Cosas en el estanque

Capítulo 10

"Did I tell you? Why are you asking this?" She looked at me curiously.

I shook my head with a cold laugh, took out the key, and opened the gate to the Three Teachings.

"Huh? How do you have the key to this place?"

“Anyone who has spent two years at the provincial university knows that the locks on the main gates of the three teaching buildings have always been broken. They can be opened with any key of similar size,” I said coldly. “It has been like this since I was studying here.”

Without streetlights, the U-shaped corridor was pitch black, and a chilling cold enveloped us. If I didn't know what was going on, I would have been terrified. But now, I felt no fear whatsoever, and Wei Weiwei in my arms didn't evoke even the slightest tenderness in me. All I felt was a third feeling, just as intense as the first two.

As I slowly walked along the U-shaped corridor, this feeling intensified. I thought about the clean floors at home, the neat and tidy clothes in the closet filled with the smell of soap and laundry detergent, the warm bed, the occasional strand of hair left on the sheets or pillowcases, and even the plush toys in the car filled with the cozy scent of perfume. A sense of unease welled up inside me.

That was a profound disappointment and sorrow. Because I knew that once I did that, I would lose everything. The house would return to its old mess and filth, the refrigerator would be filled with countless beers, the floor would be littered with cigarette butts and empty bottles, and the air would be filled with that pungent smell of smoke mixed with sweat. I didn't want that; I couldn't bear to go back to those days.

But thinking about all the strange things that have happened, about the terrifying experiences I had to go through after each of Qiu Hong's horrifying phone calls, about the pounding heart and cold sweat I felt every time I walked alone in the dark, I thought, "Fine, it's time to end this." What's not mine will never be mine, and I should understand everything. Even if I let it go this time, who knows what even more terrifying things might happen next time? I've really had enough.

I went upstairs and stopped next to the restroom at the bottom of the stairs. This must be it.

"What?" Wei Weiwei asked, "Do you need to use the restroom?"

"It wasn't me, it was you. The second floor is the women's restroom," I sneered. You're really putting on a damn convincing act.

"What?"

"Forget it, I'm not in the mood to watch anymore." I shook my head, gently pulled my hand away from hers, took out a cigarette and lit it. "How about this, I'll tell you a story." Ignoring the confusion and questions in Wei Weiwei's eyes, I began to speak, "It's a story about a radio host."

"This radio host has a horror/paranormal show. He has a competitor who hosts a music show. The music show is the number one hit on that station, while the horror/paranormal show is number two."

"However, that horror and paranormal show became increasingly popular, with its listenership soaring, threatening to overtake the competition. The host of the music show was a very arrogant person, and she decided to stop it from happening. So she came up with a plan."

"The horror show had a hotline where listeners would tell ghost stories. So every time, the host of that music show would call in, claiming to be a listener, and even gave himself a name, Qiu Hong. Every time, this Qiu Hong would tell a very scary story. Of course, it couldn't be the music show's NJ himself, because the two of them were colleagues at the same radio station, and no matter how well they tried to hide it, their voices would eventually give them away."

"Then, after the story was told, strange things started happening. Every time the paranormal TV host encountered something terrifying or eerie, and what was most terrifying was that it was almost exactly the same as the story that Qiu Hong told on the phone."

"This matter couldn't be explained, so the paranormal TV host could only assume that he had encountered a ghost, a real ghost, which was naturally that female ghost named Qiu Hong."

"Actually, it was all a trap they set. The music program's NJ kept getting close to the paranormal program's NJ in real life, and then kept leading him into the traps she had already set. Because after a period of contact, she knew that the paranormal program's NJ was actually a very timid person. If he kept encountering such terrifying things, the final result would definitely be that he would resign and get away from this terrifying job. In this way, the position of the radio station's boss would be firmly in the hands of the music program's NJ."

I finished speaking in one breath, then looked up at Wei Weiwei. Her eyes were wide open, as if she couldn't understand what I was saying. I smiled and tilted my head: "Was it good? This story."

"Are you talking about...me?" Wei Weiwei took a step back. I shook my head. Didn't she realize her plan had been exposed? Or was she just playing dumb? But I had to admire her acting skills; they were truly superb.

"what you think?"

"You think I orchestrated all of this because I was jealous that you brought Xiao Tao's Ghost Stories to the top of the ratings and second place in the whole city?"

I threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out hard: "Do you have a more reasonable explanation?"

“No, Feng Xiaotao. This is boring,” she shook her head, looking directly at me. “I don’t like this joke. It’s not funny at all.”

"Damn it!" I suddenly got angry. They still wanted to hide it from me at this point? Did they really think I was an idiot? "Of course this isn't funny at all! If anyone's going to laugh, it's you. Who else could it be? Why is there no caller ID when Qiu Hong calls? Who else could erase the documents on the stage besides you? Why did you come to my house as soon as Qiu Hong told the elevator ghost story? Why did that Coke can from my nightmare, which nobody else knows about, automatically appear in the livestream room drawer? And the corpse card from the first episode—who else besides you had the opportunity to enter the livestream room and then take it out without anyone noticing? From the first time I went to the hospital with Xiao Qi, I felt like I was being led by the nose. I was in a trap, and everything was pre-arranged."

"Xiaoqi? You mean Feng Xiaoqi from that TV station?"

"That's right! It's Feng Xiaoqi, the one who's been pursuing you for so long. He's a perfect tool for you! And that Qiu Hong! The woman I met at the elevator that day was her! I've been wondering why that rumor spread so quickly? Even the boss knew! You guys deliberately spread it! I've been wondering why Qiu Hong didn't call to predict my nightmare before I had it that day? Because none of you could have known I'd have a nightmare! Only you knew about that nightmare. Now I'm sure there's someone hiding in this restroom all along! It's that woman I saw at the elevator that day! She must have already put on her raincoat and was ready. As soon as you went in, she came out. If I hadn't noticed this, I would have been scared out of my wits!" I was very emotional, and my words were flying everywhere.

Wei Weiwei stared at me intently, and when I paused, she coldly interrupted, "Fine, well said!" She even clapped her hands. "I don't want to say anything else, I'm asking you, who am I to you?"

“Woman…” I hesitated.

"What?" she exclaimed.

"Girlfriend."

"Feng Xiaotao, I have to admire your imagination, and how logically and reasonably you put it. You're so eloquent, I was speechless. I couldn't refute you, and I almost believed it myself. But I have to say, it wasn't me, you're wrong! But I never expected you to be such a narrow-minded person. Did you think I went to all that trouble just to compete with you for ratings? Don't you think you're ridiculous? You even know I'm your girlfriend?"

How dare you say that? You actually suspect your girlfriend whom you spend every day with? You think that all the pressure I faced on stage and the comments I received were to get rid of you? You think that all the cooking and laundry I did for you every day was part of a scheme? Fine, I was blind to have fallen for such a dark person like you! Fine, it was me! It was all my doing. Fine, now go into this bathroom and drag out the Qiu Hong I planted! Feng Xiaotao, you've disappointed me so much! We're breaking up!" As she spoke, she wiped her face with her hand. Were those tears? I couldn't see them because of the moonlight streaming through the window.

Was I wrong? Hearing the words "we're breaking up" felt like my heart had been whipped four times. Wei Weiwei turned and ran away after saying that. I heard the rapid "clatter" of her leather shoes on the cement floor, and the sounds of doors opening and closing downstairs. My mind went completely blank.

Could it be... that I was wrong?

I turned and went into the restroom, which was empty.

Wei Weiwei resigned. Everyone in the office looks at me like I'm a monster. The boss talked to me once, but I didn't want to say anything. I didn't care about anything. It's all my fault! It's all my fault! I'm such a damn bastard!

I know that because of my suspicion and my overthinking, I have lost the most precious thing.

While I was away, Wei Weiwei came and took all her belongings. The house became increasingly messy, returning to its previous dirty and chaotic state. I couldn't be bothered to care anymore, mechanically going to work every day, never even knowing what I was saying on the show. When the city's Outstanding Journalist Award was announced, both she and I were among those selected, but she was no longer there. I looked sadly at the certificate in my hand, tore it to pieces, and then laughed loudly, a laugh that sounded as awful as crying. But...

Yes, no one will be around to complain anymore, "That laugh is awful."

Every day when I got home, I would lie in bed smoking, savoring the lingering scent of her on the sheets, and tasting the pain in my heart. Countless times I waited outside Wei Weiwei's house, sleeping in my car just like the first time, hoping that one day she would appear. I kept telling myself that one day when I was dreaming, a gentle hand would shake me awake from my nightmare, and then that mischievous woman would appear before me with a mocking expression.

However, the miracle never happened. She moved away.

I was dozing off in the office when a colleague came in and tossed me a package: "Your parcel."

A package? Strange. I opened it, and inside was a videotape! I had a feeling something was going to happen.

There was another letter in the package, or more accurately, a note:

"Feng Xiaotao, this is Xiaoqi. I won't go into the formalities. I already know about what happened between you and Sister Wei. She came to tell me about it a couple of days ago. To be honest, I don't blame you. In fact, I don't think it was your fault. Anyone who has gone through something like that would inevitably become suspicious. Especially after I've seen this tape."

You must be wondering why I haven't contacted you, right? Let me tell you, I didn't dare. Actually, it's because of this videotape. I've been listening to your "Little Tao's Ghost Stories" all along; this program has become very popular. The audience isn't just limited to the young female students from the beginning, but many adults also won't call because they're afraid of losing face. Now, I actually know the truth. But as a friend, I don't want to tell you. You might not understand, but after watching this videotape, you'll understand everything. It needs to be explained that this videotape is the one we found in the hospital operating room that time. The content of this videotape wasn't something I intentionally filmed; it was an accidental loss. I haven't shown this videotape to anyone, including Wei Weiwei. Watch it yourself and then decide.”

I put down the note and looked at the videotape in my hand. Its black casing and dark brown cassette tape didn't seem any different from the other videotapes. But, according to Xiaoqi, was this the key to solving the problem?

What terrifying things did this videotape record that made Xiaoqi afraid to contact me?

The camera was shaky. Everything in the scene appeared precarious against a reddish backdrop. The camera only showed about knee-high areas. Clearly, this was caused by Xiaoqi forgetting to turn off the camera shutter. I knew from my journalism studies that novice cameramen at television stations often made this very basic mistake: forgetting to turn off the camera shutter. There's nothing surprising about it.

The scene in the footage shows him carrying a video camera as he walks through the provincial hospital. That must have been the first time he received a call to interview someone at the hospital, and that's what he filmed.

The camera continued to shake as it moved forward. It circled the eerie woods and walked onto a path dimly lit by a fluorescent lamp. Slowly, a door came into view, its surface covered in dust and dark brown stains, its light flickering on and off. Everything was just like the abandoned operating room Xiaoqi and I had gone to that day. I felt the fear in my heart being slowly drawn out.

"Ah—" The door opened. Xiao Qi walked into the empty corridor, making a "hollow" sound. Only the flickering white fluorescent light outside the door provided illumination. Further into the distance, all was darkness. A chill began to run down my spine; even though it was a videotape, it felt as if countless terrifying demons lurked within the darkness of the screen.

"Empty, empty, empty..." Xiao Qi continued walking forward, each step accompanied by a hollow sound, stirring up clouds of dust. The camera not only shaky but also trembling—Xiao Qi's hands were shaking. He was afraid. There were doors on both sides of the corridor, all tightly closed. Heaven knows what might be inside.

Finally, Xiaoqi reached the innermost part. Although I couldn't see clearly anymore, I could still recognize a wooden door in front of me by relying on my memory. I felt every pore and every blood vessel in my body swell, my nostrils flared, and my breathing became rapid. Because I knew that I was about to see the most terrifying thing.

"Gah, gah gah, gah gah gah, gah..." Xiao Qi pushed the door open.

Because the windows in the inner room had no curtains, the incandescent light from outside shone through the glass, making the room much clearer than the hallway outside. The things in the room were similar to what Xiaoqi had described to me, or what I had seen with my own eyes the second time Xiaoqi and I went there together. In the very center of the room was a large bed—no, an operating table. To one side of the operating table were a sink and several large cabinets, on which were some medicine bottles and jars. The other side of the room was empty.

Xiao Qi slowly turned around, and suddenly a pair of feet appeared in the frame! Bare feet, without shoes or socks! Those were definitely not Xiao Qi's feet!

It was the bottom of a white lab coat, and there appeared another person's feet! There was another person inside the room!

Xiao Qi seemed not to have seen it, turned back, and walked away. My heart was in my throat.

Yes, Xiaoqi said that he thought it was a clothes hanger!

Suddenly, Xiao Qi turned around and realized something was wrong! Those feet reappeared in the camera's view, slowly walking towards Xiao Qi and towards the camera!

"Ah—!" With a scream, Xiao Qi dropped the camera and ran away! The scene on camera was instantly turned upside down, and nothing could be seen clearly for a moment.

Finally, things calmed down. The camera was thrown sideways on the ground, so everything I saw was tilted to the side. I knew this wasn't over yet! I instinctively tilted my head to continue watching.

The camera was tossed aside beside the foot of the operating table. The feet kept moving closer, walking to the camera, then moving away, out of frame, then back in, into frame again, then moving away again—these horrifying feet repeatedly appearing in the shot. What was he doing?

Suddenly, a drop of dark liquid fell! I shuddered, and it dawned on me that he wasn't after the camera; he was after the operating table! He was setting up the operating table! That liquid was the blood we'd seen on the operating table the second time!

"Click!" The camera moved. Something bumped into it—it must have hurt those feet! We'd been spotted. My eyes widened, and I gasped for breath. What would I see? I didn't dare think about it.

Slowly, the camera began to move, as if the person had lifted it up with their hand! The camera was pointed at the ceiling and kept rising, higher and higher, until the ceiling became larger and clearer.

Suddenly, the camera stopped moving, as if it had reached the limit of that person's hand.

The camera slowly panned down, as if the person was deliberately turning the camera to face their own face.

Suddenly, a face appeared in the camera's view! I jumped up in surprise.

My God, I have never seen such a terrifying face in my entire life! No, I never imagined I would see such a face.

A terrifying face!

The camera suddenly showed my own face! My own twisted, grinning face!

The camera suddenly dropped, "Bang!" A flurry of static, and the camera crashed to the ground and broke.

My legs gave way and I collapsed to the ground.

"...When I saw this face, I finally understood."

That's my own face. That's myself!

Listeners, this is Dadi Entertainment Station, this is Xiao Tao's Ghost Stories program, I am Feng Xiao Tao.

What I just told you wasn't a horror story, but something that actually happened to me.

Today, I think, should be the last episode of Xiao Tao's Ghost Stories.

Xiaoqi, are you listening to my show? I completely understand why you stopped contacting me later. Now I realize that I am Qiu Hong. Yes, Feng Xiaotao is Qiu Hong, and Qiu Hong is Feng Xiaotao. Remember? The first time Qiu Hong called, she explained my predicament and hinted at what I should do. Who else understands me so well? Who else can guarantee what I will do? Only myself.

Weiwei, I know you must be in front of the radio. Remember? I asked you: 'Besides you, who else could erase the information on the radio? Who knew that the Coke can from my nightmare would automatically appear in the studio drawer? And the first time, the corpse card—besides you, who else had the chance to enter the studio and then take it out without anyone noticing?'

I thought only you could do it, but I forgot that I also have myself.

Perhaps I was too eager to make the show a success, and I'm also a timid person. So, under immense pressure, I began to hallucinate, or perhaps I developed a split personality. My subconscious already knew the solution, so while I was unconscious, I began to act.

A rapid clanging of keys came from outside the door. It was either my boss or a colleague; they must have realized something was wrong and wanted me to stop the live stream immediately. In fact, before starting this live broadcast, I had already tampered with the power supply and control equipment. All the control devices in the monitoring room outside the studio were malfunctioning; everything was inside the studio, under my control. I had to hurry and finish what I was saying; it would be too late if they thought to cut off the main power.

"Weiwei, I'm not trying to explain. I'm just stating my opinion. I don't dare to ask for your forgiveness, nor do I dare to ask you to come back to me. But I want to say, I'm sorry. Darling, I love you."

I'm a coward. I'm afraid to face reality. Remember? I never talked to you about all the strange things that happened. Because I was afraid, I ran away. Looking back now, maybe I fell in love with you a long time ago, but I was still running away, running away from you.

Perhaps all the terrible things, including this Qiu Hong, are the work of the demons within me. I just never imagined she would appear in reality.

A loud banging came from outside the door. I continued:

“Boss, I know you're all listening outside. I'm sorry, I know what I'm doing will have a huge negative impact on the broadcast. But you don't need to bother. After entering the studio, I sealed the door from the inside with two thick steel pipes. I've made up my mind to give you an explanation and put an end to everything. Even if I have to spend the rest of my life in a mental hospital starting tomorrow, I will do this. I've hurt too much—my friends, my lover, and everyone who cares about me. Since this started with me, I will end it with me.”

The banging on the door stopped. I sighed, two warm streams of liquid running down my face. I looked up at the large mirror Wei Wei had suggested we install. In it was a pale-faced person, his eyes filled with sorrow and despair under the dim light of a lamp that barely illuminated his gaunt face.