A rope bridge swayed over a dizzying chasm, serving as the only connection between the cliff and the summit. At the mountain’s top stood a Gothic villa, casting a shadow reminiscent of a foreboding castle.

    The scene seemed so absurd that even the most clichéd film directors would dismiss it as too unrealistic. Who in their right mind would choose such a remote and perilous location for a holiday home? And if this location was chosen, why not build a sturdy and secure bridge instead of a weak and fragile one?

    Yu Xiao felt a surge of dread as she eyed the bridge. She was sure that it would snap at any moment, sending them plummeting to their deaths.

    They had to leave their sports cars behind, as they were too heavy and wide for the bridge. Yu Xiao rubbed her temples as she gazed at the villa, wondering what kind of twisted mind had dreamed it up.

    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned in and muttered with a sneer: “Who would have guessed, Dr. Qu’s dream is so retro.”

    “Shh.” Zhao Lan hushed her, and added: “Retro is fine, retro means less surprises, and less trouble for us.”

    Yu Xiao counted the people who had come to the villa. There were thirteen of them, seven patients who had entered the dream, and six others, four men and two women. One of them was a little girl.

    The seven players, bound by their common goal, clustered together.

    Tan Qiao Yin, a girl with a high ponytail, fixed her gaze on the little girl, who looked no older than eight. “Trust me, I’ve seen enough horror movies to know that that little girl is not normal.”

    “Why?” Zhao Lan asked, curious.

    Tan Qiao Yin grinned and said, “You’re not much of a horror fan, are you? In most horror films, the child is either the sole survivor or the mastermind behind it all.”

    “Is that so?” Zhao Lan turned to Yu Xiao, who was more of an expert on the genre. She herself rarely watched anything scary.

    Yu Xiao nodded. “It’s true. But there’s a catch. Films can’t show children getting killed in gruesome ways. It’s against the rules of political correctness.”

    “Oh~” Zhao Lan nodded, enlightened.

    Just then, a muscular man with long hair strutted over, arm in arm with a man in a floral shirt and a round hat. They stopped in front of the rope bridge and the long-haired man spread his arms wide and bellowed, “Welcome to the mountain villa!”

    “We’re going to have a blast here for the next seven days!”

    The thirteen guests crossed the rope bridge one after another, feeling it sway under their feet. Before stepping on it, Yu Xiao overheard Tan Qiao Yin whisper to Zhu Miao Miao, “I’ll try to test that little girl later.”

    The bridge looked old and frail, as if it would snap with a strong tug. Yu Xiao wasn’t too worried, though. She knew that in horror films, nothing bad usually happened at the start.

    The Gothic villa loomed over them as they crossed the bridge, a dark and foreboding presence that seemed to belong to another era. Moss clung to the roof tiles, hinting at the age and neglect of the place. It was the perfect setting for a horror film, and Yu Xiao half-expected a vampire to emerge from the shadows and greet them. She wouldn’t have been too shocked if that happened.

    The man in the floral shirt, who apparently owned this monstrosity, fished out a bunch of keys from his pocket. They jangled on brass rings as he searched for the right one. He finally found it and inserted it into the lock of the front door. The door creaked open with a sound that made Yu Xiao’s skin crawl. It was like the groan of a dying beast, reluctant to let anyone in.

    The man in the floral shirt smiled and gestured for them to enter. “Welcome to my humble abode,” he said. “Our happy holiday life begins here.”

    Yu Xiao shivered as she stepped into the villa, feeling a chill that seeped into her bones. This was a haunted house, no doubt about it. She had a bad feeling about staying here.

    The man in the floral shirt ushered everyone to sit down in the living room, which was adorned with retro furniture and paintings. Surprisingly, the interior was immaculate, unlike the outside of the villa. “I had someone clean it a few days ago,” he proudly explained. “I wanted to ensure everything was prepared for you guys.”

    Meanwhile, he and the long-haired muscular man went to get drinks, snacks, and alcohol.

    Tan Qiao Yin wasted no time in mingling with the four tourists, chatting them up with ease. She soon learned their names, backgrounds, and family histories.

    The man in the floral shirt was Henry, a rich second-generation playboy who had inherited a fortune from his parents. He loved to eat, drink, have fun, and chase girls, and he didn’t care about the consequences.

    (亨利Hēng lì : 亨 (Hēng) is a male given name that means “smooth” or “successful”. 利 (Lì) is a unisex given name that means “sharp” or “profitable”. 亨利 could be interpreted as “a smooth sharpness” or “a successful profitability”.)

    The long-haired muscular man was Henry’s loyal sidekick, a gangster who went by the name of Brother Nan (哥: South). He was always ready to back up Henry in any trouble, or start some of his own.

    The little girl was Yue Yue (月月), a sweet nine-year-old with pigtails. She was accompanied by her parents, Zhang Shu (张舒) and Qin Lei (秦磊), a middle-aged couple who looked weary and worried.

    (月 (Yuè) is a unisex given name that means “moon” or “month”. 月月 could be interpreted as “double moon” or “every month”.)(张 (Zhāng) is a common surname that means “to spread” or “to open”. 舒 (Shū) is a unisex given name that means “comfortable” or “smooth”. 张舒 could be interpreted as “spreading comfort” or “opening smoothly”. )(秦 (Qín) is a surname that derives from the name of an ancient state and dynasty. 磊 (Lěi) is a male given name that means “rock pile” or “honest”. 秦磊 could be interpreted as “a pile of rocks from Qin” or “an honest person from Qin”.)

    The last one was a young man who barely spoke a word, his expression distant. He was Ripley, ‘a spy’ sent by Henry’s parents to keep an eye on him.

    (瑞普利

    瑞 (Ruì) is a unisex given name that means “auspicious” or “lucky”. 普 (Pǔ) is a common syllable that means “universal” or “general”. 利 (Lì) is a unisex given name that means “sharp” or “profitable”. 瑞普利 could be interpreted as “a lucky universal sharpness” or “a profitable general auspiciousness”.)

    Yu Xiao couldn’t help but feel a mixture of horror and fascination. Doctor Qu’s imagination was truly twisted, as she seamlessly fused elements from Eastern and Western nightmares in her dream creation.

    “Everyone, come and see what we’ve got!” Brother Nan and Henry burst into the room, their voices full of glee.

    Henry’s arms were loaded with various items, while Brother Nan dragged along, grey thing behind him.

    He flung it onto the table with a loud thump, making everyone jump.

    Zhang Shu, the mother of little Yu Yue, let out a piercing scream. “Ahhh—!!!”

    Yu Xiao leaned forward and saw the grisly sight of a dead wild rabbit, its fur matted with blood.

    Qin Lei quickly embraced his wife and daughter, trying to shield them from the horror. Rupley turned his gaze away, displaying disgust.

    Only the seven patients appeared unaffected; Yu Xiao even observed Zhou Xiao Zhen eagerly licking her lips.

    “Shh…” Brother Nan silenced them, placing a finger to his lips. “This rabbit was a gift from the heavens. It flew directly into the acacia tree outside the window, as if it intended to end its own life. We’re incredibly fortunate; tonight, we’ll enjoy a delectable rabbit roast.”

    Henry switched on the record player in the corner, filling the hall with a foreign song that Yu Xiao had never heard before. He placed the drinks and snacks he had brought on the table and flashed a grin. “Please, relax and make yourselves at home.”

    Tan Qiao Yin whispered to Yu Xiao, “Why does a guy named Henry have such a Chinese accent?”

    Yu Xiao didn’t care; she was thirsty and reached for some grape juice to drink.

    Brother Nan settled into the chair at the head of the long table, a cigar smouldering between his fingers.

    “There’s something we need to sort out before we feast,” Henry said, waving his free hand towards the villa looming behind him. “This place has been in my family for over a hundred years. It has twelve rooms, exactly enough for our party of thirteen.”

    Pausing for effect, Henry leaned forward, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. His piercing blue eyes scanned the group, silently observing them. He then directed their attention to a window in the uppermost corner of the villa. “But that room is special. It has a story. When my grandmother was a child, the kitchen maid made a mistake and put too much salt in the food. My grandmother’s parents were furious and beat her mercilessly. That night, she hanged herself in that room.”

    He lowered his voice, trying to sound ominous. “Ever since then, people have heard the sound of a knife being sharpened in that room. Some have even claimed to see a ghostly woman stirring a pot of blood soup.” He shivered, as if he felt a sudden chill. “No one has dared to sleep in that room again, so…”

    The man in the floral shirt looked around, his eyes filled with excitement. “Which one of us will be brave enough to spend the night in that room?”

    Zhou Xiao Zhen scowled, questioning, “Why would anyone want to sleep there? Can’t we just share a room and leave that one alone?”

    Henry faltered, his smile fading. He snapped, “No way! You have to follow the rules. Unless you’re a couple, you get your own room!”

    Yu Xiao had enough of his theatrics. She slammed her fist on the table and glared at him. “Stop it. Cut the drama. Spit it out plainly and don’t waste our time.”

    “…”

    Henry’s face froze for a heartbeat, as if Yu Xiao’s words had short-circuited his brain.

    But he quickly recovered his composure, and his voice took on a manic edge. “Let’s play a game, a game that will determine who among us will spend the night in that room.”

    “What kind of game?” Brother Nan leaned forward, curiosity sparking in his eyes. He rested his feet on the table, blowing a ring of smoke from his cigar. “Do tell.”

    “From this moment on, each of us will share a true horror story,” Henry said, pulling out a cardboard box from under his seat. “Then we’ll cast our votes in secret, picking the least terrifying tale. The one who gets the most votes will be the lucky winner of a night in that room.”

    He grinned wickedly. “Any questions?”

    “Yes.” Qin Lei, who had been trying to shield his daughter Yue Yue from the conversation, spoke up. “My daughter is too young for this game, can she be excused?”

    “No, everyone has to join,” Henry said, his smile fading. “But parents can choose to tell a story for their children. So,” he scanned the faces of the others, “any more objections?”

    Yu Xiao raised her hand, “Does the loser have to stay in that room?” Sёarch* The N?vel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Henry cocked his head, “If someone else volunteers to take their place, they can get out of it.”

    “Oh,” Yu Xiao nodded, “then I’m good.”

    “Great, now that we’ve settled that, let’s begin the game.” Henry clapped his hands, drumming his feet nervously under the table. “Who wants to go first?”

    “I will.” Tan Qiao Yin seemed eager to participate in this game. She cleared her throat and started slowly, “Do you ever look at the showerhead when you shower? There was a woman who went on a business trip and stayed at a hotel near a train station. One night, as she was showering, she felt the water getting colder. She opened her eyes, and saw that the water coming out of the showerhead.. was.. Red.”

    She stopped mid-sentence, letting the words hang in the air like a noose. “And then,” she continued, lowering her voice to a whisper, “she raised her head slowly…, and saw that it wasn’t a shower head at all. It was the severed head of a woman, dripping blood on her…”

    Zhang Shu reacted instantly, scooping up Yue Yue in her arms and pressing her palms over her ears. She didn’t want her daughter to hear the rest of the story.

    “Wonderful,” Henry clapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Who’s next?”

    Zhou Xiao Zhen’s hand shot up in the air, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She loved these kinds of stories, the ones that made your skin crawl and your heart race. “Me, me, me!”

    She cleared her throat and struck a dramatic pose, as if she were about to receive an award. “Have you ever heard the old saying, don’t look in the mirror at midnight? Especially not between one and two in the morning. If you have to pass by a mirror, just run. Don’t stop. Don’t look.”

    She paused for effect, then went on. “There was a woman who didn’t believe in such things. She thought it was all nonsense, superstition, nonsense. So one night, she decided to test it out. She sat in front of the mirror at two in the morning, and combed her hair.” Zhou Xiao Zhen tried to sound spooky, but her enthusiasm betrayed her. She was having too much fun to be scared.

    “She combed and combed, and nothing happened. She smiled to herself, thinking she had proven them all wrong. She got up to leave, to tell everyone what she had done. But as soon as she turned around, she felt a chill down her spine. She looked back at the mirror, and saw another her, still sitting there, still combing her hair, slowly, slowly, slowly…”