As he watched the corpse sit up inside the compartment, Detective Sasaki's pupils contracted to pinpoints, his expression a mixture of fear and disbelief.
Earlier, he had not only hidden alongside the target corpse in that cramped, narrow compartment, but had personally collected hair and blood samples from it. Having observed the corpse's characteristically cold skin, stiff muscles, and congealed black blood at such close range, he could be certain the target was dead, not in some so-called state of suspended animation.
"Give, it, back-to me-"
And now the corpse was actually speaking!
Even though Detective Sasaki had always prided himself on fearing neither ghosts nor gods and respecting no law, the sight still scared him out of his wits.
Seeing that the target corpse had already pressed its hands against the drawer and was about to crawl out of the compartment, Detective Sasaki could no longer worry about anything else. Retreat was the best option; right now, he was better off getting the hell out.
Detective Sasaki rushed to the morgue door, grabbed the handle, and twisted it. The handle did not budge. It had actually been locked!
"Fuck!"
Detective Sasaki twisted the handle with all his strength, but it remained motionless, as though rusted solid.
Had those nurses locked the door when they left? Didn't those bitches know there were still security guards inside?
"Ito, you have the keys on you, right? Hurry up and open the door!"
Detective Sasaki tried ramming the morgue door, but that did nothing either. He shouted in desperation and looked back to find the short, fat guard standing dumbstruck, his body shaking like a leaf.
The drunken guard he had been supporting against his shoulder dropped to the floor as well. The guard rolled over once, mumbled a few indistinct words, and