Chapter 22: The Light Turned On

In June, it was already hitting 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

I had on a T-shirt, but I could still feel the icy chill of that hand!

"I... I didn't kill your dad!" I stammered, glancing sideways to see a deathly pale hand resting on my shoulder, not moving an inch.

If only Ronald hadn't taken the Sunstrike, I wouldn't feel so defenseless.

The child maintained a haunting silence.

His hand slowly pulled away from my shoulder.

I felt a wave of relief, steadied myself, and reached out with my left hand to grab the Sunstrike from Ronald.

Ronald's hand was still warm, and with his normal breathing, I knew he wasn't in mortal danger anymore.

The astrological barrier had opened a bit, and the oppressive feeling from the Sinwaft wasn't as strong as before.

I pried open Ronald's fingers and grasped the Sunstrike, attempting to pull it free, but it remained stubbornly immobile.

What in the world?

Ronald was unconscious; there was no way he could possess such an iron grip.

I tugged once more, straining against the unyielding weapon.

My eyes darted around anxiously, half-expecting the child to reappear.

Eerily, the room plunged into a suffocating darkness, broken only by the sound of Ronald's labored breaths and the relentless ticking of the wall clock.

"Come out!" I exerted all my strength in another forceful tug.

A painful sound rang out, and I was thrilled, "Ronald, you're awake?"

"Sir, are you nuts? You're pulling my tongue!"

My head buzzed, and I instinctively looked down to see my hand gripping a black, cracked, warm tongue, with something dark and unknown beneath it!

"Get lost!" Regaining some strength, I couldn't hold back any longer. I cursed and jumped up, ready to bolt out the door!

In a sudden surge of power, the room lights flickered to life, illuminating the space in an instant.

The sudden brightness made my eyes hurt.

I blinked a few times, covered my eyes, and waited a few seconds before steadying myself.

Turning around, I saw Ronald lying quietly on the sofa, breathing evenly, not moving.

I glanced at the sky, and the black hole had disappeared.

The wall clock showed it was nine o'clock.

An hour had passed in a flash.

The hallway light was off, so I walked over to turn it on.

Before my hand touched the switch, the power went out again.

In a blink, the room was dark again.

My outstretched hand didn't stop, instinctively pressing the switch.

With the power out, the light naturally didn't come on.

I sighed, only to find a black mist floating around my right hand pressing the switch.

"What is this?" Just as I was about to pull my hand back, the power came back on.

Warm light filled the room.

"Sir, where are you taking me?" That terrifying voice rang out again.

Still gripping the switch, my right hand now held onto that eerie black, cracked tongue, with a ghostly white skull lurking behind it!

I was stunned.

The skull raised its chin, "Sir, did you kill my dad?"

Then, it shook and lunged at my face!

"Get away!" I jolted awake, gasping for air.

Was it just an illusion?

The room remained engulfed in impenetrable darkness.

My body was drenched in a cold sweat.

Looking around, I found myself slouched against the sofa, with Ronald sprawled to my right.

So, after I put Ronald on the sofa and placed the Sunstrike in his hand, I must've passed out or had an illusion.

Damn it!

Thinking of that kid who scared me half to death, I couldn't help but curse inwardly.

After all, I was still just a kid myself.

I staggered to my feet and looked at the clock by the streetlight outside.

It was exactly nine o'clock at night.

I looked at the sky again, and the black hole had disappeared.

Ronald turned over, looking like he was about to wake up.

I hurried over to check, "Ronald? How are you?"

Ronald shook his head slightly, still a bit out of it.

Just then, I heard the door creak open from outside, "Dad, you home? Why's it all dark in here?"

Ronald's son was back!

Just as I was about to say something, Ronald, who had been lying quietly on the sofa, suddenly jumped up, screamed, and ran towards the open window on the balcony!

We were on the seventh floor! A fall from this height would be catastrophic!

In a frantic turn of events, his son burst into the room and flicked on the hallway light.

With the return of power, the room was bathed in light once more.

Reacting swiftly, I lunged forward and seized Ronald before he could make a fatal leap.

The three of us stood there, stunned in the light.

The atmosphere was a bit eerie.

"Dad?" The boy was stunned for a long time before calling out.

Ronald came to his senses, lost all his strength, and collapsed to the ground.

As he fell, I saw a wisp of black mist drift out of him and disappear instantly.