Horror Game Designer Chapter 8: Return

“Why do you say this place is dangerous? Isn’t it a normal home?” The investigator was anxious seeing how casual Gao Ming was.

“The original tenant here committed suicide. Don’t stay here because the rent is low.” The investigator’s face was too ruined to tell his expression, but from his tone, there was a huge problem with Room 2507.

“Why? Was Brother Zhao murdered? Didn’t he kill himself?”

“Don’t ask why!” Sweat slid down his scars. The investigator pointed at his face. “If you don’t want to become like me, then move out now!”

Clearly, the investigator knew something, and this made Gao Ming even more curious. “You have to give us a better reason.” Normal people wouldn’t just move away because some stranger told them to.

“This is not just you. Before the source of the anomaly is found, all the people on this floor will be temporarily relocated.” The investigator remembered Gao Ming from the night before. He felt he was not easily fooled. “You’ve detained the Rainy Night Murderer. I admit that you’re brave, but some dangers are invisible! It is those things who are behind the cases at old city!”

“You mean…” Gao Ming narrowed his eyes. Normal people would be frightened by the investigator’s face, but he was very interested in him.

“The more you know, the easier it is for you to be caught by them. Listen to me. This is for your own good. I hope you can trust me.” The investigator persuaded them. Gao Ming and Xuan Wen did not move. “You two are really stubborn! You won’t move until you see death in the face!”

Gao Ming had no idea what he’d do if he saw death, but he was sure Xuan Wen would be excited to meet death.

“Since you are not willing to move, you have to remember what I’ll tell you next.” The investigator had no choice but to give them some advice instead. “Throw away everything used by the previous tenant. Do not mimic the dead, no matter day or night. Do not have the same emotion as he did.”

“I can understand throwing away the stuff, but what do you mean by not mimicking the dead?” Gao Ming was confused. “Is he going to come back if we do that?”

The investigator did not confirm or deny. He left and went upstairs to investigate something else.

“This investigator from Xin Lu seems to know many things.” Xuan Wen silently sidled up behind Gao Ming. Her gaze was dangerous and mysterious. “Now, no one will disrupt us.” She closed the front door and gently approached Gao Ming. “The games you designed can be understood as the parts where the two worlds collide. You are the key to opening the games. The things we need to do are simple. We have to repeat the dead’s actions and evoke his emotions so that we can assume his identity. Then, his consciousness, pain and regret that lingers between the two worlds will return. A Horror with you as the center will then trigger.”

“This sounds so familiar.” The investigator’s warning echoed in Gao Ming’s ears. “Big sister, are you sure this is safe?”

Xuan Wen was stunned to hear the new term of reference, but she explained patiently. “Horrors are the scariest. Once it is fully formed, it will take root in everyone’s heart. We will lose the power to control it then. Therefore, we only have one path, and that is to trigger it before it gains power. I know this is dangerous, and life might be lost, but if we don’t do this, more people will die!” Xuan Wen had a point. Currently, only some mini-games like dating sims had been triggered. If the real horror stories became true, Gao Ming would be in greater danger.

“Some things can’t be avoided. Fine, I’ll give it a try.”

With Xuan Wen’s guidance, Gao Ming sat before the mirror in the living room holding a death portrait. The lights in the room were turned out, and four white candles were lit up at the four corners of the room. The candlelight danced in the dark. The rain and thunder boomed. Gao Ming adjusted his breathing and closed his eyes as he tried to think about the victim.

Brother Zhao’s full name was Zhao Xi. He was an abandoned baby found by the old lady on the third floor. He hadn’t been to school, and he had worn old clothes since he was young. The kids in the apartment and the old lady’s second son often bullied him, but he never resisted.

After he grew up, Zhao Xi went to the bay area to work at the dock. He supported the family without complaint. Even though life was tough, he smiled at everyone he met. The kids who used to bully him started to call him Brother Zhao.

Eventually, Zhao Xi became the kindest man at Li Jing Apartments. He didn’t get married, but as long as anyone had a problem, he would be the first to help. Later, when his younger brother went to jail, he was the one who stayed at home to look after his adopted mother and his pregnant sister-in-law. Technically, someone as optimistic as this shouldn’t have committed suicide. Everyone, except Gao Ming, was shocked.

Due to his daily physical exertion, Zhao Xi’s physical condition worsened. After his leg was injured last year, he was fired by his company. Without education and a limping leg, it was hard for Zhao Xi to look for a new job. If he stayed at home, he’d be mocked by his adopted mother and sister-in-law.
Zhao Xi knew that he was an abandoned child. He desperately wanted approval and a real family. However, no one really gave him a chance. He had no way to release pressure other than his phone. Perhaps for him, his phone knew him better than his family. The optimism, passion, and kindness he showed was a disguise he put on so that he wouldn’t be abandoned again. However, the more he thought about this, the more painful it was. He couldn’t see hope, and he couldn’t change his life until he started to hate himself.

The temperature dropped, and negative emotions surged. Gao Ming sat in the living room and appeared to return to the night of the suicide.

The room was dark. There was no rope around his neck, but he felt his breathing getting more difficulty. He touched his neck, and a feeling of self-disgust rose in his heart.

The doors and windows provided no exit. He was trapped in a forgotten corner where he was helpless and alone. His heart, mind were broken. He couldn’t sleep as the memory tortured him.

The world in the mirror changed. Shadow flooded the room as the regret entered deep into the soul.

Chill climbed up his spine. Gao Ming forced his eyes open. The candles were out. The whole room was steeped in darkness. He looked around the room and Gao Ming’s pupils shook. There was an inverted world inside the mirror.

Before Gao Ming could react, a large sound came from downstairs. He hurried to the balcony. Inside the shared balcony, next to the staircase of Building Two, there was a dead body with crushed limps and snapped neck staring right at the balcony of Room 2507.