Sister's Home 12

He trembled, staring at Xiaoxian in terror. "Who... who exactly are you?"

"Hmph, you aren't even qualified to threaten my master," Xiaoxian said coldly.

The conductor struggled to stand and scurried away in defeat. Xu Si let out a sigh of relief. "Xiaoxian, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I truly wouldn't have known what to do."

"Master, please don't mention it. However, the dangers on this bus seem to be increasing. We must be careful," Xiaoxian replied.

Xu Si nodded, her heart growing heavier.

The bus continued on, and suddenly, the interior lights went out without warning. The cabin was plunged into absolute darkness, so thick one could not see their own hand. Xu Si’s heart leaped into her throat; she gripped Xiaoxian’s hand tightly, her body trembling slightly.

"Master, do not fear. Xiaoxian is here," Xiaoxian whispered comfortingly.

Xu Si forced herself to calm down. She recalled the seventh rule: if the bus lights were to suddenly extinguish, do not panic; once they come back on, check if there is an extra "person" nearby. She fumbled in the dark, confirming that only Xiaoxian was beside her.

After a while, the lights finally flickered back on. Just as Xu Si breathed a sigh of relief, she noticed something wrong with the passenger sitting in front of her. The passenger had clearly been a man before, but now he had transformed into a hideous old woman. The crone turned her head, staring straight at Xu Si, muttering something under her breath.

Xu Si screamed in fright. Xiaoxian immediately stepped in front of her, glaring at the old woman. The crone seemed wary of Xiaoxian and did not dare to act rashly.

"Master, this old woman carries a powerful grudge; she certainly intends to harm you," Xiaoxian said.

"Then what should we do?" Xu Si asked anxiously.

"Master, do not panic. I will find a way," Xiaoxian said, forming seals with her hands once more, preparing to engage the old woman.

Just then, the bus slammed on the brakes, and Xu Si and Xiaoxian lurched forward. When they steadied themselves, they found that the old woman had vanished.

"What happened? Where did she go?" Xu Si asked, bewildered.

"She likely realized she was no match for me and fled," Xiaoxian suggested.

Xu Si nodded, exhausted by the relentless string of terrors. She looked out the window and realized the bus was approaching her stop.

"Xiaoxian, we’re almost there. Just hold on a little longer," Xu Si said.

"Yes, Master. We must leave this place as soon as we get off," Xiaoxian replied.

The bus pulled slowly to the stop. Xu Si stood up quickly and headed for the doors. No sooner had she stepped off the bus than she heard a loud crash behind her. Turning back, she saw the bus instantly disintegrate into ash, vanishing without a trace.

Xu Si was stunned. She could hardly believe she had just survived such a terrifying journey between life and death. She hugged Xiaoxian tightly, tears welling in her eyes. "Xiaoxian, we finally escaped."

"Indeed, Master. We must be careful from now on; there are far too many sinister things in this world," Xiaoxian said.

Xu Si took a deep breath to compose herself. She knew this experience was only the beginning and that more unknown dangers awaited her. Yet, as long as Xiaoxian was by her side, she had the courage to face anything.

Xu Si straightened her clothes and walked with firm steps toward her interview location. A glint of defiance shone in her eyes, as if she were declaring to this eerie, mysterious world that she would not be easily defeated.

Struggling to steady her trembling legs, caught between the relief of survival and the anxiety of the unknown, Xu Si quickened her pace toward the company. The atmosphere on the streets remained chilling; pedestrians hurried by, none noticing the lingering panic on her face.

As she walked, Xiaoxian suddenly warned, "Master, I feel a strange presence following us." Xu Si’s heart tightened. She quickened her pace without looking back, her eyes scanning the surroundings, but the street seemed perfectly normal. There were no suspicious figures.

When she finally stood before the office building, looking up at the towering structure, she felt a complex mix of emotions. She smoothed her slightly disheveled hair and took a deep breath, trying to look professional and confident. However, the moment she stepped into the building, the elevator doors slid open, and a familiar, uncanny aura washed over her.

Inside the elevator, a man in a black trench coat stood silently, his head bowed, the brim of his hat obscuring most of his face. Just as Xu Si turned to leave, the man’s low voice drifted out: "Xu Si, you’ve finally arrived." Xu Si froze. She had never met this man before, yet he knew her name.

"Who are you? How do you know my name?" Xu Si asked, feigning composure. The man slowly raised his head, revealing a face as pale as paper and a wicked, crooked smile. "Who I am does not matter. What matters is that you have been drawn into a game from which there is no escape. The 444 bus was merely the beginning."

With that, the man flickered and vanished from the elevator. Xu Si’s eyes widened in horror. She went to call for Xiaoxian, only to find her companion wearing a grave expression. "Master, the aura this person exudes is stronger than any of the evil spirits we encountered on the bus. We must be cautious," Xiaoxian said, her voice trembling slightly, clearly feeling the immense pressure.

Xu Si took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She knew she could not retreat now; the interview was vital. She approached the elevator and pressed the button, determined to complete the task.

The elevator rose steadily, but Xu Si’s heart raced faster with every floor. When the doors opened again, she saw a spacious, bright office area. Everything looked perfectly normal; employees bustled about, seemingly unaffected by the horrors she had just endured.

Xu Si entered the interview room, where the interviewers watched her with smiles and began their questions. She tried her best to focus, answering every query, even as the figure of the mysterious man and his words haunted her mind. After the interview, the staff told her she would be notified of the results within a week.

Xu Si walked out of the building. The sunlight fell upon her, yet it failed to dispel the gloom in her heart. She wandered aimlessly, pondering the cause behind this series of bizarre events. Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see a text from an unknown number: "Beware of the ghost by your side; she is not as simple as she seems."