A few children then pulled out a burlap sack. They untied it, and a little boy crawled out from inside.
The boy's skin was stitched together, thread by thread. A grotesque smile was plastered on his face as he endlessly played with a cat's cradle string.
Slowly, the corners of his mouth stretched to his ears. His head twisted one hundred and eighty degrees, and his eyes locked onto her.
The other children hopped around the boy on one leg, singing as they spun, "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! happy birthday to you..."
The sound of the music was both eerie and innocent, carrying a sadness that belied their age.
Without realizing it, Nanbowan found herself mesmerized.
And also without realizing it, her eyes met the boy's...
"Ah... This boy... he's... he's actually so handsome! He..." The moment the words left her mouth, she realized what she had said.
