As soon as Chris logged into the forum, he noticed his account name had transformed into a vibrant purple hue, catching the light like a gem. A quick glance at the backend revealed that his thirty-minute video had gone viral, amassing nearly a thousand replies, a surge of activity that made his heart race with both excitement and anxiety.
The dim glow of his computer screen illuminated his face as he scanned through the comments, finding little of substance; most were merely spectators enjoying the spectacle of his misfortune.
"Let's give it a shot—maybe someone knowledgeable will bite," he thought, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he re-edited his post. He added detailed descriptions of the grotesque monster he'd seen in the mirror, the way its eyes seemed to suck in the light, then used his purple account privilege to ask for help.
"After playing the game in the video, a monster has attached itself to me! How do I get rid of it?"
Within moments, responses began pouring in, their urgency evident even through the screen.
"Wait, you're still alive?" one user commented, the disbelief palpable.
"Try splashing it with black dog blood, or get a rooster; it'll scare the evil away," suggested another, their words draped in an air of superstition.
"Sounds like you're too deep into this. Maybe a psychiatrist would help?" chimed in yet another.
"Ghosts are merely memories trapped in our world. If you try to banish them, you'll harm your own karma. Better to coexist."
"Are you seriously trying to reason with a ghost?" another chimed in.
"Use the Miao Mountain Ghost-Slaying Charm, straight from a real Master! Check my avatar on Taobao! Order now for a bonus ghost-fortune spell!" The absurdity of it all made Chris shake his head.
"Mix soybeans, rice, and vermillion, soak them in salt water for fifteen minutes, then throw them to ward off spirits. Try it out!" one user excitedly suggested, their enthusiasm almost comical.
"I once saw a video where a guy got haunted by a female ghost. He ended up buying a gun to scare her off. One night, he shot himself to trap her in his room…"
"Listen, I have a real solution! Get an iron knife, preferably one that's seen blood; ghosts are sensitive to its energy!"
Chris sifted through the comments. The advice about using an iron knife seemed the most plausible, while the rest ranged from nonsensical to impractical. He knew that folklore about black dog blood and roosters existed, but where would he get those at this hour?
After leaving the forum, Chris tossed his phone aside and sat in silence, the oppressive weight of uncertainty settling in. The room was dimly lit, shadows creeping along the walls like dark fingers. Fighting an unknown monster was a matter of life and death; he couldn't rely on vague internet advice.
After some contemplation, he pulled out his black phone, its sleek surface reflecting the low light of the room. In crucial moments, it was the only thing he trusted completely.
However, the black phone operated on an exchange principle; to receive help, he had to give something first.
Through his recent trials, Chris had uncovered some hidden patterns within the black phone. Simple and intermediate daily tasks usually yielded tools to aid his haunted house operation, while only nightmare-level tasks provided direct rewards that granted him rare abilities.
Dealing with the mirror monster required completing nightmare tasks; simple or intermediate ones wouldn't suffice.
But the nightmare tasks were inherently dangerous. What if, instead of eliminating the mirror creature, he attracted even more threats?
"What should I do? Risk it all or wait it out?" Chris pondered, checking the black phone as midnight approached, refreshing the daily tasks.
"Simple Task: To create a genuinely terrifying experience for visitors, ensure the timing of actors and mechanisms is perfect. Install sound detectors and cameras to monitor visitor progress." The words seemed to echo in the stillness, heavy with expectation.
"Intermediate Task: You've earned a chance to expand your haunted house! Find a suitable venue quickly! Until expansion is complete, no trial tasks can be undertaken."
"Nightmare Task: Strange noises emanate from the bathroom at night. To discover the source, follow my instructions." A shiver ran down his spine at the thought of what awaited him in the darkness.
"Warning! Some tasks are extremely dangerous; choose wisely!" The ominous message loomed like a shadow over his choices.
Chris glanced at the three daily tasks. He couldn't complete the intermediate one and dismissed it. His choices were between the simple task and the nightmare task.
"If Uncle Xu gives me the money tomorrow, I can buy all the monitoring equipment within a day, though I won't have time to install it. The nightmare task sounds eerie and directly related to the bathroom." Chris hesitated; the simple task seemed uncertain, while the nightmare task promised potential horrors.
Lost in thought, Chris was jolted by a harsh, cutting noise from the haunted house. It was louder than before, a sound that sliced through the night like a knife.
He looked up, realizing the sound came from the third floor, a place steeped in shadows and whispered secrets.
"Four dolls are all accounted for—what could it possibly be cutting?" Annoyed, he shoved the repaired dolls into his pocket, grabbed a hammer, and stormed upstairs, each step echoing like a heartbeat in the eerie silence.
As he opened the door to the midnight escape scene, he was taken aback by the sight before him. The dim glow of the emergency lights cast an unsettling glow on the scene.
Shards of mirrors lay scattered at the entrance, like tiny stars fallen from the sky, their jagged edges glinting ominously. White marks were etched into the wooden door, claw-like scratches that sent a chill racing down his spine.
"What is this monster doing?" Cold sweat broke out on his back at the thought of a creature with a mirror shard prowling while he slept. He couldn't allow such a dangerous entity in his haunted house!
Normally mild-mannered, Chris felt anger rise within him, a fierce protectiveness for his domain. He locked the midnight escape scene's door, hammer in hand, and burst into each room, smashing every mirror on the third floor.
The shattering glass echoed loudly, a cacophony that resonated in his ears. The fragments scattered everywhere, glinting like fallen teeth. By the time he reached the end of the hall, he felt slightly calmer, though a sense of foreboding hung in the air.
"During the first nightmare task, that monster was trapped behind a doll in the mirror, unable to fight back; later, when it attacked Hayden, it could only exert a weak influence. But after it targeted Sean, it's now able to emerge from the mirror! It's growing, and fast!" Chris realized he couldn't wait any longer. His haunted house was just getting started; he couldn't let it be destroyed by an unknown monster.
Exiting the midnight escape scene and locking the door, Chris steeled himself for a desperate gamble. He opened the black phone, ready to accept the nightmare task. "I hope the rewards for this mission will be substantial."
"Confirm acceptance of the nightmare difficulty daily task? Acceptance may trigger unknown events."
"Confirm."
The screen flashed, and the specific task details appeared, glowing with an eerie light.