Atavismo

Capítulo 31

...

The large iron gate of the funeral home remained open, just as it had been when they left, as if welcoming them back with outstretched arms.

The funeral home was eerily quiet. Apart from a few nests of crows, even ordinary birds would not choose to make their home here. The hoarse cries of the crows added to the eerie atmosphere, making this place, which everyone except the Gu Feng family avoided, feel uneasy even when standing at the door.

Ah Mao stood at the door, craning her neck to look inside, pondering whether to go in or leave. Besides, she wasn't even sure if Gu Feng and the other two had returned. They were so fast; she had only been a minute late in chasing after them, and they were already out of sight.

The sun shouldn't be this cold and gloomy in early October! Ah Mao looked at the deep green vines, the slightly weathered walls, and the ancient-style buildings around her, and wondered to herself.

I used to dislike walking in this passageway when I was with Gu Feng, but now I'm brave enough to come in alone. It seems my courage has increased quite a bit, hehe. I should have brought Xiao Bing along too; it would be easier to share the burden if something happened.

With a creak, Ah Mao's big head appeared behind the office building's main door.

"Brother Feng, are you inside?"

There were echoes, wave after wave, the tone growing colder and colder, even Ah Mao couldn't believe it was his own voice... He listened tremblingly to the echoes of "himself" until they disappeared.

He shouldn't be inside. Thinking this, he ran away without hesitation.

Dear brave readers, if you were to wander alone through this vast and gloomy funeral home searching for two people who are not even sure if they are inside, how would you feel?

Nothing is scary, what's scary is the silence, the complete silence. The funeral home is far from the hustle and bustle, and now, damn it, even the crows have stopped cawing. Apart from the sound of his own footsteps, there is nothing. Ah Mao was so frightened by this silence that he wondered if there was something wrong with his hearing.

Walking past building after building, Ah Mao finally found himself in the place he least wanted to be. Ah Mao looked at the building in front of him, which was painted white but looked somewhat dark to him.

The morgue.

It takes a lot of courage to open the door. Ah Mao adjusted her breathing and tried to calm herself down.

There's nothing to be afraid of, nothing to be afraid of, just a bunch of beds and dead people.

Even so, because the space was so quiet, he could hear his own heart pounding.

Whatever, I'm going all out!

Ah Mao flung open the large sliding iron door with a "whoosh".

"Huh?" His behavior and surprised voice made it seem as if there was a big question mark above his head.

? ? ? ? ?

Where is the body?

Why is the morgue empty?

funeral parlor

Gu Yuehan, May 28th, 8:44

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Volume 2, Chapter 46: Who to Believe

Ah Mao rubbed his eyes, clearly still not quite believing what he was seeing. How could this be? He had seen them put it on that iron bed with the white sheet yesterday, so why had it disappeared?

He felt a chill run down his back. If... it wasn't moved intentionally, then... the only possibility was...

Although he's not usually very brave, he's still watched a few horror movies, and a term that often appears in those movies keeps echoing in Ah Mao's head.

A zombie has risen from the dead!!!

Could it be... that my uncle and aunt have come back to life?

Ah Mao shook his head. How could that be? Although they worked in a cold and gloomy place like a funeral home, they were usually kind and well-liked. Wasn't it only those with grudges who would rise from the dead? How could they…

"Ah! Ah Mao?" Gu Feng and Shi Xin's surprised cries were enough to wake the sleeping crow chicks: "You... how are you still alive?"

When Ah Mao suddenly heard Gu Feng's voice, his tense heart seemed to be released from a great height, but after hearing his question, his heart immediately jumped up again: "Why do you say that?"

Gu Feng looked at him with eyes full of doubt and confusion. Just then, they discovered something that would leave them both speechless...

Gu Feng, A Mao, Shi Xin, and Shan Na were all stunned...

***************

Although Zhao Zhong had confirmed it, Gu Feng still didn't believe it. How could his closest parents just disappear like that? It was utterly unbelievable. Shi Xin, who came up later, shared the same view.

Arriving at the entrance of the funeral home, Gu Feng hesitated. What would it mean if they weren't inside this time? Was he prepared enough to face the fact that things had "completely gone off track"?

Shi Xin stood quietly beside him, looking at him with a trusting gaze. She believed in Gu Feng and, without knowing when it started, developed a strange dependence on him, as if everything would pass if Gu Feng was there, including now!

Gu Feng took a deep breath, frowned, and took his first step inside. Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside: "Xiao Feng, where have you been? It's very dangerous outside."

Gu Feng's eyes widened in surprise. Was he feeling joy? Sorrow? Or perhaps astonishment?

what is going on?

Did they conspire to deceive me?

Shixin exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle...you're still..." Before she could finish the word "alive," she realized she was about to say something wrong and abruptly stopped herself from speaking.

"What? You've been gone for a short while and it's like we haven't seen each other for centuries? There's no need for that expression, is there? Xiao Feng, don't I even recognize your father?"

Gu Feng exclaimed, "No...no...Ah Mao and the others said..."

Gu Zhengtian suddenly sighed and said meaningfully, "Hey, you should try to take it easy."

Gu Feng was completely bewildered: "Take it easy?"

Gu Zhengtian was startled and said, "You still don't know?"

"What do I know?"

Gu Zhengtian stroked his chin, staring at his son with a puzzled expression.

That's definitely Dad. When there's doubt, that's his signature move, and no one else can imitate it.

"Xiao Feng, I have something to tell you, but don't get too excited."

After confirming that he was his father, Gu Feng said frankly, "Just tell me what it is."

“When we came back from the provincial hospital last time, we heard that…something strange happened in our city. Half the people died overnight, including…your friends.”

"You mean... Ah Mao and the others?" Gu Feng asked, almost like an idiot.

Gu Zhengtian nodded solemnly: "The entire southern suburbs are dead, and the cause still cannot be found."

Gu Feng shook his head in disbelief: "Then... what about Director Zhao of the Cultural Bureau?"

Gu Zhengtian sighed, "Oh, don't even mention it. An old friend of decades, just like that... I heard he died at his desk. 'Devoted to his duty' couldn't be more fitting for him. Sigh."

Unbelievable, unbelievable!

Gu Feng and Shi Xin were both speechless. How could this be? It was too unbelievable!

However… a term simultaneously popped into their minds… “Ghostly Calamity”!

The terrifying experience at the dojo that day was still fresh in my mind. If half the city had really suffered the same thing, then the unbelievable thing Gu Zhengtian said might not be untrue.

But... Ah Mao said that Gu Zhengtian and Zhao Ningbi died of suffocation for no reason, while Gu Zhengtian said that Ah Mao and the others, along with half the people in the city, died for no reason. So... who should we believe?

Shi Xin probably shared the same question as Gu Feng. They stood side by side, staring at Gu Zhengtian as if trying to see through his body.

Gu Zhengtian asked in a panic, "Why are you looking at me like that?" He suddenly lowered his head and muttered softly, "Do you think you have X-ray vision and can see the cigarettes in my pocket?"

Gu Feng shook his head and smiled bitterly. Although his mother had sternly warned him not to touch cigarettes, Gu Zhengtian had never truly taken it to heart. But as his son, whose side should he stand on?

Gu Feng said, "I'll go in and check on Mom."

"Hmm, it seems she still has something to say to you."

Gu Feng and his companion watched him enter the office building before heading to the back.

Gu Feng suddenly realized something was wrong and stopped, saying, "Wait, wait a minute."

Shixin looked at him carefully.

There seemed to be fragments flashing through my mind, foreshadowing some truth?

Gu Feng pressed his head, trying hard to figure it out.

This feeling is hard to describe. To capture that fleeting inspiration again is much easier than climbing to the heavens (nowadays, science can make climbing to the heavens, as long as you have money; compared to that, finding that fleeting inspiration that can't be found is not a matter of money). Gu Feng racked his brains for a long time, but he had no clue. However, that fleeting inspiration was clearly conveying the truth of the matter. What was it?

Whom should we believe?

Gu Yuehan

May 28 18.57

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Volume Two, Chapter Forty-Seven: Recognizing Illusions

After a long while, Gu Feng still hadn't brought her any surprises. Shi Xin patted him in disappointment: "Gu Feng, what are you thinking about?"

Gu Feng chuckled awkwardly, "I didn't think of anything, hehe."

They walked a little further, and the house was now within reach. Just then, they suddenly saw a figure slip into the morgue about a hundred meters to their left. It felt very familiar.

They exchanged a glance and chased after him together.

Gu Feng stared in astonishment at the trembling, obese figure before him, who turned out to be Ah Mao. "Ah? Ah Mao!" he exclaimed, bewildered. "You... how are you still alive?"

Ah Mao seemed startled by the question: "Why do you say that?"

Before Gu Feng could explain anything, his eyes suddenly snapped open and he noticed something unusual, something he couldn't look away from.

Ah Mao followed his gaze...

"How is that possible?"

Ah Mao stared intently at the two humanoid figures bulging on the bed, muttering incredulously.

A chill ran down Ah Mao's spine, sending a shiver down his spine, followed by a tingling sensation on his scalp...

Gu Feng seemed to realize something and slowly walked closer. Although his figure was covered by a white sheet, the familiar feeling came spontaneously from his heart.

Gu Feng's outstretched hand trembled slightly. He had faced hundreds, if not thousands, of dead people, but he had never trembled before...

Another flash of inspiration struck him, and this time he understood it perfectly...

"Dad said half the city's population has died... Why... is the funeral home still so deserted?"

The moment those words entered his mind, the difference between truth and illusion became crystal clear. Gu Feng stared at the bedsheets, his hesitation revealing the fear in his heart.

Is it really them?

What if...the person under this sheet really is Mom and Dad?