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Midnight Horror: The Strange Dealings of Yellow Stew Chicken Shop
墨書 Inktalez
After midnight, the entire street was asleep, with only the sign of the "Braised Chicken" shop at the corner emitting an eerie red glow.
I tightened my coat around me and shivered as I walked into the store. The proprietress was as usual, wearing a faded blue and white floral cotton jacket, dozing off behind the counter.
"One order of Braised Chicken to go," I tried to make my voice sound normal, even though I knew that everything felt off.
The proprietress slowly lifted her head. Under the dim light, I saw her mouth twist into a strange smile, revealing a set of yellowed teeth. "I'm sorry, but we don't offer takeout here. You see," she pointed to a line of small letters written in blood on the wall: "Dine-in only, no credit."
The proprietress's words sent chills down my spine, but I forced myself to sit down; after walking for so long, my stomach had been growling for a while. Looking around, I noticed the shop was empty except for an old man sitting in the corner with graying hair and strange birthmarks covering his arms, staring intently at me.
I thought to myself, who would come to a place like this to eat at this hour? Just as I was about to look away, the old man suddenly grinned, revealing a set of yellowed teeth that mirrored the proprietress's smile.
I shuddered and instinctively shrank back. The old man seemed to sense my unease and said in a raspy voice, "Young man, don't be afraid; I'm just waiting for someone."
I feigned calmness and asked, "Waiting for whom?"
The old man sighed, his gaze distant as if lost in memories. "I'm waiting for my wife and child; they have been gone for a long time..." As he spoke, he raised his wrinkled hand and gently stroked the birthmarks on his arm, his eyes filled with sorrow and longing.
I looked at him, feeling a mix of emotions and unsure of what to say.
After a moment of silence, the old man suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Young man, do you know the rules of this place?"
His abrupt question startled me; I paused for a moment before responding, "What rules?"
The old man lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Here, everything can be traded, including time, health, and even life. Everything you possess can be used to pay for anything you desire, as long as your 'balance' is sufficient."
The term "balance" sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it.
Furrowing my brow, I asked, "Balance? What does that mean?"
The old man pointed to his heart and said, "Everyone has a 'balance' that represents your remaining lifespan, luck, or other important things. When you want something, you need to pay the corresponding 'balance.' Once your 'balance' is exhausted, you will never be able to leave here."
As I listened to him, a chill ran down my spine, and cold sweat trickled down my forehead. I finally understood that I seemed to have fallen into some immense danger.
This place was not an ordinary restaurant; it was a place that traded lives!
I looked around. Under the dim light, the eerie smile of the landlady and the old man's sinister gaze sent shivers down my spine.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. This was not the time to be afraid; I needed to find a way to escape!
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