Model Cities of Civilization: Hanjiang, New Shanghai, and Hanhai

Sitting directly beneath the living room light, Gao Ming carefully examined the two black-and-white photographs, trying to find some clues.

"The home mentioned in the Posthumous Photograph should refer to the world where Ghost Dad and Ghost Mom live."

"The first photo said I'd become the 'head of the household' and possessed the key to opening the door to that home. The key it described probably wasn't an object, but an ability—like making the games I created become reality."

"Ghost Dad and Ghost Mom entered reality through the game I made. My parents might not even be their true forms, just shapes they took when they descended into reality."

Gao Ming wrote the words "they" and "those things" in his notebook. He still couldn't determine what exactly he was dealing with.

His head ached a little. Gao Ming pressed a hand between his brows. "All the strange things happening to me are connected to that tunnel! Once it's light out, I'll go investigate it thoroughly. Maybe I can find an answer."

He looked at the second black-and-white photo. Only a few minutes had passed, but Qi Yan's Posthumous Photograph had already changed. Cracks appeared across his body, and his expression had grown even more terrified.

"Was Qi Yan's consciousness—or rather, his soul—dragged into the world where Ghost Mom lives?"

"In less than three minutes, he already looks like he's about to be toyed to death. That 'home' must be terrifying."

Putting away the two Posthumous Photographs, Gao Ming hurriedly called the police. He didn't want Qi Yan dying in his home.

"Hello, I'd like to report a crime. The raincoat killer is in my home."

After a brief pause, the operator's voice grew noticeably tense. "Are you being held hostage? Stay calm, and don't do anything to provoke him. Is he beside you right now? Have him tell us his demands. Your safety will be our top priority!"

Gao Ming glanced back at Qi Yan, whose head was bloodied, who had drunk the concoction, and whose hands and feet were bound. He considered for a moment. "Anyway, please get here quickly. I'm afraid he won't hold out if you come too late."

While waiting for the police, Gao Ming searched the news on his phone.

Surely every passenger on a bus going missing would make the news, but he couldn't find a single report.

He checked the bus schedule for the night of the Ghost Festival. According to the official website, all bus services that night had been suspended because of the torrential rain.

"If all services were suspended, what bus did I take that day?"

Gao Ming had always worked as a Psychological Counselor at Henshan Maximum-Security Prison. He had encountered all kinds of lunatics, and to avoid being influenced by abnormal ways of thinking, he always forced himself to stay rational. But at that moment, a new thought occurred to him.

"Something isn't right with this world."

Once suspicion colored his gaze, everything seemed wrong. Gao Ming browsed all the news from the past few days.

"Hanjiang, the transport hub linking nine provinces; New Shanghai, the Smart City of the Century; and Hanhai, an international metropolis, boast excellent public safety, orderly communities, rich cultural heritage, citizens living and working in peace, and an honest, down-to-earth populace. Following a fair and objective assessment, they have jointly been selected as this year's Model Cities of Human Civilization! Foster and promote the spirit of charity, and lead the way in honoring virtue and doing good! Now, please welcome Mr. Situ An, vice president of the Hanhai Charity Federation, to deliver his address..."

"Breaking morning news! A riot has broken out at Henshan Maximum-Security Prison! Multiple inmates injured! Three missing!"

"Breaking morning news! A fire broke out before dawn at Hanjiang City's only Ninth-Generation Theme Park. The blaze lit the night sky red and was not extinguished until morning. No visitors were injured or killed, but the park suffered heavy losses and has been forced to close temporarily."

"We interrupt this broadcast with breaking morning news! Multiple serious crimes occurred in Hanhai's Old City District last night! Residents of the Old City District are urged to take extra care when going out!"

Reading through the reports one by one, Gao Ming frowned. "Strange incidents keep happening. Hidden forums and independent media are spreading all kinds of stories like wildfire. Who knows whether they're true?"

Torrential rain battered the windowpanes. A piercing police siren cut through the curtain of rain, and a clatter of hurried footsteps came from the hallway. Then someone pounded on the living room door.

"Coming!"

Gao Ming opened the door, and several fully armed police officers rushed into the living room. They immediately spotted the securely bound Qi Yan. Even the way he had been tied up was professional.

"You subdued the suspect?" Li Lin raised a hand, signaling the others to search the rooms. There was a hint of puzzlement in his eyes. In all his years as a police officer, this was the first time he had encountered a situation like this.

"A Psychopathic Killer is most frightening before his identity is established, because anyone around you could be that killer. But once you identify him, he's nothing more than a psychologically impaired beast." Gao Ming poured himself a cup of hot water. "My name is Gao Ming. I previously worked as a psychological counselor at Henshan Maximum-Security Prison."

"You're very brave, but I wouldn't recommend putting yourself in danger. Until daybreak, don't open your door to strangers under any circumstances." The Rainy Night Killer had been caught, yet Li Lin's expression remained grave. That caught Gao Ming's attention.

"Does the Rainy Night Killer have an accomplice? That shouldn't be the case. From the perspective of abnormal psychology, Psychopathic Killers like him tend to act alone."

"Multiple incidents have occurred in the Old City Harbor District over the past three days. What you see on television is only what you're allowed to see." Li Lin left the rest unsaid. The actual situation was even worse than he had described. A terrifying atmosphere had hung over the Old City District for three days straight. Murders kept occurring, and the crime scenes were so bizarre and outrageously brutal that they hardly seemed like something a human could have done.

"All these murders happened in the past three days?" Three days ago was precisely when Gao Ming had ridden the bus into the tunnel. It was also when all the abnormalities had begun.

"Stay home at night. Don't take any more risks. Keep yourself and your family safe." Li Lin was about to say more when footsteps suddenly sounded in the hallway again. A man with a disfigured face and a black ring-shaped communicator on his left arm ran inside.

At the sight of the disfigured man, Li Lin's frown deepened, but he didn't interfere with anything the man did. The two appeared to belong to different departments.

The disfigured man didn't greet Li Lin either. After making a circuit of the apartment, he headed for the bedroom. But the instant he entered it, the black ring-shaped communicator on his arm malfunctioned, crackling with static.

After trying unsuccessfully to adjust the Communicator, the disfigured man hurried away again.

"That guy isn't one of yours, is he? How come he's authorized to take part in an arrest?" Gao Ming couldn't shake the feeling that the man with the disfigured face looked more like a criminal than a police officer.

Shaking his head slightly, Li Lin answered in a low voice, "He's an investigator from New Shanghai. But I don't know what exactly he's investigating."

"An investigator?" Gao Ming worked within the prison system, but this was the first time he had heard that title.

Li Lin said nothing more. They had come to make an arrest and hadn't brought emergency medical equipment. Given Qi Yan's current condition, he asked Gao Ming a few brief questions, then led his team away.

Closing the living room door again, Gao Ming sat on the sofa. Too much had happened recently for him to sleep.

"Who knows when this rain will stop?"

Listening to the ticking of the clock on the wall, Gao Ming took out the two Posthumous Photographs again. More cracks had appeared in Qi Yan's black-and-white photo. His life seemed to be nearing its end.

"These black-and-white photos feel a bit like a card game, except living people are made into cards, and ghosts are the ones playing."

Staring at his own figure in color within the photo, Gao Ming consoled himself. "Judging by the visual impact of the artwork, my Posthumous Photograph ought to count as a rare card, at least, right? Though someone with as many moms and dads as me usually doesn't get to be the protagonist in a novel."

Outside Building Four of Lijing Apartments, Li Lin looked up in his raincoat. The entire apartment building felt gloomy and oppressive. Only Gao Ming's room had a light on.

"Liu, look up that Psychological Counselor's records right now. He was far too calm."

"He wasn't lying. He really is the youngest Psychological Counselor at Henshan Maximum-Security Prison. He graduated from a proper medical university, and he's also a neurologist authorized to prescribe medication. But..." Rain splashed onto Liu's phone screen. "The prison's Psychological Counselors undergo a mental health assessment every month. They can only work if they meet the standards. There was a problem with his latest assessment result. It should be a data-entry error."

"What problem?"

"His danger score exceeded the testing device's upper limit."

The final book in the world of Strange Tales, to make up for past regrets. The protagonist will be the last person to walk out of the dark night.

A new book hits the road. Let's go!

(End of chapter)