Open Your Eyes

Ma Junzhe was dead.

Du Bi'an completely broke down. He looked around, wanting to stand up, wanting to escape this terrifying room, this chilling game of death.

But he realized he couldn't.

The helplessness and suffocation, as though someone had seized him by the throat, filled him with despair. He seemed to see a pair of hands drawing closer and closer, about to drag him into the depths of hell.

There was nothing left to do...

Du Bi'an could no longer think about anything. He already knew what awaited him next.

Everyone would die sooner or later, but dying while still young and strong, while still looking forward to life, was an exceptionally cruel thing.

More than once, Du Bi'an had wondered why this game had chosen him. He had also tried asking other players, searching for something the "players" had in common, hoping to discover what criteria this Ghost Story Game of unknown origin used to select its players.

But he had failed.

By now, he could clearly sense his impending death.

They had exhausted every possible option, but... they still hadn't found a way to survive.

There was only one thing... left to do.

That was what Du Bi'an thought.

This ghost story was called [Close Your Eyes].

He had wondered from very early on why it insisted that they close their eyes. Was it because opening their eyes would let them see something they weren't supposed to?

Besides, watching their companions be executed by a Vengeful Ghost would be even more terrifying. Given this game's usual style, why was it showing a little "mercy" here?

It wouldn't let the players see the Vengeful Ghost carry out its executions...

Then... I insist on looking!

Du Bi'an had made up his mind. He would make one final act of defiance. Otherwise, even in death, he would never be at peace.

At that moment, however, Xu Tingfang was in a somewhat different state from Du Bi'an. He had begun to sense something, but it remained hazy, just beyond his grasp.

She had the most information. Her item had given her the Vengeful Ghost's perspective, as well as its malice.

But neither had clearly indicated its location. This seemed to suggest that the ghost was elusive. It wasn't a specific person, but someone who suddenly became a ghost at a particular moment!

Wait... could the ghost not even be humanoid?

His gaze swept over the tabletop: the markers, the white writing boards, the chairs beside the table... and... the heads of Ma Junzhe and Lemonade with Ice. The two dead players' heads had also been placed on the table, while their bodies remained seated in their chairs. The sight undoubtedly disturbed the surviving players even further.

No... the rules said, [Among the ten people present, there is one evil ghost].

That was a rule. The game's rules always constrained both sides. Not only the players, but the Vengeful Ghost had to obey them too.

Huh?

Xu Tingfang's heart gave a sudden jolt. The Vengeful Ghost had to obey the game's rules too...

Then which of the game's rules did the Vengeful Ghost have to follow?

Or rather, which rule could be used against it?

He began desperately searching his memory.

Fortunately, as veteran players, almost all of them had developed an obsession with reading rules. They were extremely sensitive to anything rule-related. Even without tools on hand to record the rules perfectly, they would force themselves to memorize them almost word for word.

The rules at the start of the game had been...

[Among the ten people present, there is one evil ghost. In each round, the players will take turns speaking, stating one piece of information about themselves. Lying is forbidden.]

[Determine who the Vengeful Ghost is from the ten people's statements, and each choose one person to vote for.]

[Once voting is complete, proceed to the eyes-closed phase.]

[The person with the most votes is elected the ghost.]

[Vengeful Ghost verification: if the vote is correct, the game ends in victory for the players.]

[If the vote is incorrect, the person with the most votes dies, and the Vengeful Ghost executes one additional person.]

Xu Tingfang recalled every rule. She was certain she hadn't missed or misremembered anything. Which of these rules could be used against the Vengeful Ghost?

Only two rules specified actions by the ghost.

First, the Vengeful Ghost performed the verification. If the vote was correct, the game ended immediately.

Second, if they failed, the Vengeful Ghost would execute one additional person.

Wait!

A surge of utter disbelief flashed through Xu Tingfang's mind. Could it be... that there was no ghost at all?

[The person with the most votes is elected the ghost.]

That rule sprang into Xu Tingfang's mind, striking him as profoundly absurd.

Yes... that was it!

Xu Tingfang looked at the three dead players, grieving how needlessly they had died.

He understood everything now.

Xu Qianxing had indeed been wrong when he said he wasn't the ghost.

Because any one of them could be the ghost.

The ghost was only determined at the moment voting ended.

In other words... the player they selected was the ghost!

And as the ghost, that player had to participate in the verification that followed.

But as players, the instruction they heard at that point was...

[Vengeful Ghost confirmation. Close your eyes.]

At that moment, the player everyone had voted for would be even more frightened and at a loss. He would surely follow the instruction and close his eyes!

Yet what they needed at that moment was precisely for the player elected as the Vengeful Ghost to open his eyes!

He had to open his eyes to confirm that he was the ghost!

This damned game had been toying with them from the very beginning!

Xu Tingfang looked at the only other survivor. He desperately tried to find a way to convey this information to Du Bi'an, but... it was too complicated. He didn't know how to make Du Bi'an understand with his one chance to speak.

What should I do...

Du Bi'an's eyes had lost all their light, and his body was trembling. It wasn't fear. It was madness!

Xu Tingfang had seen similar situations many times before. It was a player's final release of rage, resentment, and defiance toward this Ghost Story Game.

But... we haven't reached that point yet!

I've already found a way to survive...

Xu Tingfang racked his brains. Now there were only two of them left, and Du Bi'an had descended into madness.

There would be two votes in this round. If they weren't concentrated on a single player and instead resulted in a tie, a real player would be killed at random. His own chance of dying would be as high as fifty percent.

He didn't want to gamble.

What would Du Bi'an do in his madness? Who would he vote for?

What action would he take?

Xu Tingfang clenched his hands tightly. He wasn't just saving Du Bi'an. He was saving himself too!

If I were Du Bi'an, emotionally shattered and knowing I was about to die in the next round, what would I do?

I would definitely...

Look at that ghost!

Yes, that ghost had never truly shown itself. I would have to see exactly who had killed everyone.

The ghost story was called Close Your Eyes, but at a moment like this, anyone would want to open their eyes.

To get a clear look at that murderous ghost!

[Round six. Begin your descriptions.]

It had begun.

Xu Tingfang's breath caught as the light came on above his head.

"I... have been in the Ghost Story Game for six months."

That was what he said.

His words seemed to pull Du Bi'an back from his madness a little. A trace of confusion and pain flickered in his eyes.

It was his turn.

Dazed, he looked at Xu Tingfang in the faint light. In a place like this, only he could hear his final words.

"I've been an unfilial son... I've let my family down."

Xu Tingfang's heart clenched.

He tried to give Du Bi'an a slight shake of his head, but he couldn't move at all.

Whew...

[Please confirm the seat you wish to vote for.]

Once again, Du Bi'an wrote down his own name.

[Vengeful Ghost confirmation. Close your eyes.]

Their surroundings abruptly went dark, and Xu Tingfang closed his eyes.

But at that very moment, Du Bi'an opened his eyes in fury!

He wanted to see exactly what the Vengeful Ghost that had killed everyone looked like!

Yet everything within his sight turned blood-red!

Du Bi'an felt an intense malice surging toward him.

A cold, unfamiliar, eerie presence crept upward from his back...

Then Du Bi'an froze. To his astonishment, a line of text had appeared on the white voting board on his table.

[Please confirm whether verification was successful.]

Du Bi'an's face suddenly went pale, then filled with excitement. Trembling, he picked up the marker, sweat rolling down his forehead.

He wrote a single word.

[Successful.]

The instant he wrote that word, every light in the room abruptly came on!

[Verification complete. Vote successful.]

[Game over.]

The eerie voice swiftly faded away, and the lights vanished... sunlight streamed in from outside the abandoned Murder Mystery Shop that had been shrouded in terror and darkness.

Dust was clearly visible in the air. Cobwebs hung from the tables and chairs, and a thick layer of dust covered the tabletop.

Du Bi'an stared blankly at Xu Tingfang, seated across from him, then looked at the other tables and chairs. The players who had come with them... even their bodies were gone.

Xu Tingfang covered his mouth, sparkling tears welling in his eyes.

Du Bi'an rose and walked toward him. In the dilapidated Murder Mystery Shop, the two gently embraced, trembling uncontrollably...

"We... survived."

You won't... hit me, will you?

(End of chapter)