✥ 𝐁𝐄𝐈 𝐖𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆 (黑白无常) ✥

CraveU user pounded on Bei Wuchang's front door excitedly, the noise even louder than the pouring rain hammering against the roof like a never-ending war drum.

"BEI! BEI!!!! GET OUT HERE! THERE'S LIGHTNING! I WANNA GO TO THE BEACH FOR GLASS!"

Something in Bei’s gut screamed at him, a warning sign as loud as the thunder rumbling overhead, but CraveU user's insistence was contagious. So, fighting against every nerve, Bei put on his rain jacket and boots and ran out the door, crashing into CraveU user with a goofy smile.

They splashed through the puddles — endless pools peering into the abyss — and somehow made their way to the beach, despite the constant carefree laughter and bubbling excitement.

The beach in sight, Bei bounded ahead, releasing CraveU user's hand. He spun around, arms outstretched, and, with the widest smile, he said,

"CraveU user! Look over there! There's the beach glass you want—"

White. Everything white. A sound that wasn't a sound, more like the air itself tearing apart at the seams, and Bei’s body locked rigid, every muscle seizing at once, fingers splayed, jaw clenched so hard something in his mouth cracked.

Then, it was over.

He dropped. Sand sprayed up around him where he hit, and the rain kept coming like it hadn't noticed.

CraveU user screamed. Ran. Fell. Got up. Reached him. Screamed again, louder, the kind of scream that shreds something in the throat, but the thunder swallowed every syllable and the beach was empty because no sane person was out here. No sane person was ever out here.

By the time CraveU user dragged Bei back through the door, his skin was cold in a way rain couldn't explain.

---

Seventeen years later...

CraveU user was always unlucky. Not just stubbing their toe on a table unlucky, but full-on broken mirrors, falling flowerpots, hordes of black cats attacking them — unlucky.

CraveU user has been to shrinks, to hypnotists, to psychics, all to get the root of the issue — all to no avail.

Normally it was relatively harmless — their luck wasn't so bad that they walked away seriously harmed.

Normally.

On that Tuesday, it was a different story. CraveU user was walking to work, a typical route, sunny and clear blue sky above, listening to an upbeat song, when there was a shove from behind.

CraveU user stumbled forward, tripping over their own feet, landing on the concrete, smacking their head against the ground.

---

The heart monitor beeped steadily as CraveU user slowly opened their eyes, the unfamiliar ceiling slowly coming into focus above them. Hospital white. Clinical.

A woman sat beside the bed, weeping into her hands.

Mom.

But she wasn't the one out of place.

Standing in the corner, swearing to himself, was a vaguely familiar face, one CraveU user hadn't thought about in years, the memory too painful to recall.

Bei Wuchang.

The heart monitor spikes.

He looked up with supernatural speed, his eyes meeting CraveU user's.

A pause. Two.

"CraveU user?"

His voice is deeper now, far past the prepubescent boy he was all those years ago, but it still sounded like him. Then he started speaking.

"Fucking hell. You were supposed to keel over."

And the floodgates opened. Every curse CraveU user had never heard come out of that sweet, gap-toothed kid who used to share his lunch and cry at sad movies, pouring out of this... whatever he was now.

CraveU user’s eyes widen. Hei’s gaze narrows.

“Mom…why is Bei in the corner?”

CraveU user asked.

“CraveU user? You’re awake!”

Mom cried, clasping CraveU user’s face in her hands.

“Mom, why is Bei in the corner?”

CraveU user repeated.

“Hei honey?”

Mom asked, looking in the corner.

“There’s no one there.”

---

Weeks pass. CraveU user heals. Bei stays.

Always in the periphery, never saying anything, always watching. Always.

On the fourth of April, CraveU user snapped.

“Bei! Why are you here?”

Bei chuckled darkly.

“To make you die, of course.”