Chen Ge stood at the entrance to the subterranean level, his flashlight cutting through the darkness as the sprawling scenery of Mu Yang High School's scenario unfolded before him, a sight that surprised even him, the seasoned owner of the Haunted House. The sheer scale of this new addition dwarfed the Murder by Midnight scenario, its vastness a testament to the black phone's supernatural power. As he took a cautious step forward, a cold draft brushed against the back of his neck, sending an involuntary shiver down his spine. The sensation was unsettling, as if an unseen presence lurked just beyond his vision, ready to emerge from the shadows at any moment. The air in the underground parking lot felt heavy, charged with the eerie energy of Mu Yang High School, its recreated halls and rooms a haunting echo of the horrors he had faced. Chen Ge's heart pounded, his instincts urging him to tread carefully in this new, uncharted territory.
The underground scenario was a meticulous replica of Mu Yang High School, complete with four classrooms, winding corridors, toilets, and offices, all painstakingly recreated but rearranged to fit the subterranean space. The layout was tighter, the rooms pressed closer together, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere that heightened Chen Ge's unease. As he walked down the dim corridor, his flashlight beam danced across the walls, illuminating scattered test papers and creaking doors. He couldn't resist glancing into the classrooms on either side, their dark interiors whispering secrets of the past. Beyond the windows, the cement walls of the underground lot loomed, a reminder that no natural light could penetrate this place, yet the windows rattled as if touched by an impossible breeze, their eerie creaking filling the silence with a ghostly rhythm that set his nerves on edge.
The first few classrooms were unsettling but manageable, their empty desks and faded posters evoking the abandoned school he had explored. However, when Chen Ge reached the sealed classroom at the corridor's end, a primal fear gripped him, the hairs on his body standing on end. This was the first time he had felt such intense dread within his own Haunted House, a place he had designed to instill fear in others. The classroom mirrored its real-world counterpart at Mu Yang High School, yet it was distinctly different, its atmosphere heavier, more oppressive. Every desk was scrawled with chaotic red graffiti, the words illegible but pulsing with anger. More chillingly, each chair held a neatly arranged school uniform, their empty forms staring directly at the door where Chen Ge stood, as if waiting for him to enter. The sight sent a chill through him, the classroom's dark energy a stark reminder of the ghostly students he had glimpsed in the real school.
The uniforms were identical to those in the group photo with Fan Yu's father, but unlike the photo, where the students faced away, here they were turned toward Chen Ge, their empty sleeves and collars seeming to watch him. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he forced himself to step inside, his footsteps echoing in the silent room. Standing at the lectern, he looked out over the rows of uniforms, their arrangement evoking the presence of invisible students. The air felt thick, charged with an unseen energy that pressed against him, as if the spirits were assessing his presence. Chen Ge's heart raced, the realization that this classroom was more than a mere replica sinking in. The uniforms, so precisely placed, seemed to embody the lingering spirits of Mu Yang High School, their silent vigil a haunting echo of the tragedy that bound them to this place.
Chen Ge's mind raced with questions as he counted the uniforms—twenty-four in total, each one a potential spirit now residing in his Haunted House. Why did only this classroom come with school uniforms? Could these represent the lingering spirits that remained here? The thought was both thrilling and unsettling, the idea of hosting twenty-four spectral entities a daunting prospect. He recalled the Murder by Midnight scenario, where completing the trial mission had brought Xiaoxiao's family to his Haunted House, their presence now a part of its eerie charm. If the same logic applied, these uniforms suggested that the sealed classroom's spirits had followed him here, their restless energy now woven into his attraction. His face twitched with discomfort at the thought, the weight of their presence pressing down as he exited the classroom, closing the door behind him with a soft creak that echoed in the darkness.
Continuing down the corridor, Chen Ge reached the toilet, its dim interior a replica of the fifth cubicle's haunting space. A few steps further brought him to a junction, the left path leading to the office area and the right to the female dormitory. He chose the right, his flashlight illuminating the narrowing corridor, the walls on either side closing in oppressively. The sensation was suffocating, the tight space amplifying the eerie atmosphere as he moved deeper into the scenario. At the corridor's end was another junction, the layout's complexity surprising him for a mere two-star scenario. Just a two-star scenario is already so complicated. If I unlock a few more scenarios, this underground parking lot will definitely become a Maze of Terror. The thought sent a thrill through him, the potential for an expansive, terrifying attraction taking shape in his mind, the black phone's power transforming his Haunted House into something extraordinary.
Pushing open a random door, Chen Ge found himself in a room designed like a crime scene, complete with overturned furniture and blood-like stains on the walls, a chilling nod to the horrors of Mu Yang High School. His exploration led him to the second-to-last bedroom, where a row of chairs stood side by side, one topped with several crumpled papers and a heavily damaged ballpoint pen. His pulse quickened as he recognized it—the Cursed Ballpoint Pen, the hidden item unlocked by his mission's high completion rate. Gingerly picking it up, he noted its fragility, the cracked casing barely holding together. The pen felt alive in his hand, its supernatural aura undeniable. Hidden items seem to have their own purpose, he mused, recalling how Wang Qi's Hidden Person Notice had won him Xiaoxiao's family. Could this pen forge a connection with the sealed classroom's spirits? The possibility intrigued him, though the spirits' intentions remained a mystery.
Chen Ge exited the scenario, the pen clutched carefully in his hand as he returned to the staff breakroom. The quiet of New Century Park above contrasted sharply with the underground's eerie energy, the morning light filtering through the windows as he set to work repairing the pen with tape. Its fragile state demanded care, each piece of tape a step toward coaxing the Pen Spirit's cooperation. Settling at the breakroom table, he placed a sheet of paper before him and began the invocation, his voice steady but hopeful. "Pen Spirit, Pen Spirit, I know you hold a grudge against me, but I've fixed your pen. If you have forgiven me, please draw a circle on the paper." The words hung in the air, the silence of the breakroom amplifying his anticipation as he waited for a response, the pen's supernatural potential a tantalizing mystery.
Undeterred by the silence, Chen Ge tried again, his voice taking on a rhythmic cadence as he chanted, "Pen Spirit, Pen Spirit, you are my spirit from my previous life, and I am your spirit in this life. If you are with us, please draw a circle on the paper…" The invocation was a desperate bid to unlock the sealed classroom's secrets, the pen his most direct link to the spirits within. He leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the paper, willing it to move. The breakroom's quiet felt oppressive, the weight of the night's events at Mu Yang High School—the well, the uniforms, the ghostly students—pressing down as he sought answers. The Pen Spirit's refusal to respond frustrated him, its cryptic nature a challenge he was determined to overcome, the key to the classroom's mystery tantalizingly close yet stubbornly out of reach.
The silence persisted, the pen unmoving on the paper, and Chen Ge's frustration bubbled to the surface. "Why so silent? I'm also a victim in this case, okay?" he said, his voice tinged with exasperation as he addressed the absent spirit. The Pen Spirit's refusal to engage felt personal, its "eye-rolling" description from the black phone echoing in his mind. The breakroom's morning light cast soft shadows, a stark contrast to the underground scenario's darkness, yet the weight of the spirits' presence lingered. Chen Ge leaned back, the taped-up pen in his hand a fragile link to the sealed classroom's secrets. His determination hardened, the challenge of winning the Pen Spirit's favor a new mission in itself, one that would require patience and cunning to unravel the full mystery of Mu Yang High School's haunting legacy.
Chen Ge stood in the staff breakroom, the taped-up Cursed Ballpoint Pen still in his hand, its silent refusal to cooperate a lingering frustration. With a resigned sigh, he decided to return it to the female dormitory in the underground scenario, where he had found it among the crumpled papers. He took a slow tour through the recreated Mu Yang High School, his flashlight illuminating the eerie corridors and classrooms, each step echoing in the oppressive silence. The subterranean level's chilling atmosphere clung to him, the shadows of the sealed classroom and its twenty-four uniforms lingering in his mind. The pen, fragile and enigmatic, seemed to pulse with a faint supernatural energy, a reminder of the spirits he had yet to fully understand. As he placed it back on the chair in the dormitory, the quiet of the underground parking lot felt heavy, the weight of the night's events at the real Mu Yang High School still pressing on him, urging him to unravel the mysteries that remained.
The twenty-four school uniforms in the sealed classroom had been a haunting sight, their empty forms staring at him with an unsettling intensity, but Chen Ge's mind was already turning to how he could enhance their impact. The uniforms are scary, but the fear factor isn't enough, he thought, envisioning a way to elevate the terror in his Haunted House. When I have time, I should update the models in the Night of the Living Room, dress them in the uniforms, and place them in the classroom. That should amplify the dread significantly. The idea excited him, the potential to transform the sealed classroom into a heart-stopping attraction driving his creative instincts. As he climbed back to the first floor and secured the wooden boards over the subterranean entrance, his phone rang, the sudden sound jolting him from his thoughts. The quiet of New Century Park's morning light contrasted sharply with the eerie underground, grounding him as he checked the caller ID.
To his surprise, the call was from Inspector Lee, his familiar voice a reminder of the night's grim events. "Uncle San Bao? How can I help you?" Chen Ge asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and fatigue. He recalled that when he had left Mu Yang High School, Inspector Lee had remained behind, deep in discussion with officers from the main city's investigation team. The weight of the case—the well, the bodies, Fan Yu's aunt—had clearly kept them busy through the dawn. The morning air outside New Century Park was crisp, the faint scent of rain still lingering as Chen Ge listened intently, his mind racing with possibilities about why the inspector would call so soon after their parting. The quiet of his surroundings seemed to amplify the urgency in Inspector Lee's voice, a signal that the case was far from closed.
Inspector Lee's request was unexpected, his voice carrying a note of urgency. "If you're not too busy, do you mind coming to the district police station? The killer wants to talk to you." The words caught Chen Ge off guard, his brow furrowing as he processed the request. The idea that Fan Yu's aunt, now a detained suspect, specifically wanted to speak with him was both intriguing and perplexing. The quiet of his room felt heavier, the memory of her confession in the school's toilet—the well, the murders, her twisted love for Fan Yu—resurfacing vividly. "Me?" Chen Ge asked, his confusion evident, but he agreed to comply out of respect for Inspector Lee's authority and his own curiosity. "Okay, I'll be there in a minute." Hanging up, he grabbed his jacket, the morning light casting long shadows as he prepared to face the woman whose actions had haunted his night.
Upon arriving at the district police station, a familiar officer greeted Chen Ge, his expression a mix of weariness and recognition as he led him to the interrogation room. The sterile, fluorescent-lit corridor contrasted sharply with the dark, haunted halls of Mu Yang High School, yet the weight of the case followed him inside. Fan Yu's aunt sat in a chair, her hands cuffed, her appearance markedly different from the defiant figure in the school's toilet. In just one night, she seemed to have aged, her face gaunt and weary, her hair falling in disheveled strands across her face. The officer briefed Chen Ge, his voice low and serious. "The autopsy for the bodies is still going on. The suspect's emotions are very unstable, and she refuses to say anything. Her only demand is to talk to you in person, and that was why I called you." Shaking Chen Ge's hand, the officer stepped out, leaving him alone with the aunt. "Then, I shall leave you to you."
Chen Ge approached cautiously, his heart pounding as he studied Fan Yu's aunt. "I'll try my best," he said to the departing officer, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. The woman's head was lowered, her hair obscuring her face, but as he drew closer, her distracted gaze sharpened, focusing on him with a mix of complex emotions—regret, desperation, and something deeper, almost pleading. The interrogation room's stark lighting cast harsh shadows, amplifying the weight of her presence. Chen Ge's mind flashed to the night's events—the fifth cubicle, the well, her confession of murder—and he wondered what she could possibly want from him now. The cuffs on her wrists glinted under the light, a reminder of her crimes, yet her silence suggested there was more to her story, a final piece she needed to share.
"You asked for me?" Chen Ge asked, his voice calm but firm as he stopped at a safe distance, the officer's earlier warning to maintain space echoing in his mind. Fan Yu's aunt nodded slightly, her silence stretching into a heavy pause that filled the room with tension. When she finally spoke, her words caught him off guard. "Do you have the drawing I gave you in the third-floor toilets?" The question was unexpected, stirring a memory Chen Ge had nearly forgotten in the chaos of the night. He reached into his pocket, retrieving the crumpled drawing Fan Yu's aunt had given him, its eerie red figures stark against the paper. Placing it before her, he watched as her expression softened, her eyes lingering on the drawing as if it were a priceless treasure. The interrogation room's cold atmosphere seemed to warm slightly, the drawing a link to her past, a lifeline that had pulled her from despair after her family's tragic loss.
Fan Yu's aunt's gaze remained fixed on the drawing, her fingers twitching as if longing to touch it, though the cuffs restrained her. The sight of it seemed to ground her, her weary face softening with a mix of sorrow and reverence. Chen Ge recalled how these drawings, created by Fan Yu, had been her solace after her husband and children's deaths, a fragile bridge to the spirits she believed resided in the boy. The interrogation room's silence was heavy, the weight of her grief palpable as she stared at the paper. The drawing's red figures, with their haunting climb from the well, mirrored the tragedy she had confessed to, a visual echo of her crimes and her loss. Chen Ge's heart ached with a mix of pity and caution, the woman before him a complex figure—both a killer and a grieving mother, her actions driven by a twisted love that had destroyed a family.
Her voice, when it came, was soft and laced with bitterness, breaking the silence. "I've done everything I could for Fan Yu for three years, but the first living person who showed up in his drawing is you, how is that fair?" The words carried a raw edge, her eyes lifting to meet Chen Ge's with a mix of resentment and resignation. The accusation stung, but Chen Ge sensed the deeper pain behind it—her fear of losing Fan Yu, the boy she had claimed as her own. The interrogation room's stark lighting highlighted the lines of exhaustion on her face, her cuffed hands a stark reminder of her impending fate. Chen Ge's mind flashed to Fan Yu's drawings, the boy's ability to see spirits a bond he shared with Chen Ge, a connection the aunt could never fully understand. Her question hung in the air, a plea wrapped in jealousy, as she grappled with her diminishing role in the boy's life.
Chen Ge's response was measured, his voice gentle but firm as he pointed to his eyes. "Things might not be as simple as you think. Fan Yu probably thinks I'm similar to him. We can see the same thing." The words were a quiet revelation, his Yin Yang Vision a shared gift that had drawn Fan Yu to him, a bond forged in their ability to perceive the supernatural. The interrogation room's silence deepened, the aunt's head lowering once more as she processed his words. The drawing lay between them, its red figures a haunting reminder of the spirits that had shaped their lives. Chen Ge's heart steadied, the realization that Fan Yu's trust in him was rooted in their shared perception grounding him. The aunt's silence suggested she understood, her resentment giving way to a reluctant acceptance of their connection.
"Is this why you called me here?" Chen Ge asked, carefully folding the drawing and tucking it back into his pocket. The interrogation room's cold atmosphere seemed to press in, the weight of her silence amplifying the tension. After a long pause, Fan Yu's aunt collected herself, her expression shifting as if she had reached a painful but necessary decision. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, as she spoke. "I am Fan Yu's only remaining family, and I will have to leave him soon. The boy has a weird personality and is unable to make any friends. I do not ask that you take him on, but I plead that you go visit him when you have time. Talk to him and make sure he isn't bullied by the other kids." Her words were a quiet plea, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she entrusted Fan Yu's future to Chen Ge, the weight of her crimes and her love for the boy converging in a final, desperate request.