Chapter 4： The paper figure

Ana asked me to go to Niedam's house and have a look. I had no choice. After all, it was about the life of my loved ones, and I had to go and take a look if there was even the slightest clue.

It was still light out, and I still had some courage left, so I quickly drove to Niedam's house. Ana didn't even dare to follow.

It was still the same: the silent mansion and the conspicuous police tape. The mansion was surrounded by high walls, and the big iron gate was tightly shut.

There weren't any houses nearby, which was convenient for me. I hid my motorcycle in an alley nearby, then circled the high wall and found a tree next to it.

I immediately climbed into the tree and then rolled into the mansion. As soon as I set foot on the ground, I felt a cold breeze, but I was afraid it was just my imagination.

I swallowed hard and looked up to take in the mansion. It was a relatively luxurious courtyard that was already a bit dirty.

Looking further, I saw the house inside the compound. It was equivalent to a large villa, and must have been built by the Niedam family themselves, with a very personal style.

The door was also closed and there was a police cordon. Looking at the police cordon gave me a little courage. After all, it belonged to the police.

Taking a deep breath, I lifted my leg and crossed the police cordon, then pushed the door. The door was not locked, and it opened as soon as I pushed.

This took me a little by surprise, and I looked carefully and noticed that there was no dust on the door, which meant that it was obviously used frequently.

My heart gave a little jump, and I knew for sure that it had something to do with the Niedam family.

I suspected that it was the woman who was going in and out frequently.

I was very careful, plucked up my courage and walked in, keeping my eyes peeled for anything that might jump out at me.

Going in was the lobby, with chairs and tables all in good condition. It looked as if no one had lived there for a month or two.

I walked carefully, and grabbed a low stool just in case.

Past the lobby were some bedrooms. The villa was very dark, and I didn't dare turn on the lights, so at a glance all the bedrooms looked pitch black.

I didn't open the bedroom for the time being, but walked further along the aisle, gripping the stool tighter and tighter.

The villa was very large, with a second and third floor. After checking the hallway on the first floor, I didn't find any bedroom with a light on.

I didn't dare to check each room, for fear that someone was inside. I went up to the second floor, thinking to do a general inspection first.

As a result, as soon as I got to the second floor, my limbs went numb, and goosebumps rose in waves. This was because I suddenly became too scared. I saw four coffins placed in the center of the second floor hall.

Seeing coffins in a place like this is really scary. I wanted to turn around and run, but I couldn't break off the trail.

I steadied my hands and feet and surveyed the surroundings. The four coffins were surrounded by some burnt-out candles, seemingly in a regular pattern, but I had no heart to study the rhythm of the swaying.

I didn't go near to observe either, but first looked at the rooms on the second floor. This time I gritted my teeth and opened the room to look, but there was nothing there, it looked completely uninhabited.

I went up to the third floor again, and there was still nothing there.

I felt that there was no one in the villa, just four coffins. Then I made up my mind. If there was no one here, now was the perfect time to act.

I hurried over to the coffin. It was about 1.7 meters long. I recognized it as the one I had sold in the shop. The lid was closed, but not nailed shut.

To be honest, I was scared just by being close to it, my fingers were shaking. But I suppressed my fear and pushed the lid.

I pushed it open gently, inch by inch. I was sweating so much that my sweat dripped onto the coffin lid. Then I slammed the lid open, I didn't want to feel fear anymore.

When the lid was open, nothing happened. I looked inside and saw only a paper figure.

I froze for a moment, but whatever it was, it terrified me. The woman had put a paper figure in my mother's coffin!

And the paper figure's head was nailed to the bottom of the coffin with a nail.

I couldn't work out what it was for, but it certainly wasn't good. I immediately reached down to lift the other coffins, and as a result, I revealed another paper figure when I lifted it open.

I continued to lift open the coffins, and as expected, there was a paper figure in all of them.

The nail went all the way through the first paper figure, nailing the four paper figures in the four coffins!

I felt a chill and gritted my teeth as I pulled out the nail. It was ice-cold, like ice in winter.

I picked up the paper figures again and saw a handful of hair at the bottom of the coffin.

It must be the hair of my family of four, including my parents, sister and me.

The paper figures were nailed in the coffin, and the hair was placed next to the paper figures. It was a hair-raising sight.

I picked up all the paper figures and grabbed the hair and put it in my trouser pocket. I didn't throw away the nails either, I'm taking all of this back to Ana.

I felt like I might have ruined some kind of plot, and I didn't dare stay long, so I quickly walked downstairs with the four thick paper figures in my arms.

Everything was fine along the way, and I quickly exited the villa, and then immediately heard the sound of the iron gate in the yard being pushed open, someone was opening the gate!

I shivered and hurriedly ran towards the fence, only to realize that there were no trees inside the fence and I couldn't climb out.

In an instant, I was drenched to the skin. I was also quick-witted, and I suddenly dove into the flower bed, holding my breath.

It was already getting dark, and I hid in the flower bed, not daring to move.

But this was an opportunity. I knew that at least three people had harmed me: the woman, the man in black, and of course the oil bar.

If things were normal, I definitely wouldn't be hiding. I'd kill them. But things aren't normal, and it makes you feel as scared as if you were being haunted by a ghost. I dare not mess with them.

I hid and watched the iron gate of the courtyard. The iron gate was opened, and then a person wrapped in a black robe came in.

It was very hot now, but he was wrapped in a black robe, his head slightly bowed, and he came in and closed the iron gate again, then walked towards the villa.

I couldn't see his face, but I felt a strange chill in my heart. Could this person be a ghost?

I no longer had time to think. He had entered the villa, and this was my only chance to escape.

I immediately dug my way out of the flowerbed and walked quickly towards the iron gate. There was no movement in the villa, but I knew that the man in the black robe was probably already on the stairs.

My hands and feet were a little numb, and when I arrived at the iron gate, I couldn't hold back any longer, for fear that this chance to escape would be gone.

Holding the paper doll in one hand, I opened the iron gate with the other, and the gate inevitably made a harsh grinding sound. I knew it was going to be bad, so I no longer cared about anything and slammed the gate open and rushed out.

I knocked down the police tape, and I didn't dare to look back, only feeling a sinister gaze staring at me from behind.

I felt like I was going to pass out, so I ran to the nearby alley and found the motorcycle I had hidden earlier, started it and ran.

I let out a sigh of relief when I got far away. I was really scared to death.

It was dark and another day had passed. I only had two days left.

I had stolen the shroud, hair and nails. I hurried to find Ana.

Her shroud shop was still open. I shouted at her from outside while sweating. She hurriedly came out and took me to an alley nearby where no one was around.

I told her what happened at the villa, and she folded her arms. "Four paper figures? This is definitely not simple. And that black-robed man, did you see what he looked like?"

I said that I was so scared that I didn't dare to look. Ana frowned and looked at the paper figures and hair again.

I showed her the nail as well, and she couldn't help but feel a chill when she touched it: "This is a grave nail, I just polished off the rust."

I said, "What's a tomb nail?" She returned the nail to me, as if she didn't want to touch it: "It's a nail used to nail coffins shut in a grave. It's very dirty."

She definitely didn't mean it in a literal sense when she said it was dirty. I wanted to throw it away too, but Ana told me to keep it, just in case I needed it in the future.

I said, 'So what should I do now? Should I call the police and have the man in black arrested?"

Ana smiled wryly, 'What's the point of calling the police? Who would believe you? You go ahead and burn the paper effigy and the hair, and I'll think about it."

I said, "Sure, I'll trouble you." She shook her head, her face grave.

At this point, I had already entrusted my life to Ana, and I trusted her too. We exchanged numbers, and then I drove back to the hospital.

On the way, I found a remote place and burned the paper figure and the hair. I kept an eye on it burning, and I wasn't relieved until there was nothing left.

I dug a small pit again and buried the ashes before going to the hospital.

My parents and sister were still unconscious. I asked the little nurse if she had noticed anything unusual today, and they all said no.

I was relieved and tried to call the oil bar again. I didn't think the oil bar would harm me. I was calmer now and could think of other things. If I could find the oil bar, it would definitely help me.

Unfortunately, his phone was turned off and I still couldn't get in touch with him.

I was also extremely tired and went to rest directly in the hospital. Later, I think it was early in the morning, I was awakened by the sound of my phone.

When I answered, it was Ana calling.

I answered quickly, and Ana was on the other end, still in a state of shock, saying, "Ryon...I've been targeted too. Come quickly, I can save you."