Sopla un viento helado, un aura fantasmal lo impregna todo, florecen lirios araña en el inframundo y uno se sienta solo

Capítulo 16

Song Xiaomo hesitated for a long time before finally mustering the courage to get on the bus. At that moment, a cold, lingering smell remained in the carriage, as if the corpse had been left there.

The three of them remained silent throughout the journey.

Song Xiaomo closed his eyes, inexplicably thinking of He Zhiying. Although she hadn't confessed anything to him, he could tell from her eyes that she had feelings for him. Similarly, he thought she was a nice girl. Things could have continued naturally, but since Song Yun'er appeared, the peace was shattered. Undeniably, Song Yun'er was a unique girl; she possessed something that made hearts flutter and people fascinate. However, he knew almost nothing about Song Yun'er, especially her eyes, which always held a chilling, mysterious aura. Besides that, there was that strange box. Guided by that box, he went to Huiwen Street and met Xiuzi. Xiuzi's antique shop brought even more unknown mysteries. Were they connected? Why did he encounter all these strange things? Now, Tongtong said she saw her dead mother. Could it be that ghosts really exist?

Chapter 75: The Ghost Doll Returns (75)

Song Xiaomo's thoughts grew increasingly chaotic, fragments of glittering ideas swirling in his mind. Just as he felt himself sinking into an abyss, Tongtong screamed, "Auntie! Stop the car! Mommy's climbed onto the window! Stop the car!"

Hideko yelled "Ah!" and slammed on the brakes.

There was nothing on the window.

Due to the powerful inertia, Song Xiaomo was almost thrown out of the car window, but luckily he was wearing a seatbelt. He quickly covered his nose, his throat felt salty, as if he had choked on something.

"Mommy's gone!" Tongtong's crying came again.

Song Xiaomo looked up. Instantly, he saw that Tongtong's face had turned pale, leaving only two round eyes visible. He looked exactly like that terrifying ghost doll!

"Tongtong, look what you've done! You've scattered all the ashes!" Xiuzi roared with a stern face.

Upon hearing this, Song Xiaomo suddenly realized: the white stuff on Tongtong's face was his mother's ashes. What had just gotten into his nose and mouth was also ashes!

He quickly opened the car window and vomited violently. The vomit rushed into his trachea, almost choking him.

"Are you alright?" Hideko noticed his unusual behavior and asked.

"No...it's nothing. I just felt a little nauseous, but I feel better now," he said, wiping his mouth after vomiting.

"That's good. I think you were just too nervous."

"Maybe!" Song Xiaomo calmed herself down and closed the car window again. Some white dust was drifting around in the sunlight streaming in from outside, nowhere to hide.

The truck started up again. It circled the mountain road a few times before slowly leaving the lifeless place.

(twenty two)

"Another one died."

An Qiqi looked at the photos in her hand and shook her head. These photos were taken at the crime scene, recording the circumstances of the victims' deaths from different angles. The only thing they had in common was that none of the people in the photos had heads. In the dim light, the photos had an unreal quality. The bloody hole in the neck resembled a sinister, gaping mouth, twitching open and closed.

"Do you think this was an accident caused by drunk driving?" Xiao Nan asked.

An Qiqi didn't answer, but instead asked, "Didn't you notice that these two 'headless corpse cases' have certain similarities?"

“Yes, both victims were staff members of HY University. One was Shen Meixuan’s dormitory manager, and the other was her oil painting teacher. Both of them had some connection with Shen Meixuan, which matches up…” Xiao Nan thought for a moment and blurted out, “Could this really be a serial murder case?”

"The deceased, Choi Jin-yang, was 34 years old, single, and a university teacher... The forensic doctor has examined him and found that he had been drinking before the accident, clearly indicating that he was driving under the influence. According to the traffic police investigation, around 8 p.m., the deceased was driving a BMW K1200R motorcycle at high speed on the XX Interchange in Seoul. Because he was going too fast, he failed to see a small truck carrying steel plates in front of him, and as a result, his head was directly severed by the steel plates on the truck, causing him to die on the spot..." An Qiqi recounted the general course of events of the case.

Chapter 76: The Ghost Doll Returns (76)

"You just asked that truck driver, what did he say?"

"He claimed that he would deliver steel plates every two days around this time, very regularly, and he didn't expect something like this to happen last night. Actually, the motorcyclist was speeding, and he became a murderer unintentionally."

Did he lie?

"Probably not. I've investigated this person. He's been driving for over ten years, is very careful, and has never been involved in any major traffic accidents. He reported the incident to the police immediately after it happened. He had never seen the deceased before."

"Has the victim's head still not been found?"

An Qiqi sighed and said, "They didn't find it. The police searched the entire overpass from top to bottom, including the sewers and trash cans, but they still found nothing. If it didn't fly away with wings, then someone picked it up."

"If it was picked up by someone, there should be eyewitnesses!"

“You know, the scene must have been chaotic after the incident. The killer could have easily taken the head without anyone noticing. Besides, the motorcycle had traveled a long distance without a driver before collapsing under a lamppost. At that time, most people’s attention was focused on the headless body, and no one would have paid attention to the head that had rolled off.”

Xiao Nan nodded and smiled, "Is it possible that after the head was cut off by the steel plate, it fell from the overpass, rolled onto another car driving under the bridge, and was then driven away?"

"Hehe, I have no idea. Maybe it's just that dramatic." The two looked at each other and laughed.

"However, your analysis makes sense; this case does indeed resemble a murder."

"Hmm. If so, it was a premeditated murder! The killer must have known the time the truck was delivering goods and the time Choi Jin-yang was returning home, and then orchestrated this perfect murder without anyone noticing! On one hand, he wanted to create a false impression for the police investigation; on the other hand, perhaps he wanted to show off his intelligence. I asked some professors at HY University, and they said that Choi Jin-yang usually returns home around this time as well. This is definitely not a coincidence."

"In that case, the murderer must be very cunning... I still have a question: how did he manage to commit this murder? Generally, murderers would tamper with the motorcycle, but this time, there was no problem with the motorcycle."

An Qiqi paused for a moment and said, "I estimate that the deceased was not under his own control at the time."

"Why? How did you deduce that?" Xiao Nan asked in surprise.

"Of course, the deceased was in good health and did not suffer from neurasthenia, mental disorders, or other illnesses, so it was impossible for him to be affected by these conditions... It is worth noting that at the scene, I found the deceased's 'LG' mobile phone. The data on it showed that the deceased received a call from a stranger a dozen seconds before the incident. The phone number was a new number without an ID registration and has now been deactivated. Therefore, I speculate that that call must have caused the deceased some great shock, making his consciousness completely out of control. By the time he realized there was a steel plate in front of him, it was too late. The murderer must have been lurking in some corner, watching everything, and then committed the murder at the opportune moment! In both cases, the murderer chose a rainy eve in one case and a suitable time in the other. This has greatly increased the difficulty of our investigation!"

Chapter 77: The Ghost Doll Returns (77)

"I understand!" Xiao Nan looked at him admiringly and said, "Qi Qi, you're becoming more and more like a detective."

"Alright, stop flattering me." An Qiqi said, a little embarrassed.

"What was the killer's purpose in wanting those two heads?"

"It's hard to understand. The first time, the killer dragged the victim to the school's back garden, and this time he helped us quickly identify the victim. He clearly didn't want to hide anything. On the contrary, he might be hinting at something to us..."

"By the way, Qiqi, I have some questions. Are you sure this murderer is the same person as last time? I'm worried that someone is using the 'headless female corpse case' from last time to do something that benefits themselves."

"It's hard to say. Anything can happen during an investigation. Take the Cleveland 'headless' murders of 1933-1937, for example. The killer was a very strong man who would kill two people at a time, chop up their bodies, mix them together, and then remove their heads. But these same murders suddenly stopped in 1937, disappearing forever, leaving behind only endless speculation. Experts can only speculate that the killer might have lived in a house in a quiet neighborhood, he certainly owned a car, but most likely had no wife or children. Or perhaps he was gay..."

Just then, Team Leader Jin walked in with a solemn expression. After glancing around, he said to An Qiqi and Xiao Nan, "The newspaper reporters and TV reporters just came to interview us again, asking about the progress of the case. The higher-ups are also paying close attention to it. Many people are watching us. You need to solve the case as soon as possible!"

“Then let’s do our best!” An Qiqi replied.

"It's not just about trying our best, it's about absolutely having to!"

"But we haven't found those two heads yet, so we're at a disadvantage!" Xiao Nan said with a mournful face.

"We have to keep looking, even if we can't find it! The case can't just sit there. The whole city is waiting for the case to be solved, everyone is anxious. Both cases are related to HY University, and the school leaders have put a lot of pressure on me... I know it's difficult for you, but what can we do? We're the police! This is our duty!" Team Leader Jin put on a stern face.

Seeing that Team Leader Jin was a little angry, An Qiqi immediately said firmly, "I promise, I will definitely not let you down, Team Leader."

"Is that so?" Team Leader Jin gave him a cold look and reprimanded him, "Last time I asked you and Xiao Nan to investigate the box in that boys' dormitory, and you didn't find anything. The dormitory manager just reported to me that the Chinese guy didn't come back last night. Don't you want to know what he did all night?"

"Could it be... that we all overlooked this Chinese man at the beginning? Is he really a murder suspect? Or an important eyewitness?" Xiao Nan looked at An Qiqi.

An Qiqi felt somewhat embarrassed and lowered her head, not daring to look into Team Leader Jin's eyes.

“At the very least, he’s connected to both of those deaths!” Xiao Nan added.

"Alright, you can reflect on yourselves now. Remember your promises." Team Leader Jin glared at them, then pushed open the door and walked out of the room.

Chapter 78: The Ghost Doll Returns (78)

"What do you think now?" Xiao Nan asked.

“I still feel the case can’t be that simple. That Chinese guy has only been in Korea for a few days; it’s impossible for him to have made enemies with so many people and then kill two people in a row, unless… unless he was being manipulated, or he’s a psychopath. And that oil painting teacher is a really nice guy; he gets along well with his colleagues, never gossips, and is quite popular with his students. It’s unlikely he would have incurred anyone’s wrath. So, what was the killer’s motive? What kind of terrifying truth is hidden behind these two murders?” An Qiqi said, frowning. These perplexing questions lingered in his mind.

"Forget it, let's go to HY University again!"

"Let's go!" An Qiqi took a step forward. At that moment, he suddenly sensed a vast, lurking darkness, as if a pair of mysterious eyes were watching him from the shadows...

Chapter 79: The Ghost Doll Returns (79)

(twenty three)

When Song Xiaomo returned to school, it was already noon.

As soon as he stepped into the dormitory building, he noticed that the thin old man who was in charge of the building was staring at him with a strange look, which made him feel very uncomfortable.

In the corridor, groups of two or three students were heading to the cafeteria for lunch. He touched his throat and felt that the powdery substance was still stuck there. So he ran to the trash can in the corridor and vomited, completely losing his appetite.

The room was bathed in dim light.

Song Xiaomo drew back the curtains, staring blankly across the street, taking a long time to clear his head. Everything that had happened last night was still fresh in his memory. Despite the torment of the entire night, he still couldn't fall asleep.

There were several caller IDs on his phone. One number was from his professor, and the others were from He Zhiying. He guessed that his professor was calling to scold him for not attending classes these past few days. As for He Zhiying, she was probably asking why he hadn't come home all night. For the past two weeks in Korea, he had been too lazy to buy a new phone, which seemed to have helped him avoid some harassment. He smiled and was surprised to find a voicemail message from He Zhiying on his phone, dated midnight last night.

He casually opened the voicemail and immediately heard He Zhiying's eerie voice: "Xiao Mo, I saw a ghost..."

"No way I'd believe you!" Song Xiaomo couldn't help but laugh out loud, thinking to herself, "This little girl is playing another prank on me!"

The tape was still spinning, but nothing could be heard anymore.

He hesitated for a moment, then dialed He Zhiying's cell phone. The phone rang a few times, then indicated it was switched off. Next, he dialed her dormitory number, but the call went unanswered.

Immediately, Song Xiaomo sensed something was wrong, because He Zhiying's phone was always on, so why was it suddenly off in broad daylight? Had something bad happened to her?

He tried calling several more times, but He Zhiying's phone remained unreachable.

Where is she?

Suddenly, he remembered the voice message from earlier, so he rewound the tape and listened to it again from beginning to end.

"Xiao Mo, I saw a ghost..." The tape played back this incantation-like voice, followed by rapid breathing. The breathing became more and more rapid, as if it were running forward desperately, as if it were afraid of something chasing it from behind. But in a moment, it was like an overinflated balloon, ready to burst at any moment.

The sound stopped abruptly.

Finally, he recognized the voice: it was He Zhiying's distress signal! It was a desperate cry from the depths of her heart! She must have encountered some danger at that moment, and after saying those words, she couldn't speak anymore. Could it be that she really saw…?

"No, it can't be!" Song Xiaomo whispered hoarsely to himself, but he couldn't stop his body from trembling. No matter what, he still didn't want to believe in ghosts. But now, why did he feel a deep-seated fear after hearing He Zhiying's words? Although he hadn't seen anything with his own eyes, through this phone message, he could completely imagine He Zhiying trembling, completely sense her tension and fear at that moment. Perhaps she was trembling, perhaps she was convulsing…

Chapter 80: The Ghost Doll Returns (80)

"Don't worry, I have to stay calm, I have to stay calm. Maybe she'll contact me soon. Everything will be alright, everything will be alright..." He paced back and forth in the room, constantly reassuring himself.

A chilly breeze wafted in from outside the window.

Song Xiaomo's mind was racing with a series of strange events that had occurred since that rainy night—the mysteriously appearing ghost doll, the mourning hall in the girls' dormitory, the strange box, the headless female administrator, the female corpse in the antique shop, the red high heels under the overpass, the terrifying encounter in the cemetery, Tongtong's mother in his eyes... His consciousness was hazy, and the vivid images from the past few days were like a nightmare from which he could not wake up.

No, it really was a nightmare. He had a premonition that these events were just part of a nightmare.

Just then, there was a knocking sound at the door.

"Who?" Song Xiaomo asked.

There was no response from outside the door.

A strange tension gripped him; he wondered what was standing outside. Recent events had made him increasingly hesitant and timid, almost like a frightened bird. But what could it be at midday? There should be students walking around in the corridor. With that thought, he slowly opened the door a crack, his heart leaping in his throat…

Just through the gap, a pair of eyes filled with bloodshot veins and sticky substance were exposed!

—Those are Lee Jung-jin's eyes!

Song Xiaomo staggered back a few steps, almost fainting from fright.

"Did I scare you?" Lee Jung-jin asked.

"No...no..." Song Xiaomo sighed, holding the door open, and said, "Please come in!"

"No need! I came to give you something." With that, Li Zhengzhen took out a lunchbox-shaped object from behind his back and handed it to him.