Chapter 49: "Chasing the Unknown: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted"

The moment the loud bang echoed through the decayed corridors of Gonjiam Mental Hospital, panic set in.

"Stop playing! Stop playing! I want to go out! I want to go out!"

Laura and Judy screamed at the top of their lungs, their faces twisted with pure terror as they bolted toward the entrance.

"Let's leave! We quit! We forfeit the challenge!"

The desperation in their voices sent chills down the spines of everyone watching the live stream. Their panicked movements were erratic as they clawed at the old wooden doors, desperate for escape.

But then—

BANG!

Another loud noise came from outside the door, shaking the entire frame.

Barlow and William, who had been trying to stay composed, could no longer suppress their fear. They pushed forward, slamming their bodies against the door in a frantic attempt to break through.

The once-rotten door, which had seemed ready to collapse under a light push, now stood as if reinforced by an invisible force. No matter how hard they pushed, it wouldn't budge.

"We just came through here!" Barlow shouted, his voice cracking. "Why won't it open?!"

Judy's legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor, her body trembling violently.

Laura was hyperventilating, gripping the handle so hard that her knuckles turned white. "No, no, no, no... This isn't real! This isn't real!"

Barlow turned around, his eyes wide with horror. "Are we trapped? Are we going to die here?"

Jiang Chen, standing calmly in the center of the room, watched the scene unfold with a detached expression.

"Ghost hitting the wall?" he muttered to himself, rubbing his chin. "If that's the case, then we'll need another way out."

Barlow and the others froze.

That phrase—ghost hitting the wall—implied that they were caught in a supernatural loop, unable to leave until whatever force was trapping them decided to let them go.

At that moment, all the color drained from William's face. His lips trembled, and his breath came out in short gasps.

Jiang Chen, however, didn't seem fazed. He simply turned away and began walking down the hallway.

"Where are you going?!" Barlow cried.

"Looking for another exit," Jiang Chen replied casually.

Barlow, William, Laura, and Judy exchanged terrified glances before scrambling after him.

Right now, Jiang Chen was their only hope.

They trailed behind him like frightened children, their once-arrogant demeanor completely shattered.

Jiang Chen smirked slightly. Having them follow was fine—but there would be a price to pay.

As they walked down the narrow corridor, the air felt heavier.

The structure of Gonjiam Mental Hospital was relatively simple—after the entrance, there was a long, eerie hallway. On one side, a row of sealed windows barely allowed any moonlight to filter in. On the other, rows of empty patient rooms loomed in silence.

Each door seemed to hide a terrible secret, and as they passed each one, the feeling of unseen eyes watching them grew stronger.

Judy hugged herself. "It… it feels like something is in those rooms."

Even without looking inside, the oppressive atmosphere made them feel as if something was lurking just beyond the cracked doors, peering out at them.

Jiang Chen, of course, knew how to make the most of this moment.

As he led them to a larger room, he stopped at the doorway and gestured inside.

"This should be the patients' general activity room. Let's take a look."

Barlow and the others wanted to refuse. Every fiber of their being screamed at them not to enter.

But the alternative was staying in the ominous corridor.

Reluctantly, they stepped inside.

The moment they did, they regretted it.

Jiang Chen pointed up at the ceiling, where dozens of tattered ropes and cloth strips hung limply from the beams.

He spoke nonchalantly. "This is the place where the infamous group suicide happened. The director and over forty patients all hanged themselves here. The official report never explained why."

Laura gasped. "F-Forty suicides… in this room?!"

Jiang Chen nodded, pretending to count. "Yeah. And look—more than forty ropes still hang from the ceiling. What a coincidence, huh?"

Barlow swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"Now, let's take a look at the mirror over there," Jiang Chen continued, pointing to a large, cracked mirror at the far end of the room.

"It's said that if you stand in front of this mirror at midnight, the reflection will change. You'll see the director and his patients standing behind you, inviting you to join them."

His voice was calm—almost amused.

But to Barlow, William, Laura, and Judy, it was pure horror.

None of them dared to move.

None of them dared to look at the mirror.

Their bodies were frozen with fear.

Then—

BANG!

The back door of the activity room slammed open, hitting the wall with a deafening crash.

"AHHHH!"

William screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Something's following us! It's been following us the whole time!"

Barlow spun around. "W-Where?!"

"The back door! I saw it! A white shadow just passed through!"

Judy burst into tears, covering her face with her hands.

Laura shook her head violently, her entire body trembling.

They were on the verge of total collapse.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chen's reaction was the complete opposite.

Instead of fear, his eyes sparkled with excitement.

He turned toward William with anticipation. "You saw it?"

William nodded frantically, his entire body still shaking.

Jiang Chen's grin widened. "Finally."

Without hesitation, he bolted toward the back door, chasing after the white figure.

Barlow and the others were left frozen in shock.

"Wait… he's chasing it?!" Barlow shouted in disbelief.

"No, no, no! He's insane! He's not human!" Laura cried.

"I don't want to be here anymore! I just want to go home!" Judy sobbed.

William pressed himself against the wall, his face pale as a ghost.

Barlow clenched his fists, his body trembling.

He had made a huge mistake.

They had all made a huge mistake.

They had thought Jiang Chen was just another explorer.

But now, they realized…

Jiang Chen wasn't the same as them.

He wasn't even on the same level.

No, Jiang Chen wasn't an explorer.

He was a monster in human skin.

A monster that thrived in fear.

A monster that enjoyed the unknown.

And right now—

That monster was hunting.

---

[Live Chat Explodes!]

[FK! HE'S CHASING IT! HE'S CHASING IT!!]**

[Anchor, I BEG YOU, STOP!!]

[I threw my phone across the room. This is TOO MUCH!]

[I need therapy after watching this live stream…]

[Anchor, are you actually a ghost hunter?!]