She stuck out her bright red tongue, letting its long length trail across the floor.
Then, as though she had caught a scent, she pressed herself to the ground and searched inch by inch.
"My... my child... child... gone..."
The Female Ghost drew out her words, her voice laden with sorrow and resentment that had festered in the darkness.
Her misshapen face was only a finger's width from An Huai and Yin Chao. If she moved just a little closer, she would touch them.
Then she whipped her head around, as though she had discovered something.
She crawled on her grotesque limbs until she reached the Ghost Baby.
The Ghost Baby wailed, no longer facing the wall in the corner.
The Ghost Baby turned and wrapped long, thin, twisted hands around the Female Ghost's forelimbs.
The Female Ghost crouched on the floor and carefully scooped up the Ghost Baby.
"My... child... my... child..."
Words that seemed to have been squeezed from the depths of her throat lingered in their ears, replacing the Ghost Baby's cries.
They watched as the Female Ghost cradled the Ghost Baby like a precious treasure, then slowly brought the baby toward her mouth.
She opened her mouth wide and stuffed the entire baby inside.
The Ghost Baby began to giggle, as though back in a mother's embrace.
Only after doing all this did the Female Ghost leave, thoroughly satisfied.
Yin Chao put away the candleholder and looked at An Huai, who was clearly stunned, as though she had suffered a terrible blow.
He said her line for her.
"Science can't explain this."
An Huai opened her mouth, but still could not offer any rebuttal or explanation.
The two of them carried Da Mei into the cage, then left the Iron Cage's door almost closed.
The Female