Footsteps stopped outside the door. It opened without a sound, despite being brand-new.
A young woman stood behind it. Her long hair was as dry and tangled as dead grass. She looked sickly, as though she hadn't slept in days.
"Who are you looking for?" she asked.
"We found you online... You study black magic, right?" Wu Ling asked.
The woman glanced over them, still looking languid. Then she turned and walked away, tossing over her shoulder, "Come in. Close the door."
The room was pitch-black, with no lights on. It looked like a small meeting room, but a thick curtain hung down to the floor on the far wall. The velvet curtain was deep red, the same color as the carpet. It was as if the room had been painted with blood, giving it a suffocating atmosphere.
There was no furniture. The entire room was empty. The camera swept through it, but didn't catch the ceiling, so it was impossible to tell whether there were any lights.
The woman lifted the curtain and slipped behind it. It swayed, revealing a glimpse of yellow candlelight.
The camera entered the room.
Because they were walking on the carpet, their footsteps made no sound.
That was strange.
The woman had clearly made footsteps when she came out. The sound of her high heels striking the floor had been distinct.
The camera tilted down, filming the dark carpet and their feet.
Those feet took several steps, but made no sound.
The curtain swayed, and the light flickered with it.
"Come in," the woman said again.
The camera lifted, capturing only the swaying curtain.
It moved closer. A hand lifted the curtain, and the room beyond opened up before them.
The room behind the curtain was more spacious. Red velvet curtains hung all around