Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The sky gradually darkens, and the lingering glow of the sunset is cast upon the tranquil suburbs, bringing a subtle warmth.
Amy and Nick have just finished their schoolwork and are walking along the path back home.
Two people happened to pass by Francis, the retired clergyman's courtyard.
The spacious and quiet pathway is made of old stones bathed in a layer of sunlight.
Francis is watering his garden with an antique bronze watering can adorned with intricate patterns. When he sees two people, he smiles, stops his actions, and places the watering can next to a chair. "Hi, Amy, Nick, come and have a seat," he says in a gentle tone with a hint of seriousness.
It's a pleasant afternoon, but Francis's expression is unexpectedly heavy. The two of them sit down with a puzzled look, feeling a slight chill on the stone bench in contrast to the hot air.
"I want to talk to you about that mysterious little door," Francis said, his gaze piercing through the reflection of his reading glasses, locking onto Amy and Nick's faces.
"You can't go in anymore, do you understand? That door—something's not right."
Francis's words weighed heavily on Amy and Nick's hearts.
Amy immediately thought of Jis, the puppet boy who made her inexplicably excited. His blue eyes, golden hair, and smooth lines were unforgettable to her.
"Mr. Francis, why do you say that door is not right?" Nick asked curiously.
Francis looked at Nick, took a deep breath, and said, "When I was young, I was just like you, curious and adventurous. But trust me, some things are better left untouched. I, too, once walked a path out of curiosity, only to find that the door was a trap disguised in sweetness."
Nick's heart began to beat faster, and Amy also felt uneasy. "But, Mr. Francis, we didn't feel any danger. In fact, the puppets inside were very friendly," Amy resisted, feeling her unease intensify.
Francis revealed a bitter smile, "Do you mean the puppets? You think they are harmless, but they can change."
"What do they change into?" Nick asked eagerly.
"Becoming your greatest fear, something you are least willing to face," Francis' voice became particularly low.
"I too was once deceived by those so-called 'friendly' things, and almost lost myself as a result. I strongly advise you to stay away from that door, stay away from that big tree. They are not as simple as they appear on the surface."
"But we've already been inside, what should we do?" Nick's expression changed, no longer showing the previous curiosity and adventurous spirit.
Francis sighed, "Then you must be extra careful, don't go back in. That world has its own rules and logic, not following them will come at a painful cost."
At that moment, Alan and Michelle also walked over, looking somewhat uneasy.
"I heard you found that door?" Alan asked the two, with a serious expression.
"Yes, we did go inside and encountered those puppets," Amy replied, still thinking about Jis, that special puppet.
"You need to be careful with those puppets, especially the ones that seem harmless. They could be the most dangerous," Michelle warned seriously.
"How did you all know about this?" Nick asked.
"Because we all almost became a part of the world behind that door," Alan whispered, as if what he was talking about was not just a door, but a world full of terror and uncertainty.
"Yes, I almost paid a painful price, almost didn't make it back," Michelle's eyes turned sad.
"Almost didn't make it back?" Amy asked in surprise, tightly holding Nick's hand, feeling a wave of unease.
Father Francis smiled slightly, but his expression was filled with sorrow and a warning. "Yes, didn't make it back. I once had a friend who was the last person to truly disappear behind that door, about eighty years ago."
"Disappeared?" Nick's eyes widened in an instant.
"Completely disappeared, as if he had never existed at all," Francis recalled the past, his tone becoming desolate.
Amy felt a sudden chill in her heart and suddenly thought of Jis. "What was the name of that friend...?"
"His name is Jis," Francis whispered almost inaudibly, but the name echoed in the air as if carrying an ominous force.
Amy's heart suddenly tightened, a hint of fear flashing in her blue eyes. "But I know a puppet, also named Jis, is he the... puppet boy around my age, Jis?"
Father Francis furrowed his brow slightly. "Really? You better listen carefully. That Jis, he was originally a real human. He was the son of the merchant who was your great-grandfather's brother. That man eventually agreed to let Puppet Mother put puppet eyes on him, turning him into a puppet, never to return to the real world again."
Amy and Nick stared at each other, feeling a chill run down their spines.
"It's impossible, how can this be possible?" Amy almost screamed.
"Sister, actually there is a portrait in our family's small warehouse, and in the painting, there is a boy who looks exactly like Jis," Nick added.
Father Francis nodded, "That's him, that's the original Jis. He walked through that door and never came out again. His family searched for him everywhere, but they never found him. In the end, they had to accept the fact that he had disappeared. The portrait was left by his father as a memory."
Amy couldn't help but think of her encounter with Jis, the sweet conversations, the inexplicable heart flutter, which suddenly became incredibly terrifying and eerie.
They looked at each other and realized that the situation was far more serious than they had imagined.
But Amy still glanced back at Nick and asked him, "Did you see that portrait a long time ago? Before we met Jis."
"Sister, I actually only discovered that painting yesterday, and at the time, I felt that something was off," Nick said, trembling and carefully choosing each word, as if his sister was more terrifying than the puppet behind the small door.
Amy placed her hand on her chest, took a deep breath, and said, "Well, then what should we do now? Keep exploring or...?"
Nick found himself relieved after being let off.
Comment 0 Comment Count