Chapter 134: Choices |
Translator: InkyDragon
Others also had the same thought, all gazing at the seven doors, pondering.
A nervous giggle escaped Zhou Xiao Zhen’s lips as she chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes darting between the ominous doors. “So, Smiley, which one’s your lucky pick?”
Yu Xiao countered with a raised eyebrow, “And what about you? Got a favourite number?”
“Six,” Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, pointing to the second-to-last door. “Always been my lucky number.”
Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. She’d tangoed with enough attending doctors to know their game. They were all about dropping cryptic clues and sending patients on wild goose chases. “Just because Dr. Doom and Gloom said we can’t go through the same door doesn’t mean we can’t, you know?”
The two sisters exchanged a look that spoke volumes of silent agreement, while the quartet from the third hospital stared at Yu Xiao as if she’d just sprouted a second head.
Feng Jun, his lips twitching into a smirk, nudged Lu Chao with his elbow. “Don’t mind him,” he chuckled, “he’s got a face like a bulldog chewing on a wasp, but he’s got a point. Best to play it safe and follow the doc’s advice.”
As they bickered, Wei Ran, the quiet one of the group, slipped away unnoticed. Without a word, she glided towards the seventh door, her movements as silent as a shadow. The remaining six watched as she opened the door and vanished into the darkness beyond.
A shiver danced down Zhou Xiao Zhen’s spine. “Poor thing,” she muttered, her voice laced with pity. “Is she the only one from her ward?”
After a hurried discussion, Feng Jun and his two companions made their choices, disappearing behind their chosen doors. Lu Chao, ever the brooding figure, turned back to the remaining trio, his frown deepening. “Watch your backs,” he warned, his voice a low rumble, “and stay sharp. These doors ain’t for the faint of heart.”
And then, just like that, they were alone. Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked, her eyes wide with uncertainty. “So,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “are we splitting up?”
Yu Xiao tilted her head, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. “Do you want to?”
Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head so fast that her hair would have whipped around her face if it were that long. “Alone? Are you kidding? I’d be scared out of my wits!”
Zhao Lan stepped forward. “Then we stick together,” she declared. “Besides, Smiley’s right. Who says we have to follow the doctor’s orders to the letter? He just said we each have a way out, not that we have to go in alone.”
And so, united against the unknown, the three friends turned towards the remaining doors, ready to face whatever awaited them on the other side.
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s lucky number six door creaked open, unleashing a blinding flash of white light that would make a disco ball jealous. They squeezed their eyes shut, stumbling into the room like a trio of drunken sailors. As their vision adjusted, the light dimmed, revealing a bedroom straight out of a dusty old history book.
A crystal chandelier dripped from the ceiling, casting shimmering rainbows on the plush wool carpet. Mahogany furniture gleamed, a vanity table preened, and a massive bed beckoned with fluffy pillows. It was like stepping into Grandma’s attic, if Grandma happened to be Marie Antoinette.
“Uh… are we supposed to, like, take a nap or something?” Zhou Xiao Zhen scratched her head, thoroughly confused.
Zhao Lan, ever the detective, scanned the room with a critical eye. “This is a woman’s bedroom,” she announced, like she’d just cracked the case of the century.
Yu Xiao rolled her eyes so hard she could practically see her brain. “No duh, Sherlock,” she muttered.
“Didn’t we come here to find a way out?” Zhou Xiao Zhen wandered deeper into the room, her gaze flitting over every nook and cranny. “This place is about as exit-free as a hamster ball. Maybe there’s a secret door or something?”
Yu Xiao, struck by a sudden thought, spun around and yanked open the door they’d just come through.
“Changing your mind already?” Zhao Lan raised an eyebrow.
But Yu Xiao wasn’t going anywhere. She stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide as saucers. Zhao Lan, curiosity piqued, stepped closer to see what had spooked her friend. And promptly froze herself.
“What’s the matter?” Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned over their shoulders, her hands gripping them like life preservers. She peered out the door and into… a bathroom? A dingy, dimly lit bathroom, complete with a chipped toilet and a mirror that looked like it had seen better days.
“What the…” Zhou Xiao Zhen’s jaw dropped. “Wasn’t there, like, a hallway out here a minute ago?”
Zhao Lan backed away, a shiver crawling up her spine. “We’re trapped,” she whispered. “This door… it doesn’t lead to a fixed place. Not really.”
To prove her point, Yu Xiao slammed the door shut, then threw it open again. And wouldn’t you know it, the space outside had morphed into a kitchen. A perfectly ordinary, if slightly greasy, kitchen.
The kitchen was your standard-issue model: fridge, stove, extractor fan – the whole shebang. Except, this stove wasn’t just any stove. Oh no, this stove had flames dancing a merry jig on its burners, and a pot perched on top, bubbling away like it was brewing a potion for a particularly hungry witch.
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s stomach did a nervous flip-flop. “What’s cooking, good looking?” she croaked.
Yu Xiao shot her a surprised look. “Girl, you hungry or something?”
“Just curious,” Zhou Xiao Zhen mumbled, sniffing the air cautiously. “Though, I gotta admit, it smells kinda good.”
“Tomato beef stew,” Zhao Lan declared, her nose twitching like a bloodhound on the scent.
“Come again?” Yu Xiao blinked, wondering if her ears were playing tricks on her.
Zhao Lan pointed at the pot with a flourish. “Tomato beef stew. It’s practically singing ‘eat me’.”
Yu Xiao stared at her like she’d grown a second head. Was this really the time to be discussing culinary delights?
“Why would there be a pot of stew just hanging out here?” Zhou Xiao Zhen’s eyes darted around the kitchen, searching for any sign of a live human. “Does someone actually live in this place?”
“Who would set up camp in an instance room?” Yu Xiao frowned. “Instances are for ghosts, not housewarming parties.”
“Do ghosts even eat beef stew?” Zhou Xiao Zhen pondered, picturing a translucent figure with a chef’s hat and a spatula. “I thought they were all about, you know, feasting on human flesh and stuff.”
“Oh, they totally eat,” Yu Xiao said, her voice dripping with confidence. “Some of them are gourmet chefs, whipping up spectral delicacies that would make Gordon Ramsay weep.”
“Right,” Zhou Xiao Zhen scratched her head, trying to wrap her mind around the concept of ghost chefs. “So, we’ve got a culinary ghost who’s into human food.”
“Not so fast,” Zhao Lan cut in, shaking her head like a wise old owl.
Yu Xiao, sensing a revelation, leaned closer. “Hm?”
Zhao Lan’s face was serious, her eyes narrowed. “There might be more than one ghost.”
A heavy silence descended upon them, broken only by the cheerful bubbling of the stew.
Whenever Zhou Xiao Zhen’s brain had to do heavy lifting, her scalp would start to prickle. Like right now. “So, what’s the plan?” she asked, her voice a touch squeaky. “Do we hang out in Princess Room with the door open, or do we brave the kitchen?”
Yu Xiao tapped a finger against her chin, pondering the options. “Keep the door open,” she finally declared. “Don’t let it shut, no matter what.”
With that, she marched into the kitchen, leaving Zhou Xiao Zhen gaping after her like a fish out of water. Yu Xiao went on a reconnaissance mission, flinging open cabinets and drawers, but finding nothing more exciting than a couple of chipped mugs. Then, her eyes landed on the prize – three pairs of chopsticks. With a mischievous grin, she snatched them up, grabbed the pot of bubbling stew, and sauntered back to the bedroom.
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s jaw practically hit the floor. “Did you just… steal ghost food?”
“Close the door,” Yu Xiao ordered, ignoring the question.
Zhao Lan obeyed, shutting the door with a satisfying click. Yu Xiao plunked the pot down on the vanity table and lifted the lid, releasing a mouthwatering aroma that made their stomachs rumble in unison. Zhou Xiao Zhen inhaled deeply. “Oh man, that smells heavenly. And I haven’t even had breakfast yet.”
Yu Xiao poked at the stew with a chopstick, her brow furrowed. “Is this actually beef?”
“Beef it is,” Zhao Lan confirmed, her years of culinary experience coming in handy. “No mistaking that.”
With a shrug, Yu Xiao distributed the chopsticks, pulled up a chair, and announced, “Breakfast is served.”
And so, the three companions sat down to a feast fit for a ghoul. The stew was divine – tender chunks of beef swimming in a rich, flavorful broth. Even the ghost chef deserved a Michelin star. As they ate, Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan strategized.
“So, every time we open a door, the room outside changes,” Yu Xiao mused, slurping up a stray noodle. “Maybe if we keep opening doors, we’ll eventually stumble across the exit?”
“I doubt it’s that easy,” Zhao Lan countered, waving her chopsticks for emphasis. “Even the attending doctors think this replica is a death trap. We haven’t even encountered the real danger yet.”
“What if the exit isn’t behind a door at all?” Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, her eyes scanning the room. “Maybe it’s hidden somewhere… under the floorboards, inside the wardrobe, behind the wallpaper?”
It was a possibility, but who was to say the exit was even in the bedroom? It could be lurking in the kitchen, or even the creepy bathroom. Did they have to dismantle every room they entered, just to find their way out of this crazy place?
Zhao Lan popped a juicy tomato into her mouth, her brow furrowed in thought. “There was this movie I saw once…” she began, her voice trailing off.
Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, sensing an incoming story, set down their chopsticks and listened.
“These people,” Zhao Lan continued, “they woke up trapped in this tiny room with doors all around. To escape, they had to keep opening doors and moving forward, but many died along the way. Turns out, the way out was actually in the very first room they started in.”
Yu Xiao licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with interest. “So, you’re saying we should just chill here and forget about leaving?”
Zhao Lan shook her head. “Just throwing it out there. That movie didn’t have any ghosts or spooky stuff, so it’s not exactly the same situation.”
Yu Xiao pondered this for a moment. Shi Guang, the creepy game master, had only mentioned finding an exit, but hadn’t given them a deadline. They could stay put as long as they wanted. A decision formed in her mind. “We’re staying put,” she declared. “At least for today.”
She cast a glance around the room. “Misty and I will give this bedroom the once-over, see if there are any secret passages or hidden trapdoors. Precious, you’re on door duty. Open them up, one by one, and let us know if you find anything weird.”
“You got it, boss,” Zhou Xiao Zhen chirped, giving a thumbs-up.
They quickly polished off the rest of the stew, leaving nothing but an empty pot and a lingering salty aftertaste.
“Man, this would’ve been perfect with some rice,” Zhou Xiao Zhen lamented, patting her stomach.
“Alright, team, let’s move!” Yu Xiao clapped her hands together. She and Zhao Lan began their inspection, combing through the bedroom like a pair of forensic scientists.
Meanwhile, Zhou Xiao Zhen dragged a stool over to the doorway and perched on it, ready to play doorman.
The first door swung open, revealing another bedroom. This one screamed “teenage boy,” with its sleek modern furniture and a basketball slumped on the floor like a deflated dream. She peeked back over her shoulder to see Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan playing floor detective, their noses practically glued to the carpet.
Nothing to see here, folks. Zhou Xiao Zhen shut the door, then yanked it open again, just to be sure. This time, she found herself staring into a cosy living room, complete with plush sofas, a giant TV, and an air conditioner humming away like a contented cat. She glanced back at her companions, still engrossed in their search for secret passages.
The living room got a thorough once-over, but it was disappointingly normal. Not even a balcony to spice things up. Zhou Xiao Zhen chewed on her lip, then closed the door with a sigh.
A frown etched itself onto her forehead. Why did she get stuck with door duty anyway? “My observation skills are about as sharp as a butter knife,” she thought, wishing she could be scrubbing floors instead. “What if I miss something important? I’ll never forgive myself.”
With a heavy heart, she opened the door again, expecting another mundane room. But this time, something was different. It was another bedroom, sure, but this one had a vintage vibe, eerily similar to the one they were currently occupying. Only… older. Much older. And way more trashed. The mahogany furniture was chipped and scarred, the floor was grimy, and clothes lay scattered everywhere like confetti after a wild party.
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s eyebrows did a little dance. Did a ghost live here too? “If so, they’re one messy son of a gun,” she thought, wrinkling her nose.
Just as she was about to shut the door, a noise from inside stopped her cold. A thud, like something heavy hitting the floor. She peeked through the crack, her heart pounding like a drum solo. Then came another sound. Footsteps.
Her eyes widened, and a shiver crawled up her spine. Was it a ghost? A real, live (or rather, dead) ghost living in this dusty old room?
Zhou Xiao Zhen froze, the door halfway open, as footsteps shuffled around the corner to her right. She held her breath, her eyes glued to the approaching figure.
First, a foot appeared—bare and dark, the skin not sun-kissed but caked with dirt, toenails long and dark under layers of filth.
Then, a flash of white—a skirt.
An elderly woman, draped in a dirty white nightgown, emerged. Her hair was a wild tangle of snow-white, her skin a roadmap of wrinkles. When her eyes landed on Zhou Xiao Zhen, perched behind the door, they widened grotesquely, turning her face into a mask of menace.
She opened her mouth, letting out a series of eerie “hehe” sounds that rasped from deep in her throat. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, she charged straight at Zhou Xiao Zhen.
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s hair stood on end. With a loud bang, she slammed the door shut.
Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan, who had been bent over inspecting the floor, looked up. “What’s going on?”
“There’s a ghost!” Zhou Xiao Zhen yelped, jumping up. “I saw a ghost!”
Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan shot to their feet, only to watch Zhou Xiao Zhen slap her own forehead in exasperation. “Oh no! I must be losing it.”
“What happened?” Zhao Lan walked over, rubbing Zhou Xiao Zhen’s head. Noticing the black smudges, she remembered the dust on the floor. She withdrew her dirty hand, her voice calm. “Why are you hitting yourself?”
“I shouldn’t have closed the door,” Zhou Xiao Zhen moaned. “I should’ve let the ghost in. Maybe we could’ve had a chat and figured out what’s going on.”
Yu Xiao blinked and said, “You’re right, but it’s no big deal that we missed it. Now, tell us carefully what happened just now.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen recounted the situation, then said, “I freaked out and slammed the door shut,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing.
Zhao Lan and Yu Xiao exchanged a glance. Zhao Lan asked, “Smiley, what are you thinking?”
Yu Xiao’s lips pursed in distaste. “That old ghost is so unhygienic. If she made the tomato beef earlier, then I really shouldn’t have eaten it.”
Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen’s faces twisted simultaneously. Zhou Xiao Zhen turned green, “Smiley, can you not talk about this?”
Yu Xiao shrugged. “Fine, but it’s confirmed – we’ve got ghosts on our hands. Same plan, Precious. You’re on door duty. If you see another ghost, don’t close the door, and scream your lungs out for us.”
“Got it!” Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded vigorously. “I won’t chicken out this time, I promise.”
Then the three of them continued. Zhou Xiao Zhen opened the door, and behind it was indeed no longer the previous bedroom but a very dirty bathroom. It was extremely filthy, covered in thick layers of dust, and there were dried-up stains on the toilet that she couldn’t identify.
Suppressing her disgust, she carefully examined the surroundings. After finding nothing, she closed the door and immediately opened it again. Behind the door was a living room, old and dusty, with the sofa’s colour faded.
Zhou Xiao Zhen scrutinised the area, unable to see some corners clearly. So, she tried calling out, “Hey! Is anyone there?”
No one answered her. Just as she was about to ask if there was a ghost again, she heard footsteps once more.
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s heart started racing, and she held her breath. Then she saw a woman in her twenties, wearing a denim jacket and a ponytail, walking towards her from around the corner, looking surprised at Zhou Xiao Zhen.
Zhou Xiao Zhen immediately shouted, “Quick, come here! I’ve seen a ghost again!!”