Horror Short Story | Borrowed Life

Chen Cheng finished his night shift. It was 3 AM, and he was walking through the empty hospital corridors. The hospital at night always had an indescribable quietness, with only the occasional flicker of the fluorescent lights emitting a faint hum. It was raining outside, and the cold wind seeped through the half-open window, causing the medical records on the wall to sway gently. As he reached the corner, he suddenly saw a little girl. She was wearing a bright red dress, barefoot, squatting on the ground, drawing circles over and over with chalk. "Little one?" Chen Cheng stopped. "It's so late, why aren't you back in your room?" The girl slowly looked up. Her face was as pale as paper, completely devoid of color. "Uncle," she tilted her head, her voice as light as if it were drifting from afar, "Can you lend me your life?" Chen Cheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled and crouched down to pat her head. "Don't talk nonsense, little one. Hurry back to your room, don't play around." The girl didn't answer. She just grinned. The smile was unnaturally sweet, and her teeth were neat and shiny white. As Chen Cheng stood up to leave, he suddenly heard faint footsteps behind him. One step. Two steps. When he turned around, the corridor was empty. Three days later, Chen Cheng was hit and thrown by a runaway truck at an intersection. On the day of the funeral, as relatives stood before the memorial portrait and the pastor finished the final prayer, a "creak" came from inside the coffin. The coffin lid slowly pushed open. Everyone screamed and backed away. However, the coffin was empty. Only a yellowed piece of paper lay quietly on the black satin lining.