Incendie mystérieux

Chapitre 70

“There’s no food at the bar,” she said, instinctively clutching her handbag. The once pearly handle was now worn black. “If I weren’t broke, I wouldn’t… play the piano at a place like Pink&Pink. The owner said the first month is a trial period, and I won’t get paid until the end of the month.”

Woolf nodded knowingly. The owner of Pink&P Pink was always profit-driven, and a helpless outsider like Zhu Yan naturally had no choice but to submit to her. Fortunately, he still had a lot of money in his pocket. Even if he spent it all today, the director would surely reimburse him, right? He stepped on the gas, and the scooter roared towards the Crimson Flame Hotel.

The Crimson Flame Hotel is the most luxurious hotel in the entire Red Spot area. Besides its comprehensive and delicious cuisine, its most distinctive feature is its revolving restaurant with a 100-story-high three-dimensional crystal dome. While dining, guests are surrounded by floors and walls depicting a vast starry sky, slowly rotating according to Europa's actual rotation, making them feel as if they are in the vast universe. Especially striking is Jupiter, so close at hand, that every nine hours the Great Red Spot flashes overhead, its crimson eye instantly engulfing everything.

Woolf lightly stepped over the vacuum, asteroids, and meteorites beneath his feet, feeling that this was the only way to live up to the original intention of interstellar migration—what was the point if every human settlement was much the same as Earth!

Zhu Yan was terrified and couldn't move an inch. Woolf boldly took her hand and led her to her seat.

"How beautiful!" She looked up at the large red spot that was looming over them with almost reverence.

"Is this your first time on Jupiter?" Woolf ordered the food with practiced ease. "Every human settlement in the Jupiter Union offers a tour of the Great Red Spot," he smiled. "It's the most valuable tourist attraction."

She shook her head. "No. This is my first time leaving Earth."

She fell silent at the mention of Earth, as if she had touched upon some painful past. She buried her head between her shoulders, her exposed shoulders as white and lovely as porcelain.

Woolf tactfully changed the subject. They talked about everything from astronomy and history to art and literature. He was surprised to find that she had a rather astonishing knowledge of biology and history, especially paleontology. For example, they had a heated disagreement about the extinction of dinosaurs. She insisted that the dinosaurs went extinct not because of asteroid impacts or ozone depletion, as had already been proposed.

“You’ll never know the real reason…” she quickly added, “I mean, maybe.”

Just as Woolf was about to press for more information, she suddenly realized that the waiter had been standing silently by the table for quite some time. She assumed it was time to serve the food.

"I'm sorry, officer, we don't have garlic pork belly today."

"Then... let's change it to Kung Pao Chicken."

"I'm so sorry, we're out of diced chicken. We only have beef now."

Woolf frowned impatiently. He had been about to show off his Chinese cuisine from the red-spotted region to the Chinese woman. "What's going on here?"

"The supply ships for raw materials from all star systems have been delayed in the past few days... Right now, we only have beef produced in this region."

Left with no other option, the third-level superintendent had to change the entire menu to Western-style steaks. The waiter was about to leave when Zhu Yan stopped him.

"How much longer do we have to wait?"

“Soon, miss,” the waiter said with a fawning smile, “it will be ready in a minute.”

“But I’m hungry…” Zhu Yan seemed to be complaining to him, yet also talking to herself. Before she could finish speaking, the waiter suddenly fell straight forward, crashing into the table between them with a “thud.” His face still wore a fawning smile, his attitude humble and ready to serve the guest at any moment. However, his head, tilted upwards at a ninety-degree angle, and the crisscrossing sulci of his brain, were so nakedly exposed to the woman.

She fainted amidst the screams of those around her.

When she woke up in her hospital bed, Woolf was by her side.

During the time she was in a coma, Woolf was not idle. He worked with his colleagues at the police station to conduct some necessary investigations. He was confident of the results and was just waiting to close the case.

“We once had doubts about you,” he said frankly. “That’s why we focused our investigation on Pink & Pink and the surrounding area.”

“As a result,” he stared into Zhu Yan’s deep, dark eyes, “the bodies of the proprietress and three waiters were found in the backyard.”

Four bodies were laid out in four separate deep pits, each with a crack around its forehead—revealing an empty skull. Chronologically, the waiter Zeta was the first victim in this series of brain-draining cases. Autopsies indicated he had died approximately a week prior, and his body, buried deep underground, was already decomposing.

"The four deceased were neatly dressed, with peaceful expressions, and even their hair was combed perfectly. Clearly, the person who buried them had a deep affection for them. Am I right, Miss Zhu Yan?"

“We also investigated the ‘Pomegranate’,” he continued, disregarding Zhu Yan’s feelings, “and discovered something strange.”

Interstellar short-haul spaceships are typically staffed only by the captain, first mate, and two female interstellar crew members. However, since the "Granulata" arrived in the Red Spot Zone and handed over its duties to the air traffic control center, these four individuals have vanished without a trace. The spaceship has been illegally detained for a week, and due to the loss of communication between the air traffic control center and the outside world, no one has bothered to investigate.

Furthermore, the forensic department collected some strange hair and sweat samples on the spaceship. Analysis revealed that the hair and sweat did not belong to humans, but rather to some unknown organism!

"My intuition tells me that something terrible has happened on Earth. You came here alone, not to escape something, were you?"

He bent down and cradled the patient's head, while she shook her head, struggling to break free of his grasp. He gently traced a circle on her forehead:

"In just one moment, your life ends. No, or rather, all your beautiful thoughts, all your cherished memories, vanish completely."

“You actually brought such a terrible monster to the Red Spotted Zone, Miss Zhu Yan,” Woolf asked her gently. “What exactly is it that’s lurking on the ‘Garnet’?”

“A spell…” The beautiful woman’s lips moved violently as she trembled. “It’s an ancient spell.”

Short Story Collection: Nighttime Horror Tales - The Curse (Part 2)

For millennia, humanity has debated the question of where we came from, proposing numerous hypotheses and devoting considerable effort to proving them. In almost all religions, humans were created by God. Darwin's theory of evolution posits that humans evolved from a branch of apes. Humans and modern apes evolved from a common ancestor—the forest ape. Through labor, language and consciousness arose, leading to the establishment of society. Thus, labor transformed the forest ape into human. However, several points of doubt remain. One is that human evolution seems to have been sudden and leaps in time. According to evolutionary theory, human history spans approximately 3 million years, yet the number of human fossils discovered to date is extremely limited. Moreover, these few fossils lack continuity; there are multiple fossil gaps in the evolutionary process, a lack of fossil evidence of transitional stages. Every few hundred thousand or tens of thousands of years, humans seem to suddenly become much more intelligent—a situation that, according to evolutionary theory, should not occur.

Based on new archaeological discoveries, people have proposed a wide variety of hypotheses about the origin of humankind from different perspectives. There is the hybridization theory of astronaut genes combined with female apes, the dinosaur origin theory that certain small dinosaurs are human ancestors, the synthesis theory that humans are a composite of astronauts, and the marine origin theory that humans originated from marine life. There are many different theories, but none of them can be completely convincing.

"Do you know this secret?" Woolf had a vague feeling that something was going on.

“Yes,” Zhu Yan groaned, “because they’re back!”

The masters of humankind, they (no, it should be said that they) sowed the seeds of life three million years ago, releasing humans onto the vast pasture of Earth, allowing them to reproduce, give birth, grow, and perish on their own. And now, the harvest season has arrived.

“We’re nothing but livestock they raise!” she finally broke down in tears. “Like pigs in a sty, we’re just waiting to be slaughtered! And what makes them more advanced than us is…”

"A spell?"

“Yes!” She threw herself into Woolf’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “With just one spell, our human skulls will split open, ready for them to suck our brains! And that spell is a key to a code they set three million years ago, deeply embedded in our DNA, passed down from generation to generation!”

Woolf was stunned. He had made all sorts of guesses about the strange creatures on the 'Grenade', but he never expected that the truth would be like this!

“The Earth is finished…” The woman’s tears fell like broken beads onto his shoulder. “I finally found a ship and escaped with the captain and the others… All the humans on Earth have become their canned goods. Their cargo ships are everywhere, their brilliant light as dazzling as the starry sea in the Milky Way, and beneath the spaceships is an ocean that has been stained blood red.”

"I thought they wouldn't come after me... But! Why is it following me?! Aren't there enough people on Earth for them to eat? Why can't they just leave me alone?!"

Woolf hugged her tightly. “It’s not your fault,” he said. “It’s a natural disaster.” He emphasized it again.

They decided to leave. Woolf prepared to contact the head of administration in the Red Spotted District and the police chief, but none of the video calls went through. Something might have happened.

He helped Zhu Yan out of the hospital, and they didn't encounter a single person along the way. The street was the same; the dim, artificial sun listlessly shone on the street, and their long shadows moved hesitantly, the silence maddening.

He looked into a resident's home; the whole family, from parents to children, sat motionless on the sofa, completely expressionless. He shouted into the house, "Hey!"

Zhu Yan lunged forward and grabbed his mouth, "You're crazy! They're all dead, look into their eyes!"

"But I'm a police officer...!"

"But you can't beat 'them'!" Zhu Yan pointed to the sky. "Look!"

Woolf gasped. Zhu Yan was right. In the dark sky, the spaceships stretched as far as the eye could see, their brilliant light as dazzling as the starry sea in the Milky Way. And beneath the spaceships, he seemed to see countless familiar, weeping faces. His legs began to tremble uncontrollably, and his body shook violently.

"Run!" she shouted at the critical moment.

He was practically dragged onto the "Pomegranate" by Zhu Yan. Before 'them' could land in the red zone, she quickly started the engines, and bright flames shot from the tail of the ship, instantly leaving them far behind. Woolf didn't help; he lay in a corner of the ship, seriously pondering a question: how could a woman possess such strength in a moment of crisis, so great that she could easily lift a 75-kilogram young man over her head and accurately toss him into the cabin? He suddenly felt very curious; he realized he had completely forgotten to ask Zhu Yan what those aliens actually looked like.

And he always forgot to ask.

Twenty days have passed, and the "Garnet" has remained lurking in the shadows of the asteroid belt, secretly observing every move in Jupiter's region. They haven't gone too far; perhaps in the superintendent's heart, he still hopes that one day he can return home, back to that red homeland.

Woolf witnessed the last light in the Red Spotted Zone go out; he recognized it as the neon light on the top floor of the Red Flame Hotel. The Great Red Spot that had once swirled high above their heads would never be seen again.

“The Red Spotted Zone is over…” Zhu Yan downed the glass of red wine in one gulp. The fragrant wine burned her cheeks, making her look as radiant and beautiful as a peach blossom. “Next, it should be the Saturn Starfield.”

"Where are we going, Zhu Yan?" he asked. "To the Pluto star system? Or perhaps we should just fly out of the solar system?"

“Wherever we go,” she said, her slender fingers lightly lifting his chin, “you will follow me, Superintendent Woolf. Because,” she said, her eyes filled with seductive allure.

"You are the only man left in the erythematous region, and I am the only woman, therefore, we must love each other."

He laughed. He said, "We are Adam and Eve of the Red Spot."

And so, they shared a cold kiss, full of emotion.

Her slender arms softly wrapped around his neck, her bright eyes so clear they could no longer contain the twinkling stars outside the cabin, and she leaned close to his ear, her soft breath almost melting him.

Slightly purse your lips, then part them slightly to the sides, and finally, gently touch your lower jaw with the tip of your tongue.

"I'm hungry."

Without any warning, Woolf's head silently split open, revealing the yellowish-white organic matter that once symbolized the wisdom of the most intelligent beings, now reduced to mere food. The reason his tall, lifeless body didn't immediately collapse was perhaps because Zhu Yan was tightly embracing him.

“I was going to keep treating you like a pet, I really like you,” she said, pressing her forehead against his and gazing into Woolf’s lifeless, dull eyes. “I’m so hungry.”

"sorry."

After gracefully enjoying a simple space meal, Zhu Yan temporarily suppressed her excessive appetite. However, the last box of emergency food was gone. How would she get through tomorrow?

She furrowed her brows, rested her chin on her hand, and muttered to herself in a coquettish tone:

Where is the nearest food supply depot?

No one answered. Following Zhu Yan's gaze, what appeared to be within reach of the porthole were endless, silent stars.

Short Story Collection: Horrifying Night Stories of the Stinky Mansion (1)

"If one never sets foot in a filthy mansion, even a life of ruthless murder is in vain." — Proverb

On a misty, late autumn morning, a tricycle carrying a young couple headed towards the outskirts of Yanzhen. The driver, as usual, wore a gloomy expression, much like the town's perpetually gloomy weather. "Damn weather, damn place!" the woman uttered, venting all her frustration on those six words. The man turned his head away, pretending to admire the roadside scenery, but in this town perpetually shrouded in thick fog, he couldn't even clearly see the front wheel of the tricycle. A gigantic, shadowy monster seemed to stand in the gray morning mist, a mountain-like barrier blocking their path. Beyond that, the landscape stretched out in vast swathes of barren land, sparsely dotted with yellow grass; the wind howled across the earth, swallowing even the sound of the wheels turning, all carried away by the fog. The driver stopped the tricycle, and the couple silently paid, grabbed their backpacks, and jumped off: that was their only belongings.

The stinky mansion. Their destination.

It was an astonishingly large apartment building. The length and height of the mansion were equally unfathomable; its towering walls, piercing the mist, might have once been a vibrant, fiery red, but now, hidden beneath layers of lush, undulating ivy, they had faded completely. At the main entrance was a small balcony-like passageway, its narrow, bluestone steps worn smooth and almost entirely black by countless footsteps.

The woman instinctively tightened her grip on the man's hand, only to find that his hand was equally oily and greasy, and no less sweaty than hers. The man gave a weak smile and pushed open the door to the mansion.

The fat man sitting behind the counter had a harmless-looking face. "What's your surname?" he asked in a lazy tone typical of a civil servant.

“Zhao… my surname is Zhao.” The man and woman exchanged glances. “We have a matchmaker.”

A man rushed out of the half-open room next door, grabbed the man's hands, and shook them vigorously. "Oh, I've been waiting for you!" He turned to the fat man and said, "Manager, these two are the ones I mentioned. The room is already booked, a double suite, the best room facing south with the best light. It's not rented out yet, is it?"

The innkeeper's stubby fingers scribbled across the ledger. "Mr. Zhao... double suite, here it is, room number 013013." He bent down and picked up a bunch of keys. "Enjoy your stay," he added routinely.

The man warmly welcomed them and eagerly led them to the stairwell. "This stinky mansion doesn't have an elevator, so you two will have to climb the stairs, haha, but it's good exercise for us!" He smiled, revealing a mouthful of pearly white teeth. "Brother Zhao, I haven't introduced you to your wife yet! Don't be so stingy, introduce her to me!"

The woman glared at the man, seemingly complaining about his friend's rudeness. Mr. Zhao scratched his head helplessly and replied somewhat awkwardly:

"Liao Chengkai, this is a friend I met when I was doing business. This is my wife, Xing Xiuwen."

Before she could finish speaking, Liao Chengkai had already extended his large hands to Xing Xiuwen. "Just call me Xiao Liao, or Chengkai. Calling me by my full name feels a bit too formal." He laughed again.

The woman was unmoved by his enthusiasm. Her only concern was the size and condition of her upcoming room. Seeing the peeling, mottled paint on the hallway walls, her heart sank. Moreover, from the moment she stepped inside, a pungent, stagnant stench assaulted her nostrils. The source of the stench was obvious: mountains of garbage piled up in front of every room door. She couldn't help but complain, "There aren't even any staff! What kind of hotel is this?! Are we supposed to clean it ourselves?!"

Xiao Liao smiled happily, "Mrs. Zhao is very perceptive. That's exactly what makes this stinky mansion so appealing. No more being bothered by the incessant chatter of the waiters, no more worrying about sneaky waiters spying on us. Everything is up to the guests. From the day we receive the keys, it will be the start of a completely free new life. The tenants are also staunch supporters of 'mind your own business,' ignoring everyone else and living a vacuum-like life. As long as we pay the rent on time, we can live here forever like air, never disturbed, and never knowing the secret behind the door."

The Zhao couple exchanged a glance, and Xiao Liao laughed even harder:

"People like us always have to keep some secrets, right?"

Mr. Zhao took his wife's hand. "So we came to the right place? This is a good place?"

"Absolute Paradise!"

Xing Xiuwen looked into Xiao Liao's eyes and asked suspiciously, "But there must be some flaw here! Nothing in the world is perfect."

"If there's only one drawback..." A shadow crossed Xiao Liao's eyes, though it vanished in an instant, "it's that the rent is too expensive..."

013013. They've arrived home.