Chapter 2: The Fear of the Unknown Doesn’t Exist
723 Words
“Don’t fall asleep?”
The request certainly seemed odd.
“Lin Shen, I wanted to discuss this with you first. After all, we’re both from Hibernia City. Do you think something serious might have happened? Analyze it for me so I can prepare,” said Cat, sipping her drink and stretching on the sofa.
Merlin pondered for a moment. “There’s too little information to analyze. But if someone did die, it’s likely either homicide, accident, or natural causes. From the video you sent, it doesn’t look like a homicide or natural death, so it must be an accident…”
He spoke with absolute calmness.
He genuinely didn’t feel fear or anxiety.
“As for the nature of the accident, the police probably know something but are keeping it hidden to avoid unnecessary panic. I suggest you follow their advice—lock your doors, stay inside, and don’t sleep.”
Cat nodded. “That’s what I was thinking. Honestly, it’s pretty scary that so many people have died suddenly in my neighborhood without a clear reason, which is why I contacted you. I used to rely on your videos and explanations to get through tough spots in horror games. Lin Shen, you’re the bravest and most skilled gamer I’ve ever seen.”
“Given that this is happening in Hibernia City and so close to where you live, aren’t you afraid?” Cat asked skeptically.
Feeling a bit sleepy and wanting to avoid further questions, Merlin reluctantly said, “I’m scared too.”
“I knew it. By the way, Lin Shen, want to team up for a game tonight?” Cat asked with anticipation.
Merlin shook his head expressionlessly. “You don’t sleep, but I need to. Let’s end the chat. The news about your neighborhood should be out tomorrow. Be careful and don’t fall asleep.”
“Alright then, good night,” Cat replied, somewhat reluctantly.
Merlin promptly ended the video call.
At that moment, he recalled the eerie expressions of the deceased in the video. They were indeed very strange.
“Prohibiting residents from going out might suggest a manhunt; but forbidding sleep is odd…” Merlin habitually stroked his chin.
Turning off his computer, Merlin walked to the window to look outside.
From his vantage point, he could see Sanqiao Street and the Lvyuan Community.
The straight-line distance was less than 300 meters.
He decided not to dwell on it, turned off the lights, and went to bed.
Due to recent work, Merlin hadn’t been sleeping well, so he fell asleep quickly.
It was exactly midnight.
Blood. Everywhere was covered in blood, as if everything was soaked in it.
But the blood soon vanished, as though it had never been there.
Merlin found himself in an unfamiliar room, looking around with confusion.
“Where am I?”
The room looked like it had been through a fire; the furniture was reduced to charred remains, the walls were blackened, and the air was filled with the stench of burnt materials.
Merlin shook his head. He clearly remembered lying in bed, just falling asleep, and now he was here.
He exited the room to find the living room was similarly destroyed. The layout was not his own home.
Looking outside the window, Merlin saw the Lvyuan Community. It looked different from usual, though he couldn’t pinpoint how.
Oh.
The distance.
The two communities seemed to be much closer now, less than 100 meters apart. It was as if some mysterious force had pulled them together.
However, the buildings in Lvyuan Community appeared extremely dilapidated, with only a few lights on. The rest of the surroundings were pitch black, with only vague outlines of structures visible.
The darkness resembled the fog of war in games.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream from outside shattered the silence.
Merlin immediately turned and walked to the door, opening it and stepping out.
He found himself in a long corridor.
A distant light flickered on and off, casting eerie shadows on the rundown corridor, making it look even more sinister.
Merlin remained unfazed, carefully observing.
The corridor resembled those from decades ago, showing signs of age. The walls were marked with bloody handprints—some had turned dark brown, indicating they had been there for a long time, while others were still fresh, as if just made.
- Writer
