Demons Beside You

On the way back, Ethan looked at Chen Zhao in the rearview mirror. He saw that Chen Zhao kept looking at the empty space next to him, lips moving occasionally. He seemed to be talking to some invisible person.

“Chen, did you smoke weed?”

“Huh? Why would you think so? You think I’ll touch that stuff?”

“Or is it LSD? D*mmit, that stuff is more toxic than weed…”

“Please, I don’t touch that stuff. I’ve never done drugs.”

“But it seems like you—”

“Don’t ask. I’m very normal.”

Ethan suddenly realized that Chen Zhao seemed to be able to see things that he couldn’t.

“Chen, is there anyone on this car, other than us?”

“Beelzebub and Raymond.”

“No, other than them.”

Suddenly, there was a car driving on the wrong side of the road before them. The headlights glared.

Ethan’s expression changed drastically, because the moment that the headlights shone over, he saw a terrifying figure in the rearview mirror. He quickly looked away, but the thing that he’d seen that instant kept flashing in his mind.

“Ethan, stop the car!” Chen Zhao suddenly yelled.

“What’s wrong?”

“Stop, now! Right now! Stop the car!” Chen Zhao’s tone was urgent.

Ethan hurriedly slammed on the brakes. Then Chen Zhao called, “Get out.”

Ethan didn’t know what Chen Zhao was doing. “We can’t park here.”

Just then, there was a huge explosion at the intersection up ahead. A fuel tanker and a small car collided. Firelight swallowed the two vehicles in an instant.

Ethan turned deathly pale. “This…this…Chen…how did you know?”

“Uh…I just needed to pee, so I thought to do it at the side of the street.”

Ethan didn’t ask. He just felt that Chen Zhao must have predicted something. Or he received information from someone, so he had Ethan stop the car so hurriedly.

He could see the Grim Reaper!

He could communicate with the Grim Reaper!

Yeah, he was probably looking for the Grim Reaper when he had Ethan go to that street.

He knew where the Grim Reaper was!

Ethan was thinking nonsense, but his guesses were very close to the truth.

“Chen, is there someone beside you?”

Chen Zhao subconsciously glanced at Blackie. “What? There’s no one next to me.”

“No, I saw it. The Grim Reaper’s next to you.”

Chen Zhao was shocked. “How did you know?”

“It’s true?” Ethan was even more shocked.

Chen Zhao realized that Ethan couldn’t actually see and was just guessing. “True? What are you talking about? Are you high?”

“No, I’m sure. Chen, who exactly are you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Get on the car and take a different route.”

“Chen, are you sure nothing will happen now? You’ll ensure my safety, right? You won’t have the Grim Reaper take me away, right?”

“If you keep blabbing, the Grim Reaper might kill you because you talk too much.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll shut up.” Ethan looked at the rearview mirror again. He tried to keep it in, but he couldn’t help but speak again. “Chen, can you say hi to the Grim Reaper for me? I swear this is my last sentence.”

“Watch the road.” Chen Zhao face-palmed. “I’m begging you. If you keep getting distracted, we’ll really die.”

“Chen, did the Grim Reaper reply?”

“Didn’t you say that that was your last sentence?”

“This is my last sentence now. That was the second to last.”

“If you say another word before I get home, I’ll ask the Grim Reaper to make that the last sentence of your entire life.”

“Please don’t. We’re bros.”

“Who’s your bro? I don’t have such an old brother.”

Ethan was a chatterbox. Even though he was sure one of his passengers was the Grim Reaper, he still couldn’t stop talking. The biggest reason was that Chen Zhao was here.

He was sure Chen Zhao wouldn’t let him die. As long as Chen Zhao was here, he could toe the bottom line without worry.

“Chen, I want to see the Grim Reaper. Can he appear for me?”

“I’m going to sleep. Wake me up when we’re there.”

“Grim Reaper, have you watched the movie Final Destination?” Ethan started talking to himself. “I feel like it’s an insult to you. You definitely don’t have bad interests like that.”

“Grim Reaper, how long do you think I can live for? Will I die from diabetes?”

“If I can meet you, I’ll definitely ask for an autograph. You might not know this because I look like a Protestant, but I actually worship the Devil and the Grim Reaper.”

“If I become your most loyal believer, will I become immortal? Or at least add a few years to my life?”

“Chen isn’t actually suitable to act as your messenger. Maybe you can consider some other people.”

“Ethan, I didn’t fall asleep.” Chen Zhao glanced at him.

“Sorry, I just wanted to try and see if I can have the ability of controlling life and death.”

“Ethan, you’re so old already. You still watch those weird TV shows?”

“Grim Reaper, you can see that Chen isn’t a good choice. I will follow all your orders diligently.”

Chen Zhao really didn’t want to reply to Ethan anymore.

This fat middle-aged American guy was just like a teenage geek.

“Grim Reaper, can you say something to me?”

After chatting for an hour, they finally reached Chen Zhao’s home. He got out of the car immediately.

“Ethan, drive safely.”

“Chen, I don’t like driving at night. Can I stay the night?”

“Not tonight. How about tomorrow?”

“Why not? Are you going to do some ritual?”

“Ethan, do less drugs. You’re delusional already.”

“Chen, you don’t have to hide it. I know that you probably can’t say it out loud. Is that the Grim Reaper’s rule? That you’ll get punished if you say the truth? Then I won’t make it hard for you.”

“Okay, okay. If thinking like that will make life easier for you, then just think that way. Goodbye.”

Chen Zhao slammed the door shut and went into his house.

He went to turn on the lights but found that it wouldn’t work. Did the construction company not fix the circuits?

No, didn’t the movies always play out like this? Haunted homes often had blackouts…

“Blackie, is it the evil spirit?”

“No, it’s because your fuse blew out.” Blackie paced through the house. “Don’t go to the basement tonight.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Your new house is renovated. I need to renovate mine too.”