The Vengeful Bride

When I was young, a girl in our village died. She was pregnant without being married and hanged herself in her seventh month.

Her parents were so ashamed they wrapped her body in a straw mat and dumped it on the wild burial mound.

That mound was only ever used for pigs that died of disease and chickens that perished from plague—it was no place to bury a person.

After that, every night the village heard a woman weeping: “Dad, Mom, it’s me, Lily. Open the door!”

1

The whole village was terrified. No one dared go out after dark.

The village chief hired a Taoist priest to perform rites. Before leaving, the priest warned repeatedly: “The wild burial mound on the mountain is a place of extreme yin. Don’t set foot there for five years.”

After the priest left, peace returned. The woman’s cries stopped at night.

Three years passed.

My uncle Wesley brought home a beautiful girl from the city. “Dad, Mom, this is my girlfriend, Diana.”

Diana smiled. “Hello, Uncle and Auntie. Just call me Diana.”

My grandparents grinned from ear to ear. “Come in, Diana.”

Diana clutched a camera. “I’ll take some photos first before coming in.”

She raised her camera and snapped away, capturing every corner of our yard—even the outhouse.

My grandfather shot Wesley a look. Wesley said, “She loves photography. She’s never seen a mountain village house before.”

Grandfather said nothing and went inside.

Grandmother stood at the door. “Diana, it’s chilly out. Come in when you’re done.”

She signaled Wesley to keep Diana company. He went over, and I followed Grandmother inside.

Grandfather sat on the heated brick bed, smoking his pipe. Grandmother said, “Put that out. The whole room stinks. Can the girl stand it?”

Grandfather grumbled, “Who takes pictures of an outhouse? That girl has no manners.”

Grandmother snatched the pipe away. “Stop smoking. Why bother about that? She seems nice enough—pretty, educated, and she doesn’t look down on our boy.”

Grandfather was silent for a moment. “Old Zhang slaughtered a sheep yesterday. I’ll buy some mutton. You kill a chicken. Ethan, go buy a live fish. We need several dishes.”

I took the money and went for fish. Grandfather bought mutton. Grandmother killed a chicken.

By evening, we had six dishes ready.

Grandmother said, “Ethan, go call your uncle and Diana for dinner.”

I ran to the east room. “Uncle, Sister Diana, dinner’s ready!”

The room was empty.

Where had they gone?

I ran back to the west room. “Grandpa, Grandma, they’re not home.”

“Not home?” Grandfather frowned.

I nodded.

Grandmother said, “Maybe he took her for a walk. Let’s wait.”

Just as she spoke, I heard the door open.

Wesley and Diana came back, laughing and talking.

Grandmother said, “Wash up and eat. Where did you go?”

Diana smiled. “We watched the sunset. It was beautiful.”

She opened her camera. “Look.”

We crowded around.

My grandparents’ faces went pale instantly. The place Diana had photographed was the wild burial mound.

2

Diana smiled. “What’s wrong?”

Grandmother recovered. “Nothing. Come eat.”

She led Diana inside. Grandfather signaled Wesley. “Come help me move some lumber to the shed.”

They went to the yard. I followed.

In the shed, Grandfather slapped Wesley across the face.

Wesley was stunned. “Dad, why did you hit me?”

Grandfather kicked him hard several times. “You idiot! Who told you to go to that burial mound? Don’t you know Lily is buried there?”

Wesley snorted. “You hit me for that? Lily’s been dead three years. What’s there to fear? Dead is dead. There are no ghosts. That priest was just fooling you country folk.”

“Shut up!” Grandfather glared. “A few years in the city and you forget your roots? You dare mock your own father?”

Wesley sighed and crouched down, silent.

Grandfather said, “You’ll be the death of me. If something happens to Diana, you’ll regret it forever.”

Wesley said, “What could happen? People die everywhere.”

He stood up. “I’ll take Diana away tomorrow.”

Grandfather blocked him. “No.”

“Why?”

“The priest said no one should set foot there for five years. Once you do, evil spirits will cling to you. I have to find that priest to save your lives.”

Wesley paused, then laughed. “Dad, are you serious? We’re two living adults. What could happen?”

Just then, I saw Grandmother creep out of the house. She signaled me to be quiet.

She took my hand and led me into the shed. Her hand was ice cold. Her face was panicked.

“Old man, we’re in big trouble!”

“What?”

“At dinner, I saw corpse spots on Diana’s neck. Her eyes were bloodshot. She looked like a walking corpse.” Grandmother’s voice was barely a whisper. She turned to Wesley. “You little beast! This is your fault!”

Wesley frowned. “Mom, you must be mistaken. That’s impossible.”

Grandmother sighed. “Old man, what do we do?”

Grandfather puffed his pipe, saying nothing.

Wesley said, “I climbed that mound too. Why am I fine?”

Grandmother slapped his shoulder. “Diana is a woman. Her body is weaker. Evil things latch onto women more easily.”

Wesley insisted, “I still don’t believe it. Let me go see.”

Grandmother grabbed him. “See what? You’re impossible. Stay put.”

Grandfather tapped out his pipe. “I’ll go find the village chief. He can help us get the priest.”

Grandmother said, “Take Wesley and Ethan. All three of you go. I’ll stay and watch Diana.”

“No.” Wesley panicked. “Dad, Mom, did I really cause this? We should all go together. We’ll find the priest together.”

Just then, a figure appeared outside the shed. Diana walked in, smiling. “Why is everyone out here? Why aren’t you coming inside?”

3

Grandmother forced a laugh. “Coming.”

She took Diana’s arm and headed for the house, glancing back at Grandfather.

At the door, Diana stopped. She pointed at us. “Why aren’t they coming?”

Grandmother smiled nervously. “They need to chop wood. We’re out of firewood.”

Diana pointed at me. “Is he chopping wood too?”

I stepped back, hiding behind Grandfather. The way Diana looked at me was wrong.

Grandfather said, “Wesley, take Ethan and chop wood. Your mother and I will eat first.”

He patted Wesley’s shoulder.

Grandmother looked helpless. She opened the door and went in.

Grandfather followed.

But Diana still didn’t enter. She pointed at Wesley. “Come eat.”

Wesley’s legs trembled. His voice shook. “Okay. Let’s eat.”

He went inside. Diana followed.

I was alone in the yard. I ran toward the village chief’s house.

He lived at the west end of the village. I lived at the east end. It took me over ten minutes to get there.

The chief’s black dog barked at me. Lee Ford came out, puzzled. “Ethan, what are you doing here so late?”

I said, “Chief, come to my house quick. My uncle brought a girlfriend from the city. They went to the wild burial mound today. Grandpa told me to find you.”

The chief’s face changed. “I’ll get Master Chen.”

He added, “Ethan, stay here tonight. Don’t go back.”

“Will my grandparents and uncle be okay?”

The chief frowned for a long time without answering.

I was worried about my family.

He patted my head. “Ethan, be good. Wait for me.”

He got on his motorcycle and left. The empty yard held only me.

I didn’t listen. I ran back home.

When Grandmother saw me come in, her hand tightened on her chopsticks. “Why are you so late? The food’s cold. I’ll heat it up.”

She picked up a plate of chicken. Diana said, “Don’t bother. There’s other food.”

Diana’s face was deathly pale. Her eyes were bloodshot. Her hair hung loose like a ghost’s.

Grandfather signaled Grandmother. She put the plate down.

Diana looked at me. “Come eat.”

I forced myself to stay calm. I sat beside Wesley at the table.

His forehead was covered in cold sweat. His hand trembled as he held his chopsticks.

Diana smiled. “Wesley, how many girlfriends have you had?”

“Two. College classmates. I told you that.”

He lowered his head, avoiding her gaze.

Diana snorted. She turned to Grandfather. “Uncle, is that true?”

Grandfather paused. “I don’t know about his love life.”

Diana’s voice rose. “You don’t know?”

She turned to Grandmother. “Auntie, do you know?”

Grandmother forced a smile. “Diana, what exactly are you asking? Has Wesley upset you?”

Diana laughed coldly. “Wasn’t Lily his girlfriend? Don’t you know?”

4

I froze. Lily was Wesley’s girlfriend?

The year Lily got pregnant was the year Wesley got into college. He’d taken the exam twice.

They’d never seemed close. They couldn’t have been a couple.

Wesley hung his head. He stammered, “That was in the past. We were young and stupid. We never even held hands. It wasn’t a real relationship.”

Diana’s face twisted. She stood abruptly and flipped the table. Dishes crashed everywhere. “Not a real relationship?”

Grandmother said, “Diana, calm down. Don’t be angry.”

Blood tears streamed down Diana’s cheeks. Grandfather lunged at her, pinning her to the brick bed. “Run! All of you, run!”

Diana let out a horrifying screech. Her face began to rot. Corpse spots covered her skin.

Wesley stood frozen. Grandmother grabbed his arm and dragged him out.

We all fled to the yard.

“Grandma, what about Grandpa?”

“No time. Run to the Goddess Temple.”

Grandmother pulled Wesley toward the temple. It was tiny. Once we were inside, we locked the door.

Wesley curled in a corner, shaking.

Grandmother hit him hard. “What really happened, you little beast?”

Wesley’s eyes were red. “It was years ago. I didn’t want Lily to die. How was I supposed to know she’d take it so hard?”

Grandmother pointed at him. “Monster! You did this? And you hid it from us?”

Wesley knelt. “I was terrified. I didn’t know she’d get pregnant. I was afraid she’d want to marry me. I was a college student. She only finished middle school. She wasn’t good enough for me. She got pregnant on purpose to trap me. I couldn’t marry her.”

Grandmother slapped him. “Monster! How did I raise such an inhuman monster?”

She collapsed, sobbing. “I watched Lily grow up. She was such a good girl. If you didn’t love her, why did you ruin her? Now karma has come. Who will save you?”

Wesley grabbed her arm. “Mom, you have to save me. I don’t want to die.”

He continued, “If I’d known she’d become a vengeful spirit, I never would have taken Diana up there. Diana’s family has money. I wanted to marry her. Her father would have gotten me a good job. I had a bright future. I couldn’t let Lily destroy it. Mom, you have to help me!”

He was shaking like a madman.

Grandmother shoved him away. “Get off me! How did I raise such a monster?”

Wesley paused, then laughed bitterly. “I’m a monster? You gave birth to me in this poor mountain village. I graduated college, and you couldn’t help me at all. And you dare talk about raising me? I regret being born here.”

He stood abruptly and threw open the temple door. “Let Lily kill me! I don’t want to live anyway!”

Grandmother dragged him back and slammed the door shut. Her eyes were red. “What are you doing? Your father risked his life for you, and you act like this?”

5

Wesley shouted, “Let Lily kill me! I don’t want to live!”

Just then, Grandfather’s voice came from outside. “Wife, open the door. I’m back.”

It sounded like Grandfather, but the silhouette at the door was clearly a woman with disheveled hair.

Wesley, who had been shouting moments before, hid behind Grandmother. “Mom, Lily’s here. What do we do?”

Grandmother knelt and kowtowed three times to the goddess statue, murmuring. She stood and opened a cabinet. “Quick. Both of you hide in here. No matter what you hear, don’t open the door. Don’t make a sound. Only come out when you hear the rooster crow at dawn.”

She stuffed me into a small cabinet and Wesley into a larger one.

She closed the doors. It was pitch black inside. I heard knocking. “Thump, thump, thump…”

And Grandfather’s angry voice. “Open the door!”

“Thump, thump, thump…”

“Thump, thump, thump…”

The door burst open with a crash.

Lily was inside.

It was so quiet I could hear my own breathing.

Grandfather’s voice: “Wife, why did you take so long?”

Grandmother’s voice: “What happened with Lily?”

Grandfather’s voice: “The chief brought the priest to our house. Lily’s been dealt with. Let’s go home.” Grandmother’s voice: “Ethan, Wesley, come out. It’s safe.”

Was it really safe?

I almost went out, but I remembered Grandmother’s words: wait for the rooster.

When I was little, she told me never to trust a ghost’s words.

I stayed hidden.

After a few seconds, I heard Wesley’s voice. “Ethan, come out. You’re the only one left. Let’s go home.”

Had Wesley really gone out?

“Ethan, if you don’t come out, we’re leaving!”

“We’re going.”

I wanted so badly to open the door and see.

Grandmother’s voice: “Ethan, come out now!”

I closed my eyes and covered my ears. I forced myself to sleep, not to be fooled by the voices outside.

If I just waited for the rooster, I could go out.

I don’t know how long passed before I heard it. I pushed the cabinet door open. Light streamed in.

Dawn was breaking.

I saw a huge pool of blood on the floor. Wesley’s cabinet was open. The blood was right in front of it. I screamed, “Uncle! Grandma!”

No one answered.

I followed the blood trail. It grew fainter and fainter, finally disappearing at our front gate.

I pushed open the yard gate and ran inside.

“Grandpa! Grandma! Uncle!”

I pushed open the house door. A stench of rot hit me.

Blood on the floor.

I went into the inner room. Grandfather sat on the brick bed, eyes vacant, as if his soul had been taken. Grandmother sat beside him, smiling strangely.

Wesley sat on a chair on the floor. His head was bleeding. He looked dazed.

I ran to him and shook his arm. “Uncle, what’s wrong?”

He suddenly knelt and kowtowed toward the doorway. “Lily, I was wrong. Don’t kill me! Please!”

He kept kowtowing until his forehead bled.

I turned to look. Diana stood in the doorway. Her body and face were covered in corpse spots. Her eyes were white. She touched her belly. “Baby, this is your father. On the bed are your grandparents.”

6

Wesley trembled. “I didn’t kill you. You killed yourself. It wasn’t my fault.”

Diana roared, “I was carrying your child! You denied it! You forced me to abort it! You were so cruel! You drove me to death! You drove me to death!”

Blood tears streamed down her face. Her features twisted grotesquely.

Wesley knelt, shaking, begging, “Don’t kill me. Forgive me. Please, Lily.”

I climbed onto the bed and shook my grandparents. “Grandpa, Grandma, what’s wrong with you?”

They didn’t move. It was as if their souls were gone.

Diana grabbed Wesley by the throat and lifted him into the air. I heard bones snap. His face turned red. Black blood dripped from his mouth. His eyes rolled back.

I screamed, “Uncle!”

The door burst open. The village chief and Master Chen stormed in.

Diana threw Wesley to the ground and lunged at the priest with a savage snarl.

I rushed to Wesley. “Uncle.”

Black blood bubbled from his mouth. He was barely alive.

The chief said, “Quick! Wake your grandparents!”

I shook them. “Grandpa! Grandma! Wake up!”

No response.

The chief grabbed an iron basin and banged it near their ears.

They jolted awake.

“Wesley! What happened?” Grandmother’s eyes welled up.

Grandfather jumped off the bed, his eyes red. “What a curse!”

The chief said, “Don’t worry. I brought Master Chen.”

We gathered around Wesley. His body was ice cold. His breathing was shallow.

By evening, Master Chen returned.

My grandparents knelt, begging him to save Wesley.

Master Chen pulled out some talismans, burned them to ash, and mixed the ash into water. “Make him drink this. Whether he lives or dies is up to fate.”

Grandmother poured the water into Wesley’s mouth. “What do we do?”

Master Chen said, “Karma. Go to the wild burial mound. Bring Lily’s body back and bury her in your family’s ancestral grave.”

Grandfather said, “She did this to my son, and you want her in our ancestral grave?”

Master Chen said, “Lily’s resentment runs deep. If you don’t appease her, she’ll haunt your family forever. Besides, she carried your family’s child. She belongs in your ancestral grave.”

Grandfather said nothing. He sighed and slapped himself twice.

Grandmother asked, “What about Diana? Is she alive?”

Master Chen shook his head. “Her body is outside.”

Grandmother’s eyes reddened. She was silent for a long time.

Grandfather said, “I’ll go get Lily’s body.”

Master Chen stopped him. “You must marry her properly. Every step must be observed.”

Grandfather said, “Her parents are dead. What do we do?”

Master Chen said, “Find her elder relatives.”

He left. Grandfather had no choice but to arrange the wedding.

He put black and white funeral flowers on Wesley. He hired mourners. Four men carried a coffin, playing music all the way to the wild burial mound.

Wesley didn’t go. His neck was broken. He was paralyzed from the neck down, confined to the bed. Only his mind still worked.

7

At the burial mound, Lily’s body hadn’t decayed. There were corpse spots on her neck, but otherwise she looked like she’d only been dead a few days.

Liam said, “Lily, the bridal sedan chair is here. The Wang family has come to claim you.”

With each call, black and white flowers were draped on Lily’s body. Several men lifted her into the coffin and sealed the lid. The procession played music as they carried her down the mountain.

The coffin stopped in our yard.

Wesley lay on a donkey cart, staring blankly at everything.

Our yard was set with ten tables of food. The villagers thought it was bad luck and didn’t want to come. But Grandfather went door to door, begging until they agreed. They had no interest in the feast—they just wanted it over.

Grandfather drank too much at the banquet. He got completely drunk.

By evening, all the villagers had left. Only the four coffin bearers remained.

Grandfather led them to the back mountain, where our ancestors were buried. They lowered Lily’s coffin into the ground and wrote her tombstone.

Grandfather brought a small memorial tablet home and placed it on the altar.

He seemed to have aged ten years overnight. His gray hair had turned completely white.

Grandmother sat on the brick bed, her eyes swollen from crying. After a long silence, she said, “Old man, what do we do with Diana’s body? What will we tell her parents?”

Grandfather puffed his pipe, saying nothing.

Grandmother sighed and lowered her head.

Wesley lay on the bed, wailing, “Kill me! I’m useless now!”

Grandmother said, “Wesley, you have to live. You can’t die!”

Grandfather kicked him. “Shut up! You ruined this family. Say one more word and I’ll throw you out.”

Wesley cried, “Throw me out! I’m useless. Living is worse than dying!”

Grandfather was furious. He grabbed his coat and went to the yard.

Wesley sobbed, “I’m useless now. Are you satisfied, Lily? I hate you!”

Grandmother covered his mouth and glanced at Lily’s tablet. “Don’t say things like that.”

I felt suffocated. I went to the yard too.

Grandfather was smoking his pipe, wiping tears from his eyes. He was crying.

I didn’t dare approach. I sat quietly beside him.

A few days later, strangers came to our house. They were well-dressed and drove a car.

It was Diana’s parents, her cousin, and her younger sister.

When they saw Diana’s body, they broke down. Her mother fainted from grief and swore she would kill Wesley. My grandparents barely held her back.

Diana’s mother screamed, “How did my daughter die? Your son must have killed her!”

Grandfather said, “He didn’t. She fell from a mountain.”

“I don’t believe you!”

“Call the police!”

They called the police. An investigation followed.

After more than ten days, the coroner determined Diana’s death had nothing to do with Wesley.

Her parents didn’t believe it. They brought people and trashed our house.

My grandparents let them.

But Diana’s father grabbed Lily’s memorial tablet and threw it to the ground. It broke in two.

Grandfather shoved him. “That’s Lily’s tablet! How dare you smash it?”

Diana’s father screamed, his eyes bloodshot, “Your son married a wife and then brought my daughter back to this godforsaken place! What was he thinking? He killed her!”

8

Diana’s mother sobbed, “This isn’t over! My daughter is dead. You’ll never have peace!”

They smashed everything inside, then went to the yard.

Everything breakable was destroyed.

They left at nightfall.

Grandfather picked up the broken tablet. He tied it together with cloth and put it back in its place.

Wesley said, “Kill me. Living is worse than dying.”

My grandparents said nothing. They silently cleaned up. I helped.

When the house was tidy, Grandfather went to the yard.

His back was hunched. His hair was white. He looked ancient. He kept sighing.

The next day, Diana’s parents came again. This time they brought more people. They destroyed everything my grandparents had just fixed.

My grandparents stood in the yard, not stopping them. They just watched.

Diana’s parents weren’t satisfied. They rushed inside to attack Wesley.

Grandmother shielded him. “He’s paralyzed. Please, leave him alone.”

Diana’s father glared, his eyes bloodshot. “Leave him alone? Who will leave my daughter alone? She’s dead!”

Wesley said, “Mom, step aside. I don’t want to live anyway. Let him kill me.”

He was paralyzed from the neck down. He couldn’t move. He did everything on the bed. Grandmother took care of him.

Her voice trembled. “No, son. You have to live.”

She knelt and kowtowed to Diana’s parents. “I’m sorry. My son wronged your daughter. I beg your forgiveness.”

She kept kowtowing. Grandfather struggled to pull her up.

He faced Diana’s parents. “He’s still breathing. He’s alive. If you kill him, it’s murder. Go ahead. We won’t stop you.”

Grandmother tried to intervene, but Grandfather held her tight.

Diana’s father walked to Wesley. His fist clenched. He raised it to strike. But Diana’s mother grabbed him. “Don’t. We have Tina to raise. She’s only sixteen.”

Diana’s father roared and ran to the yard.

His wife followed.

My grandparents exhaled. They looked at each other.

Diana’s parents took her body and left. Peace returned, briefly.

Two years passed. Wesley’s limbs atrophied badly. Bedsores covered his back. He was skin and bones. He took medicine every day. His body grew weaker.

Grandfather got him a wheelchair. On my holidays, I would push him into the yard to sunbathe.

Wesley said, “Ethan, bring out Lily’s tablet. Let her sunbathe too.”

I hesitated, then obeyed.

His temper had grown strange over the years. He was always angry. We all indulged him.

I set the tablet on the table. Wesley said to it, “Lily, why didn’t you kill me? You left me with just enough life to suffer. You’re cruel.”

I sat quietly.

Wesley said, “Ethan, get some spirit money. I’ll burn it for Lily.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

I brought the money and lit it.

Wesley said, “Ethan, I’m thirsty. Get me some water.”

“Sure.” I ran inside.

When I came back, Wesley was pressing his body against Lily’s tablet. It fell into the fire. It caught instantly, crackling.

Wesley laughed like a madman. “Lily, die!”

“Die!”

“Die!”

“I’m not afraid of you!”

I rushed over and poured water on the fire.

The flames died. The tablet was charred, half burned away. Red liquid seeped from the remaining part. I touched it.

It was blood.

9

Wesley was hysterical. “I’m not afraid of you! Lily, die! I curse you! May you never be reborn!”

“Uncle, stop!”

“I won’t stop! All my suffering is Lily’s fault! She deserves to die!”

He went on, “For years, I’ve been paralyzed. You all look down on me. You think I’m a burden. Don’t think I don’t know. You’re all waiting for me to die!”

His voice grew wild. I said, “Uncle, calm down. No one wants you to die.”

I tried to soothe him, praying my grandparents would come home soon.

Wesley laughed bitterly. “I’m a burden. I’m worthless. I don’t want to live. Ethan, kill me. Please, kill me!”

His eyes were red. Tears welled. I saw despair in them. He truly wanted to die.

He said, “I’m a college graduate. The only one in this village. I should have had a bright future. I should have married Diana and gotten a city residence. I shouldn’t be like this. Kill me, Ethan. I’m begging you! I can’t even kill myself. Kill me!”

My heart felt like it was stabbed. Tears filled my eyes.

I didn’t know how to comfort him.

Luckily, my grandparents came home.

I handed Grandfather the charred tablet. He kicked me. “You can’t even take care of your uncle? What good are you? This is Lily’s tablet!”

He raised his hand to hit me again. Grandmother stopped him. “Enough. Hitting him won’t help. We need to fix this.”

Grandfather said, “I’ll find the village chief. Ask him for help.”

Grandmother nodded. “Be careful.”

Grandfather left with the tablet.

It was just the three of us. Grandmother said, “I’ll make dinner. Watch your uncle.”

“Okay.” I pushed Wesley’s wheelchair under the eaves.

Wesley laughed coldly. “Ethan, do you feel wronged?”

I said nothing.

He continued, “Your grandfather hits you and yells at you without even asking what happened. He doesn’t give you a chance to explain.”

I said, “Uncle, what are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying, if you kill me, everyone will be free.”

10

I said, “No. I’ll never kill you.”

Wesley shouted, “Why? I’m in agony! Killing me would be a mercy! I’m begging you!”

I turned away.

He muttered to himself, “Lily, come kill me. Come kill me.”

That night, Grandfather came back, dirty and exhausted. He held the charred tablet.

Grandmother said, “Did you see Master Chen?”

Grandfather shook his head. “He wasn’t at the mountain temple. No one knows where he went.”

Grandmother stepped back. Her eyes reddened. “Then what do we do? Who will save Wesley?”

Wesley laughed. His face was so thin it was just skin over bone. His laugh was eerie. “I’m finally going to be free. Lily, come kill me!”

Grandfather clenched his fists. “How did I sire this monster?”

Grandmother patted his shoulder. “Old man, don’t say that. What’s meant to be will be. We can’t avoid this fate.”

She put the charred tablet back and bowed to it.

Grandfather said, “Ethan, go stay at your Third Uncle’s house.”

I said, “No. I’m staying.”

Grandfather coughed hard. “Listen to me. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Before I could speak, Grandmother took my arm. “Ethan, this has nothing to do with you. Don’t get involved. We owe that girl. She’s come to collect her debt. It’s only right.”

She pushed me out the door. “Be good. Go.”

I nodded. “Okay, Grandma.”

I pretended to agree, but I didn’t go to Third Uncle’s.

I took a shortcut back home and hid on the shed roof.

I heard Wesley’s voice from inside. “Why hasn’t Lily come?”

“Dad, Mom, open the door. Let Lily in.”

“Why isn’t she coming?”

Late at night, every house was dark except ours.

I saw a figure with disheveled hair enter the yard. In the moonlight, I recognized her.

It was Lily.

I covered my mouth to stifle my gasp.

She stood at our door. Wesley’s voice came from inside. “Kill me! Lily, kill me!”

“Dad, Mom, open the door! Let Lily in!”

“Open the door!”

Lily stood there. She didn’t enter. I saw a smile on her twisted face. The corners of her mouth lifted.

She seemed satisfied with Wesley’s condition. She turned and walked away like a zombie, disappearing into the night.

After she left, I slept on the shed roof. I didn’t come down until dawn.

I went inside. Wesley lay on the bed, despair in his eyes. They were bloodshot. He muttered, “Why won’t she kill me? Lily, you bitch!”

He was paralyzed from the neck down. He couldn’t even kill himself.

Maybe living was torture for him.

But who would kill him?

Grandmother wiped his body with warm water. “Ethan, your grandfather and I are old. If we die, you’ll have to take care of your uncle.”

I nodded. “I will. Until I die.”

Wesley looked at me with despair. He laughed and cried at the same time, like a madman.

Eight years later, he died on a cold winter day. His last words were, “I’m finally free.”

He died before my grandparents. They had to bury their own child.

After his death, I took my grandparents to the city. We only returned to the village on holidays to burn offerings for my uncle and his ghost bride.