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墨書 Inktalez
I stood at the door of Room 404, clutching the key in my hand, hesitant to insert it into the lock. The motion-sensor lights in the hallway flickered on and off, casting an eerie glow on this dreary autumn day.
The landlord had mentioned that the low rent was due to a death in the room, but I hadn’t expected it to be this cheap—only eight hundred a month, utilities included.
The sound of the key turning echoed sharply in the empty hallway. As I pushed open the door, a musty odor mixed with an indescribable metallic scent rushed out to greet me.
I turned on my phone's flashlight and fumbled for the switch on the wall. The old fluorescent light flickered a few times, buzzing with electricity before finally illuminating the space.
The room was small, a one-bedroom layout. The wallpaper in the living area had yellowed and peeled away, revealing patches of crumbling cement beneath.
Dragging my suitcase inside, the wooden floor creaked underfoot. Suddenly, a cold breeze swept past me from behind. I whipped around to find that the sliding door to the balcony had been left ajar.
"Maybe the last tenant didn’t close it properly," I muttered to myself as I walked over to shut it.
At that moment, I heard a soft laugh behind me, a sound that seemed to come from far away yet felt as if it were right next to my ear.
A chill ran down my spine, and my fingers froze on the doorknob. "Who’s there?" I asked, forcing myself to sound calm.
No one answered. Taking a deep breath, I slowly turned around. The living room was empty, but the light from the fluorescent bulb seemed dimmer than before.
I noticed a picture frame on the coffee table, containing a yellowed photograph.
In the photo stood a woman in a red dress, smiling at the camera from the balcony.
As I picked up the frame, I saw a small inscription on the back: "Forever love you, Xiaoyun."
Suddenly, an icy dread surged from my feet upwards. I felt as if something was watching me; its gaze was palpable enough to raise every hair on my body.
I slowly lifted my head and saw a figure reflected in the glass door of the balcony—a woman in a red dress standing right behind me.
My hand trembled, and the frame slipped from my grasp, shattering on the floor with a loud crash that echoed in the silence of the room.
When I looked up again, nothing remained on the glass door. But I knew it wasn’t an illusion.
As I bent down to pick up the frame, I noticed a trail of wet footprints leading from the balcony directly to my feet.
I curled up on the sofa, wrapping myself tightly in a blanket.
The rain outside intensified, pattering against the glass like countless fingers tapping insistently.
My phone displayed two o'clock in the morning, but sleep eluded me. Ever since that strange encounter earlier in the afternoon, I had remained on high alert.
Suddenly, there was a loud "thud" from the kitchen as if something had fallen to the ground.
I held my breath and strained to listen closely. Then came a gurgling sound, like water dripping from a leaky faucet.
I remember clearly that when I moved in, I checked all the pipes, and they were all in good condition.
I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight feature. The pale beam cut through the darkness as I tiptoed toward the kitchen.
The sound of water grew clearer, mixed with a strange "drip" sound, like… blood dripping onto the floor.
My palms were sweaty, and my phone nearly slipped from my grasp. Just as I was about to reach the kitchen door, a sigh suddenly came from behind me.
The sound was so close, it felt as if someone was right next to my ear. A chill crept up my spine, and it felt like all the blood in my body had frozen.
"Don't turn around…" a woman's voice said softly, "you'll regret it…."
I froze in place, feeling my breath become labored. The beam of light from my phone began to shake violently, not because my hands were trembling, but because… the light seemed to be distorted by something.
A metallic, rusty smell filled the air—one I had noticed earlier in the afternoon, now intensified.
"Who… who are you?" I asked, trembling.
"I am Xiaoyun…" the voice replied, "this is my home…."
At that moment, I heard footsteps behind me—very light, but definitely approaching me.
I felt a chill at the nape of my neck as if someone was breathing there. Fear stripped me of my sanity; I spun around abruptly, directing my phone's beam behind me—a woman in a red dress stood less than a meter away. Her long hair clung wetly to her face, her complexion as pale as paper. The most terrifying part was her eyes—there were no pupils, just an expanse of white. A strange smile curled at her lips, and crimson liquid trickled slowly from her temple.
I let out a scream and turned to run for the door. But the doorknob wouldn’t budge; it felt as if it had been welded shut. I frantically twisted the handle and pounded on the door, but it was all in vain. Behind me came a "cackling" laugh that grew closer and closer...
"Why are you running?" Xiaoyun's voice echoed in my ear, "Stay with me… forever…"
I felt a cold hand rest on my shoulder. Just then, a sudden knock sounded from outside the door.
"Is anyone there?" an elderly voice called out, "It's Grandma Zhang from downstairs."
That voice was like thunder, shattering the eerie atmosphere in the room. I felt the hand on my shoulder vanish, and the chill in the air lessened significantly. Trembling, I opened the door to find an elderly woman with silver hair standing outside.
"Child, are you alright?" Grandma Zhang asked with concern, "I heard you screaming..."
I opened my mouth but couldn't make a sound. Grandma Zhang's gaze passed over me and into the room; her expression suddenly turned grave.
"You live in 404?" Grandma Zhang's voice trembled slightly; deep fear and unease flickered in her eyes. "That room… has been empty for a very long time..."
A chill ran down my spine, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. "Why?" I swallowed hard, my voice hoarse as I asked.
Grandma Zhang glanced around, as if afraid something might be eavesdropping. "Three years ago, a loving couple lived here," she said in a hushed tone, her voice dripping with mystery. "The girl was named Xiaoyun, and she was incredibly beautiful, always smiling. Then..."
She suddenly stopped, a flicker of fear crossing her face. "What happened then?" I pressed eagerly, my heart racing.
Grandma Zhang sighed, her voice dropping even lower. "Then... her boyfriend cheated on her. After Xiaoyun found out, they had a huge fight. That night, Xiaoyun... she..."
Her words trailed off as if something had choked her throat. I was anxious, scratching my head in frustration. "What happened? Please tell me!"
Taking a deep breath as if summoning courage, Grandma Zhang continued, "That night, Xiaoyun committed suicide in this very room by cutting her wrists. Her blood spilled everywhere, and the entire room was filled with the smell of blood. Since then, this place has remained empty; no one dares to live here."
I felt a cold shiver run through me, as if an icy wave were rising from my feet. No wonder I always sensed a metallic smell in the room; it was Xiaoyun's blood.
"What... what should I do?" I stammered, my voice trembling.
Grandma Zhang patted my shoulder reassuringly. "Don't be afraid, child. You can stay at my house tonight, and tomorrow I'll help you find a priest to take a look."
I nodded gratefully at Grandma Zhang. Just then, I felt something brush against my ankle.
Turning back to the room, I seemed to catch a glimpse of a figure in a red dress standing in the center of the living room, offering me a sorrowful smile.
"Help me..." I heard her say softly, "Help me find him..."
The next morning, I eagerly began investigating Xiaoyun's story. Grandma Zhang had given me some crucial leads; she told me that Xiaoyun had worked at a café called "Blues." With dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep, I set off on my quest for the truth.
As I pushed open the door to "Blues," the rich aroma of coffee and soft jazz greeted me. The wind chimes above the door jingled cheerfully with my entrance, as if sharing their own tale.
"Welcome!" A waitress with a ponytail and a bright smile approached me. "How many in your party?"
"Just one." I glanced around and chose a seat by the window. Sunlight streamed through the curtains onto the table, creating a tranquil and warm atmosphere.
Taking a deep breath to gather my courage, I said to the waitress, "I’d like to inquire about someone."
Her expression shifted slightly; she looked at me warily. "Who do you want to ask about?"
"Xiaoyun." I whispered the name softly. "The girl who worked here three years ago."
The waitress's face turned pale instantly; she nearly dropped the menu she was holding. Her eyes widened as she stared at me, her voice trembling as she asked, "W-why do you want to know about her?"
I lowered my voice and spoke mysteriously. "I live in her old home. Strange things have been happening lately."
The waitress seemed startled by my words. She glanced around and then lowered her voice, saying, "Break time, meet me at the back door."
After saying that, she hurried away. I watched her retreating figure, filled with confusion and anticipation. What kind of secret was hidden behind Xiaoyun's situation?
I nodded and casually ordered a cup of coffee. While waiting, I noticed a group photo hanging above the bar. In the picture, Xiaoyun was in uniform, smiling brightly. But what caught my attention was the man standing next to her; he had his arm around Xiaoyun's shoulder, yet his gaze drifted toward another waitress.
During break time, I followed the waitress to the alley. She lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. "My name is Xiaoyu, and I'm Xiaoyun's best friend. I was there when it happened..."
Her voice choked slightly as she continued, "That day..."
"Can you tell me what happened?" I asked.
"It was Valentine's Day." Xiaoyu exhaled a puff of smoke. "Xiaoyun was planning to surprise AJie. AJie is her boyfriend and also the owner of this place." She pointed at the man in the photo. "But when we opened the office door, we saw AJie with another woman..."
Xiaoyu couldn’t finish her sentence, but I could already imagine the scene. Xiaoyun loved AJie so much, only to witness his betrayal firsthand.
"What happened next?" I pressed.
"Xiaoyun ran out." Xiaoyu extinguished her cigarette. "We searched for her all night, and the next morning... the police found her body in the river."
I frowned. "What did the police say?"
"Suicide." Xiaoyu scoffed bitterly. "But I know it wasn't. Xiaoyun was heartbroken, but she would never take her own life. And..." She lowered her voice again, "that night, I saw AJie drive after her."
My heart skipped a beat. "You mean..."
"I didn't say anything," Xiaoyu interrupted me. "But if you really want to help Xiaoyun, check where AJie is living now. He sold the café and moved to a villa in the west side of town."
Just then, my phone rang unexpectedly. It was an unknown number.
"Hello?"
"I heard you're looking into Xiaoyun's case?" A deep male voice came through. "This is AJie. Let's meet."
I tightened my grip on the phone, feeling a chill run down my spine. The voice reminded me of last night's coldness, but what worried me more was how he knew I was investigating Xiaoyun.
"Okay," I replied. "Time and place?"
"Eight o'clock tonight at Blues Café," he said confidently. "I know you'll come."
After hanging up, I looked up at Xiaoyu. Her face was even paler than before. "He contacted you?"
I nodded.
"Be careful," Xiao Yu said, gripping my arm. "AJie... he's not as simple as he seems."
As night fell, I returned to the Blues Café. The place was empty, with only a dim yellow light illuminating the bar. AJie sat there, playing with a lighter in his hands.
"Sit," he gestured to the seat across from him. "I heard you moved into 404?"
I watched him warily. "How do you know?"
He smiled but didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled a photograph from his pocket and slid it across the table. It was a picture of Xiao Yun, but different from the one I had seen in my room. In this photo, she wore a red dress and stood on a balcony, her expression filled with fear.
"This is her last photo," AJie said. "I took it."
A chill crept up from my feet. "What did you do to her?"
AJie's smile suddenly twisted into something sinister. "I gave her the punishment she deserved. Did she think she could leave me? Dream on!"
At that moment, the lights in the café went out. In the darkness, I heard AJie let out a scream. When the lights flickered back on, I saw him sprawled on the floor, a red mark around his neck as if something had constricted him.
"Xiao Yun..." I whispered.
A sigh filled the air, and I felt someone gently embrace me. It was a cold hug, yet it brimmed with sorrow.
"Thank you..." Xiao Yun's voice echoed in my ear. "Now, I can finally rest..."
AJie's cries reverberated through the empty café as I stood frozen, watching this once vibrant man writhe in agony on the ground. The red mark around his neck deepened, as if an invisible rope was tightening.
"Help... help me..." AJie reached out to me, his eyes filled with terror.
I took a step back and coldly regarded him. "This is your just deserts."
Just then, the café door burst open. Two police officers rushed in, followed by Xiao Yu. She nodded at me, signaling that she had called for help.
"Don't move!" one officer shouted, aiming his gun at AJie. "We received a report that you are suspected in a murder case from three years ago."
AJie's face turned pale instantly. He struggled to rise, but the mark around his neck tightened suddenly, forcing a pained groan from him. In the dim light, I noticed what seemed to be a wisp of red mist floating in the air, coalescing into a vague human shape.
Xiao Yun...
The officers handcuffed AJie, and an older officer approached me. "Are you the one who reported this?"
I shook my head and pointed to Xiaoyu. "She called the police. But..." I hesitated for a moment, "I can provide some clues."
The officer nodded. "Please come back to the station to give a statement."
At the police station, I recounted my experiences in Room 404 in detail. The officer was initially skeptical, but when they pulled up the case files from three years ago, their expression turned serious.
"We did suspect AJie back then," the officer said while flipping through the files, "but we lacked direct evidence. When Xiaoyun's body was found, there were strangulation marks on her neck, but it was staged to look like a suicide."
"Now we have new evidence." Another officer entered, holding an evidence bag. "We found Xiaoyun's diary in AJie's villa, detailing his abusive behavior. And..." He paused, "we unearthed a blood-stained red dress in the backyard."
A chill ran down my spine. That dress was the one I had seen in Room 404—the last one Xiaoyun wore.
"AJie has confessed," the officer continued. "He admitted that he confronted Xiaoyun that night, and during their argument, he accidentally strangled her and then staged the scene to look like a suicide."
As I left the police station, dawn had broken. Xiaoyu was waiting for me at the door, her eyes red.
"Xiaoyun can finally rest," she said.
I nodded but felt that things were still not over.
Back in Room 404, I noticed that the atmosphere had completely changed. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and the air no longer felt cold and oppressive. I walked to the balcony and found that the sliding door, which always opened by itself, was now firmly shut.
Suddenly, I noticed something reflecting light on the coffee table. As I approached, I saw a picture frame containing a photo of Xiaoyun. This time, her smile was no longer sorrowful; it was filled with relief. Beside the frame lay a dried rose.
I picked up the rose and found a note pressed underneath it:
"Thank you. Now I can finally leave for good. This room is yours now. — Xiaoyun"
I looked around and felt warmth radiating from every corner of the room. I knew that Xiaoyun's resentment had dissipated, and the curse of Room 404 had been lifted.
From that day on, strange occurrences ceased to happen. I continued living there and redecorated the room. Whenever night fell silent, I could almost hear Xiaoyun's gentle laughter; it was no longer eerie but filled with gratitude and blessings.
Three months later, I received an unsigned letter. Inside was a photograph of a figure in a red dress standing by the sea at sunset. On the back of the photo were written words:
"I finally saw the ocean, just as I always dreamed. Thank you for giving me a chance at freedom."
I knew it was Xiaoyun. She could finally go wherever she wanted and see whatever sights she wished to behold. And Room 404 had transformed from a place filled with sorrow and resentment into a warm home.
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