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Chapter Three Legends of Ghosts

Nikolai's voice was all raspy and rough as he slowly said, "Alright, listen up, folks. There's some stuff you gotta believe now. Lately, the spike in paranormal events all over the world ain't just a couple of freaky incidents. It's turning into a full-blown global disaster. If we don't get a handle on this, the future's looking pretty grim."

Everyone was kinda shocked by his words.

How did this safety lecture turn into a spooky campfire story?

And now he was talking about the end of the world?

Even the teachers were caught off guard.

"I can't spill too much, and you shouldn't pry. What I'm about to say next, you better remember. This safety lecture might just save your skin someday."

Nikolai didn't keep talking. Instead, he turned around and scribbled on the blackboard. "Ghosts can't be killed."

"Pretty soon, you might find yourself in a situation you never wanted, like running into a ghost. It sucks, but remember this: ghosts can't be killed. So, even if you're scared outta your mind, don't think about fighting a ghost. Your life means squat to a ghost. Killing you is like squashing a bug for them, maybe even easier. With just a blink or a snap, you're toast."

Nikolai's bloodshot, tired eyes scanned the room as he said this, then he turned back and wrote another sentence on the blackboard.

"Only ghosts can deal with ghosts."

Nikolai went on, "If ghosts can't be killed, it means all the tech in the world is useless. Witchcraft, curses, priests, magic, bombs, even nukes—none of it works. If scientists can't crack the 'ghost' problem, the only way to handle ghosts is to pit them against each other. I know you got questions and some of you think I'm nuts, but that doesn't matter. What matters is you listen and remember these words. You'll need them someday. Of course, I hope you never have to use them."

"Michael, what the heck is this guy talking about? I don't get any of it," David whispered.

Michael replied, "I'm not really sure either, but something about it is giving me the creeps."

"Is the Earth mutating, like in those movies?" David asked.

"Probably not," Michael hesitated.

Even though Michael had daydreamed about superpowers, the idea of them being real was terrifying. It'd be a huge threat to regular folks.

On the podium, Nikolai continued, "Since ghosts can't be killed and have crazy powers, it begs the question: if a regular person is targeted by a ghost, how do they survive? This is crucial, and I hope you remember it for the rest of your lives."

After saying that, Nikolai turned around and wrote a third sentence on the blackboard. "Understand the patterns of ghosts."

"Everything's got patterns, even ghosts. According to the research, every type of ghost has a pretty set way of killing and acting, like a computer program. You hit the power button to start the computer, you click the mouse to open software. Get over your fear, figure out the ghost's patterns, and find the loopholes. That's your only shot if a ghost's got its sights on you."

"Remember, if a ghost's after you, this is your only way out. Don't cling to false hopes; the terror of ghosts is beyond your wildest nightmares," Nikolai repeated seriously.

Ghosts can't be killed.

Only ghosts can deal with ghosts.

Understand the patterns of ghosts.

The three sentences were scrawled on the blackboard, messy but readable, showing Nikolai had written them with some serious force.

But the students in the evening class just looked at each other, totally confused.

Was this guy really an international cop? Or was he some escaped mental patient? Was this supposed to be a safety lecture? He was just spouting nonsense.

Some students shook their heads, clearly not buying it, while others started whispering and even laughing.

Obviously, most folks weren't taking Nikolai's words seriously.

Only Michael looked a bit serious. The story on that forum and the photo had already made him uneasy. Coupled with this guy's weird talk, could the world really be changing in ways he didn't know about?

After writing the three sentences, Nikolai didn't say much more. He looked at everyone with his tired, bloodshot eyes and said, "Now, if you got any questions or if anything strange happens around you, ask me and I'll answer. If not, today's safety lecture is over."

But no one wanted to ask anything.

"Should I ask him about that old man's photo?" Michael hesitated, took out his phone, and opened the forum, finding the old man's photo again.

But just as he was hesitating, the lights in the classroom suddenly dimmed, making the room a bit dark.

Nikolai on the podium became super alert.

Michael instinctively looked up and when he saw a figure in the hallway through the window, his eyes widened and his whole body tensed up. A wave of extreme fear surged from his heart and quickly took over his entire body, making him lose all sensations.

Outside the window, an old man with a face covered in corpse spots stood stiffly, his empty eyes devoid of any light, staring into the classroom like a cold, upright corpse.

Around the old man, it was pitch black, not a trace of light. The hallway lights seemed to have completely gone out.

The wall near the old man started to age visibly, the freshly painted surface quickly getting covered in moss, the paint turning black. A gloomy, decaying smell gradually spread.

Michael murmured in shock, "It's the old man from the forum story? No way, how is he here?"

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