Chapter 9: Specter Domain

I stood in the corridor of the administrative office area at Oak Academy, observing the ever - intertwining scenes before me. The modern office environment was overlapping with an older, darker space, as if two transparent films were being forcefully superimposed by some malevolent power. The LED emergency lights above me flickered erratically, casting shadows that bore the contours of Victorian - era architecture. Those shadows seemed to be slowly writhing on the walls.

This kind of supernatural phenomenon no longer surprises me. My eyes scanned the end of the corridor, where the fire - proof door was overlapping with a rusty iron - barred gate. The architectural styles of the two eras coexisted in an eerie manner in the darkness, like a nightmare of temporal and spatial disarray. Ever since I encountered The Wife, I've known just how warped the truth hidden beneath the surface of this world is.

"Thompson! Where are you?" Kevin Parker's shout shattered the silence of the corridor. He held his phone, but the weak light it emitted was being suppressed by some invisible force, only able to illuminate a very limited area. The air was thick with the familiar smell of disinfectant, that pungent medicinal odor commonly used in hospitals during the last century. This smell made my stomach churn - it always reminded me of that face with a perpetual, fake smile.

"Damn it, why is there no cell - phone signal?" a young female employee exclaimed impatiently. "We need to call the police. This is just too abnormal."

I noticed that William Harrison was standing in the middle of the corridor. His expression was quite interesting: the cold sweat on his forehead betrayed his fear, yet his eyes glinted with a kind of almost excited light. That contradictory look brought back some memories I'd rather forget, and I forced myself to look away.

"Parker," Harrison said, his voice unexpectedly calm. "What's the exact situation?"

As they talked, I saw a row of old - fashioned door numbers materialize on the wall: C - 520. The copper numbers were covered in thick green rust and vibrated slightly as the light shifted, as if some living being was breathing. This subtle change always stirred up my deepest hatred, much like that ever - smiling monster that made the air thicken every time it drew near.

Harrison's gaze also fell on those numbers. "Everyone," his voice took on an extremely serious tone. "I need you all to stay calm. We may have gotten into a special situation."

"What situation?" Sarah Bennett asked. I noticed that the fear in her voice seemed somewhat contrived, and a glint that didn't belong there flashed in her eyes.

"We may have entered the Specter Domain," Harrison said.

The office area fell into an instant, deathly silence, with only the ticking of an ancient pendulum clock echoing from the depths of the corridor. That sound grated on my nerves, reminding me of how that eternal smile distorted in the darkness.

"Specter? Isn't that just an urban legend?" someone murmured.

I nearly let out a sneer. Legend? They're more real than anyone could ever imagine. My fingers unconsciously traced my neck, where there had once been countless invisible scars.

Harrison shook his head. "They're more real than legends. In this world, there's a group of people called Soul Hunters. They specifically deal with these supernatural entities. My brother... is one of them."

I felt the blood in my body surge with excitement. Soul Hunters... My fists clenched involuntarily, my nails digging deep into my palms. Finally, perhaps I could find a way to deal with The Wife once and for all. That ever - smiling monster would one day pay for what she'd done.

As time went by, the scene in the office became even more distorted. I watched as the silhouette of Victorian - era medical devices emerged over modern office equipment: the computer monitor transformed into a rust - covered operating lamp, the filing cabinet overlapped with a glass cabinet filled with medicine bottles, and the outline of the printer intertwined with that of some terrifying therapeutic apparatus. Each distorted object served as a reminder: the truth of this world was darker than anyone could fathom.

Harrison continued to explain the concept of the Specter Domain, but my attention was drawn to a fallen medical record. The yellowed paper was covered in blood - colored runes that writhed, as if telling a forgotten tale.

"This is absurd!" Kevin Parker exclaimed loudly. "There must be something wrong with the building's power supply system. There's no such thing as a supernatural phenomenon!"

I remained silent. After experiencing that extreme horror, this kind of ignorant denial seemed laughable. But just then, a sight at the end of the corridor silenced everyone: a Specter dressed in Victorian - era doctor's garb was materializing. Its limbs were twisted in an inhuman fashion, its head tilted at an impossible angle, and it held a rust - laden scalpel in its hand.

"Stay calm," Harrison's voice quivered slightly. "They're attracted by attention. Whatever you do, don't..."

"The Specter is here," I said calmly. Fear had long since been replaced by a deeper emotion - hatred. Pure, cold hatred. That hatred sharpened my mind, making it as clear as a scalpel.

In my field of vision, the images of the two time - spaces completely overlapped: the modern office area and St. John's Psychiatric Hospital co - existed simultaneously. Something older than the darkness was awakening, but this time, I was no longer a helpless prey. That ever - smiling monster had taught me the most important lesson: when you stare into the abyss long enough, you become a part of the abyss.

My eyes never left that distorted figure. Hatred made me acutely sensitive to these entities. I could feel its attention searching for someone who could "see" it.

The Victorian - era bell rang again, echoing through this space torn apart by reality and supernatural forces. I knew that in those intertwined shadows, more Specters were awakening. They were waiting, searching, yearning to be noticed by human eyes.

But this time, I was ready. That ever - smiling monster had made me realize a truth: in this world, sometimes the most dangerous things aren't the Specters themselves, but the people who've been changed by them. And I had been changed more profoundly than anyone could have imagined.