The Sealed Truth

The next morning, Li Lin and Ye Xiao sat anxiously in the police station, having barely slept after the horrifying events of the previous night. The scene they had witnessed still haunted their minds—the terrifying ghost, the man's death, and the frantic escape. Every moment was etched into their memories.

The phone in the station rang, breaking the silence. A police officer answered, exchanged a few low words, then approached Li Lin and Ye Xiao.

"We've sent a team to the location you described last night. There has been a development. We need you to come with us to confirm the situation," the officer said, his tone calm but serious.

Li Lin and Ye Xiao exchanged a glance. Despite their lingering fear, they knew they had to return to confirm what had happened. They climbed into the police car, the siren cutting through the morning stillness as the car sped toward the old house.

When they arrived, the house was already cordoned off with yellow tape. Several officers were examining the scene, and the atmosphere was tense, almost suffocating. The air around the house still felt heavy, as if the terror from the previous night had never left.

Li Lin and Ye Xiao got out of the car and walked toward the house. The lead detective approached them, his expression grave, holding a file in his hand.

"We found a body in the location you described," the detective said in a measured tone, though his eyes betrayed a hint of confusion. "We're still investigating the cause of death, but so far, it aligns with what you told us."

"Where is the body?" Li Lin asked urgently, needing to confirm that what they had seen the night before was real.

"In the basement. The area is sealed off for now. You can't get too close, but you can take a look from outside to see if it's the man you saw last night," the detective said, leading them to the basement entrance.

From behind the police tape, they saw forensic investigators working on the body. It was the same man—his face was pale, and there were visible bruises around his neck, consistent with being strangled. The scene was identical to what they had witnessed. The forensics team moved carefully, collecting evidence, while the man's lifeless body lay in the middle of it all.

"That's him," Li Lin whispered, a chill running down his spine. "That's the man we saw last night, the one who was… strangled."

Ye Xiao covered her mouth, fighting to keep her fear in check. She stared at the body, her mind flashing back to the horrific moment, realizing that what they had experienced wasn't a nightmare—it was real.

The detective nodded, his expression becoming more serious. "The time of death seems to match your account from last night. We're still trying to determine exactly how he died."

"But don't you find it strange?" Ye Xiao finally spoke, her voice shaking. "We didn't see a human killer… we saw a ghost."

The detective was silent for a moment, clearly puzzled by their testimony. While he didn't want to outright dismiss their account, it was clear he struggled to accept such a fantastical explanation.

"We'll continue investigating every angle," he finally said. "We won't rule anything out for now, but there could be other explanations."

Li Lin and Ye Xiao felt a growing unease. Though the police had stepped in, they knew that this was no ordinary case. They had seen something impossible, something the police couldn't explain away with logic.

"Is that it?" Li Lin muttered under his breath, frustration creeping in. "We saw something no human could have done, but no one believes the truth."

At that moment, a forensic investigator exited the basement, carrying a small evidence bag. He whispered a few words to the detective, who then turned back to Li Lin and Ye Xiao.

"We found something unusual on the victim's neck," the detective said. "The bruises don't appear to have been caused by human hands. The marks are too fine, almost as if they were made by… something else."

"You're saying the marks might not be human?" Ye Xiao's voice wavered, filled with a mix of disbelief and fear.

The detective sighed. "It's too early to conclude, but yes, something about this doesn't add up. We'll be analyzing the evidence to see if it leads to anything concrete."

Li Lin and Ye Xiao nodded, but the unsettling feeling in their hearts wouldn't leave. Even though the police had begun to recognize the abnormality of the case, they knew that this haunting event couldn't be solved through normal investigation methods. The ghost they had seen wasn't an ordinary killer—it was something far more dangerous.

"What will you do next?" the detective asked.

Li Lin was silent for a moment before replying with resolve, "We're not giving up. We've gotten too deep into this. We need to find the truth."

Ye Xiao held Li Lin's hand, her eyes filled with the same determination. "We can't run from this. It's not just about the victim anymore—it's about us."

The detective nodded, seeming to respect their resolve. "Very well, but make sure to stay safe. If you discover anything new, contact us immediately."

Li Lin and Ye Xiao stepped away from the scene, feeling an oppressive weight in their chests. Even though they had left the old house, the lingering fear wouldn't go away. They understood that this case was far from over. The real danger was still out there, lurking in the shadows.