Chapter? ?24? ?-? ?Dusk? ?Cruise? ?(9)? ?

    ?

    The? ?question? ?was? ?so? ?tricky? ?that? ?Ye? ?Chang? ?was? ?frozen? ?for? ?a? ?moment.? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan? ?turned? ?his? ?head,? ?taking? ?in? ?the? ?other? ?person’s? ?bewilderment? ?as? ?he? ?waited? ?for? ?an? ?answer.? ?

    ?

    Then? ?half? ?a? ?second? ?later,? ?Ye? ?Chang? ?recovered? ?his? ?composure? ?and? ?smiled? ?bitterly.? ?“My? ?degree? ?of? ?

    myopia? ?is? ?too? ?high? ?so? ?I’m? ?almost? ?like? ?a? ?blind? ?person? ?when? ?taking? ?off? ?my? ?glasses.? ?I? ?feel? ?so? ?insecure? ?that? ?

    I? ?don’t? ?want? ?to? ?take? ?them? ?off? ?even? ?if? ?I? ?sleep.”? ?

    ?

    He? ?deliberately? ?emphasized? ?the? ?words? ?‘blind? ?person.’? ?

    ?

    “I? ?heard? ?from? ?Hei? ?Cha? ?that? ?you? ?couldn’t? ?see? ?before.? ?Is? ?that? ?true?”? ?Ye? ?Chang? ?changed? ?the? ?subject.? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan? ?hadn’t? ?expected? ?Hei? ?Cha? ?to? ?tell? ?this? ?in? ?private? ?to? ?Ye? ?Chang.? ?He? ?just? ?downplayed? ?it.? ?“Yes,? ?I? ?

    exchanged? ?my? ?points? ?for? ?some? ?eyes? ?in? ?the? ?Nightmare? ?World.”? ?

    ?

    Ye? ?Chang? ?raised? ?his? ?eyelids? ?and? ?stared? ?deeply? ?at? ?Chi? ?Nan.? ?“It? ?is? ?very? ?unique.? ?It? ?suits? ?you? ?well.”? ?

    ?

    “...Thank? ?you.”? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?turn? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?continue? ?sleeping? ?when? ?Ye? ?Chang? ?suddenly? ?said,? ?“Wait? ?a ? ?

    minute.? ?Here...”? ?

    ?

    He? ?reached? ?out? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?pressed? ?it? ?against? ?the? ?corner? ?of? ?Chi? ?Nan’s? ?eye.? ?“An? ?eyelash? ?almost? ?fell? ?

    into? ?your? ?eye.”? ?

    ?

    There? ?was? ?no? ?doubt? ?that? ?Chi? ?Nan? ?would? ?cry? ?when? ?touched? ?like? ?this.? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan? ?was? ?busy? ?turning? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?wipe? ?at? ?his? ?tears.? ?

    ?

    On? ?the? ?contrary,? ?Ye? ?Chang? ?froze? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?before? ?making? ?an? ?apologetic? ?expression.? ?He? ?was? ?at? ?a? ?

    loss? ?on? ?what? ?to? ?do? ?as? ?he? ?withdrew? ?his? ?hand.? ?“Sorry,? ?I? ?forgot? ?that? ?you? ?can’t? ?be? ?touched? ?casually.”? ?

    ?

    “Yes...? ?remember? ?next? ?time.”? ?Chi? ?Nan? ?felt? ?a? ?little? ?helpless? ?toward? ?this? ?young? ?man? ?who? ?also? ?did? ?things? ?

    quietly.? ?

    ?

    Ye? ?Chang? ?nodded? ?apologetically? ?and? ?said,? ?“However,? ?I? ?think? ?it? ?is? ?quite? ?normal? ?to? ?shed? ?tears.”? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?strange? ?look? ?and? ?didn’t? ?speak.? ?

    ?

    In? ?his? ?understanding,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?acceptable? ?for? ?men? ?in? ?the? ?human? ?world? ?to? ?shed? ?tears.? ?

    ?

    He? ?didn’t? ?know? ?the? ?reason? ?behind? ?it? ?but? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?case.? ?

    ?

    “I? ?mean? ?to? ?not? ?worry? ?if? ?you? ?ever? ?shed? ?tears? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?me? ?in? ?the? ?future.”? ?Ye? ?Chang? ?smiled? ?and? ?closed? ?

    his? ?eyes.? ?“I’m? ?sleepy,? ?sleepy.”? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan? ?had? ?no? ?chance? ?to? ?refute? ?it? ?at? ?all.? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan,? ?“......”? ?

    ?

    He? ?was? ?too? ?lazy? ?to? ?speculate? ?on? ?other? ?people’s? ?thoughts.? ?He? ?closed? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?went? ?to? ?sleep.? ?

    ?

    At? ?8? ?o’clock? ?in? ?the? ?morning,? ?Hei? ?Cha? ?knocked? ?on? ?the? ?door.? ?“Chi? ?Nan!? ?Ye? ?Chang!? ?Are? ?you? ?okay?”? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan? ?woke? ?up? ?slowly.? ?He? ?was? ?still? ?rubbing? ?his? ?eyes? ?when? ?Ye? ?Chang? ?answered? ?first.? ?“Everything? ?is? ?

    fine.? ?Don’t? ?worry.”? ?

    ?

    Hei? ?Cha? ?outside? ?the? ?door? ?breathed? ?heavily.? ?The? ?worry? ?he? ?had? ?been? ?feeling? ?all? ?night? ?was? ?finally? ?

    relieved? ?slightly? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan? ?opened? ?the? ?door? ?and? ?found? ?that? ?the? ?dark? ?circles? ?under? ?Hei? ?Cha’s? ?eyes? ?were? ?much? ?thicker.? ?It? ?

    seemed? ?he? ?hadn’t? ?slept? ?at? ?all? ?last? ?night.? ?

    ?

    In? ?contrast,? ?Chi? ?Nan’s? ?sleepy? ?appearance? ?was? ?very? ?enviable.? ?Hei? ?Cha? ?saw? ?the? ?other? ?person? ?and? ?his? ?

    nerves? ?relaxed? ?instantly.? ?

    ?

    “Did? ?something? ?happen? ?last? ?night?”? ?Chi? ?Nan? ?asked.? ?

    ?

    Hei? ?Cha? ?shook? ?his? ?head.? ?“I? ?haven’t? ?seen? ?it? ?yet.? ?It? ?should? ?be—”? ?

    ?

    He? ?hadn’t? ?finished? ?speaking? ?when? ?several? ?of? ?the? ?ship’s? ?employees? ?suddenly? ?appeared? ?in? ?the? ?corridor.? ?

    They? ?walked? ?in? ?unison,? ?looking? ?stiff.? ?Even? ?their? ?facial? ?features? ?were? ?so? ?similar? ?that? ?people? ?only? ?got? ?a? ?

    vague? ?impression? ?of? ?them.? ?

    ?

    They? ?carried? ?a? ?white? ?stretcher? ?and? ?knocked? ?on? ?the? ?door? ?of? ?307...? ?

    ?

    The? ?corpse? ?placed? ?on? ?the? ?stretcher? ?had? ?been? ?burned? ?beyond? ?recognition,? ?leaving? ?only? ?a? ?vaguely? ?

    humanoid? ?form.? ?

    ?

    The? ?panicked? ?looking? ?middle-aged? ?man? ?walked? ?out? ?of? ?307? ?after? ?the? ?stretcher.? ?

    ?

    The? ?moment? ?he? ?saw? ?Chi? ?Nan,? ?Ye? ?Chang? ?and? ?Hei? ?Cha,? ?he? ?was? ?surprised? ?that? ?they? ?could? ?escape? ?from? ?

    the? ?punishment? ?room.? ?Then? ?he? ?looked? ?in? ?the? ?direction? ?of? ?the? ?stretcher? ?and? ?shook? ?his? ?head? ?with? ?a? ?

    heavy? ?expression.? ?“The? ?person? ?is? ?gone.? ?He? ?was? ?burned? ?by? ?spontaneous? ?combustion.”? ?

    ?

    The? ?person? ?who? ?lived? ?with? ?him? ?in? ?307? ?was? ?a? ?young? ?corporate? ?drone? ?called? ?Guo? ?Xuan? ?who? ?told? ?the? ?

    story? ?about? ?mahjong? ?on? ?the? ?first? ?night.? ?

    ?

    According? ?to? ?the? ?middle-aged? ?man’s? ?description,? ?he? ?had? ?been? ?tossing? ?and? ?turning? ?in? ?bed? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?

    sleep.? ?He? ?and? ?Guo? ?Xuan? ?had? ?been? ?speaking? ?together? ?to? ?ease? ?their? ?fears? ?and? ?anxieties.? ?

    ?

    “At? ?around? ?3:30? ?in? ?the? ?morning,? ?Guo? ?Xuan? ?said? ?he? ?was? ?too? ?sleepy? ?and? ?he? ?fell? ?asleep? ?while? ?we? ?were? ?

    talking.? ?I? ?couldn’t? ?sleep? ?so? ?I? ?turned? ?my? ?back? ?to? ?him? ?and? ?closed? ?my? ?eyes.”? ?

    ?

    “At? ?4? ?o’clock,? ?I? ?heard? ?a? ?crackling? ?sound? ?from? ?the? ?bed? ?next? ?to? ?me.? ?I? ?opened? ?my? ?eyes? ?and...? ?I? ?saw...”? ?The? ?

    middle-aged? ?man? ?gulped? ?hard,? ?his? ?temples? ?wet? ?with? ?sweat.? ?“My? ?bed? ?just? ?happened? ?to? ?be? ?facing? ?the? ?

    mirror.? ?In? ?the? ?mirror,? ?Guo? ?Xuan? ?on? ?the? ?bed? ?was? ?burning...”? ?

    ?

    He? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?newcomer? ?and? ?he? ?was? ?much? ?calmer? ?compared? ?to? ?Wei? ?Wei? ?Wei? ?yesterday.? ?“I? ?immediately? ?

    rushed? ?to? ?the? ?bathroom? ?to? ?collect? ?water? ?and? ?poured? ?it? ?on? ?Guo? ?Xuan,? ?but? ?it? ?was? ?useless...”? ?

    ?

    “He? ?was? ?running? ?around? ?the? ?room? ?like? ?a? ?fireball.? ?The? ?strange? ?thing? ?was? ?that? ?the? ?fire? ?on? ?his? ?body? ?was? ?

    so? ?big? ?but? ?he? ?didn’t? ?ignite? ?the? ?room.? ?The? ?water? ?couldn’t? ?extinguish? ?the? ?flames? ?on? ?his? ?body...”? ?

    ?

    “It? ?is? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?integrated? ?with? ?the? ?fire? ?that? ?burned? ?him.”? ?

    ?

    The? ?middle-aged? ?man? ?carefully? ?recalled? ?what? ?happened? ?last? ?night? ?and? ?the? ?group? ?listened? ?in? ?silence.? ?

    ?

    There? ?were? ?only? ?seven? ?living? ?people? ?standing? ?in? ?the? ?banquet? ?hall? ?at? ?this? ?time.? ?They? ?noticed? ?that? ?the? ?

    twin? ?sisters? ?and? ?the? ?couple? ?who? ?had? ?changed? ?rooms? ?without? ?permission? ?hadn’t? ?come? ?out? ?of? ?their? ?

    rooms.? ?

    ?

    In? ?this? ?Nightmare? ?World,? ?Chi? ?Nan? ?who? ?didn’t? ?feel? ?any? ?fear? ?was? ?the? ?exception.? ?Everyone? ?else? ?was? ?so? ?

    nervous? ?that? ?they? ?couldn’t? ?sleep? ?in? ?their? ?rooms? ?after? ?the? ?allocated? ?time.? ?There? ?was? ?only? ?one? ?reason? ?

    why? ?they? ?wouldn’t? ?show? ?up.? ?

    ?

    Something? ?happened? ?to? ?them.? ?

    ?

    “Why? ?don’t? ?we? ?knock? ?on? ?the? ?doors? ?of? ?310? ?and? ?201?”? ?The? ?red-haired? ?youth? ?proposed.? ?

    ?

    “Let’s? ?go.”? ?

    ?

    The? ?group? ?of? ?people? ?came? ?to? ?the? ?door? ?of? ?310? ?where? ?the? ?couple? ?lived? ?and? ?Hei? ?Cha? ?knocked? ?on? ?the? ?

    door.? ?“Wei? ?Wei?? ?Brother? ?He?? ?How? ?are? ?you?”? ?

    ?

    No? ?one? ?responded? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time.? ?

    ?

    There? ?was? ?the? ?expected? ?regret? ?in? ?everyone’s? ?expression.? ?The? ?woman? ?with? ?a? ?big? ?chest? ?was? ?silent? ?for? ?a? ?

    moment? ?before? ?saying,? ?“It? ?is? ?highly? ?probable? ?that? ?they? ?are? ?gone.”? ?

    ?

    Hei? ?Cha? ?suggested,? ?“Let’s? ?confirm? ?it? ?first.? ?What? ?if? ?they? ?can? ?be? ?rescued?”? ?

    ?

    Even? ?after? ?experiencing? ?an? ?instance? ?of? ?death,? ?Hei? ?Cha? ?still? ?felt? ?awe? ?toward? ?life? ?as? ?a? ?newcomer.? ?

    ?

    “I’ll? ?smash? ?open? ?the? ?door.”? ?Hei? ?Cha? ?took? ?a? ?step? ?back.? ?He? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?raise? ?his? ?leg? ?toward? ?the? ?door? ?

    but? ?Chi? ?Nan? ?stopped? ?him.? ?

    ?

    “No? ?need.”? ?

    ?

    “What?”? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan? ?stopped? ?the? ?staff? ?member? ?standing? ?at? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?the? ?corridor.? ?“Excuse? ?me,? ?can? ?you? ?help? ?us? ?

    open? ?the? ?door? ?of? ?310?”? ?

    ?

    The? ?staff? ?member? ?nodded? ?stiffly.? ?“No? ?problem.? ?Please? ?wait? ?a? ?moment.”? ?

    ?

    Then? ?he? ?headed? ?toward? ?310? ?with? ?the? ?key.? ?

    ?

    Hei? ?Cha? ?murmured,? ?“...Oh.”? ?

    ?

    Half? ?a? ?minute? ?later,? ?the? ?door? ?opened.? ?

    ?

    The? ?light? ?of? ?the? ?setting? ?sun? ?slanted? ?over? ?the? ?room.? ?The? ?folds? ?of? ?the? ?bedding? ?on? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?beds? ?

    indicated? ?that? ?someone? ?had? ?indeed? ?slept? ?there? ?last? ?night.? ?

    ?

    There? ?was? ?no? ?one? ?in? ?the? ?room? ?but? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?water? ?came? ?from? ?the? ?bathroom.? ?

    ?

    It? ?seemed? ?like? ?someone? ?forgot? ?to? ?turn? ?off? ?the? ?water? ?and? ?water? ?overflowed? ?from? ?the? ?bathtub...? ?

    ?

    Chi? ?Nan? ?looked? ?in? ?the? ?direction? ?of? ?the? ?bathroom.? ?There? ?was? ?a? ?large? ?pool? ?of? ?water? ?coming? ?out? ?from? ?

    behind? ?the? ?closed? ?door.? ?

    ?

    Everyone? ?had? ?a? ?guess? ?in? ?their? ?hearts.? ?

    ?

    Ah? ?Yu? ?of? ?the? ?triplets? ?had? ?just? ?drowned? ?in? ?the? ?bathroom? ?yesterday.? ?The? ?couple? ?would’ve? ?never? ?taken? ?a? ?

    bath? ?in? ?the? ?bathroom? ?so? ?there? ?was? ?only? ?one? ?possibility.? ?

    ?

    Ye? ?Chang? ?and? ?Hei? ?Cha? ?were? ?the? ?first? ?to? ?enter? ?the? ?bathroom,? ?followed? ?by? ?Chi? ?Nan.? ?

    ?

    The? ?group? ?gasped? ?the? ?moment? ?the? ?door? ?opened.? ?

    ?

    The? ?bathtub? ?was? ?full? ?of? ?water,? ?causing? ?it? ?to? ?overflow? ?and? ?cover? ?the? ?white? ?tiles.? ?Many? ?black? ?and? ?long? ?

    strands? ?of? ?hair? ?floated? ?in? ?the? ?water,? ?mixing? ?together? ?with? ?the? ?blood-red? ?light? ?of? ?the? ?sunset.? ?

    ?

    The? ?bathtub? ?could? ?only? ?accommodate? ?one? ?person? ?but? ?there? ?were? ?two? ?bodies? ?floating.? ?Their? ?limbs? ?

    were? ?tightly? ?intertwined? ?together? ?like? ?twin? ?babies? ?still? ?in? ?their? ?mother’s? ?womb.? ?They? ?floated? ?and? ?

    never? ?gave? ?up? ?their? ?liquid? ?environment.? ?

    ?

    It? ?was? ?the? ?young? ?couple...? ?they? ?both? ?drowned? ?in? ?the? ?bathtub? ?like? ?they? ?died? ?for? ?love.? ?

    ?

    It? ?seemed ? ?that? ?the? ?consequences? ?of? ?breaking? ?the? ?rule? ?of? ?changing? ?rooms? ?was? ?to? ?repeat? ?the? ?death? ?of? ?

    the? ?last? ?tenant.? ?The? ?woman? ?with? ?a? ?big? ?chest? ?looked? ?out? ?the? ?window,? ?impatiently? ?took? ?out? ?a? ?cigarette? ?

    and? ?bit? ?it.? ?“So? ?this? ?little? ?couple? ?is...? ?troublesome.? ?One? ?of? ?them? ?could’ve? ?survived.? ?Now...”? ?

    ?

    She? ?shrugged? ?and? ?lowered? ?her? ?head? ?to? ?hide? ?the? ?gloominess? ?in? ?her? ?eyes.? ?

    ?

    “Let’s? ?go? ?to? ?301? ?again.”? ?

    ?

    The? ?atmosphere? ?was? ?somber? ?and? ?no? ?one? ?wanted? ?to? ?stare? ?at? ?the? ?bodies? ?of? ?the? ?lovers? ?in? ?the? ?bathtub? ?

    for? ?too? ?long.? ?

    ?

    Hei? ?Cha? ?made? ?a? ?praying? ?gesture? ?while? ?Chi? ?Nan? ?lowered? ?his? ?eyes.? ?Only? ?Ye? ?Chang’s? ?eyes? ?were? ?hidden? ?

    behind? ?the? ?reflective? ?lens? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?hard? ?to? ?tell? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?thinking.? ?

    ?

    The? ?group? ?had? ?just? ?arrived? ?at? ?301? ?when? ?they? ?saw? ?the? ?white? ?stretcher? ?carrying? ?the? ?body? ?outside? ?it.? ?

    The? ?staff? ?member? ?saw? ?them? ?coming? ?and? ?bowed? ?politely.? ?“Good? ?morning,? ?guests.”? ?

    ?

    Everyone,? ?“......”? ?

    ?

    “Can? ?I? ?trouble? ?you? ?to? ?open? ?the? ?door? ?of? ?301? ?for? ?me? ?again?? ?Thank? ?you,”? ?Chi? ?Nan? ?said.? ?

    ?

    The? ?staff? ?member? ?nodded? ?respectfully.? ?“Yes,? ?Sir.? ?Please? ?wait? ?a? ?moment.”? ?

    ?

    The? ?middle-aged? ?man? ?suddenly? ?said,? ?“There? ?is? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?be? ?polite? ?to? ?these? ?staff? ?members.? ?They? ?

    have? ?no? ?feelings? ?and? ?thoughts.? ?They? ?are? ?just? ?NPCs? ?built? ?from? ?strings? ?of? ?data? ?and? ?will? ?only? ?do? ?things? ?

    according? ?to? ?the? ?procedures? ?specified? ?by? ?the? ?dream? ?maker.”? ?

    ?

    “I? ?know.? ?That’s? ?why? ?I? ?think? ?they? ?are? ?working? ?very? ?hard? ?and? ?probably? ?can’t? ?even? ?sleep,”? ?Chi? ?Nan? ?

    replied. ? ?

    ?

    The? ?middle-aged? ?man,? ?“......”? ?

    ?

    The? ?group? ?of? ?people? ?quickly? ?came? ?to? ?the? ?door? ?of? ?301.? ?The? ?staff? ?member? ?had? ?just? ?taken? ?out? ?the? ?key? ?to? ?

    open? ?the? ?door? ?when? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?click? ?from? ?the? ?room.? ?The? ?door? ?lock? ?twisted? ?counterclockwise? ?and? ?

    everyone? ?nervously? ?held? ?their? ?breath.? ?

    ?

    The? ?lock? ?of? ?the? ?door? ?seemed? ?stuck? ?and? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?opened.? ?

    ?

    They? ?weren’t? ?sure? ?if? ?the? ?thing? ?twisting? ?the? ?door? ?was? ?a? ?person? ?or? ?something? ?else,? ?so? ?no? ?one? ?dared? ?to? ?

    act? ?rashly.? ?

    ?

    “Who? ?is? ?inside?”? ?The? ?woman? ?with? ?a? ?big? ?chest? ?asked.? ?

    ?

    The? ?act? ?of? ?twisting? ?the? ?door? ?handle? ?became? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?irritable.? ?It? ?was? ?followed? ?by? ?a? ?banging? ?on? ?

    the? ?door.? ?

    ?

    “Is? ?it? ?Ah? ?Xue? ?and? ?Ah? ?Qing?”? ?The? ?group? ?outside? ?the? ?door? ?tried? ?to? ?check? ?who? ?was? ?trying? ?to? ?open? ?the? ?

    door.? ?

    ?

    However,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?sound? ?apart? ?from? ?the? ?dull? ?friction? ?of? ?iron? ?as? ?the? ?door? ?handle? ?was? ?twisted.? ?

    ?

    “Open? ?the? ?door.”? ?Chi? ?Nan? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?staff? ?member.? ?

    ?

    The? ?middle-aged? ?man? ?was? ?in? ?a? ?hurry.? ?“But? ?how? ?do? ?you? ?know? ?what? ?is? ?behind? ?the? ?door?”? ?

    ?

    “We? ?should? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?handle? ?it? ?no? ?matter? ?what? ?it? ?is.”? ?It? ?was? ?Ye? ?Chang? ?who? ?answered.? ?

    ?

    The? ?middle-aged? ?man? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?staff? ?member? ?inserting? ?the? ?key? ?into? ?the? ?hole? ?in? ?a? ?panic.? ?“Don’t? ?

    open? ?it.? ?Hey,? ?I? ?told? ?you...!”? ?

    ?

    The? ?staff? ?member? ?turned? ?a? ?blind? ?eye? ?to? ?it.? ?Perhaps? ?he? ?didn’t? ?like? ?guests? ?who? ?had? ?previously? ?been? ?

    rude? ?to? ?him? ?or? ?who? ?were? ?now? ?shouting? ?at? ?him.? ?

    ?

    There? ?was? ?a? ?click? ?as? ?the? ?door? ?opened.? ?

    ?

    Ah? ?Qing,? ?the? ?long? ?ponytailed? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?triplets,? ?rushed? ?out? ?and? ?saw? ?the? ?surprised? ?look? ?of? ?everyone? ?

    in? ?the? ?corridor.? ?Her? ?legs? ?softened? ?as? ?she? ?fell? ?directly? ?to? ?the? ?ground.? ?

    ?

    The? ?woman? ?with? ?a? ?big? ?chest? ?looked? ?cold? ?but? ?her? ?actions? ?were? ?quick.? ?She? ?hugged? ?the? ?little? ?girl? ?and? ?

    didn’t? ?let? ?her? ?fall.? ?“What? ?happened?”? ?

    ?

    Ah? ?Qing? ?shivered.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?known? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?due? ?to? ?the? ?fright? ?or? ?something? ?else? ?but? ?she? ?couldn’t? ?make? ?

    a? ?sound.? ?She? ?pointed? ?to? ?the? ?guest? ?room? ?with? ?red? ?eyes? ?and? ?her? ?lips? ?moved? ?silently,? ?as? ?if? ?she? ?was? ?saying? ?

    a? ?name.? ?

    ?

    Ah? ?Xue.? ?

    ?

    The? ?group? ?rushed? ?into? ?the? ?room? ?but? ?no? ?one? ?was? ?inside.? ?Only? ?the? ?radio? ?on? ?the? ?bedside? ?table? ?was? ?

    playing? ?a? ?strange? ?nursery? ?rhyme? ?of? ?hide? ?and? ?seek.? ?

    ?

    “Where? ?are? ?you?? ?Where? ?are? ?you?? ?Don’t? ?hide.? ?I? ?can? ?hear? ?your? ?breathing.? ?I? ?can? ?hear? ?your? ?heartbeat.? ?

    Did? ?you? ?hide? ?in? ?the? ?wardrobe? ?again?? ?The? ?smell? ?of? ?your? ?blood? ?is? ?close? ?at? ?hand.? ?I? ?will? ?find? ?you.”? ?

    ?

    The? ?group? ?followed? ?the? ?song? ?and? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?huge? ?wooden? ?wardrobe? ?in? ?the? ?corner? ?of? ?the? ?guest? ?

    room.? ?

    ?

    Knock,? ?knock,? ?knock.? ?

    ?

    It? ?was? ?like? ?something? ?was? ?knocking? ?on? ?the? ?wardrobe? ?door? ?in? ?a? ?rhythmic? ?manner.? ?

    ?