Chapter 102: True Identities

Chapter 102: True Identities

Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu

Zhu Ruyuan wasnt human. In other words, they had no way of finding her right now. But even if they couldnt find her, they could still find the living Zhou Hanshan.

Ai Wenrui knew the address of Zhou Hanshans room, so the three ran straight for the dormitories.

On the way Lin Qiushi encountered the girl named Zuo Sisi again. She and her partner were sitting at the school flowerbeds with an item in their hands, seemingly in discussion.

Gu Longming saw what they were holding from afar, and exclaimed, its a wooden doll. Where did they find that

Lin Qiushi recalled the two people from outside the door that died the night before. Upon some thought, he approached Zuo Sisi and greeted them: Zuo Sisi, what are you guys up to?

When Zuo Sisi saw them coming, she smoothly tucked the doll away, smiling.

Nothing. Just chatting.

Lin Qiushi had a good impression of this girl, and so didnt beat around the bush: You also found a doll?

Mh Zuo Sisi replied vaguely. Why?

Since youve found one, keep it safe, Lin Qiushi said. I also found dolls on the two people who died this morning. Those dolls were missing heads. I suspect it has something to do with how they died.

Zuo Sisis companion sitting beside her went pale.

What?

Seeing his expression of panic, Gu Longming said, oi, you havent thrown it away already, have you?

II He pointed at the pond behind him, face colorless. I thought the thing was kind of ominous, so I tossed it just now!

What do we do? Nothings gonna happen to you, right? Zuo Sisi was also frantic.

Ill go look for it! her companion said in a rush.

Wait

Before Lin Qiushi could stop him, Zuo Sisis companion jumped straight into the pond behind himself.

It was just one of the schools landscape ponds; it was very shallow. The water only reached the knees of a 170cm-man standing. Under normal circumstances, drowning in it was completely impossible.

But the world of the doors obviously could not be assessed by normal circumstances.

After that person entered the water and bent over to fish out the wooden doll, the water around him began to toss and roil, as if it were boiling. Seeing this, Lin Qiushi immediately called out, get out of there

The man heard him. After one step toward where they were standing, however, countless pairs of white, rock-like arms emerged from the green waters. They caught hold of his body and began dragging him into the pond.

Lin Qiushi reacted the fastest, dashing to the edge of the pond. He grabbed the mans frantically waving hands and said, help him!

Zuo Sisi, Gu Longming, and Ai Wenrui all rushed forward, wrapping their arms around Lin Qiushi and pulling both of them backwards.

Together, the four finally saved the man from being pulled into the pond. When he got hauled up the man was nearly in tears.

Fuck oh fuck that was terrifyingthey pulled my pants off

The jeans he wore on the outside had been yanked into the pond, leaving him with only problem-pattern boxer shorts.

Tsk. Zuo Sisi shot him a persecuting look. You wear these kinds of pants?

The companion: Oh sure, if hed known hed be stripped in front of a crowd hed have put on a nicer pattern.

Lin Qiushi let out a breath and said, I suggest you stay away from water from here on out.

Yes, thanks for the heads up. Where are you headed? Zuo Sisi had also gotten the sense that Lin Qiushis team was different from the rest.

Lin Qiushi said, going to the dorms for a bitWhere did you find this doll?

In the sculpting clubs activity room. This time, Zuo Sisi answered Lin Qiushis question. We heard that all the dead students seemed to be part of the sculpting club, so we went over there to take a look.

Everyone seemed to know this piece of information now. It was just that they werent as lucky as Lin Qiushi, and they hadnt found an NPC with so much insider knowledge like Ai Wenrui.

Lets go. If we dont go now classes are going to start, Ai Wenrui spoke quietly by the side.

Zuo Sisi glanced at Ai Wenrui, a new understanding appearing in her gaze. She said, good luck to you then.

You too, Lin Qiushi nodded. Then he pointed at Zuo Sisis partner. Why dont you go find a pair of pants first.

The partner in his underwear: yeah. Thanks for that.

The three went to the dorm. According to Ai Wenrui, Zhou Hanshan lived in Room 307.

But the three stood outside knocking for the longest time. Nobody responded inside.

Hes not here. Why dont we go? Ai Wenrui said.

Gu Longming, go, go, what do you mean go? Go inside? We sure can, yeah?

His gaze fell on Lin Qiushi.

Lin Qiushi, after three seconds of silence, keep an eye out for me so nobody sees.

It was only then that Ai Wenrui remembered Lin Qiushi could pick locks. With a bit of a complicated expression, he made a sound of agreement.

A few minutes later, they entered Zhou Hanshans dorm room.

Once inside though, they found the room was empty. Nobody was living here at all. Both the inside and the balcony on the outside were devoid of items. And judging from the state of the sink and dust, nobody had lived here for a very long time.

Zhou Hanshan went home? Lin Qiushi asked.

I dont know. Ever since people started dying, I havent seen him, and its been a while, Ai Wenrui said. But I havent heard anything about him dropping out.

After he said this, he laughed self-consciously. Or maybe he really did drop out, I just dont know itAfter all, whos got the energy to care about other people right now?

Lin Qiushi thought about it, and asked out of the blue, can you get in contact with that friend of yours from before?

Which one? Ai Wenrui asked.

The third one from when you were in the classroom, Lin Qiushi said. There was you, Xiao He, and the one who ran awayyou can get in touch with that guy, right?

Im not sure, Ai Wenrui shook his head. I dont know if hed pick up my call

Zhou Hanshan laughed, agonized. II didnt want to lie to you. But if I had told you I was Zhou Hanshan then you guys would never have believed me.

Lin Qiushi and Gu Longming didnt respond.

Everybody knew that Zhou Hanshan and Zhu Ruyuan were dating, Zhou Hanshan said. I was just scared that you two would think I have bad intentionsBut the truth is

But the truth is you dont? Lin Qiushi watched his eyes. Do you really think wed believe that?

Zhou Hanshan was silent for a while.

Then what do I have to do for you to believe me?

Lin Qiushi, did you know Zhu Ruyuan was dead?

Zhou Hanshan shook his head. I didnt know. It wasnt until when we played that game

He hid his face in his hands, shoulders beginning to shake.

I discovered, I discovered that she didnt have a shadow.

While everybodys attention had been on the sculpture, Zhou Hanshan had his arms around the smiling Zhu Ruyuan. The two had been whispering about something when Zhou Hanshan felt that there was something wrong.

Hed looked down, a touch of doubt crossing his expression. Hed even rubbed at his eyes.

But no matter how he rubbed, there had only been a single shadow on the floorThe girl in his arms didnt seem to exist at all.

When he discovered this, a chill had crawled its way up Zhou Hanshans spine. The person beside him had noticed, and asked softly, baby, whats wrong?

Nothing, Zhou Hanshan had replied. Im just a bit tired.

Hed watched as the friends in front of him cut their hands with grins and laughter, rubbing red blood all over those little wooden figurines. His arm had been wrapped around the person beside him, but upon discovering that person had no shadow, hed felt the places where their skins touched go stiff and cold, as ifas if what he held was a statue.

Upon recalling this, Zhou Hanshan trembled all over. He stammered, I wanted to stop them, but I couldnt even speak.

You also bled on yours? Gu Longming asked.

I did. I was the first one. Saying this, Zhou Hanshans voice was filled with lament. Its just that I wasnt very sincere when I made the wish. I didnt enter that competition afterwards either.

Since he didnt enter, he couldnt have won the prize. Zhou Hanshan had managed to escape misfortune just like that.

Gu Longming asked, why didnt you sign up? Doesnt your sculpting club care a lot about this contest?

Hahah, Zhou Hanshan laughed dryly. Ive got really bad grades, havent I

Really? Gu Longming was still disbelieving.

Its true! Zhou Hanshan was a bit desperate. Please believe meI have pictures of my sculpture in my phone! If you, if you dont believe me, you can look through those!

With a face full of distrust Gu Longming took his phone.

Dont think I wont really look.

He opened the photo album and really did find Zhou Hanshans sculpting project. Lin Qiushi took a single look, and fell into a deep silence with Gu Longming.

In the end Gu Longming couldnt hold it in anymore: Fuck dude, are you really an art student? What the cock and balls is this supposed to be!

Zhou Hanshan, thats really mean.

Though most of the time Zhou Hanshan suffered for his school work, this time, it was a blessing in disguisehed avoided disaster.

Back when the scores were being announced, the prize-winners had all been ecstatic. Theyd even talked among themselves about how the school legend was trueOf course, what they didnt know was that this award came with a painful price.

So what the hell did you want to achieve, lying to us like this? Gu Longming asked.

The truth isThe truth is I just wanted to put a stop to it all, Zhou Hanshan said shakily. It all started because of me, so naturally, I should be the one to end it

How do you end it? Lin Qiushi asked.

Ive looked up a lot of information. This school legends actually been around for a long time, Zhou Hanshan said. But theres a last bit to the legend that Zhu Ruyuan didnt tell us.

A last bit? Gu Longming sat up.

It has to be equivalent exchange. The sculpture grants your wish, you have to grant the statues wish in return, Zhou Hanshan said. But I just cant figure it out, whats the statues wish? What if her wish is for us to die?

At Zhou Hanshans words, Lin Qiushi remembered the phrase from the hint. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

His and Gu Longmings gazes met. The two reached a point of perfect mutual comprehension.

Why didnt you just tell this to us earlier? Gu Longming was still caught up on the fact that Zhou Hanshan had lied to them.

Zhou Hanshan hung his head and didnt speak. But Lin Qiushi could read the meaning hidden in his expression.

Zhu Ruyuans wish. Does it have something to do with you?

A shiver went down Zhou Hanshans body. He said, with tears in his voice, I dont want to die

This answer pretty much corroborated Lin Qiushis hypothesis.

Zhu Ruyuan and Zhou Hanshan were lovers, but Zhou Hanshan had been too scared to tell them this the entire timeso Lin Qiushi had reason to suppose that Zhu Ruyuans wish was for Zhou Hanshan to stay with her.

It was impossible to bring a dead person back to life. The far simpler method, then, was for the living person to die.

Please, Im begging you, I really dont want to die, Zhou Hanshan wept. Im really really scared

Do you love her? Gu Longming asked, frowning.

Maybe? I dont know anymore, Zhou Hanshan said. Ever since I found out she wasnt alive, all of our memories together turned into a blurI almost cant remember at all.

As he spoke, discombobulated, he suddenly stopped. Terror congealed in his eyes as he looked at the window beside him.

Lin Qiushi followed his gaze and saw a woman, with long black hair and a ghastly pale face, silently standing by the glass, glaring at everyone inside with vitriol. They were on the second floor, and there was nothing outside the window. Without question, this girl was Zhou Hanshans once-lover, Zhu Ruyuan.

When Zhou Hanshan saw Zhu Ruyuan, he let out an awful scream and passed out once again on the bed. And it only took so little a moment for the silhouette by the window to disappear completely. It was as if the pallid face just now had just been an illusion.

But both Lin Qiushi and Gu Longming were clearZhu Ruyuan really did pay them a visit

Authors Note:

Im planning on finishing this by May. Who knows if Ill make it /melancholically lights a cigarette

Names in this chapter:

Xio Zhun / Xiao(3) Zhuan(4) /