Eight Uncles' Beloved Treasure (Lily)

A woman in a wedding dress was stooping outside the door as if trying to peek inside the room.

They just so happened to be inches apart when Zachary peered out.

Zachary was startled. He abruptly jumped up and held his breath before realizing it was all a dream. He was terrified.

Zachary found himself in a dark place. He thought he heard rustling outside in the hallway, which had dim lights. Zachary had a hard time telling whether he was awake or dreaming.

When one had multiple dreams back-to-back or dreams within dreams, it was impossible to wake up. Zachary could not take it anymore. Instead of getting up to turn on the lights or peek outside as he did in the dream, he gritted his teeth, picked up the phone on the bedside table, and made a call.

When Lilly’s smartwatch rang, she was sleeping soundly. She groggily opened her eyes and said, “Hello. Who is it?”

Lilly did not have Zachary’s number. She rubbed her eyes adorably.

Zachary’s voice could be heard coming from the other end. He asked, “Hmm…Can you please come to my room?”

Lilly responded, “Huh?”

She gradually woke up and realized that the caller was Zachary. The young girl got out of bed right away and said, “I’m coming. I’ll be right there. I’m stepping out of my room and moving down the hallway. I’m almost there, about to reach your door anytime now.”

Zachary listened to the phone in a daze. He woke Lilly from her sleep, but surprisingly, she did not get upset.

Her voice was soft and gentle, as if she were worried that he was scared. She continued to hold the smartphone as she talked and walked down the hallway. Her voice could be heard both on the phone and outside in the corridor.

Then Zachary heard a click; Lilly had turned on the light. Zachary tightly closed his eyes and put a hand over them. He saw Sweet Pea running in his direction while he was in a daze. She sprinted and quickly climbed onto his bed.

“Zac, did you have a nightmare again?” Lilly sat down next to him and questioned him.

Zachary remained silent for a brief period.

Lilly reassured him as she patted his back, “Don’t be scared. I’m with you.”

Zachary spoke as he pursed his lips, “Do you think it’s ridiculous?”

“Huh? No, Zac, it’s not ridiculous. You’re seven years old. What’s wrong with being afraid at your age? It’s normal to wet your bed too,” Lilly replied.

Zachary was stunned by her reply. He thought to himself. I appreciate your kind words, but please stop doing so in the future.

Zachary lay down on the bed with a sulky expression. He appeared to be unwilling to speak to her by turning his face to the wall, but he accepted when Lilly patted him on the back.

reclined next to

Did she fall asleep just like that? Is she going to stop

Zachary turned around cautiously. He pursed his lips and turned to face the

rosy cheeks, and lips. She looked harmless. The girl placed her hand under her cheek while she fell asleep,

and closing his eyes. He experienced a sense of security he had never known before with Lilly by his side.

following morning. He saw Lilly sleeping soundly with her head tilted back. Her body took the form of an “A,” with

he poked her foot and moved it. Lilly appeared not

was speechless. He removed her foot

time. It gave Zachary the impression that an elephant had just stepped on him. His eyes grew

while rubbing her eyes. She

was

glared at her and hissed, “Did you

explained, “No,

admitted his defeat, saying, “Alright, I give

her eyes in

maid would pack up any leftovers at the Hatchers and take the food home, leaving me with the vegetables they

to her feet. She said, “Oh la la, I slept so well.

briskly toward the door. He had an oddly awkward

the middle of the night because I was scared. If they did, how am I going to keep

parrot suddenly flew out at this precise moment. It flapped its wings and cried out

over. He shouted incredibly

barefoot. She looked around in confusion

Everyone was stunned.

did you come out from

Lilly said, “I…”

pursed his lips and

with a nod,

gets the

“Ohh…”

onto Lilly’s shoulder. It tilted its head and yelled, “Bullshit!

speechless when the parrot

…

Lilly that he had indeed witnessed a paranormal event, though it

asked in surprise, “This incident happened to you when you saw that

rather than join the crowd to

lying on the ground, covered by cloth. A man came across the incident and he glanced at the corpse briefly out