Following a String

Why am I following a string, you might ask? Well, that's because of my great-great grandfather's mistake, he went and got us cursed, just because he wanted to prove himself a man! A foolish man he was, leaving my great-great-grandmother, how dare-

- 2 MONTHS AGO -

"Zhu come here." I considered my father a wise man, of rare intelligence. But, all great things must come to an end, this law applied to everything, even my father.

"Yes." I ignored his sickly state and moved to his side.

"You see this string here." He raised his left arm to show me the thin red string wrapped after his wrist, "I can see it clearly, father, as I always have."

"Do you know the story behind it?" I shooked my head, I didn't have time to wonder about such a thing, while he was dying.

"While, you know how much our family hates your great-great-grandfather, do you know the story behind it?" I shook my head once again, he sighed and tugged on the string.

"Father, do I upset you in some way?" He replied with a shake of his head, "I am not upset with you... Come, sit by my side."

"Now, let me tell you the story of this string and your great-great-gr-" He suddenly stopped and held his throat as he threw up a large amount of blood.

"Father I shall go get the doctor!" I yelled as I ran out the door. I hurried through the woods and on to the narrow path leading straight towards the village. Once I made it inside the village, others looked at me with hatred, I ignored them and banged on the doctor's door.

"Doctor!"

He opened the door with bags under his eyes and an irritated expression. "What is it, boy?"

"My father! He is coughing up blood, I'm afraid he is dying!" He held out his hand like he was expecting something.

"What?"

"My money?" I just stared at him confused, was he really asking for money while my father is dying!

"Sir, I do not have money of any kind!" The doctor just sighed and said: "If you do not have any money than I can not help you."

Then, he slammed the door in my face, "Fucking bastard, I wish him nothing but a slow and painful death!" I covered my mouth and used my other hand to slap my cheek. How dare I speak words of the devil!

I turned around to leave the village quickly, and took the same path home, back to the cottage.

I rushed back into the house, and into my father's room, where I saw him lying there dead. I made my way over to the window and opened it, hopefully, it wasn't too late to let his soul out.

I looked back at my father's dead body and noticed that the string was gone, and in his hand, there was a crumpled up letter. I approached him slowly, and carefully took the letter out of his hand, I was about to unfold it, when I heard a roar, like that of a lion. I quickly, stuffed the letter under my father's dead body, locked the door to the room, closed the window, and hid inside of my father's small closet.

A voice you only heard from a monster, screamed out: "Wen Zhang! Come out and face me!"

Is this thing so cowardly to come to a dead man's resting- Wait no one knows my father is dead...

"Shit."

I slapped my self once again and then I heard a loud crash coming from the next room over. I opened the closet's door slightly, but, I could see-