eat or not? If not, I’m going to finish by myself.”

Seeing Pamela’s familiar action, Laurent suddenly laughed.

It was that familiar feeling and familiar temper.

After eating and drinking, Laurent and Pamela started reminiscing about their respective pasts.

And their mutual past.

Unknowingly, it was nighttime.

The neighborhood outside was pitch black without a speck of light.

Pamela lit some candles.

“I remember back then when we were in that abandoned warehouse. You, me, Asand, we were like this too, lighting a fire and talking loudly. So many years have passed.”

“Who f*cking knew that a bum like that would become a politician,” Pamela said, laughing.

“The last time the three of us met must’ve been 20 years ago.”

“Yeah.”

“You and Asand are both in L.A. Haven’t you two met?”

“That old *sshole is just like that, running around all day on his bike. We call occasionally, but I need to make money too. So we never met up.”

Laurent checked the time. They’d talked for more than four hours unknowingly.

“Asand got into a car accident recently, did you know?”

“No, he didn’t tell me. How are his injuries?”

“He can’t stand yet. After a while, when he can stand up again, the three of us should meet up.”

“It’s about time,” Pamela said.

“What time?”

“Don’t you want to prank your daughter’s boyfriend? It’s time to call him over.”

“Now?”

“No sh*t.”

“Are you sure it’ll work? Are you sure there are evil spirits here?”

“I’m a psychic. You don’t trust me?”

“You just kept saying that you’re a psychic, but I never saw you have any special abilities.”

“What do you think a psychic is? You want me to do magic tricks for you?”

“Okay, okay.”

Laurent picked up his phone and called Chen Zhao.

“Laurent, are you coming back tonight?” Chen Zhao was demanding the moment he spoke.

“Chen, I’m at my friend’s place and drank too much. Come pick me up.”

“You think I’ll care? Call a taxi.”

“I’m in a remote place. There aren’t any taxis.”

“Then walk back.” Chen Zhao didn’t want to care about Laurent.

“Don’t be like this, Chen. I’m Fali’s father.”

Chen Zhao was so annoyed. This old bastard always used this to threaten him.

“Did you prepare another trap for me?”

“No, no, definitely not. I swear, it’ll never happen. Plus, do you think my traps are effective on you?”

“Okay, what’s the address?”

Chen Zhao didn’t believe Laurent. This old guy definitely prepared a trap for him to jump into.

But Chen Zhao would like to see what he’d prepared.