Sun Chang stepped out of the kitchen as he adjusted the notebook that he had tucked under his arm.
He took a moment to observe his surroundings, noticing water leaking from the ceiling and the damp spots spreading across the floor.
He sighed, realizing his situation was more troublesome than he had initially anticipated. He took the chance to sit down, opening his notebook, and began to summarize Sofia's account.
Zhao Mei's sudden increase in book buying and her late-night study sessions suggest she discovered something important, potentially a clue about the bronze mirror.
Her health decline and deviation from her routine indicate she was under significant stress, which is understandable knowing she was convinced she was going to die.
But we can't forget the painting; it's likely connected to her deteriorating mental health. As for how, we have to check it out later.
Sun Chang paused, flipping through his notes.
Zhao Ming mentioned she received mysterious letters a few weeks before her death. The content of the letters is unknown, but Zhao Ming noted that she was extremely stressed when receiving them. So, who is the third party? Was it the captain? No, she admired him.
The previous house owner: it's a theory; he was a curse mage and likely to have a connection with the curse on the house. But what could be his motive for sending those letters? I doubt he cares that much about the villa; perhaps Zhao Mei found something related to the previous owner that caused him to maybe send threats, and being a criminal on the run, letters would be better than using electronics.
Sun Chang's thoughts circled back to Alice. Alice might reveal additional clues. Her close connection to Zhao Mei could mean she knows something others don't. Alice often spent time with Zhao Mei during her late-night study sessions. If anyone knows what Zhao Mei was researching or who might have sent those letters, it would be her.
He tapped his pen against the notebook, trying to recall other details.
He felt he was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle but couldn't pinpoint what it was. His gaze moved from page to the butler, who had been standing quietly to the side.
"Where is the servant corridor?"
The butler hesitated before answering.
"The servant corridor is just down the hall, past the kitchen. It's a narrow hallway that leads to the quarters where the staff stay. However, I must express my doubts. Perhaps it would be more efficient to check Miss Zhao Mei's room."
Sun Chang nodded patiently, understanding the butler's reasoning. "The Enforcement Union already took most of the valuables from Zhao Mei's room," he explained. "If we want to find anything significant, we need to speak with someone who knows this place well."
He continued, "Alice might have information or observations that others don't. Her familiarity with the mansion and her close relationship with Zhao Mei could provide insights that a general search might miss."
"I see," the butler replied, then turned to lead them into the servant corridor.
The corridor stretched on, with the occasional flickering of the lights creating an unsettling scene.
Sun Chang frowned, glancing warily at the lights. To be honest, he didn't want to go down the hall. It reminded him too much of a scene from a movie he had seen years ago. In the film, a group of schoolgirls explores an abandoned house. As for what happened to them, he didn't know—he had never finished the movie.
He felt it had lost what the original had. The first movie did a commendable job translating the terror of the original to a Western audience, maintaining that subtle and simple use of horror that Japanese films excel at. But after that, the sequels just fell apart.
They started explaining the origins and concocting ways to stop the curse. He always felt that killed the essence of a Japanese ghost story. There was meant to be no reason for why it started, where it appeared from, and no way to stop it. This is what made it truly scary.
Sun Chang's eyes darkened slightly as he continued, recalling the original concept of the house, where the previously murdered family became the base where the curse spread. It was simple, yet terrifying. The family were victims of a violent crime and turned into vengeful spirits trapped in an endless cycle of rage and sadness, passing it on to everyone they encountered.
The backstory of the following movies was unneeded, only serving to lessen the terrifying factor. The essence of horror lies in what you don't see, what you don't understand, and what you can't escape. Once they lost that, they lost him.
He glanced at the window, the patter of raindrops merging with his thoughts. As for why I'm still here, part of it is due to the weather, and the other part is due to the bronze mirror. Where did it come into play? Did it make Zhao Mei commit suicide, or was it the curse?
Sun Chang froze, a sudden chill running down his spine. "Why am I thinking about a movie right now?" he muttered to himself. His mind raced, trying to connect the dots. "Why does it seem like our current situation mirrors that movie?" He recalled the young girl who was said to have died in the mansion, and the chill deepened.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sudden noise made him flinch. He turned sharply towards the window, only to see branches tapping insistently against the glass, driven by the wind.
"I'm thinking too much," he muttered to himself. Taking a deep breath, he straightened up and resumed walking.
Zhao Ming, walking slightly ahead, turned around and asked, "What did you say?"
"Nothing."
.....
They reached a door at the end of the hall, and the butler knocked softly. There was no answer. He knocked again, this time more urgently.
"Is she not here?"
Sun Chang frowned, walked up to the door, and called out, "Alice, it's Sun Wu. We talked earlier. I need to ask you a few questions."
There was no response to Sun Chang's call.
He signaled the butler, who hesitated for a moment before pulling a key from his pocket and unlocked the door with a soft click.
The first thing Sun Chang noticed was Alice.
Her slender frame lay motionless on the floor, her uniform stained and disheveled. Her stomach was pressed against the ground, her head twisted at a horrifying angle. Her eyes were closed, her expression almost peaceful.