Himmlisches Buch Die große Leere

Kapitel 6

I sat down, lit a cigarette, and said, "I've recently heard a rumor about a 'campus ghost.'"

"What do you mean? Ghost stories like this are everywhere on campus. What, are you interested?"

"Yes, I think this might be a good writing topic." I didn't want her to know my purpose.

"Hehe, is the great writer brewing up another novel?"

"It's like this, I heard it happened on our campus two years ago. Could you help me inquire with the dance team about it?"

"Of course, that's no problem, but there's no need to make it so mysterious, and keep it a secret."

"Of course it has to be kept secret, otherwise no one will read it if it's written down, right?" I gave myself a very satisfactory excuse.

"Oh, I see. Okay, no problem. I'll let you know when I hear anything. You'd better hurry up and write your application report; it'd be best to submit it this afternoon."

"Don't worry, I'll write it now."

PART 2.

Hu Xiaoli was very efficient. When I gave her the application report in the afternoon, she had already found someone and arranged to meet at the Student Union office at 8 pm. With three hours to go, I ate something and strolled around the campus.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, I found myself back at the wall behind the clock tower. Looking at the large black iron gate wedged between the walls, I felt an irresistible urge to pry it open. I carefully observed the height of the wall; climbing over wouldn't be too difficult, and the large padlock on the gate would be perfect for a foothold.

As I stared absently at the iron gate, a shadow stretched long by the setting sun appeared beside me. I turned around and saw Meng Na.

She was still as captivating as when I first met her, and she was gazing at me.

"It's...it's you." I spoke a little awkwardly. I longed to see her, but I was also so nervous when I saw her.

Mengna looked at me and suddenly asked, "Do you really want to go in?"

I was stunned; I hadn't expected her to ask such a question. I wanted to lie, but looking into her eyes, I couldn't. "Yes...yes," I said, turning around and letting out a long sigh as I gazed at the blue sky.

Mengna walked over to me, looked up at the sky, and said, "Thank you for lending me your umbrella that rainy night. I'm very grateful. So, I beg you not to go in there, because I don't want you to get hurt." Then she turned back to look at me.

A warm feeling welled up inside me, followed by a strange unease. I asked, "Why won't you let me in? Why is it dangerous to go in? Do you know everything that happened here?"

Mengna sighed, "I don't know. Every time I approach this place, I have a strange feeling. Maybe it's because of my sister... my sister disappeared forever within these walls."

I don't know what else to say. I've touched on her painful memories. What can I do but remain silent?

The Fourth Campus: A Terrifying Experience in the Corridor (2)

The setting sun was warm and gentle, and its golden afterglow bathed us, making Meng Na even more beautiful and charming.

Azure sky, golden sunset, ancient buildings, falling leaves, beautiful people—it was such a beautiful scene, but there was a terrifying wall and a gloomy iron gate in the middle, its black paint reflecting an evil light in the sunset.

"Can you walk with me for a bit?" Mengna broke the silence.

"Of course, if you like." I smiled.

So we walked forward along the row of sycamore trees opposite the wall.

"I love sunsets," Mengna smiled sweetly. "I long to go to the countryside, stroll in the sunset, look at the distant mountains, listen to the babbling brook, and forget all my troubles."

"I also love sunsets. If you don't mind, I'd like to go with you to the countryside to watch the sunset sometime."

"Okay," Mengna seemed very happy, "but I don't know if there will be another chance."

Why do you say that?

Mengna looked at me, seemingly understanding what I meant. She smiled sadly and said, "Perhaps this is just a girl's intuition."

Intuition. This is a word a woman often uses when she's reluctant to talk to you about her feelings. Intuition, perhaps as often depicted in novels and movies, is a woman's latent instinct.

As Mengna walked, she said, "This black iron gate always gives me a strange feeling, an inescapable magic. Perhaps what lies beyond is a terrible hell; I've heard that besides my sister, many others have disappeared there. Every time I pass by it, I feel like it's calling me."

I sighed deeply. "You're too concerned about your sister's disappearance; it's just your imagination. Cheer up, look how beautiful the sunset is tonight."

Mengna smiled, turned around, looked at the high wall and the large black iron gate in the distance, and shook her head. "Perhaps we shouldn't dwell on the past." She glanced at her watch and said to me, "I should go back now; we have class tonight. Can you promise me something?"

"Of course, what is it?"

"Don't tell anyone about our conversation today. I only trust you."

"Okay." I agreed readily, but I also felt a bit uneasy.

PART 3.

Meng Na is gone.

I'm increasingly convinced this isn't simple. Maeda Reiko has been investigating, the Summoning Society has been investigating, and a mysterious figure seems to be constantly obstructing the investigation. Now, Meng Na is investigating too. How much does she know? I'm starting to regret not asking her earlier. Oh well, I should go check on Hu Xiaoli's side first.

It's 7:30 PM now, half an hour to go. I arrived at the Student Union office ahead of time. After experiencing so much lately, I've slowly learned to wait.

At 8:15, Hu Xiaoli and another girl pushed open the door and came in.

"This is Ling Min, a 1995 graduate majoring in orthopedics," Hu Xiaoli introduced. "This is Lin Yuan, the newly appointed head of the student association department."

Lingmin had long, flowing hair and wore a pure white dress. She looked very pretty, but her face was very pale. I had a strange feeling about her that I couldn't quite explain.

After a brief greeting, I got to the point: "I'd like to inquire about some things that happened on campus in the past."

"Hmm, is it about the people who died in that grove of trees two years ago?" Lingmin seemed to have already talked about it with Hu Xiaoli.

"Yes. I want to know the whole story."

Lingmin seemed lost in thought, her expression becoming tense. "Actually, I really don't want to recall that scene. I never want to see it again."

"What kind of scene was it? Was it terrifying?"

"Nobody would believe such a thing could happen."

I handed Lingmin a glass of water. "No rush, take your time."

Lingmin didn't drink a drop, put down her cup, and continued the previous topic, "That night, after finishing my evening self-study, I suddenly remembered that I had left my lab report in the lab, so I went back to get it. Because it started to drizzle, I went through that grove of trees; it was a shortcut. When I got my report back and was returning through that grove, I inadvertently witnessed a very terrifying scene." Lingmin looked up and gazed out the window, "The grove was very dark, and the cobblestone path was very slippery. Although I was soaked to the bone, I didn't run. I carefully stepped on the cobblestones as I walked back. When I reached the middle of the grove, suddenly a scream came from deep within the woods—it was a woman's scream! It was a terrible, terrifying scream! Not long ago, a Japanese student died in the grove, and there were rumors that a girl had mysteriously disappeared here..."

Just then, the office lights went out.

A scream came from Hu Xiaoli. Then I heard her sensitive, trembling voice repeatedly say, "She's here...she's here..." The fear in her words reminded me of Maeda Reiko in the reading room...yes, that time, the lights went out when we were talking about something important.

The name Nami Ikeda flashed through my mind instantly.

"Who is she? Is she a woman?" I asked excitedly.

Lingmin didn't answer; she seemed to be incoherent with fright, repeatedly saying, "She's here, she's here again..."

"Lin Yuan!" Hu Xiaoli called out in a panic.

"You stay here and watch over her until I get back!" I ordered Hu Xiaoli, then opened the door and rushed out.

With a bang, a door separated us. The corridor was pitch black, and the entire office building was eerily silent. My heart was pounding. Although we were only separated by a wall, I felt like we were in two different worlds. After a few seconds of deathly silence, I could vaguely make out my surroundings—a long corridor, doors, and a dark, narrow space that seemed to swallow everything whole.

"She's here, she's here again..." The keen voice kept echoing in my ears.

"Who is she? Could she be the ghost of Nami Ikeda, the figure I saw in Reiko Maeda's eyes?" My heart clenched, and a chill ran down my spine to the back of my head. Intense fear made me instinctively want to go back to my office, but my intense curiosity and the urgent desire to unravel the mystery drove me toward the stairwell.

The Fourth Campus: A Terrifying Experience in the Corridor (3)

There was a staircase on each side of the corridor. The window at the entrance to the right staircase reflected a faint light from afar, while the left staircase was windowless and pitch black. Just as I was pondering which way to go, a shadow flashed past the entrance to the right staircase.

"Pat-pat, pat..." My footsteps echoed in the corridor. My legs were no longer obeying my commands. I wanted to chase after them, but I just couldn't run. I touched the wall, peeked out, and walked step by step toward the stairwell on the right.

The walk from the office to the corner of the stairwell, which should have taken only ten seconds, took me a full two minutes. I leaned against the wall, hesitant to peek out. Looking back down the corridor, I considered giving up again. Only then did I feel the fear of loneliness. Although Lingmin and Hu Xiaoli were just two girls—perhaps they were more afraid than I was—I desperately wanted to be back with them, not because I was worried about them, but because I was afraid.

Sweat soaked my clothes, and I had lost the courage to even move my feet. I leaned against the corner of the wall, panting heavily.

I looked back towards where I had come from, and the door to the Youth League Committee office was already hidden in darkness. Just then, a scream came from there, followed by a "bang" as the door slammed shut, and then silence returned.

"Something must have happened," I thought. I had to rush back to see what had happened, but my legs wouldn't move. I felt desperate. I wanted to scream, but nothing came out. Tears started to stream down my face—tears of fear. Finally, I couldn't hold on any longer, and my whole body slowly slid down the wall, landing on the cold cement floor.

I closed my eyes and began to wait quietly. At that moment, a low murmur came from the stairs, a woman's murmur.

The sound was so piercing, like the vengeful ghost of someone who had died unjustly, that my body trembled with it. The sound drew closer, and at the same time, a long shadow appeared obliquely at the corner of the wall in the dim light, approaching the corridor. I watched the slowly moving shadow, and slowly supported myself with my hands as I backed away.

"I saw myself in the moonlight, and I ended my short life..." the voice sang.

I looked up and saw a tuft of long hair slowly peeking out from the corner of the wall. I kicked my leg hard, and somehow the strength made me get up and run for my life towards the Youth League Committee office.

In the darkness, I felt her chasing me. I didn't dare to turn around. I fell twice, and each time I felt a hand pulling my feet from behind.

As I stumbled and crawled, I reached the office door, twisted the doorknob with all my might, went inside, and then turned around and closed the door.

I leaned against the door, gasping for breath. Once I calmed down, I pressed my ear against the door to listen for any sounds outside. Everything was silent now. I let out a long sigh. In those few short minutes, it felt as if I had experienced a brush with death. At that moment, I thought of Hu Xiaoli and Lingmin.

"Hu Xiaoli." I called her name, but no one answered.

"Hu Xiaoli!" Still no answer. An ominous premonition enveloped my heart.

I slowly walked towards where she had been sitting. After taking a few steps, I suddenly felt myself trip over something. I looked down and saw someone lying on the ground. I helped her up and saw that it was Hu Xiaoli.

"Hu Xiaoli, Hu Xiaoli!" I shook her body violently, shouting her name, but she didn't answer. Just then, a chilling laugh came from a corner of the room—"Hahaha, she's here...she's here...don't kill me, don't kill me...hahaha, she's here...she's here again..."

I got goosebumps all over. "What happened? Lingmin!" I put Hu Xiaoli down and ran towards the source of the laughter.

"Don't come any closer, don't come any closer, don't kill me!" Lingmin screamed hoarsely.

"It's me! It's Lin Yuan! Calm down, what just happened?" I tried to calm myself down, but she lunged at me like a madwoman.

A flash of cold light, and a sharp pain shot through my arm. A pair of scissors were stuck in my arm. Lingmin, with her long hair flowing down her back, stood in front of me, staring straight at me.

We stared at each other for half a minute. Suddenly, she pulled the scissors out of my arm and stabbed at me. I instinctively pushed her away. She fell down, her head hitting the table hard, and then she stopped moving.

I was at a loss, and fear made me not dare to linger for another moment. Without hesitation, I turned around and ran outside.

Part Two of the Fourth Campus

The Woman in White (1) of "The Fourth Campus"

PART 1.

I ran down the stairs as fast as I could and rushed towards the most crowded place on campus.

The lotus pond on campus is usually the most crowded spot. It's not only a great place to cool off in the summer, but also a perfect choice for couples to express their love.

My arrival shattered the tranquility here. I leaned against the grape trellis, panting heavily, still shaken. People around me cast strange glances my way, and then, a girl in the crowd screamed:

"Blood--!"

I looked down and saw that my shirt was already stained red with blood, which was dripping down my arm onto the ground.

A sharp pain shot through me, I felt dizzy, everything in front of me was spinning, and then I collapsed.

I saw a crowd gather around, but I couldn't hear what they were saying. The streetlamp by the grape trellis slowly turned into a circle of light. My body began to feel cold, but my heart gradually calmed down. Everything around me started to darken, and I closed my eyes.

PART 2.

When I woke up, I was already lying in a hospital bed.