My legs could no longer support me, and my body slowly slumped to the ground. My heart seemed to have stopped beating, my throat was blocked, my chest felt tight, but I couldn't breathe. I knew I had to hold on, or the day would be over. But the strength in my body was fading, and I suddenly thought, am I dying? The thought terrified me, but I couldn't think of a solution. 

The woman's body struggled forward. Below the waist, it remained flat and fixed to the portrait, but above the waist, it struggled free. Her upper body left the frame, and her skirt rustled, reminiscent of a shroud. Her body pulled forward, stretching a little, relying entirely on the strength of her waist to keep her upper body suspended in the air, her upper body leaning forward like a cobra.

The woman's face was extremely close to me, less than half a foot away. I could see that her skin was dry and lifeless, and the inhuman green light reflected on it made her look extremely mysterious. An aura lingered around her face, a strong smell of blood and the chill of the frozen earth. The green light around her face, stained by this aura, took on a general "death" quality. It seemed that not only would living things succumb to this "death" and become dead, but even inanimate objects would be reduced to ash. My nose, at the slightest touch of her scent, immediately became numb and ineffective, to the point where I thought my nose no longer existed. 

Her arms stretched out, too. They resembled octopus tentacles, longer than her torso. They were bony, their finger bones more than twice as long as a normal person's. When they were joined, their diameter was at least three meters. Her claw-like hands rested on either side of the desk. I saw that her eyes were like those of a dead fish: cloudy and pale, only shone a bloody red light within them. Her entire body was the same. Without the external supernatural force supporting it, it would have been no different from a dried corpse. 

She raised a claw as big as a washing basin, its nails as sharp as knives digging into the soft skin of my face. Her nails were as hard as cow or horse hooves, easily slicing my cheek. After a small, sharp pain, I could feel the precious blood flowing from my body. Her blue-gray lips parted, revealing a blood-red tongue. Her throat was dark, like a deep cavern, and from within came a sucking sound. From the corner of my eye, I saw a thin stream of blood flowing straight from my face into her throat, instantly staining her throat a crimson red. Her dry teeth regained their shine, looking more or less like living teeth. Her lips also had a hint of blood, less gray, and my scratched cheek immediately went numb. 

I can't let her suck my life force anymore! I warned myself, my consciousness still hazy, but the will to live was strong. Her other large claw had already rested on my other cheek, her sharp fingertips pressing against the skin. Her eyes gleamed with a blood-red, greedy light. I had to do whatever it took to save the right side of my face! But I couldn't move a muscle. The will to survive pushed itself upward, finally opening my throat, and I screamed with all my might. 

Perhaps the sound of my voice had irritated her, for she suddenly retracted her large claws and covered her ears. I screamed, her eyes glaring at me with hatred. Perhaps another part of her body had escaped the frame, as she jerked forward, charging towards me. Even if I caught a whiff of her "death energy," I'd be finished. 

BANG! 

A massive explosion echoed. The woman, caught off guard, desperately backed away, but she vanished along with the green light that filled the room. In an instant, I realized my strength had returned. In my haste, I noticed the luminous dial of the quartz clock on the wall pointed to seven o'clock. The loud bang was actually just a gentle chime. 

I found myself still in the office, surrounded by darkness. The thought of being in the same room with that terrifying woman filled me with panic. I leaped to my feet and sprinted out. My waist slammed into the corner of my desk, and the pain sent a wave of confusion through my mind. I rushed forward recklessly, landing headfirst on the sofa against the east wall. I felt a little dizzy. 

Though I wasn't fully conscious, I was still mindful of the open door to my right. I braced myself on the sofa and lunged to the right. My legs caught on the threshold, and I fell out. My hands fell to the ground, burning with pain. My head hit the spot between my hands, and stars flashed before my eyes. But I couldn't forget that the woman was right behind me, ready to grab me at any moment. After climbing to my feet, without even recognizing the direction, I took off running.