章節 75: Halloween Is Coming
Jingliu moved through the room, her eyes tracing the contours of the antiques that adorned it. Each piece seemed to tell its own story, imbuing the space with a sense of history and presence. The room felt less empty, more vibrant, like a scene from a past life that had come to visit.
She knelt in front of a porcelain dancing girl. The tiny figure rotated slowly, emitting a delicate melody. The tune was a gentle whisper, barely loud enough to be heard but unmistakably there. Yasushi glanced up from his phone, watching her with a small, private smile before returning to his screen.
For several minutes, she stayed there, entranced by the dancer's slow spin. The world outside the small, silent room seemed to fade away. Eventually, Jingliu stood and walked over to Yasushi, settling beside him. She leaned in, her warmth seeping through his shirt, and spoke softly, yet with a hint of excitement.
"I have an idea for our Halloween attraction," she said, her eyes brightening.
Yasushi looked up from his phone, curious. "What's that? Remember, it'll go to a vote, so don't be upset if it doesn't get picked. It's usually the popular idea or the suggestion from the popular person that wins."
Jingliu nodded, understanding the unspoken rules of their little community. "How about a haunted house? But instead of the usual ghost and ghouls, we fill it with strange antiques. Things we've found in shops or inherited from our grandparents or even great-great-grandparents."
Yasushi paused, considering her idea. He could see the potential in it, the unique twist that could make their attraction stand out. He nodded slowly, a smile forming on his lips again. "That's actually a pretty cool idea. Let's see what everyone else thinks."
+-+
The next day dawned with a cloudy sky, the small bit of sunlight casting a warm glow over the school, although it still snowed. The buzz of anticipation lingered in the air as the students filed into their classroom after lunch. It was time for the first meeting to discuss the upcoming Halloween event, an occasion that always stirred a mix of excitement and creative fervor.
Their homeroom teacher, Senbarisu, joined them for this session. She was a bundle of energy and enthusiasm, a presence that seemed to amplify the students' own excitement. Senbarisu's passion for the event was palpable, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.
"Alright, listen up, you lot!" she called out, slapping the whiteboard with a resounding thud that commanded immediate attention. The students' chatter died down as they focused on her. "We've got an extra incentive this year. The teachers have cooked up a little competition of our own. Whoever wins gets a pizza party right after the events end! So, make sure you do your best!"
A murmur of excitement rippled through the room. The promise of a pizza party was a tantalizing reward, and it added an extra layer of motivation. One of the male students, a cheeky grin on his face, couldn't resist making a quip. "Finally, something we can get into and not just booze for you," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
Senbarisu shot him a sharp glare, but her eyes betrayed a hint of amusement. The boy laughed it off, his audacity drawing a few chuckles from his classmates.
With that brief interlude, the brainstorming session kicked into high gear. Ideas flew around the room, each student eager to contribute their thoughts. Senbarisu, marker in hand, scribbled every suggestion on the whiteboard, her neat handwriting filling the space with a growing list of possibilities.
"Spooky photo shoot!" someone shouted, and it was quickly seconded by several others.
"Costume contest," another voice chimed in, adding to the flurry of suggestions.
"Scavenger hunt with spooky clues," a girl suggested, her voice barely audible over the din.
The whiteboard became a mosaic of ideas, each one sparking more enthusiasm and discussion. Senbarisu moved quickly, her marker gliding across the board as she tried to keep up with the rapid-fire suggestions. She paused now and then to ask for clarification or to draw a quick sketch to illustrate a particularly interesting concept.
As the flurry of suggestions began to settle, Jingliu raised her hand, her fingers stretching upwards like the branches of a slender tree reaching for the sky. Senbarisu noticed and called on her, curiosity evident in her eyes.
"…A haunted house," Jingliu began, her voice steady and measured, "but instead of the usual ghosts and ghouls, we fill it with strange living antiques. Each one imbued with its own brand of horror…"
The room fell into a hushed silence, the collective interest of her classmates piqued. Senbarisu leaned forward, intrigued. "That's interesting. Can you elaborate?"
Jingliu nodded, her eyes sparking with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small, meticulously detailed sketch. She held it up for everyone to see — a haunting depiction of a ballroom ballerina. Her delicate features were twisted into a grotesque mask of decay, her body in various stages of decomposition, yet she danced with an eerie, unsettling grace.
"This ballroom ballerina," Jingliu explained, her voice gaining strength with each word, "but she's dead. Her body is rotting, and she dances around a small part of our attraction. Imagine walking through a darkened room and seeing her pirouette silently in the corner, the sound of creaking joints the only thing breaking the silence."
A collective shiver seemed to run through the room. The imagery Jingliu painted with her words was vivid, and it resonated deeply with her classmates. She continued, encouraged by their reactions.
"We could have living, moving antiques like this old-style candle stand," she pointed to another sketch, an ornate candelabrum with melted wax and flickering, ghostly flames that seemed to have a life of their own. "And a grandfather clock that ticks backwards, each chime sounding like a heartbeat. We can add our own items, too, but they need to fit the 'antique' style, something that makes the horror feel timeless and deeply unsettling."
Jingliu's vision unfurled like a tapestry, each detail adding to the chilling atmosphere she was crafting. She spoke of mirrors that reflected not the present, but the past — glimpses of previous owners caught in perpetual loops of their final moments. She described old, dusty books that whispered their secrets when opened, the pages fluttering as if stirred by an unseen breeze.
"The key," she said, her eyes scanning the room, "is to make everything feel alive, yet tethered to the past. The antiques should seem almost sentient, as if they're watching you, aware of your presence. This will create an environment that's not just scary, but deeply unnerving. A horror that's subtle, yet inescapable."
Senbarisu nodded, clearly impressed. "That's a compelling idea, Jingliu. I think we could really make this work. It's unique and fits perfectly with the Halloween theme. What does everyone else think?"
The room buzzed with excitement. Students began to murmur their agreement, their imaginations already running wild with the possibilities. The vision Jingliu had laid out was not just about fear, but about creating an experience that was immersive and deeply atmospheric.
With her idea taking root, the meeting took on a new energy. They discussed practicalities — how to source the antiques, what kind of lighting and sound effects would enhance the atmosphere, and how to guide the visitors through the haunted house to maximize the impact of each unsettling encounter.
As the session came to a close, the class was left with a clear direction and a renewed sense of purpose. Jingliu's concept had not only captured their interest but had also provided a foundation upon which they could build something truly remarkable. The strange antiques, with their eerie histories and unsettling presence, would be the perfect centerpiece for their Halloween attraction.
+-+
"I didn't think you had thought about this that deeply, Jingliu," Xinyi said, her voice laced with genuine surprise and admiration. "Color me surprised, but I like it! It's got everyone thinking. A lot of people said they'll be scouring the city for antiques to buy and use. We'll need to make our costumes too. This really sounds fun."
Their group had gathered by the baseball field, the players' movements muted by the thick blanket of snow covering the ground. The air was crisp, each breath visible as a small puff of white. The contrast of the vibrant conversation against the serene, snowy backdrop created an almost surreal atmosphere. The excitement for the Halloween event was palpable, a warm current in the cold air.
Jingliu, bundled in her coat, nodded thoughtfully, her cheeks pink from the cold. The others, clustered around her, shared in the enthusiasm that her idea had sparked.
"Are you planning on being the main attraction, Jingliu?" Laura asked suddenly, tilting her head to look at her friend with a curious glint in her eyes.
"…Main attraction?" Jingliu repeated, a note of confusion in her voice. "What do you mean?"
"In every haunted house, there's always a main attraction," Laura explained, her breath creating little clouds in the frosty air. "Something or someone that really stands out, something that people remember. We should have one that will really scare or unnerve people, something to leave a lasting impression. Since you came up with the idea, I assumed you wanted to be the centerpiece of it."
Jingliu looked thoughtful, considering Laura's words. She hadn't initially envisioned herself as part of the spectacle, more as the creator of the unsettling atmosphere. But Laura's suggestion planted a seed in her mind.
"I hadn't thought about it that way," Jingliu admitted, her breath misting in the air. "But I suppose it makes sense. Having a focal point could tie everything together. We could design a character that embodies the haunted antiques theme, something that moves through the house and interacts with the visitors in eerie, unexpected ways."
Xinyi chimed in, her excitement bubbling over. "That sounds perfect! You could be like the spirit of the house, a ghost tied to the antiques, maybe even someone who used to own them. It would add a layer of story to the whole experience."
The group nodded in agreement, their faces animated with ideas. The baseball game continued in the background, the rhythmic thud of the ball against mitts providing a steady beat to their conversation.
"What kind of character are you thinking?" Laura asked, leaning in closer, her eyes sparkling with interest.
"How about…the Goddess Hakufubuki?" Yasushi suggested, his voice cutting through the hum of conversation. He had been quiet until now, and his sudden contribution drew everyone's attention. "She's well known, but instead of an eerie feeling, we go with a divine one. Like...a god protecting those going through the haunted house. She'll be near the middle, and when people reach her, she'll be there, looking at them, looking very majestic or something…"
The suggestion hung in the cold air, and the group processed it in thoughtful silence. Laura's face lit up with excitement. "That…doesn't sound bad. It subverts expectations. If the rest of the house is creepy and scary, then having the goddess who created this city there to ease their worries… I think it'll work!"
Jingliu listened, her mind painting a vivid picture of the haunted house transformed by this new element. The idea of Hakufubuki, a figure of divine protection and calm, juxtaposed against the eerie, unsettling antiques was striking. It could provide a powerful contrast, an unexpected twist in the experience.
Yasushi, encouraged by Laura's enthusiasm, continued, "Let's run it by the class tomorrow and see what they think. If it gets enough votes and likes, then we can go ahead with it. And of course, Jingliu, you can't back out now!"
Jingliu sighed, a resigned smile forming on her lips. The weight of their expectations settled on her shoulders, but it was a burden she was willing to bear. "Alright, alright," she conceded, the enthusiasm of her friends and boyfriend easing her reluctance.
Their discussion continued, each member of the group contributing ideas and refining the concept. The vision of their haunted house grew richer and more detailed with every passing minute. They debated the logistics of creating a space that shifted seamlessly from the chilling, antique-filled rooms to the serene, divine presence of Hakufubuki. It was a challenging but thrilling prospect.
As the baseball practice wrapped up, Furuya joined them, his face flushed from exertion. They quickly brought him up to speed, outlining their plans and the new twist Yasushi had suggested. Furuya listened attentively, nodding along with their explanations.
"That sounds amazing," he said, his approval evident. "I think people will love it. It's different, and it adds depth to the experience."
With Furuya's agreement, the plan felt more concrete. The group's excitement was palpable, each of them eager to see how their classmates would react to the idea. They imagined the haunted house not just as a collection of scares, but as an immersive narrative that would captivate and unsettle in equal measure.
創作者的想法 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "Lidt skidt skal der til, for at en dag skal blive god." -Danish proverb
"A bit of dirt is necessary for a day to become good."
Meaning: This proverb suggests that overcoming challenges or facing difficulties can lead to better days ahead, emphasizing the idea that struggles can pave the way for positive outcomes.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
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