Chapter 2: The Face-Ripper
1363 Words
The blood rain finally faded, and the orphanage sank back into a heavy silence. Only distant, muffled sobs from the players and cold sneers from the veterans drifted through the air.
I leaned against the inside of the closed door, my fingertips still tingling with the faint chill of the boy beneath the umbrella. My heart was still hammering from that near-death escape, but I kept my face pale and distant, breathing slowly and softly, terrified the camera outside would catch even the smallest crack in my calm.
I am Lila Voss. My melancholic beauty persona is carved into my bones. Even after cheating death, I must appear calm, fragile, and unshaken.
My phone felt warm in my palm, the live comments flooding the screen nonstop.
Followers: 300,000 | Heat Value: 200,000 | Current Bonus: $200,000
In just a few minutes, my fan count had doubled, and my earnings had surged by $100,000. I stared down at the screen, my expression unchanged, but my heart was screaming with joy. Faking melancholy really was my ticket to wealth. This terrifying game might just let me retire early.
[Live Comments Explode]
Lila is incredible! She actually tamed a ghost!
300k followers! I knew my melancholic muse would win!
Who is that umbrella boy? I ship them!
Next ghost is coming, please be careful!
I quickly scanned the comments and slipped my phone back into my pocket. The small room was dark and cramped, the air thick and suffocating.
Memories of countless horror movies flashed through my mind. These spirits were never stopped by walls or doors. Hiding in a tiny, enclosed space would only trap me like a caged animal, with nowhere to run. I had to move to a more open area to keep my options open.
I took a slow, quiet breath, kept my cold, distant composure, and gently pushed the door open.
The corridor was dim and damp, the walls peeling and stained. The air smelled of mildew and faint blood. The players who’d huddled together earlier were gone. Some hid in rooms, trembling. Others followed the veterans to scavenge for items. A few unlucky ones had already become ghost prey, leaving only dark stains on the floor.
A group of veterans flashed at the end of the hall. Their eyes locked onto me with cold, calculating grins.
I kept walking, my gaze lowered, but my guard was up. These players knew the rules and were cruel enough to sacrifice newbies to save themselves. After I’d defeated the umbrella ghost and gained a hidden bond, I’d become their top target.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream exploded from the corner ahead.
“GHOST!”
I froze.
Three players cowered at the turn. One boy with glasses shook violently, shouting nonsense. “Stay away! You’re ugly!”
A girl collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
A short-haired boy turned to run, but something seized his ankle. He was dragged into the darkness, only a short scream left behind.
[Live Comments Flood In]
It’s the Face-Ripper! Oh my god!
He got dragged away! So horrible!
Run! Don’t answer her!
Lila, hide! Don’t let her see you!
I stood still, my eyes downcast, my long lashes hiding my panic.
Outwardly, I was calm, as if the violence meant nothing.
On the inside, my hands were soaked with cold sweat, my legs weak. I was the coward who covered her eyes during scary movies. Seeing someone dragged to death was pushing my acting to the limit.
A slim figure slowly stepped out of the shadows.
Long hair hid her face. She wore a pale white mask, only her empty eyes visible. Her dress was tattered, and every step made a soft, eerie rustle.
She stopped in front of the trembling boy and asked in a soft, terrible voice:
“Am I… beautiful?”
The boy was terrified, screaming: “Ugly! You’re ugly! Stay away!”
In an instant, she lifted a hand. Her mask slipped, revealing a horrific, torn mouth. She let out a sharp, cruel laugh. Her fingers sliced across his throat.
Blood splattered across the stained wall, like a twisted flower.
[Live Comments Panic]
She killed him instantly!
Saying “ugly” gets you killed! It’s a death trap!
Lila, run! Don’t let her see you!
The veterans are just watching! Disgusting!
The Face-Ripper turned slowly toward the trembling girl on the floor. She leaned down and repeated softly:
“Am I… beautiful?”
The girl shook violently, trying her luck, whimpering: “Y–you’re beautiful… please don’t kill me!”
The ghost’s rage exploded. She struck fast. The girl’s voice cut off immediately, and she fell limp.
Saying “beautiful” also meant death.
[Live Comments Blow Up]
Saying “beautiful” kills you too! It’s completely hopeless!
Anyone who meets her dies! Run Lila!
This ghost isn’t fair!
The Face-Ripper turned slowly. Her empty eyes locked directly onto me.
She glided toward me, light as a ghost.
The veterans all stepped back, watching with cruel amusement, ready to use me as bait.
I stood there. I did not run. I did not hide. I only kept my head down, my lashes trembling softly.
I couldn’t run. I couldn’t panic. I couldn’t break my character.
I was the melancholic beauty, the fragile muse. Even death could not make me lose my poise.
She stopped right in front of me, tilted her head, and asked again softly:
“Am I… beautiful?”
Everything went silent. All eyes were on me.
The veterans smirked. The newbies closed their eyes. The live stream comments went completely still.
I slowly lifted my hand, gentle and slow. My fingertips brushed her cold mask lightly.
My voice was soft like a whisper, full of quiet sorrow and true empathy:
“Beauty is never what others say. It can never be hidden by scars. You have light in your eyes, sister — light buried in darkness, that you just haven’t seen yet. No matter what anyone says, I think you are the most beautiful.”
For a moment, everything stopped.
The Face-Ripper stiffened.
Tears welled slowly in her empty eyes.
Her violent aura faded like a tide. Her tense body relaxed. The mask slipped gently from her face, revealing her tragic, torn mouth.
She did not attack. She did not scream. She only looked at me and let out a soft, sad whimper.
In the next moment, she dissolved into faint white shards and drifted away.
A white, petal-carved mask lay quietly on the floor.
[System Notice]
Player Lila Voss has successfully calmed the Spirit: Face-Ripper.
Obtained item: Beauty Mask.
Followers: 600,000 | Heat Value: 400,000 | Current Bonus: $600,000
Doubled again.
I bent down and picked up the mask, my fingers cold. My face remained pale and melancholic, as if I’d done nothing important.
Inside, I was screaming with joy. I won big again! More fans, more items! I was unbeatable!
The live stream exploded.
600k followers! She’s a genius!
Her kindness broke the ghost! This is why she’s the muse!
I’ll send gifts! Unlock all items!
The veterans look furious! Serves them right!
Cold stares burned into me.
The veterans’ faces were dark with rage. They couldn’t believe I’d defeated two ghosts in a row and gained such huge rewards.
The buzz-cut leader stepped forward, sneering:
“Nice luck, kid. But luck won’t keep you alive here. Hand over the mask, and I might let you tag along.”
I lifted my eyes and looked at him coldly. I said nothing. I only tucked the mask into my pocket.
Cold. Distant. Uninterested.
Perfect melancholic beauty.
The veteran’s face darkened. He raised his hand, but my phone warmed my pocket — a soft white light spread from me, the protection of the umbrella boy.
The man paled and stepped back, afraid to attack.
I ignored him and walked deeper into the corridor.
My back was lonely, cold, and graceful, fading into the darkness.
Then, a faint, sorrowful weeping drifted from deep inside the orphanage, soft and broken, making my chest tight.
I froze. My fingers squeezed the mask in my pocket tightly.
Somewhere ahead, a new terror was already waiting.
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