Nightmare Assault

The night deepened. However, one could still see the endless stains on the ceiling. Other than the stains, there was nothing else. Fatty pulled his gaze back and looked at Jiang Cheng with confusion. His lips moved before he said carefully, “Doctor, I don’t understand…”

“It’s midnight.” Jiang Cheng held the camera, but his gaze was on the door. Fatty was confused.

“No one died… yesterday,” Jiang Cheng announced.

Fatty’s body trembled. He stared at Jiang Cheng and had to ask, “Doctor, isn’t it a good thing that no one dies?”

“Good.” Jiang Cheng’s face was devoid of expression, “But it’s not normal.”

“Is it only normal for people to die every day?” Fatty raised his pitch.

“Yes.” Jiang Cheng nodded in confirmation, “At least one per day.” They had spent three days on this mission. The woman in the qipao died on the first night, and Long Tao died on the second day afternoon. This was the fourth night, but there was no third victim. Despite the twists and turns, everyone had returned to the hostel safely.

“Doctor,” Fatty uttered softly, “Perhaps the ghost took a break.”

Jiang Cheng ignored him.

Then, Fatty consoled him, “Doctor, you’ve already done your best. Don’t give yourself too much pressure.” Jiang Cheng looked at the camera in his hands again and again. Zhen Jianren had taken down the video of the entire music classroom. All the students and staff were there. However, the ghost was nowhere to be seen. It was as if… the ghost had disappeared.

Click!

The light in the room suddenly came on. Jiang Cheng’s gaze sharpened as he turned to the door. The light switch was beside the door. Fatty, who stood beside the switch, was startled by Jiang Cheng’s sharp gaze.

“Doctor,” He quickly explained, “I also felt like something was wrong, so I figured it was better for us to switch the lights on.”

Jiang Cheng thought about it and agreed. With Fatty’s company, at least he wouldn’t be bored. However, as he lowered his head to check the video again, his body froze. The light above his head shone and emitted a yellow light. He looked down and saw the small ball of shadow underneath him. It was like a mist that wouldn’t fade away.

Fatty noticed the anomalous way Jiang Cheng was acting. He quickly asked, “Doctor, what’s wrong?”

There was no answer.

“Doctor?” Fatty asked again.

The anxiety in his heart amplified. Just as he was about to lose his mind…

Jiang Cheng suddenly moved. He put down the camera, grabbed the black camera bag and put the camera inside it.

“Fatty,” Jiang Cheng packed up his stuff and said, “Pack up now.”

“Doctor, I don’t have much to pack. They’re all on my clothes.” Fatty looked at the inky darkness outside. His lips trembled. His eyes swirled with confusion, “But… isn’t it too dangerous to leave at a moment like this?” He was still befuddled. After all, it was Jiang Cheng who told him that he couldn’t leave the room no matter what happened that night.

Jiang Cheng picked up the trash on the ground, gulped down his iced tea and put the bag of trash behind the door. Then, he removed his jacket and pants. Fatty watched as Jiang Cheng stripped down into his boxers.

“Doctor,” Fatty widened his eyes, “What are you…”

The next second, Jiang Cheng slipped under the blanket like a fish. “Fatty,” Jiang Cheng stretched comfortably. “Quickly pack and shut off the light. I’m going to bed now.”

…

That night was torture for Fatty. He had a lot of questions, but Jiang Cheng slumbered just like that. He suspected Jiang Cheng was acting. The man might suddenly jump up and drag him away. Therefore, he waited patiently for a whole night until footsteps came from outside their room.

“Who is it?!” Fatty asked alertly.

“It’s me.” The person answered, “Luo Yi.”

It was Luo Yi’s voice and…

Fatty looked out the window. The sun was up.

Jiang Cheng poked his head out and said blurrily, “Let him wait. I’m not used to putting on clothes in front of men.”

Fatty relayed Jiang Cheng’s meaning, “Wait a minute. We still haven’t woken up.”

There was a hiss from outside the door. Luo Yi was losing his patience.

“Why do you come to us?” Fatty asked.

“We’re going to have a meeting in a minute in my room to discuss what to do next.”

“Okay.”

Luo Yi heard the answer and left. He still needed to inform the people in Room 406.

At that moment, the door of Room 404 suddenly opened. Jiang Cheng poked his head out and shouted, “Brother Luo Yi, please wait!”

Luo Yi turned around and was confounded seeing Jiang Cheng act like this.

“Can we move the meeting to my room?” Jiang Cheng said confidently, “Or else I’d feel like I’m not being respected.”

Luo Yi was stunned, not expecting this answer. Then, he nodded. “Alright. Then, you better clean up your place.”

Twenty minutes later, everyone gathered at Room 404.

It rained the night before, but the weather was nice in the morning. The first ray of the sun cut through the clouds. It showered into the room. Through the open window, one could smell the freshness of the world after a rain.

Due to Luo Yi’s reaction the day before, the people in Room 406 didn’t give him much attention. Zhou Taifu didn’t even hide his suspicion.

As the mission neared its end, the atmosphere tensed.

“We don’t have much time left.” Luo Yi’s expression was dark. He felt the ostracisation. However, he didn’t explain himself.

“Do we need you to say that?” Zhou Taifu grumbled. Since Xu Wen sat beside him, he sat up straighter, “When the ceremony starts, we’ll all die here!”

Luo Yi paled.

Zhen Jianren glanced at Zhou Taifu, and he chuckled. “I’m afraid Mr. Zhou is too optimistic.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think we’ll survive until then?” Zhen Jianren pulled on the buttons of his shirt and stared at him. “The ghost disappeared during the second rehearsal. This means that it has completed some kind of metamorphosis. The former rules can’t hold it back anymore.

“I believe the third rehearsal is our last chance. If we can’t finish this mission before then, we’ll all die!”

Fatty swallowed and asked timidly, “Then, does anyone know when the third rehearsal is?”

No one answered.

Fatty felt better.

“Tomorrow,” Xu Wen suddenly volunteered. She pulled out a red phone from her pocket and shook it, “Feng Lan just told me that ten minutes ago.” Then, her expression shifted slightly. “The venue is the same. The time is… midnight.”