Haunted House (1)

Yasushi and Jingliu stood just before the forest's entrance, the dense canopy of trees casting long shadows as twilight began its slow encroachment. The forest was infamous, its reputation bolstered by countless tales and events over the years. Most recently, it had played host to an Easter egg hunt for children, a rare and somewhat innocent affair that offered a temporary reprieve from its darker lore.

Halloween brought its own set of traditions, often centered around the town rather than the forest itself. The haunted house that stood on its edge was a local legend, and while most people preferred to stay clear, daring youths occasionally ventured in, lured by the thrill of the unknown.

"They're late," Yasushi said, his eyes scanning the screen of his phone, which displayed the group chat where Zihan's group had promised punctuality. "Do you think they're planning something too?" His gaze shifted to Jingliu, his expression a mix of impatience and curiosity.

Before Jingliu could respond, their phones buzzed simultaneously. A new message appeared in a separate group chat that included Anfeng and Yinhaie. The message contained a few photos, a video, and a brief text.

The message was clear, almost matter-of-fact in its chilling simplicity: "They have purchased a variety of items — bottled water, snacks, and masks intended to intimidate both of you. Their strategy is to divide and conquer: most of them will target Jingliu with malicious intent, while one or two will attempt to seduce Yasushi. They also plan to record everything."

Yasushi's expression darkened as he read Yinhaie's message. His gaze shifted to the items displayed in the pictures: bottles of water, snacks, and masks that seemed innocuous enough but were evidently intended for a far more sinister purpose. The short video of Zihan's group, their faces lit with mischievous excitement as they discussed their plans, only deepened Yasushi's scowl.

He let out a slow breath, his eyes narrowing with resolve. "We've anticipated this," he said, tucking his phone into his pocket with a decisive motion. "The entire haunted house is rigged with our own traps, designed to turn their plans against them. We've meticulously reviewed the floor plan, so their schemes won't have the effect they're hoping for. We'll turn this around, expose them for what they are, and if that doesn't work, we'll use your family's influence to make sure justice is served."

She gave her nod of agreement, and after a short wait, Zihan and her group came into view. They approached Yasushi and Jingliu, who exchanged brief glances at their arrival.

"Sorry for the delay," Zihan said, her voice bright, as she held up a plastic bag filled with snacks. The other girls displayed flashlights and bottles of water with feigned enthusiasm. "We were just picking up a few things to make it more interesting."

"It's alright," Yasushi responded, his tone indifferent as he started walking. Jingliu was ushered towards the girls, who put on an act of friendliness.

Yasushi barely paid attention to their pretense, confident in Jingliu's ability to handle herself. Yet, he couldn't help but note the persistence of their antics. Most people would have faltered after being caught, but this group seemed to intensify their efforts, now adopting a more covert approach to their harassment.

After eight minutes of walking, they finally reached the front of the old building. They paused to take in the eerie sight of the dilapidated structure.

"It's much creepier than I expected," Lingxi remarked, her voice trembling slightly.

Yueqin nodded vigorously, her hand gripping Lingxi's shoulder as if for support. "How long are we supposed to stay here?" she asked, her anxiety evident.

Yasushi checked his watch before responding. "Given it's around ten now, we should plan on leaving by midnight or one. It all depends on how long our exploration takes."

The two girls, clearly unsettled, nodded in agreement. Yasushi noted their fear with a mix of curiosity and amusement. It was intriguing that they could be so fearless in their bullying yet were visibly apprehensive about a haunted house. Without further comment, Yasushi moved forward, climbing the small set of stairs. He pushed open the creaking doors, stepping into the darkness beyond.

As they stepped inside, the darkness enveloped them, broken only by faint glimmers of light seeping through cracks in the walls and broken windows. The dim illumination revealed spiderwebs draped across corners, layers of dust thick on abandoned furniture, and eerie portraits hanging askew on the walls.

Zihan and her group looked around in surprise, clearly taken aback by the unsettling atmosphere. Yasushi, along with Jingliu's staff, had intentionally set the scene earlier that day to amplify the discomfort and fear. The additional touches of decay and disarray were meant to heighten the sense of dread. Yasushi noted their reactions with satisfaction, already feeling a sense of victory.

He turned to the group, breaking the tense silence. "So, how do you want to approach this? Should we stick together, or split up? We can use our phones to stay in contact if we decide to separate."

A hush fell over them as they considered their options, each person quietly mulling over the best course of action.

After a moment of quiet deliberation, Zihan spoke up. "Shuyin, Fanglan, and I will stay with Jingliu. Yueqin and Lingxi will team up with Yasushi. We'll use our phones to keep in touch, like walkie-talkies. Is everyone alright with that arrangement?"

"That works," Jingliu responded, her tone decisive. "Let's get started; we don't have all night. I'm curious to see how this place actually is."

She cast a quick glance at Yasushi, who gave a slight nod in agreement. With that, the two groups separated, each heading off in their assigned directions into the murky depths of the abandoned building.

+-+

"I did a bit of research on this place before we came," Yasushi said as they wandered through the various rooms of the sprawling house.

Yueqin and Lingxi exchanged surprised glances. Yueqin broke the silence, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Really? What did you uncover? I've always been doubtful about the stories, but seeing this place in person has made me second-guess that."

Yasushi gave a thoughtful nod before sharing what he and Jingliu's staff had discovered about the house. He embellished the details slightly, adding a few dramatic elements to suggest that the house might actually be haunted. He spoke of unsettling tales and eerie phenomena that seemed to linger in the shadows of the old structure.

As Yasushi finished recounting the "findings," he glanced back at Yueqin and Lingxi. Their faces were etched with genuine fear, the atmosphere of the house now seemingly confirmed by his recounting.

Lingxi's voice wavered, her body trembling as she asked, "B-b-but ghosts aren't real. H-how can you be sure?"

Before Yasushi could offer a response, a loud creak came from their right, freezing them in place. Yueqin and Lingxi's fear escalated, their eyes wide and fixed on the source of the sound. Yasushi observed their growing unease with a calculated expression. "They went the opposite direction, so it's unlikely to be Zihan's group," he said, allowing a fake frown to cross his face.

Lingxi tried to rationalize, her voice barely a whisper. "I-it was probably a mou—"

Her attempt to finish was cut short by a sudden, loud bang from the same direction. Lingxi's body went rigid, her face drained of color as she struggled to find her voice. Her trembling intensified, leaving her visibly shaken.

Yasushi's mind worked as he watched their reaction. 'The fear of the unknown — something that affects nearly everyone. I doubt these teenage girls are any different. Let's see just how far I can push them,' he thought. He pointed his flashlight toward the spot where the noise had come from, but the beam revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

"Probably just a mouse. Let's keep moving," Yasushi said, trying to sound nonchalant. He started walking away, but Lingxi and Yueqin hurried after him, gripping his arms tightly. He could feel their bodies trembling, like leaves caught in a breeze.

"Are you two frightened of ghosts or something?" Yasushi asked, his curiosity piqued by their intense reaction.

The girls remained silent, their fear evident in their trembling forms. Yasushi guided them through the dimly lit rooms of the house. Each space was meticulously arranged to enhance the unsettling atmosphere, with exaggerated props and decorations adding to the eeriness they had set up earlier.

He led them up the stairs, where the feeling of oppression seemed to grow heavier. They moved from room to room, exploring the eerie corners of the house. They lingered in one particular room that looked like it had once belonged to a child. The sight of the room only heightened the girls' anxiety.

Yasushi crouched down and picked up an old, dust-covered doll from the floor. "Oh, look at this," he said with a hint of surprise. "I'm impressed at how well this doll is preserved, especially considering that part of the house was partially damaged in a fire."

He held the doll up, facing away from the girls, and discreetly pressed a button hidden behind it. The doll's mouth twisted into a grin, and its eyes began to move, manipulated by the remote control in Yasushi's hand. Since the doll didn't rely on batteries, he was confident that if the girls decided to examine it later, he would be safe from any immediate scrutiny.

When the girls saw the doll's sudden, unnerving smile and its shifting eyes, their faces grew even paler. Their fear was palpable; they stood frozen, their voices caught in their throats. Yueqin took a hesitant step back, her eyes wide with panic as if contemplating fleeing the house. However, the thought of being caught by the other group kept her rooted to the spot.

"Are you two alright?" Yasushi asked with a facade of concern, but neither girl responded. The tension in the room was thick, and then something dramatic happened. Lingxi, already on edge, suddenly collapsed. Her eyes rolled back, and she fell to the floor, unconscious from the sheer terror and stress.

Yasushi's eyes widened in shock as he quickly set the doll aside and moved towards Lingxi, who lay unconscious on the floor. He carefully lifted her and placed her on his lap. Yueqin, having lost her composure, collapsed beside them, her body shaking uncontrollably. She struggled to catch her breath, gasping for air in frantic, uneven bursts.

Seeing the distress of both girls, Yasushi's pretense of indifference melted away. He gently patted Yueqin on the back, trying to soothe her. With a sympathetic gesture, he pulled out a water bottle and offered it to her. Yueqin accepted it eagerly, her hands trembling as she drank deeply, trying to steady her breathing.

It took Yueqin a few more moments to regain some semblance of calm, though her body continued to shiver. Tears welled up in her eyes as she choked out, "I'm sorry… they forced us… like before… but we can't leave…"

Yasushi, puzzled by her words, pressed for clarification. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice steady but filled with genuine curiosity.

Yueqin, her face still pale with fear, hesitated for a moment before her resolve crumbled. "Lingxi and I weren't originally part of Zihan's group," she began, her voice trembling. "They used to bully us, and in her twisted logic, Zihan thought she needed a bigger group, so she coerced us into joining her. She promised that if we joined, she would stop harassing us."

She took a deep, shuddering breath, gathering her courage to continue. "At first, we refused, and things only got worse. So, eventually, we gave in. We joined the group, and this is how we ended up in this situation. Lingxi and I never wanted to be part of this; we just pretended to go along with it so they wouldn't target us and to keep up the appearance."

Yasushi listened intently, not entirely surprised by her confession. He had anticipated something along these lines. However, his initial impression had led him to believe that Lingxi was the one truly coerced, while Yueqin had seemed more confident on the surface.

Despite the somewhat predictable nature of the situation, Yasushi set aside his thoughts and focused on the present. He sighed deeply, his exhaustion evident. "Explain everything to me in detail. I'm going to record this, understand?"

Yueqin nodded, her tears continuing to fall silently. She took a shaky breath and began recounting her experiences, her voice quivering as she spoke. She detailed the relentless bullying and manipulation she and Lingxi had suffered at the hands of Zihan, Shuyin, and Fanglan. She described how Zihan, driven by a distorted sense of necessity, had coerced them into joining her group.

Yueqin elaborated on their plan to target Jingliu, emphasizing her significant wealth and influence. She explained how Zihan had seen this as an opportunity to gain leverage and expand their operations. The group's scheme involved not just intimidation but also a calculated effort to involve Jingliu, believing that her resources would make their activities easier to execute.

Yueqin's voice was trembling as she laid out their plan for the night. "The idea was for me and Lingxi to 'seduce' you," she explained, her tears falling freely. "We were supposed to record it and frame you for attempting to assault us. Then, we would turn our focus on Jingliu, pressuring her into submission. The goal was to have you locked up, leaving us free to continue our scheme."

To Yasushi, this went far beyond mere bullying — it was a criminal act, akin to the previous misconduct they had committed. As Yueqin finished recounting the plan, Yasushi's anger surged. He abruptly stopped the recording and stowed his phone away, taking a moment to compose himself. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"If you cooperate with us, we can bring legal consequences to those three," Yasushi said, meeting her gaze firmly. "You'll need to be a witness and speak out when questioned. Do you understand?"

Yueqin's response came without hesitation, her voice choked with emotion. "Yes… I want this to end. I want to be free. I can't stand behaving like this any longer."

Yasushi gave a reassuring nod and settled beside Yueqin, keeping a watchful eye on Lingxi, who was now resting on Yueqin's lap. "We'll remain here for a few more minutes to make our story convincing," he said, his tone calm and steady. "Once we've waited long enough, we'll head over to where the other four are. We'll execute our plan from there. I mentioned all of this to you just now, didn't I?"

Yueqin nodded in agreement, her face a mask of exhaustion and resolve. "Yes," she confirmed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Perfect," Yasushi continued, his gaze fixed on the faint light filtering through the dilapidated windows. "Just stay put and let us handle the rest. Don't try to intervene. Leave everything to me and our team."

Once again, Yueqin nodded, her movements slow and deliberate. She was drained, both physically and emotionally, and the thought of imminent freedom kept her from making any missteps. She focused on following Yasushi's instructions, her mind set on seeing the ordeal through to its conclusion.