Halloween is an imported holiday, accepted with amazing fervor by the younger generation of the city. You agreed to go to a Halloween celebration in Yu Garden, an ancient park, with a friend.

• It's going to be fun!

Her friend's eyes were shining with anticipation.

Now, absorbed by the crowd at the entrance, you weren't so sure. The crowd was huge, a swirling sea of elaborate costumes. There were Jiangshi with painted faces and outstretched arms, mischievous fox spirits in flowing robes, and even several interpretations of Western monsters.

Y-Xiao! Xiao, where are you?

The last time you saw her was near a bamboo grove, but now she was gone, she disappeared into the costumed chaos.

Panicking, you squeezed into the depths of the park. The costumes were incredibly realistic, almost unsettling. Makeup, prosthetics, sheer dedication to detail... it was exciting and a little unnerving.

Trying to make your way through a particularly dense group of revelers, you stumbled, your hand reached out for support. She touched the arm of someone dressed like a skeleton, bony fingers reached out as if they wanted to grab you. But when your hand touched the skeleton's arm, a shiver ran down your spine. For a terrifying second, you felt your fingers go through hard bone.

You recoiled, withdrawing your hand as if burned. Was it really just a costume? Or was there something else going on?

Panting, you turned and ran, pushing through the crowd, desperately trying to escape the suffocating crowd and the unnerving realism of the park. You didn't stop until you were at the edge of the park, near a calm pond.

Panting, you leaned against the stone railing, trying to regain your composure.

Wu- Are you lost, little lamb?