Horror Game Designer Chapter 3: Home

Sitting under the living room lights, Gao Ming studied the two pictures, trying to find clues.

“The home mentioned in the pictures should point to the world where the strange parents came from.

“The first picture said that I’m now a parent and have a key to the house. The key shouldn’t be an actual object but a power to make my game part of reality.

“The strange parents entered the real world through my game. The parents might not be their real appearance but a form they took in the real world.”

Gao Ming took down notes. His head pounded, and he massaged his temples. “The anomalies are related to that tunnel! When the sun comes up, I should go there. Perhaps I can find something.”

Gao Ming studied the second picture. A few minutes later, Qi Yan’s expression became even more fearful, and cracks appeared on his body.

“Qi Yan’s soul has been dragged to the strange mother’s world. In less than three minutes, he’s already in a worse state. This home is very scary.”

Gao Ming called the police after putting the pictures away. He didn’t want Qi Yan to die at his home.

“Hello. I wish to call the police. The Rainy Night Murderer is at my home.”

After a quick silence, the receptionist asked nervously, “Are you in danger? Don’t worry. Don’t do anything to provoke him. Is he still around you? Tell him to name his demands. We’ll ensure your safety!”

Gao Ming turned around to look at the bound and bloody Qi Yan. He sighed. “Just come quickly. I fear he won’t be able to hold on much longer.”

While waiting for the police, Gao Ming surfed the internet on his phone. Technically, if a bus went missing, it should be on the news, but he couldn’t find anything. He checked the official website for the traffic department. There was no running route on the night of Hungry Ghost Festival on the account of heavy rain.

“Then, what was the bus that I took?”

Gao Ming’s past occupation was as a criminal psychiatrist. He had encountered many crazy people. His mind was always clear and correct. “Something’s wrong with this world.”

Then, everything started to appear suspicious in his eyes. Gao Ming studied all the latest news.

“Han Jiang, Intelligent City Xin Lu, International Center Han Hai have great security and order. The citizens are happy and cultured. Objectively judged, they are deemed the model cities of the world. We now going to welcome the vice president of Han Hai Charity Center, Mr. Situ An, to say a few words…”

“Morning News. Chaos at Hen Shan Heavy Crimes Penitentiary. Many prisoners are injured. Three are missing!

“Morning NEws. Han Jiang’s only ninth-generation theme park had a fire last night. The fire burned the night. It was put out at dawn. Even though no one was injured, the park had to close down to maintenance.”

“Morning News. Many crimes were reported at Han Hai’s Old City yesterday night. Every citizen needs to be careful!”

Gao Ming frowned. “Many crimes occurred recently. There are many rumours online. I wonder if they’re true or not.” The rain tapped the window. A shrill siren pierced through the rain. Rapid footsteps came from the corridor. Then, someone knocked on the door.

“Coming!”

Gao Ming opened the door, and armed officers rushed into the room. They immediately noticed the tied-up Qi Yan.

“Was it you who took down the suspect?” Yan Li signalled his people to check the rooms. There was confusion in his eyes. This was his first time encountering something like this in his long career.

“Murderers are the scariest before they are identified because they can be anyone around you. But once they’re identified, they’re a trapped beast.” Gao Ming poured himself a glass of water. “I’m Gao Ming. I was a psychiatrist at Hen Shang Penitentiary.”

“You’re very brave, but I don’t advise people to put themselves in danger. Do not open your door to strangers at night.” Yan Lin said severely, and this caught Gao Ming’s attention.

“Does the Rainy Night Murderer have an accomplice? That’s unlikely. People like them like to do things alone.”

“Many cases occurred here these past three days. You only saw a bit on the news.” Yan Lin didn’t elaborate. Things were more serious than he thought. The old city was covered in negative tension. Murder cases kept popping up, and the crime scenes were gorier than the next.

“All the cases happened in the past three days?!” That was when Gao Ming got lost in the tunnel.

“Stay at home at night. Don’t risk your safety. Look after yourself and your family.” Yan Lin wanted to say more when footsteps came from the corridor. A man with a ruined face and a black comms band on his left arm ran in. Seeing the man, Yan Lin frowned even deeper. He didn’t say anything. They appeared to be from different departments.

The man didn’t acknowledge Yan Lin. He wandered around. When he was about to enter the bedroom, the band came out with static. The man adjusted the frequency, but the static wouldn’t clear. Then, he left in a hurry.

“Is he one of you? How did he qualify to join the academy?” Gao Ming felt like the man was more like a criminal than an officer.

Yan Lin shook his head. “He’s a new investigator from Xin Lu. I have no idea what he’s investigating.”

“An investigator?” Gao Ming worked within the criminal system, but he had never heard of this. Yan Lin didn’t say anything else. They came to capture the criminal and didn’t have any medical supplies. Considering Qi Yan’s condition, they left after asking Gao Ming some questions.

Gao Ming closed the door and sat on the couch. He wanted to sleep, but too many things had happened recently.

“I wonder when the rain will drop.” Hearing the ticking of the clock on the wall, Gao Ming took out the two pictures again. The cracks in Qi Yan spread even further. He was about to die soon.

“It feels like this is some kind of card game where humans are made into cards.”

Gao Ming then turned to his own card. “From the fact that I’m coloured, I should at least be a rare card, but since I have so many living parents, I’m probably not the main character.”

…

Yan Lin left Li Jing Apartment 4 and looked up. The whole building was damp and oppressive. The only room with the light was Gao Ming’s room.

“Xiao Liu, go dig up more info on this psychiatrist. He’s too calm.”

“The man isn’t lying. He was indeed Hen Shan Penitentiary’s youngest psychiatrist. He graduated from a good university and is a qualified doctor who can give prescriptions. But…” The rain covered Xiao Liu’s phone screen. “Everyone working at the prison has to take a monthly psychological test. They can continue to work when they pass the test. He has an issue with his latest test results. But it should be a system error.”

“What error?”

“His danger rating is over the permitted upper limit.”