The Shadow Follows

A sudden noise made me jump; it must have been the note taped to the door being moved by the wind.

For some reason, the sound reminded me of the bell that rang at the end of classes in middle school, signaling all students to leave the campus.

My heart started beating faster. Instinctively, I clutched the files I had already taken out, closed the filing cabinet, and then quickly shut the window before rushing to the door.

As I closed the door, I thought I saw something through the slowly narrowing gap.

Bang!

The door shut. I didn't get a clear look at what it was.

Rumble rumble rumble!

My phone rang, vibrating in my hand. The sound echoed loudly through the floor. The flashlight was still on, blinding me.

I shook my head, answered the call. It was Shouzi, saying they were done.

I grunted a few times and headed downstairs with the files. Tilting my head slightly, I craned my neck to see the sign for the Qingye Paranormal Investigation Agency and its entrance gradually being obscured by the gray concrete and rebar behind the hallway railing.

"Qi Ge, how did it go?" Shouzi and Pangzi were waiting downstairs. Seeing me, they helped me carry some of the files.

"Found a living client, but... I didn't get a chance to look into the case they last handled," I said hesitantly.

"Oh, maybe next time. Honestly, I think we should come during the day next time. It's getting dark, and it's a bit dangerous," Shouzi said earnestly, spouting horror movie logic.

Only then did I realize it was already dark. Checking the time, I'd actually spent two hours in that dark place.

"Next time we come, let's have someone restore the power here," Pangzi suggested. "Otherwise, it's too dark. The room I saw earlier was so dark, even the flashlight couldn't illuminate much."

"Yeah, that's why I said we should come during the day."

Distractedly, I suddenly asked, "When you guys were searching that day, did you look inside the boxes in those two rooms down the hallway?"

"We opened a few, but they were all computers. We didn't really investigate much that day," Shouzi sighed. "We figured we could just ask around, and someone from that agency would be easy to find."

"I asked around just now, and no one could tell us anything useful," Pangzi also sighed.

These two brothers were like a comedy duo, one after another. Finally, Shouzi awkwardly hooked his arm around Pangzi's broad shoulder, and Pangzi patted Shouzi's small shoulder with his meaty palm. It was quite amusing.

My mood, however, didn't lighten. "Then next time we come, we can open all those boxes and take a look. There might be clues inside."

"Oh, we can do that," Shouzi said casually, then tightened his grip on Pangzi's shoulder. "Make sure you help Qi Ge properly!"

"And you?" Pangzi pulled away from Shouzi, no longer slinging an arm around him.

"I'll go climb the stairs," Shouzi said decisively.

Pangzi chuckled, torn between amusement and exasperation. He wasn't as scared as Shouzi, so he agreed and called out to me, "Then let's come together tomorrow."

"Okay. And that room at the end of the hallway, I didn't get a chance to look before. Were there boxes in there too?" I asked casually.

The two of them stopped in their tracks.

I looked at them curiously.

"The room at the end of the hallway?" Shouzi repeated.

Pangzi asked, confused, "There are rooms only on the sides of the hallway. Isn't the end just a wall?"

I froze.

"There was a painting hanging there. Qi Ge, were you too blinded by the dark to see clearly and mistook it for a door?" Pangzi continued.

"Probably... I only glanced at it when I entered the hallway," I said without much confidence.

"You definitely saw wrong!" Shouzi stated firmly. "Alright, alright, let's stop talking. We'll get the car and head home, each to our own families!"

Event ID: 078

Event Alias: Shadow Follower

Client: Zheng Xiaorui

Gender: Female

Age: 17

Occupation: Student

Family Relations: Parents

Contact Address: Room XXX, Building X, Qingshuiyuan, Huangnan District

Contact Number: 139XXXXXXXX

Event Description:

December 3, 2013: Client's first visit. Audio file 07820131203.wav.

"Hello. I'm Xiaorui's good friend, Duan Shishi. We spoke on the phone."

"Hello, Miss Duan."

"This is Xiaorui."

"Hello, you."

"Hello, Miss Zheng. Can you tell us what happened?"

"I... um..."

"Hey, I'll tell you! It's just like I told you on the phone. Xiao Rui has been feeling like someone is watching her, like she's being monitored. My dad is a police officer, and he had someone follow her for a while, but they didn't see anyone. Still, Xiao Rui has that feeling. She can't sleep or eat well now. Her parents took her to the hospital, and I even took her to see a psychic. Those people just talk nonsense, they're useless! I saw online that you guys are very capable, is that true?"

"Little sister, let your friend speak."

"Tch... Xiao Rui, you tell them, don't be afraid."

"Mmm..."

"Miss Zheng, please elaborate on what you've experienced and how you feel. Don't worry about being too detailed; even speculation is fine. Just tell us everything that's happened recently."

"Oh... I... it's just like Shi Shi said, I feel like someone is watching me."

"When and under what circumstances did you first get this feeling?"

"Um, I don't remember the exact time. I was at home, I woke up in the morning, brushed my teeth and washed my face, then looked in the bathroom mirror. After I was done, I was about to leave. That's when I felt... the person in the mirror was watching me..."

"Like in a horror movie, where the person leaves, but the reflection in the mirror doesn't move, and then, without moving its head, it just moves its eyes, staring."

"Miss Zheng, is this what you're describing, or is this Miss Duan's speculation?"

"Hey, what do you mean by that!"

"No, Shi Shi isn't guessing, that's just how I felt. The moment I turned, I caught a glimpse in my peripheral vision that the person in the mirror hadn't moved, and then their eyes... seemed to be looking at me."

"Did you confirm it afterward?"

"Yes, although I was very scared... I was very scared later, but at that moment, I didn't think much of it. I just looked back, and there was nothing wrong with the mirror."

"Forgive me for asking, have you watched similar horror movies?"

"What's wrong with you? We're not lying!"

"Little sister, if you can't be quiet, then leave."

"You!"

"Shi Shi, it's okay."

"Hmph!"

"I have watched horror movies, and... I'm also very scared. I know what you mean. My family, and Shi Shi's dad, asked the same thing. I thought so too at first."

"Mmm, after that day, did anything else happen?"

"Nothing happened that day, but two days later... I was very careful when I went to the bathroom those two days, and nothing like that happened again. But on the weekend, Shi Shi and I went out to the mall to watch a movie. In the restroom there, I... got that feeling again."

"Can you describe it in detail?"

"It was after I came out of the restroom and washed my hands. The mall restroom had a large mirror, a whole piece of glass. While I was washing my hands with my head down, I felt like the person in the mirror hadn't moved and was watching me. I was so scared I froze. It probably wasn't long after that Shi Shi also came out of the restroom and washed her hands next to me, talking to me. That's when I dared to look up, and there was nothing wrong with the mirror."