Chapter 48: Surveillance Room
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
A group of frightened individuals were tightly huddled in a seemingly inconspicuous janitorial closet inside the mall, seeking refuge from the horrors outside. The feeble beams from their mobile phones pierced through the consuming darkness, illuminating the worried and fear-stricken expressions on their faces. The group comprised several people, including Mr. Calm, the proclaimed spiritual expert Master Catch, Mall Manager Li, and Sister Pear who had just managed to reconnect with the group after being separated. However, amidst them all, it was Ethan’s presence that was particularly noticeable.
Ethan’s face bore a look of grave distress as his eyes were fixed on the closet door in front of them. Disturbingly, the door was marred by a fresh streak of his own bright red blood. The wet blood seemed resistant to drying, dripping steadily and forming a puddle on the floor.
Ethan hesitated for a moment before speaking, “It appears the ghost has halted its pursuit… at least momentarily.” His ashen face stood in grim contrast to his hands which were smeared with his own blood.
Seeking reassurance, Mr. Calm’s voice quivered as he asked, “Master, is our hideout secure for now?”
Originally, they had strategized to safely reach the fifth floor and make their escape using the emergency exit. But upon reaching, they were met with an unexpected obstacle: all the doors were mysteriously locked. As they were considering ways to break open the lock, a gruesome and shocking incident occurred.
Suddenly and without any prior indication, one of their group members was gruesomely decapitated. Paralyzed by sheer terror, they immediately dismissed their initial plan to force open the door and dispersed in panic. It was Ethan who had quickly thought on his feet and ushered them into the janitor’s closet, giving them a brief moment of respite.
However, their ordeal was far from over.
Loud, relentless pounding resonated from the other side of the door. Something – or perhaps someone – was fervently attempting to gain entry. The force with which the entity was banging made it evident that no human could possess such strength.
And it was the application of Ethan’s own blood on the door that seemed to momentarily subdue the ominous noises from the other side.
“Our brief break here won’t last long,” Ethan gravely stated. “The ghost is well aware of our location and won’t rest until it reaches us.” He recollected a previous haunting experience he had with a different ghost but was baffled at being unable to identify the nature of the entity they currently faced.
Mall Manager Li, succumbing to his rising fears, stammered, “What are we to do next? Am I destined to die here?”
Ethan replied with a hint of derision, “It’s amusing how your so-called spiritual experts turn tail at the first sign of a genuine ghostly presence.” He glanced disdainfully at Master Catch, who looked like a shell of his former self, his once confident demeanor now replaced by sheer terror.
Growing increasingly anxious, Mr. Calm pleaded, “Master Ethan, we can’t remain trapped here. The longer we linger, the graver our circumstances become. We need to get out of this mall to ensure our safety. Please, find a way to lead us out. I’ll pay the amount you ask!”
Ethan snapped back, exasperated, “Now is not the moment to fret about material concerns!” Even he, usually so resourceful, felt at a loss about their next steps.
….
The ghost haunting this mall was proving to be far more powerful and malevolent than Miles had originally thought. Even with his expertise as a ghost tamer, he felt the strain and acknowledged that he was nearing the edge of his abilities.
In the midst of the chaos and fear, Miles moved with a certain composure, his steps deliberate. He held a flashlight firmly in his hand as he stepped into the elevator, choosing to ascend through the mall.
River, visibly shaken, clung to the fabric of Miles’s sleeve. Her gaze constantly flicked to every dark corner and shadow, half-expecting a ghostly apparition to suddenly appear. “Aren’t you afraid?” she managed to ask, her voice quivering.
Miles replied, maintaining his calm demeanor, “Of course I am. But what good does that do? Fear alone won’t shield us from harm. Panicking is more likely to attract the ghostly entities. Your nearly half a week hiding in a restroom was pure fortune. But we can’t rely solely on luck. We must take action or else we risk our very lives.”
Reaching the fifth floor, a cursory scan with the flashlight showed the area to be eerily empty. The only indication of the horror that had transpired was a severed head placed near the emergency exit. Its eyes were closed, its features pallid, and its neck seemed violently torn. The sight was chilling, resembling a serene sleeper but for the gruesome separation from its body.
“This unfortunate soul was part of Master Catch’s group,” remarked Miles, a tremor of worry in his usually steady voice. “The ghost must’ve claimed him.”
River suppressed a rising scream, remembering Miles’s advice about not drawing attention. She gulped audibly.
Miles quickly shifted his focus. “Where can we find the surveillance room?” he inquired.
River pointed in the right direction, and the two made their way there promptly. Upon arrival, they noticed the door was slightly open with a key left in the lock. Strangely, the lights inside were glowing, a stark contrast to the mall’s enveloping darkness.
River voiced her confusion, “Why are the lights still working here?”
Miles responded with a hint of suspicion, “This isn’t a regular power outage. Someone intentionally turned off the main mall lights. Typically, a shopping complex this size would have backup power to prevent such outages. If it were a genuine power failure, the surveillance room wouldn’t be lit.”
However, as they stepped inside, they were met with a surprise. A security guard sat in front of the bank of monitors, his posture rigid. Oddly, there were damp spots around him, and the lower part of his trousers seemed wet as if he’d recently come back from a watery location.
River exclaimed in recognition before even seeing the image on Miles’s phone, “He’s one of our people!”
The guard, hearing her voice, turned their way. “Why are you here, Miles?”
Miles’s face darkened as he looked at the photo he had taken earlier – a snapshot of a unique security uniform found in a restroom, a uniform worn exclusively by him and Strong in the entire complex.
River, trying to lighten the atmosphere, chimed in, “Well, it’s good that you two are acquainted. I’m River, the mall’s accountant. Pleasure to meet you under these circumstances.”
As River stepped forward, intending to warmly greet Strong, Miles swiftly intercepted her, quickly flashing the restroom picture on his phone. “Look closely,” he cautioned, “I found this in the restroom earlier.”
River’s gaze darted between the photo and Strong, realization dawning on her. The color drained from the lady’s face as a wave of panic surged through her. She instinctively recoiled, her hand retreating as if she had touched something scorching hot. Seeking protection, she moved behind Miles.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Miles instructed in a low tone, “Keep yourself flat against the wall and don’t make any sudden movements.”
Without hesitation, River did exactly as told, pressing her back against the cool wall, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Her intuition screamed at her to trust Miles’s judgment.
Strong, meanwhile, appeared genuinely puzzled by their behavior. “What’s the issue between the two of you?” he inquired, eyebrows knitted in confusion.
“Nothing much,” Miles replied, adopting a casual demeanor but remaining vigilant. “We’ve just been hearing stories about a malevolent spirit roaming the mall. Several individuals are unaccounted for. We were hoping the surveillance system might shed some light on their whereabouts. Tell me, since you’re here, why exactly are you in this room?”
Seemingly unruffled, Strong explained, “A ghost? That’s news to me. When the lights went off, I thought there might be an electrical issue. I was headed to inspect the circuit breakers when I noticed the lights in this room still functioning, so I stepped in. You both arrived not long after that.”
“Interesting,” Miles responded, choosing his words carefully, “Did you come across anyone else on your way here, aside from us?”
“Not a soul,” Strong replied, shaking his head for emphasis.
“Well, since you’re here and seem to be familiar with the system, would you mind helping me access the archived footage from the cameras?” Miles asked, wanting to keep Strong occupied.
“Certainly, I know my way around this console,” Strong replied confidently, pulling up a chair to the surveillance terminal.
As Strong busied himself with the footage, Miles couldn’t help but cast a wary glance at the telltale wetness on Strong’s trousers. “Did you make a pit stop at the restroom earlier?” he asked nonchalantly.
Caught off guard, Strong answered, “No, I didn’t. Why do you ask?”
“Just making conversation,” Miles replied, his voice dripping with feigned innocence.