Chapter 12 : Wei Junliang

　　I was taken aback, and I instinctively let go of the decrepit cabinet door, taking a step back. Creak... the door closed on its own once more! I was surprised to find that the hallucination was actually intertwined with reality.

　　"What's the matter, Xia Ning?" the teacher asked, her voice tinged with concern as she approached me.

　　"In the cabinet!" I pointed with a trembling finger at the cabinet.

　　At that moment, the middle-aged police officer arrived at the cabinet and casually opened it. He paused for a moment, then stooped down to retrieve the scrap of paper from among the debris.

　　"On October 12th, a gloomy day, two guests visited my haunted house again. One man and one woman, the woman was very pretty and fair-skinned, while the man was tall with a gold chain. After collecting their entrance fee, they began their terrifying journey..." I recited the first paragraph of the diary.He cast a glance at me and inquired, "Did you witness the same thing in the illusion?"

　　I nodded in response.

　　"Was there anything else?" he pressed further.

　　"No, I was just too caught up in trying to get away, I couldn't... I couldn't even pause to search for clues," I murmured softly to him.

　　"Huh? There's actually a door behind the wall!" exclaimed a voice, filled with surprise.

　　We turned to look, and there was Wei Junliang, having already carved out a hole in the wall, revealing the handle of an iron door inside!!!

　　"Move aside!" Wei Junliang, catching his breath, raised the sledgehammer once more and began pounding away!Bang! Bang! Bang!

　　But despite the loud banging, their conversation continued uninterrupted.

　　"Wow, there really is a door behind the wall? How did she know?"

　　"Unbelievable!"

　　"I'll go grab some lighting equipment!"

　　"..."

　　"I'll take a swing at it!"

　　A policeman, attempting to relieve the breathless Wei Junliang, was swiftly rebuffed: "Move aside!"

　　"Sigh, did you eat a bullet, kid? Unbelievable...!" With that quip, he begrudgingly stepped aside to collect some stones.

　　"Do you guys want to step outside for some fresh air? It's pretty dusty in here!" the middle-aged policeman suggested to us.

　　"No, thanks!" I shook my head, adding with earnestness, "I plan to go in and find my friend later, I hope you're okay with that!" My tone was sincere and pleading.He paused to look at me, then nodded slowly. "Okay."

　　"Xia Ning, maybe you should reconsider going inside later. I'm worried you'll be reminded of some scary scenes," the teacher said softly, her tone filled with concern.

　　I shook my head, tossing my ponytail forward. "I can't back down. I have to see with my own eyes that they're safe before I can relax...!"

　　The teacher nodded in understanding, taking my hand in hers with a tender gaze.

　　Time passed slowly, and after about thirty minutes, Wei Junliang, sweating profusely, finally stopped swinging the sledgehammer!

　　The iron door was now fully exposed, mirroring the one from the illusion perfectly!

　　I gripped the hem of my skirt tightly with my left hand, feeling a surge of nerves.

　　The iron door was secured with an iron chain. Wei Junliang lifted the sledgehammer, and with a resounding clang, the lock on the iron chain shattered.I noticed beads of sweat rolling down Wei Junliang's determined face. Pausing for a moment, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a pack of tissues I always kept handy. Walking over to him, I offered him two.

　　"Here, use these to wipe off the sweat," I said with a gentle smile.

　　He looked surprised for a moment, then turned to me with a grateful smile, accepting the tissues and wiping his face. "Thanks," he said softly.

　　"I should be thanking you," I replied sincerely.

　　Just then, the young policeman returned with a bag filled with flashlights. "Here they are, one for each of you," he announced.

　　I grabbed one of the flashlights, and Teacher Tangxin took another.

　　"Zhang Peng, Wang Jun, Guangge, Liu Tai, you lead the way," Officer Zhang Wei instructed. "Keep your guns ready, we don't know what we'll find inside."The crisp sound of bullets being loaded into the chamber was somewhat unsettling. The iron chains were removed, but the door wouldn't budge when the man tried to pull it open. It took a few of them working together to finally pry the door open, causing it to creak and groan in protest.

　　As the door swung open, it revealed a dark, musty space with an unpleasant odor wafting out. "Put on your gas masks!" Officer Zhang Wei issued another command.

　　The three of them turned on their flashlights and raised their guns as they ventured inside. Teacher Tangxin and I followed closely behind, with Officer Zhang Wei and Wei Junliang bringing up the rear. The rest of the team remained outside.

　　Upon entering, I noticed that the passage sloped downwards, albeit not too steeply. It was noticeably cooler inside compared to the outside temperature, sending a slight chill down my spine. The floor was scattered with various debris, and one of the team members quickly scanned the items with his flashlight, finding nothing of use.

　　We hadn't walked far when I nervously tightened my grip on Teacher Tangxin's hand. "Don't be afraid, everything's fine," her voice came through somewhat muffled behind her mask."Okay," I nodded, feeling a mix of apprehension and determination.

　　As we continued on, rooms began to appear along the walls, revealing a hidden storage space filled with props and odds and ends used in haunted houses. It was clear that we had stumbled upon an underground storage area.

　　Suddenly, a faint sound caught my attention. I paused, straining to listen, but it vanished as quickly as it had come.

　　"Teacher, did you hear that?" I turned to the teacher, hoping she had caught it too.

　　She stopped and turned to me, her expression curious. "Hear what?"

　　I listened intently again, and just when I was about to dismiss it as my imagination, the sound returned, clearer this time, and everyone else heard it too!

　　"Xianing..." The voice was barely audible, but it sent a shiver down my spine.

　　Reacting instinctively, I removed my gas mask and called out, "Wu Jing!" Then, without hesitation, I rushed forward into the depths of the passage.

　　"Xianing!!" the teacher's urgent cry echoed behind me.

　　Despite the warnings from Wei Junliang, I pressed on. Nothing mattered but finding Wu Jing.

　　As I ran, the pungent odor of mildew filled my nostrils, triggering a fit of coughing that I couldn't suppress."Wu Jing!" I called out as I ran, my voice echoing through the corridors in desperation.

　　"Wu Jing!"

　　"Wu Jing!!"

　　"Xianing..." A faint voice drifted from a room ahead, clearer this time, stirring a mix of hope and fear within me.

　　"Don't go, it's dangerous!" Wei Junliang's urgent warning came from behind, but my determination pushed me forward.

　　I took a few more steps before his firm grip halted my movement.

　　"Wait!!" His voice was filled with concern as he looked at me, his eyes reflecting a blend of anger and worry.

　　Removing his gas mask, he assessed the air, and then turned to me with a softened expression. "Let me go first, Wu Jing is in there!" I pleaded desperately.

　　"Relax, I'll go in first!!" His reassurance was met with a flood of emotions, my eyes moistening with unshed tears.

　　Wu Jing's safety was paramount, and my heart raced with anxiety.

　　"Will you stay close behind me?" His gentle inquiry broke through my turmoil, offering a glimmer of comfort.

　　"Yeah..." I nodded, a flicker of determination in my eyes as I bit my lip.

　　With a release of my arm, he took the lead, gun in hand, advancing cautiously with the flashlight. As he turned the corner and entered the room, I followed closely behind, the weight of anticipation and fear pressing down on me.