Chapter 99: Alone |
Translator: InkyDragon (https://puukkiss.wixsite.com/inkydragon)
The wheelchair-bound doctor greeted Yu Xiao with a faint smile as he observed the elderly couple beside her sprawled on the floor. “Well, hello there, missy,” he said, his tone cheerful but didn’t match his pale face. “You’re the first to venture out of the ward, aren’t you?”
“Am I?” Yu Xiao mustered a smile, hoping to conceal the beads of sweat on her forehead. “And what should I address you as?”
“Qing Shi (青石: “a green stone” or “a young rock”),” he replied, his demeanor as serene as his name implied. “Just Qing Shi.”
“Uh-huh, I see. And the others?” Yu Xiao scanned the corridor, searching for her companions. “Are they still confined to the ward? Should I wait for them here?”
“They’re all still in the ward, yes,” Qing Shi confirmed with a nod. “But there’s no need to linger. You’ll reunite with them when you depart from the hospital.”
Leaving the hospital sounded simpler than it actually was. Anxiety surged within Yu Xiao. While she trusted Misty and Precious, navigating this hellhole alone seemed daunting.
“This hospital harbours many terrors,” Qing Shi remarked, his gaze darting around warily. “Come nightfall, they awaken. You must escape before then. Once you’re all outside, seek out the sage in the city. They’ll aid you in saving this place, so the afflicted may find solace…”
So, it was a three-fold quest: flee the hospital, locate the sage, and rescue the institution. Easy peasy, right?
Having concluded his spiel, Qing Shi began to manoeuvre his wheelchair to depart.
But a hand seized his wheelchair from behind, and Yu Xiao assumed control, propelling him along the corridor. “Hey, Qing Shi, what’s the story with your legs?” she inquired, pushing forward.
Qing Shi tensed momentarily, taken aback by her boldness, before easing into a response. “Born this way.”
“What a shame,” Yu Xiao remarked. “With that handsome face, you could have been a heartbreaker if you could walk, huh?”
A flicker of amusement crossed Qing Shi’s face. “We must leave this hospital before nightfall, or we’re doomed.”
“I know, I know,” Yu Xiao said. “But we have time. It’s only morning. No need to panic. About those occupants in the wards—are they former patients?”
“Yes,” Qing Shi affirmed with a smirk. “You’re quite curious, aren’t you?”
“Damn right,” Yu Xiao agreed. She had often pondered the fate of those who die during treatment. Did they disappear without a trace? Qing Shi’s words gave her some clues.
“Well, if you’re so intrigued, why not open a door and peek inside?”
Yu Xiao halted, scrutinising Qing Shi. Whatever lay behind those doors, it certainly wasn’t human anymore. He cautioned her against provoking them, yet now he tempted her to explore. That was a bad idea.
“You’re mischievous,” Yu Xiao chuckled. “Dr. Qing Shi, you’re quite the trickster. Ever been smacked for it?”
For a moment, Qing Shi’s face hardened. He could tell she wasn’t joking, even though she was smiling. Yet, he returned her grin. “Not yet. Care to give it a shot?”
Yu Xiao gave a mock frown, nudging Qing Shi with her elbow. “You know, it’s impolite to provoke others,” she teased, then flashed him a sly grin. “So, Qing Shi, do you have a girlfriend?”
Qing Shi found himself cornered by the window at the corridor’s end, courtesy of Yu Xiao’s persistent pushing. He sighed and shook his head. “No, I don’t.”
“Really? Well, neither do I have a boyfriend,” Yu Xiao revealed, batting her eyelashes. “How about we make a deal? I’ll be your girlfriend, and you’ll help me get out of this hellhole. I don’t mind that you’re a cripple.”
Suppressing his irritation, Qing Shi maintained his polite demeanour. “Escaping this hospital won’t be as straightforward as you imagine.”
“Is that so?” Yu Xiao leaned against the window, contemplating. “Then why not simply jump out?”
“Feel free to try,” Qing Shi replied, seizing Yu Xiao’s hand that grasped his wheelchair.
She felt a chill from his touch but remained composed, smirking. “Qing Shi, you’re the first to hold my hand. Do you know what that implies? You must take responsibility.”
Qing Shi yanked her hand away, fixing her with a glare, before wheeling away swiftly.
Yu Xiao watched him go, a twinge of regret fluttering within her. The impulse to push him out of the window, just to see if he’d survive the fall, had teased her thoughts. But she restrained herself, understanding it would only escalate her problems.
Turning her gaze to the doors lining the hallway, Yu Xiao recalled Qing Shi’s words about these rooms housing former patients transformed into something else. Something inhuman. Knocking might provide guidance— whatever that meant.
With a nonchalant shrug, Yu Xiao strolled toward a door emitting a faint flicker of light, lightly tapping its surface.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
The sound reverberated in the corridor, met with silence from within. Yu Xiao waited briefly before deciding to knock harder. Just as she prepared to do so, a piece of paper slid beneath the door, landing at her feet.
A scrap of paper peeked out from the door crack, like a desperate cry for help. Snatching it up, Yu Xiao read the four words scrawled upon it: “One pound of flesh.”
What the hell? Her mind flashed back to Saint Elizabeth’s, recalling her bribe to Qiao Qiao of a hand to avoid taking the pills. Was this a similar trade? Surrender flesh for a clue to freedom?
No way in hell was Yu Xiao going to slice herself up for some creepy note. With a tight grip on the doorknob, she was prepared to burst in and confront the person responsible. However, the moment she turned the knob, a chilling wave of fear engulfed her. Her skin tingled and her heart raced. She had a strong sense of foreboding, a very unsettling feeling that opening the door would release something truly terrible.
Though she possessed talismans, she doubted their efficacy against such an unknown threat.
Releasing the knob, Yu Xiao recoiled as a trickle of blood seeped from beneath the door. Startled, she retreated further, eyes wide with alarm. Forget this. No way was she risking her life for a mere clue.
Sliding her backpack off her shoulder, she retrieved the white coat. It was just flesh, after all. She had played the role of Dean for so long without any payment.
Closing her eyes, she envisioned Saint Elizabeth’s. Morning sunlight flooded the scene as patients queued for their medication. Time was of the essence; she hastily covered her face and dashed toward the operating room.
Patients regarded her with confusion. Why was Tan Qiao Yin, the substitute doctor, behaving so erratically?
“I need meat!” Yu Xiao blurted upon encountering Tie Niu.
Tie Niu, still a walking skeleton, bowed respectfully. “Esteemed Dean, you may claim any flesh and blood within this hospital. What would you like today?”
Indicating a mutilated corpse on the operating table, he suggested, “Perhaps the back meat? Tender, juicy, and versatile—ideal for frying or grilling. I could even prepare a charcoal-grilled loin, if you desire.”
Yu Xiao grimaced. “That’s generous, but no, thank you.” Uncertain of her needs and other ghost preferences, she opted for caution. “Just give me everything. Package it securely.”
Observing Tie Niu’s careful wrapping, she fretted. She could easily acquire more flesh at St. Elizabeth’s, but what of Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen?
**
Elsewhere, in a pristine corridor, a door among many swung open. Zhou Xiao Zhen emerged, fresh from a scuffle with an elderly patient. Wiping her hands on her pants, she surveyed the unnerving silence. Expecting Misty and Smiley, she was greeted by Qing Shi, seated in a wheelchair, his polite smile unwavering.
“Good morning, madam. I am Qing Shi, your attending doctor.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, scanning her surroundings. “Where is everyone else? My fellow ward mates?”
“You are the first to emerge,” Qing Shi replied calmly. “The others are still in their rooms. You will meet them upon leaving the hospital…”
**
Zhao Lan glided out of the ward room like a pro.
Unlike certain individuals she was acquainted with, she had managed to avoid resorting to violence when dealing with the old patients. Maintaining her composure, she refrained from making any foolish remarks and promptly discovered the paper clue. One smart question later, she was out the door.
The on-duty doctor, Qing Shi, greeted her with a polite smile, informing her she was the first to leave the room. While she hoped Smiley and Precious would soon follow, she had more urgent matters. She roamed the hospital corridors for what felt like ages, but an exit remained elusive. She needed help, pronto.
Knocking on a random door, a note slid out, reading “a finger.”
She got the message loud and clear. In order to obtain useful information from the creep inside, she had to sacrifice one of her fingers.
Glancing at her hands, she admired her long and elegant fingers. She was unwilling to part with any of them. However, without making a trade, she realised she wouldn’t acquire the necessary clues to get out of this hellhole.
She wished Smiley was around. She always managed to scrounge up something from Saint Elizabeth’s.
**
Tie Niu handed Yu Xiao a bag brimming with ‘delicious treats’. Placing it gently in her hands, he said, “If you’re still hungry, Your Excellency, feel free to return. Next time, I’ll have cooked food ready. These raw snacks aren’t fitting for your refined taste.”
“You’re too sweet,” Yu Xiao said, patting his shoulder warmly. “Here, take my number. If anything’s up in the hospital, especially with George, give me a buzz ASAP.”
“It’s my pleasure to assist you,” Tie Niu said, gratitude shining in his eyes. Earning the Dean’s trust meant the world to him.
Dragging a heavy sack of gore, Yu Xiao returned to the spotless hallway. Knocking lazily on a door, a paper slid out.
“1 kilogram of meat.”
She ripped open the sack, eyeballing a chunk of flesh. It seemed more than enough. Holding it up, she called out, “How do you want it?”
“Screech—”
The door cracked open, revealing darkness within.
Yu Xiao peered down, noticing the lack of bloodstains on the floor. She tossed the meat into the opening and asked, “Tell me how to leave this place.”
“Slam—”
The door shut, and another paper slid out.
Snatching it, Yu Xiao read, “Left three.”
What the hell did that mean? She scanned the hallway, seeing nothing but rows of identical doors.
Then it clicked. She sprinted to the third door on the left and banged on it.
This time, the door remained silent. Opening it, she found stairs.
Figures. The real exit was behind these doors.
Leaning against the frame, Yu Xiao pondered. She cracked the puzzle, but what about Misty and Precious?
Qing Shi had mentioned she was the first out. Did that mean they were still stuck?
A pang of worry hit her. Qing Shi hadn’t mentioned which floor they were on. Maybe she wouldn’t encounter anyone else on her way out. Maybe she couldn’t help her friends.
Yu Xiao panicked, scrolling her contacts until she found Qing Shi’s number.
**
“Good morning, sir.” Qing Shi greeted a man with a polite smile. “You’re the first to leave your room.”
Before the man could reply, a blast of music cut him off.
Both Qing Shi and the man jerked in surprise. The man wondered what the music was for. Was it some kind of prize for being the first one out?
He saw Qing Shi pull out his phone from his pocket, his eyes wide with confusion. He obviously had no idea who was calling him.
“Who’s this?” Qing Shi asked cautiously.
“Wow, don’t remember me?” Yu Xiao teased. “We were almost a couple, you know.”
Recognition hit Qing Shi. “How did you get my number?” he demanded.
“Oh, you know, when you’re obsessed with someone, you’ll stop at nothing to find out everything about them,” Yu Xiao said casually. “I was curious about you. A phone number is nothing.”
Appalled, Qing Shi demanded, “How did you find out?” He was the attending doctor, not some random patient.
“I gave the door a hand for the answer,” Yu Xiao whispered. “Literally. Just a hand. Nothing compared to what I feel for you.”
Qing Shi didn’t buy it. “Stop playing games,” he said. “How did you get my number?”
“Fine, fine, I’ll tell,” Yu Xiao said. “But first, can I find my friends? The ones with me in this treatment?”
“No, you can’t,” Qing Shi said firmly. “The hospital is a place where everyone has to fend for themselves. You can’t see anyone else until you get out.”
“Too bad,” Yu Xiao sighed. “Then I’ve got nothing to say.”
“Wait!” Qing Shi shouted. “You haven’t told me…”
“Beep…”
The line went dead. Qing Shi stared at the phone in disbelief. He was tempted to throw it, but he restrained himself. He still had some sense left.
Horror filled the patient’s eyes as he witnessed Qing Shi’s transformation, from polite to menacing.
“What’s going on?” he asked, trembling. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Qing Shi paused, trying to regain his composure. He had lost track of his speech.
“You were the first to escape,” he said coldly. “The others were still trapped…”
“Wait a minute…” The patient cut him off, his mind racing. “I’m the first, really? Who was it earlier than on the phone?”
Qing Shi remained silent, his eyes gleaming.
**
Yu Xiao’s heart raced as she scoured every inch of the hospital, her anxiety mounting with each passing moment. Where could Misty and Precious be? Surely, the doctor wouldn’t lie about their whereabouts. She had to find them and get them out of this hellhole.
A sudden idea sparked in her mind. Rushing to a nearby door, she tapped on it.
“I have two friends in the hospital. How can I help them get out safely?” she asked, her voice sweet and innocent.
The door remained silent, almost dismissive. Just when she was about to resign herself to failure, a slip of paper emerged from beneath the door.
Grasping it eagerly, she read the brief message.
“Want Heart and Brain.”
“Easy peasy!” Yu Xiao chirped, unzipping her bag and retrieving the necessary items. A devious grin crossed her lips as she continued, “My pals are both girls. One goes by Zhao Lan, and the other answers to Zhou Xiao Zhen. Their forum nicknames are…”
**
Zhao Lan couldn’t do it. She couldn’t bring herself to chop off her own fingers. Gazing at the door, she knew what lay beyond held the key to escape, yet the notion of harming herself turned her stomach.
Sure, she had her stash of healing talismans, but they weren’t miracles. They couldn’t regrow her fingers like a lizard’s tail. And how many more doors would she have to confront in this labyrinth of horror? A hundred? A thousand? Must she endure this gruesome ritual each time?
Perhaps a more direct approach, à la Smiley, was in order. With a quick inventory of her talismans, she confirmed she had more than enough to face any ghost adversary. She could storm in, brandish a talisman, and demand answers.
Zhao Lan wasn’t one to dally. Once her mind was set, she acted. Grasping the door handle, she steeled herself and pushed it ajar.
In an instant, she felt a chilling sensation wash over her, as if a blast of cold air had punched her. She felt something wet on her feet and looked down to find blood. There was a lot of it. It had soaked through her shoes and socks, but she had no idea how long it had been there.
It reminded her of her initial foray into St. Elizabeth Hospital, cowering in a utility room as the Dean passed by. But this was far worse, for she stood at the threshold.
Fear seized her, fingers tightening on the handle.
“Bang—!”
The door resisted closure, halted by an unseen force.
Zhao Lan glimpsed a hand—decayed, rotten—emerging from within, clinging to the frame, thwarting her attempts. Recoiling, she readied her talismans. Was this the end?
Panic constricted her, gasping for air.
The door widened, revealing more of the ghastly appendage. Pus, maggots, an unbearable stench assaulted her senses.
But then, the hand stopped. As if something was yanking it back, the door began to close. Yet, the hand refused to surrender. It frantically clawed at the door, producing a horrendous screeching noise.
Finally, the hand was dragged within, replaced by a cacophony of sounds. Screams, thuds, sobs—a symphony of terror. She pressed her palms to her ears, wishing she could block out the horror.
Silence followed, save for a faint crunching, akin to someone munching on popcorn.
What the hell was happening in there? Zhao Lan felt her legs give out, and she slid down the wall, clutching her chest.
She was about to make a run for it when the door flew open with a loud bang. A pale, bony hand reached out and slammed it shut again.
“…”
Was this some kind of sick joke?
Zhao Lan scrambled upright, poised for flight. Yet, another noise—a soft rustle—drew her gaze to the door, where a slip of paper awaited.
Another note? Did they want more body parts?
Zhao Lan hesitated, wondering if she should ignore it. But curiosity got the better of her, and she picked up the note. It had two words on it.
“Right six.”
**
While Zhao Lan had debated whether to open the door or not, Zhou Xiao Zhen made the decision in three minutes flat.
Minutes later, Zhou Xiao Zhen wished she hadn’t acted so hastily. A putrid, oozing creature emerged, a grotesque amalgamation of decay and horror. She knew she stood no chance against such monstrosity.
So she did what any rational person would do—she ran, flinging doors open in her wake.
Three doors, three monsters. That was the result of her frantic escape attempt. Zhou Xiao Zhen cursed herself for being so unlucky. Why did she have to end up in this nightmare hospital alone, where every room was a trap and every corridor was a maze?
She fled down stairs, desperate for an exit. But fate led her in circles, back to where she started, pursued by grotesque entities.
Tears streamed down her face as she whimpered, “Smiley sis, where are you? I need you… Wuu wuu wuu wuu…”
Zhou Xiao Zhen realised she had no way out. She was cornered by the monsters, who were closing in on her. She decided to go down fighting. She reached into her backpack and pulled out her mahjong set.
Summoning courage, she brandished her mahjong set. “Come on, you freaks! Let’s play a game! If I win, you let me go. If I lose, well, I’ll die anyway!”
The monsters stopped in their tracks. They felt a strange force pulling them towards the mahjong set. They looked at each other, then at the tiles. They couldn’t resist the urge to play. They sat down on the floor, forming a circle with Zhou Xiao Zhen. They took turns picking up the tiles with their rotten hands, arranging them, and discarding them. They played mahjong with Zhou Xiao Zhen, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Clutching the tiles, Zhou Xiao Zhen dared to hope. Maybe she could survive by playing the game.
They looked like human-shaped piles of rot, with flesh falling off their bones and clothes melded to their skin. The smell was enough to make anyone gag.
She forced herself to focus on the tiles, ignoring the grotesque players. “Please, leave me alone. You don’t want me. I’m the Dean of St. Elizabeth Hospital, you know. I can get you anything you want. A hand, a foot, a kidney, anything. Just name it. Wuu wuu wuu… I’m not even savoury, just skin and bones…”
Her words fell on deaf ears. The only sound was the clicking of the tiles as they played them. She wiped the tears from her eyes and laid down a tile, “Fortune.”
Unseen by her, a shadow lurked at the door, an observer biding time.
**
Humming a merry tune, Yu Xiao descended the stairs.
Pausing at a door, she rapped gently. A note slid forth.
“One pair of eyes.”
Without hesitation, she produced the requested item from her bag.
