**The Disappearing Jack**
Li Tao's finger hovered over the answer button, his heartbeat racing. Taking a deep breath, he pressed the button and held the phone to his ear, remaining silent. On the other end of the line, there was a cacophony of sounds, a mix of wind and intermittent whispers, occasionally punctuated by faint screams. The noise was not loud but sent shivers down his spine.
"Jack?" Li Tao tentatively spoke, but before he could finish his sentence, a deep, labored breath came through the receiver, as if someone was struggling to breathe.
"Is this Danny?" Jack's voice sounded slightly anxious.
Li Tao felt a surge of relief; it was indeed Jack's voice. He quickly asked, "Jack, where are you?"
"Great, I finally got through. Danny, can you hand the phone to Alex? I've been driving here for ten minutes, and there's such thick fog outside. The phone signal is out, and the GPS isn't working. Please, give the phone to Alex; I need to ask him how to get out of this neighborhood." Jack's voice was filled with worry. "This is so weird. This road looks only a few hundred meters long, but I've been driving forever."
Li Tao's heart sank as an ominous premonition washed over him. "You mean you're still on the road outside my house?"
Jack's voice grew impatient. "Yeah, didn't we just separate? After I turned around, the fog suddenly rolled in, and the phone signal is spotty. It's really strange."
"Jack, what's the date today?" Li Tao asked slowly.
"What? Are you out of your mind? Today is August 28th. I just picked you up from the airport! Hand the phone to Alex, or someone come find me," Jack's voice had a hint of irritation.
Li Tao paused for a few seconds, perhaps trying to find the right way to explain the situation to Jack. Finally, he struggled to speak, "Jack, calm down. Let me tell you, today is the night of August 29th, and I just saw your picture on the news. You've been missing for a day."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Then Jack's voice became more frantic, tinged with unease and confusion. "What are you talking about? I just picked you up, and you were in the passenger seat messaging! How can it be a whole day? This can't be!"
Li Tao gripped the phone tightly, trying to stay calm. He knew Jack's situation was far stranger than they had imagined. "Jack, I'm not joking. We have indeed been separated for a day. You went missing after picking me up. Now everyone in Toronto is looking for you."
Jack's breathing grew more rapid, as if he was struggling to understand what was happening. "What does that mean? What's wrong with me? Why does it feel like I'm stuck here, like this place is a maze, and I can't see the way out!"
Li Tao closed his eyes, the image of the fog-covered road and the eerie house flashing in his mind. He couldn't help but shiver. "Jack, listen to me, don't leave the car, and don't try to drive forward. Can you see any landmarks? Can you confirm where you are?"
On the other end, Jack's voice was filled with helplessness and fear. "I can't see anything, just endless fog. It feels like this place is changing—do you understand? Like it's playing tricks on me. I feel like… someone is watching me."
Li Tao had a sudden realization: the house was not only trapping them but was also affecting the world outside. The rules weren't just for them; they were impacting anyone who approached the place.
"Jack, you need to stay clear-headed," Li Tao's voice became urgent. "You mentioned the fog; it might be the house's doing—trying to trap you. Can you call anyone else? Or use the GPS to see if it shows your location?"
Jack was breathing heavily, making several attempts to get through, but each effort proved futile. "All signals are down. It's like everything is blocked off. I even think I see something moving in the fog... it's not right, it's really not right!"
Suddenly, the phone line was filled with a harsh static noise, as if the signal was distorted, followed by a series of indistinct whispers, multiple voices speaking at once but indecipherable. Jack's voice was blurred among them: "Danny... don't... door..."
Then, the call was abruptly disconnected, the screen showing "Call Ended." Li Tao stared blankly, his hand trembling slightly as he held the phone. He realized that Jack was not merely lost but was trapped by some unknown force. The road, the fog, seemed to be preventing any external contact, like a giant net silently encasing them.
Li Tao collapsed onto the edge of the bed, Jack's words and the strange whispering echoing in his mind. He understood that they were facing more than just rules and hidden secrets; they were in an intangible struggle. A fight with no visible exit.
Jack had been excited when he finally managed to call Li Tao, after driving for ten minutes, seeing nothing but fog and the road. As an experienced driver, Jack prided himself on his driving skills and sense of direction, but for some reason, despite the short road, he couldn't seem to get out. The GPS was spinning in place, and the signal was intermittent, making it impossible to make calls.
Jack kept trying to call Li Tao, and after what seemed like countless attempts, the call finally went through. Li Tao's voice sounded agitated and trembling, which struck Jack as odd. They had only been separated for ten minutes; why was Li Tao so distressed?
When Li Tao delivered the shocking news, Jack felt as if the world was spinning around him. He nearly lost his grip on the steering wheel. Realizing Li Tao wasn't joking, Jack instinctively turned the car around, thinking that if he couldn't go forward, he should at least be able to go back. It was supposed to be a straightforward road, and as long as he kept driving, he should eventually get back. He told himself, whether it was August 28th or 29th, if he just drove back, he'd make it... Jack reassured himself incoherently as the car's speed increased.
Suddenly, Jack saw a distant light: it was House No. 20! His spirits soared, and he unconsciously pressed the accelerator harder. The headlights cut through the dense fog, slowly revealing the outline of House No. 20. The dim light from the windows seemed like the only bright spot in the darkness. Jack slammed the accelerator, filled with relief and hope, convincing himself that once he reached Li Tao and the others, everything would be resolved. This must be just an illusion, a cursed prank.
However, as he neared the house, Jack suddenly noticed something was wrong—the familiar House No. 20 looked strange. The house's outline was blurry, like a water-stained painting, distorting with the fog, slowly morphing. He slammed on the brakes, stopping just a few meters from the house. The world fell into silence, with even the wind seeming to disappear.
Sitting in the car, Jack's palms were slick with cold sweat. He took a deep breath and rolled down the window to see more clearly, but fog quickly filled the car, bringing a pungent, damp smell that seemed to invade his breath. Jack hesitated, his earlier excitement replaced by fear. He realized the house was not right; it shouldn't be here.
In the fog in front of the car, Jack vaguely saw a shadowy figure approaching House No. 20. The figure was holding something that looked like a hammer. Jack's heart jumped to his throat as the figure moved to the door and rang the bell. Jack instinctively shouted into the phone, "Danny, don't open the door!!" Then he immediately started the car, desperate to do something—whether to rush forward or escape.
But the car seemed to be locked by some force, unable to move. Jack desperately pressed the accelerator, but the wheels only spun in place, creating an ear-piercing screech. At that moment, the figure at the door suddenly turned its head towards Jack.
Jack's breathing became rapid, his heart pounding as he realized that the figure had no face. He frantically honked the horn, trying to drive away the terrifying shadow, but it just stood at the door, as if scrutinizing him. Then it slowly turned its head and continued to knock on the door rhythmically.
Jack's terror peaked. He stared at the faceless figure, a chilling sensation creeping up his spine. The shadow at the door went from ringing the bell to knocking heavily, each sound dull and powerful, as if sending some strange signal. Jack tried to start the engine again but found the car keys had disappeared from the ignition. His hand trembled uncontrollably.
Jack looked around desperately for a way out but found all the windows sealed by fog, turning the outside into a pitch-black void. He gritted his teeth and pounded the steering wheel, despair and helplessness flooding in. Then he noticed his phone screen flicker—an incoming message from Li Tao.
The message was brief: "Jack, don't look at the door, don't make any noise."
Jack's eyes widened as he hesitated to open the message, only to find it had vanished, leaving a glaring white screen. He was momentarily stunned when his phone suddenly emitted a crackling noise, distorted by severe interference. Jack threw the phone onto the seat, feeling as if the entire car was tightening, making it hard for him to breathe.
The knocking outside stopped, and Jack's gaze returned to the faceless figure. The figure ceased its movement, standing still with its head slightly turned towards Jack. Jack held his breath, trying to stay hidden, knowing that he must not let the figure notice him—his instinct told him it would be fatal.
At that moment, the door being knocked on slowly opened. A dim light leaked from inside, revealing a dark corridor, like a gaping maw waiting for something to enter. The faceless figure turned and slowly stepped inside, disappearing into the darkness.
Jack fought to keep his fear in check, staring at the open door. He felt a strong impulse to follow and see what was inside, but his body refused to move. Suddenly, the temperature in the car dropped sharply, and the fog in his breath seemed to freeze in the air. In the rearview mirror, Jack caught a glimpse of a familiar face—it was his own. But it wasn't a reflection; another "him" sat quietly in the back seat, staring blankly ahead.
Jack's mind went blank. He wanted to scream but couldn't make a sound. The other "Jack" slowly moved closer, with hollow, lifeless eyes. At that moment, the car was filled with that harsh whispering noise, as if countless voices were murmuring in his ears. Jack's consciousness began to fade, the scene before him warping and distorting as if the entire world was collapsing.
"Why did you come back?" the other "Jack" whispered in his ear, with a cold, deep voice as if from another world.
Jack struggled to answer, but his throat felt locked. He could only watch as the other "Jack" approached, their faces nearly touching. Jack closed his eyes, feeling an overwhelming darkness consuming him. He felt his consciousness leaving his body, becoming part of the fog, losing all weight and sense of existence.
Suddenly, Jack opened his eyes wide. He found himself standing in front of House No. 20, tightly gripping the car keys. The front door was still open, the darkness inside seemingly inviting him in. He looked back; the car was still in place, but empty. Jack knew there was no turning back. Everything before him was no longer an illusion—this nightmare was far more real than he had imagined.
Jack took a deep breath, lifted his foot, and stepped through the door. The door closed silently behind him, cutting off all light. The whispering inside resumed, accompanied by faint footsteps, as if countless eyes were watching him. Jack felt an eerie familiarity, as if everything here had already taken root in his mind. He finally understood that he wasn't trapped in the fog; he had already stepped into the trap of the house, and this nightmare might never end.
Jack's footsteps echoed in the pitch-black corridor as he struggled to stay calm, each step trembling noticeably. The corridor's walls were old and worn, as if never cleaned, with layers of dust on the floor. Whispers came from all directions, like invisible creatures murmuring. Jack's heartbeat quickened, each echoing step a reminder that he was entering an unknown horror.
At the end of the corridor was a partially open door, with faint light leaking through the crack. Jack took a deep breath and walked slowly towards the door. As he pushed it open, a strong musty odor hit him. Inside was a dark room filled with old furniture and broken mirrors. A large bed covered in yellowed sheets occupied the center. A dim bedside lamp cast a faint glow.
Jack entered the room cautiously, scanning the surroundings. His attention was drawn to an old picture frame hanging on the wall. Inside were several yellowed photographs, blurry but recognizable as faces he knew. Jack's heart raced; the people in the photos were once close to him—friends and family. The backgrounds of the photos were different corners of the same house, as if these people had lived there.
Jack approached the picture frame to examine it closely, only to find that the glass was cracked and the edges of the photos were torn. As his finger touched the broken glass, he suddenly felt a sharp pain. Looking down, he saw his finger had been cut, and blood was dripping onto the photo. At that moment, the figures in the photograph seemed to move slightly, their eyes flashing with an unusual light.
He stepped back in terror as the room's light suddenly grew dimmer. Jack's surroundings began to warp, with the walls and floor seeming to shift continuously, as if the entire room was morphing. The whispering grew louder, filled with anxiety and sorrow. Jack tried to find an exit but realized that his location kept changing. The room became increasingly cramped, the light fading until he was engulfed in complete darkness.