chapter_016 : The Cage

"Ah..."

Roderick Green constantly yawned at the moment. The computer screen in front of him was also blurred. If it weren't for the fear of being scolded by the boss, he really wanted to rest his head on the table and take a nap right now. He was inexplicably woken up by Gary Johnson last night. Then he rushed to his house, and after returning, he just couldn't fall asleep.

Although he felt that Gary was acting, he couldn't understand why he would go so over - the - top. The wailing and moaning on the phone didn't sound like fake at all. It seemed that he really had encountered...

Ghosts...

What on earth was going on? Why didn't he see any ghosts when he went to his house? What on earth was Gary up to? Was he possessed by an evil spirit? Maybe that house was really a bit strange...

Roderick's parents passed away when he was very young. After that, it was because of his good friend Zachary Thompson that he had hope. Being able to get into the same university as Zachary was an agreement they made in high school. Loving the legends of the supernatural was also a common hobby of the two. Initially, they both approached the supernatural with an attitude of exploring the mysterious. Although there were a lot of legends and materials that could be collected online, it was difficult to distinguish the true from the false. So Zachary highly approved of hands - on practice, that is, to go to the places mentioned in the legends as much as possible to try it out, which became an annual dare - game for the two of them.

Joey Foster was someone they met after entering the university. She was in the same class as Zachary. Because she was very cute and smart, which suited Zachary's character, they quickly became friends and their relationship gradually evolved into something like a romantic one. When she heard about their dare - game, she also agreed to join. As for Gary, he joined to show off his bravery.

When organizing the game, he didn't consider the danger at all. Because he thought that the supernatural was just a mysterious phenomenon that humans couldn't explain with science yet. There were actually no so - called ghosts. Yes... There couldn't be...

But Zachary seemed too serious yesterday... Roderick knew his friend's character very well. He wouldn't take something without basis so seriously. Maybe... He should ask him? Roderick always thought that Zachary was hiding something. Did he discover something when organizing this game but didn't say it?

He really couldn't hold on any longer. He said to a colleague next to him, "Steve, could you help me buy a can of coffee? I'll pay you back when you come back."

He wanted to boost his energy with coffee, but the other person seemed reluctant to run the errand and asked, "You can ask your good friend to go. Why me?"

"Zachary? Isn't he out of the office now? I'm swamped with work. Please help me."

The other person had to agree. After he left, Roderick suddenly realized something.

Why was the office so quiet today? Usually, it should be quite noisy at this time. After all, everyone was very busy with work! He stood up and looked around. Sure enough, he was the only one left in the office. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but at this moment, he felt a chill.

But there was no way. Work still had to be done, so he sat down again. However, at this time, there was suddenly a loud thud from the window behind him. He was so startled that he knocked all the documents on the table to the ground. Looking back, he saw that it was just a bird hitting the window.

"Damn it... You scared the hell out of me..."

Roderick let out a sigh of relief and bent down to pick up the documents on the ground. Nearly a dozen sheets of paper were scattered on the ground, and a few of them even slipped under the desks of other colleagues. So he had to kneel on the ground to get them.

One of the papers fell into the gap between the partition wall of him and another colleague. Just as his fingertips were about to touch the document, he actually saw this piece of paper slowly moving into the other side of the partition wall!

This... This was impossible. This piece of paper was firmly stuck in the gap. Even the wind couldn't blow it away... The only assumption was that there was someone on the other side of the partition wall, and he pulled the paper from the other side. But, but there should be only him in the office now! He had just confirmed it!

He was now separated from the person by just a wall, or rather, it wasn't even a proper wall. As long as he stood up, he could see if there was anyone on the other side. But he didn't dare... He didn't dare!

The tiredness that had been bothering him just now vanished without a trace at this moment. He couldn't help but regret asking Steve to buy coffee for him. At this time, he could only mechanically shout, "Is, is there anyone? Th, that's my work document. Please return it to me..."

This partition wall was only a little over one meter high, and its width was even less than one meter. Behind this wall, there was a person who shouldn't exist at all!

He hung his head and stared intently at the gap. Just then, bright red... Blood flowed out from that gap! There was no mistake. This was blood!

More and more blood flowed out from this small gap. Unable to stand it anymore, Roderick's face turned deathly pale and he staggered backward. However, he found that the blood seemed to be flowing along the path as he stepped back! Immediately, he noticed something even more terrifying...

On top of the blood, the figure of a woman was reflected! It was exactly the female ghost in the painting!

"Don't, don't come closer! No!"

As the sense of fear swelled, he had to run towards the door and then rushed into the elevator without any hesitation. He had to escape, he had to!

Just as the elevator door opened, Steve had just come back. He was holding a can of coffee in his hand and asked, "What's wrong with you? Roderick... Oh, why did you bump into me? Hey, wasn't it you who asked me to buy coffee?"

And in the elevator, there was also Zachary. When he saw Roderick's panicked expression like a frightened bird, he quickly grabbed him and shouted, "Hey, what on earth is going on? Roderick, what's wrong with you?"

"Zachary... We've stepped into a forbidden zone that we shouldn't have entered..."

He tightly grasped Zachary's shoulders and said, "That female ghost... She's out! From that painting! She's coming for us! What exactly are you hiding? Tell me! Don't tell me there's nothing!"

Zachary frowned, pulled him into the nearby toilet, closed the door, and said, "Tell me, what exactly happened? The female ghost? Are you talking about the female ghost in the painting that day?"

"Yes, tell me! Who on earth was that painter... And that painting, what on earth is going on?"

Zachary's hands began to shake at this moment. He thought for a while and said, "Listen... Don't tell Joey. You know, she's timid and can't stand being scared... I really didn't expect it to turn out like this. I really didn't expect it at all..."

Then, he began to tell him about Neil Lawson.

"That painter might have been killed by the ghosts he painted himself."

"Killed by the ghosts he painted?"

Orion James Miller asked the old fisherman in surprise.

"Well, it's unbelievable, right? I think so too. But everyone around here says so. Maybe you'll say it's just superstition, but Mr. Lawson's death was really strange. He died in his studio. When the police arrived before he died, they found that his studio was a perfect sealed - room. It sounds like a murder case in a detective novel, right? And at that time, the body was lying in front of an easel. But the strange thing was that before he died, he had a terrified expression on his face, staring at an unfinished painting in front of him. The police also found that almost all the paintings in his house were of ghosts, and they were extremely realistic and hideous."

Out of fear, Orion usually never read the social section of the newspaper because he was afraid of seeing terrifying and strange death events. Anyway, he knew for sure that people would die. But why didn't he have a premonition of Neil's death? If his death was really caused by the ghosts in the painting... Could it be because this was in the suburbs and was beyond the scope of his premonition? But if so, why could he sense other people?

In this way, perhaps there could be such an inference?

People with spiritual abilities higher than his own were beyond the scope of his premonition? Was that the case? Only a premonition - master like Jane's father could have a premonition of Mr. Lawson's death?

If the premonition ability was restricted in this regard, it was quite disadvantageous. People with a natural supernatural constitution would have a much easier chance of protecting others from being killed by ghosts within the death time limit than ordinary people. From this point of view, improving spiritual abilities was really important.

"Just as I said," Zachary analyzed for Roderick, "I'm afraid he destroyed his brushes and palettes when he was alive, worried that it would give the ghosts another chance to appear. The reason I didn't tell you before was that this was just a rumor, and its authenticity was very questionable. If I had told you, it might have increased your fear..."

Without saying a word, Roderick punched Zachary and then roared, "Are you out of your mind? This is a matter of life and death for us! Didn't we say before that we were just exploring supernatural phenomena while ensuring safety? We're not exorcists. We're going to lose our lives! What should we do? That female ghost has already set her eyes on us. Gary was the first, I'm the second. Who's next? You or Joey?"

Zachary took the punch and didn't get angry. He leaned on the sink and stood up, saying, "Speaking of Gary... He called me last night..."

"He called me too! So it means that he was also haunted by that female ghost, just like me? Then what should we do? By the way, I have an idea. We'll get a bucket of gasoline, go back to that house, and burn that painting! Then that female ghost won't be able to cause trouble anymore, right?"

Zachary nodded and said, "Well... Okay, let's do it this way. But don't burn it in the house. If a fire breaks out, it'll be a big problem. I suggest taking the painting out and burning it in a secluded place. Maybe that'll solve everything."

"You're going to burn the painting? Count me in!"

Since Roderick didn't have the guts to stay in this company anymore, he simply quit his job. When Zachary returned to the office, he didn't see the blood that Roderick had mentioned. After telling Gary about the plan, he immediately said that he wanted to participate too. Of course, what he meant was not to enter the house. He would wait for them outside and help burn the painting together.

"You'd better forget it," Zachary could see that he was very scared. He replied, "You can just stay here and cover for Roderick. Once the painting is burned, you won't be in danger anymore."

Thinking that he might be able to get rid of that female ghost, Gary was a lot more excited, but he was still filled with fear in his heart. So, he agreed to Zachary and stayed here waiting for their news. Anyway, he wouldn't go home until tomorrow morning, so there was really nothing to worry about tonight.

"And... Keep this a secret from Joey. She's a girl. If she knows, she'll probably be scared to death."

Gary could only nod, hoping that they could burn the painting successfully tonight.

"Still no clues?"

At this time, Orion and Jane were standing in front of Neil's house. Both of them had worried looks on their faces. It seemed that Gary was doomed to die. They didn't even know whether he lived in the suburbs or the city. It was simply impossible to find this person just by his name and appearance.

Orion said, "We have to give up on Gary. The only way is to, after his death, find his friends through the introduction of him in the newspaper."

"Friends?"

"Yes." Orion started to explain his inference, "Although the reason is unclear, there must have been more than one person coming to this house. Firstly, some people asked about this house. Secondly, there were more than one set of footprints left in the room. And those who came to this abandoned house together shouldn't be just passing strangers. After all, there were many supernatural legends about this house here. By then, we'll investigate the people around Gary. After having a premonition, and making comparisons, the second person will be easier to find... At least, the scope will be much smaller. There's no other way. Only through Gary's death can we find the remaining people."

"Is it really the only way?" Jane also seemed very reluctant, "I also used my computer to hack into the household registration systems of surrounding cities, but the database is too large, and there's no clear scope. It's really too difficult to find him."

Was there really... No way?

Just then, the two of them suddenly noticed two figures walking towards them on the dark path in the distance.

Gary, who was working overtime at the company late at night, couldn't work with peace of mind because he was worried about Zachary and the others. He didn't sleep well last night, and now the tiredness was creeping up on him again. But there was no way. In order to finish the work, he had to hold out his spirits, especially since he was also waiting for Zachary's news.

If they burned that painting, that ghost wouldn't come out anymore, right? But, was it too late? That ghost might follow him to the company... No, it definitely would. After all, what happened to Roderick was the best proof. There was no mistake. She would follow!

Fortunately, he wasn't the only one working overtime in the office. There were two or three other people also working late into the night. The lights were on in the room, so his sense of fear was a bit less.

After finishing the fifteenth email that needed to be sent out, he was almost falling asleep. He really couldn't hold it anymore and lay on the table for a while.

Just close his eyes and rest for a few minutes... It wouldn't matter, right?

He pinched the manuscript of the sixteenth email and laid his head heavily on the table.

He didn't know how long it had passed before he seemed to regain consciousness.

"Why did I fall asleep... Really... Why is it so dark around here..."

He raised his head and looked around. Sure enough, it was completely dark. But his intuition told him that he wasn't in the office. What was going on? He scratched his head and gradually woke up. He reached the light switch on the wall and turned it on.

What!

How was this possible... How could this be possible?

He was actually sleeping on his own bed!

"No, it's impossible!" He rolled off the bed and ran to the door. Just as he was about to open the door, his hand stopped.

He couldn't escape... No matter where he went, it was the same... This house had become a cage that locked him up!

After hesitating in place for about ten minutes, he finally looked through the peephole.

A pair of equally pale pupils were also looking back at him!