Chapter 1 - The Music Box
Luo Yan yawned. He was about to finish the rest of the milk in his cup in one gulp, then throw himself onto the bed and get a good rest when his phone decided to tactlessly start ringing. Luo Yan glanced at the name displayed on the phone.
“Jin Shuang? He’s calling at this time?” Luo Yan thought aloud. Contrary to his words, there was a smile on his face.
He tapped on the answer button and was about to tease him, but then, he heard Jin Shuang’s frightened voice.
“Luo Yan, get over here… I’m afraid that I won’t live past tonight!”
“You’re joking.” The smile was still on Luo Yan’s face. Jin Shuang was his best friend. He had read too many horror novels and often liked joking with others by trying to scare them.
“I’m not joking this time!”
Jin Shuang’s words had a tone of panic and uncertainty, which gave Luo Yan a feeling that something was not right. Although Jin Shuang liked playing jokes, his acting was too horrible. It was impossible for him to pretend to be so terrified.
Luo Yan put away his joking attitude and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s that music box. Whatever you do, don’t open it, don’t listen to it… I don’t have much time left. Liu Wen, he…” Jin Shuang spoke. His words were full of impatience and unrest and lacked any logic.
Luo Yan had grown confused listening to Jin Shuang and was just about to inquire further. Suddenly, strange music could be heard coming through the phone. Able to send chills up one’s spine, its timbre was clear and bright, and its melody was cold and gloomy.
Alarmed, Jin Shuang cried out, “D*mn it! Don’t tell me it wasn’t loosened…”
Chaotic smashing noises mixed with the sound of Jin Shuang’s heavy breathing came from the phone. The urgent footsteps and a door closing could be heard immediately after.
Jin Shuang muttered to himself, “I cannot let other people hear it…”
In a dark room, Jin Shuang stared out the window at the nightscape with his back against the door. He breathed deeply a few time, soberness gradually returning to his eyes. He picked up the phone and said as if saying goodbye, “Luo Yan, my best friend, if I can’t wait for you, please hide this box where no one can find it. Don’t…”
Boom!
The sound of an explosion drowned out Jun Shuang’s words. Luo Yan’s heart contracted. He hurriedly shouted Jin Shuang’s name, but the only reply was a burst of static and, afterward, deathly stillness,
Something happened to Jin Shuang! Luo Yan realized the seriousness of the situation. He didn’t have the time to change out of his sleepwear and madly rushed out of the house.
The apartment Jin Shuang lived in was not far from Luo Yan’s. There was only a residential complex between them, and by bicycle, Luo Yan would get there in less than twenty minutes. It was already late autumn, the wind bringing with it a horrifying chilliness. However, Luo Yan couldn’t care less about such matters. He got on his bicycle and rode as fast as he could toward Jin Shuang’s home.
After passing a couple streets, the neighborhood Jin Shuang lived in lay in front of his eyes. Luo Yan discovered that the neighborhood’s gate was flooded with people. Many of which were peering in. When Luo Yan saw them all, the unknown premonition growing in his mind intensified.
“I wonder whose home was this unlucky. It unexpectedly caught on fire!”
“I live in the building across from that one. It seemed like someone was living in there!”
Hearing the dialogue, Luo Yan grew increasingly anxious. Not caring about everyone else, he rushed into the neighborhood, pushing aside anyone in his way.
“Whoever’s it is, please don’t let it be Jin Shuang’s! Please!” As he shouted to himself, Luo Yan pushed aside the public security blocking the way and ran towards the apartment Jin Shuang lived in.
The flames soared into the sky. It was the house across from Jin Shuang’s that was on fire.
Luo Yan carefully scrutinized the burning building. Only after verifying that he was not mistaken did he let out a breath. Just as he was about to enter the building, Luo Yan heard a shriek coming from above. Following that, he saw Jin Shuang appear on a balcony with a terrified expression on his face. As if he was mind controlled, Jin Shuang threw himself off of the balcony, falling down in front of Luo Yan.
Witnessing the miserable scene before him, Luo Yan’s mind seemed to have exploded into a blank space. He couldn’t keep himself from sinking to his knees.
Jin Shuang’s home was on the seventh floor. Having fallen down from that height with his head hitting the ground, there was no possibility of his survival. As he lay amidst the pool of blood, Jin Shuang’s hand still held onto a small, dark-colored box.
A firefighter walked over from behind and pulled the despondent Luo Yan out of the danger zone. While he was being pulled away, he vaguely saw the flames distort. They seemed to warp into a malevolent face, laughing at him!
Luo Yan couldn’t remember how he returned to his apartment. The encounter with his close friend left him in a disturbed state for a long time. That figure jumping off of the building and the face inside the flames continuously resurfaced in his mind like a reoccurring nightmare.
It was already deep into the night, but Luo Yan was not in the mood for sleep. He only blankly stared at the object on the table.
It was a palm-sized little box. It emitted an ancient smell and should have been rather old. The box’s base color was red, and the top of it was covered in a silver European-style flower pattern, like a flower growing in a sea of blood.
This should be an antique music box.
Luo Yan didn’t know why Jin Shuang had to give it to him, but Jin Shuang had held onto the box as he fell, so it was definitely an important object. Or, maybe… it was related to his death?
Thinking of this, Luo Yan unwaveringly stared at this music box. I felt that there was definitely some unknown secret hidden in this box. He examined every inch and every detail of the flower pattern. His gaze slowly shifted over to the handle that would activate the box’s spring.
Without his knowing, his grief slowly faded away. Luo Yan’s mind sank into emptiness, and an idea flourished and spread. He wanted to turn the handle, to listen to the music box’s tune. In the wake of this idea, his hand slowly reached over to the handle.
“Thump, thump!”
The sudden sound of door knocking startled Luo Yan, and his hand paused. Who could it be at this hour? After the passing of his good friend, Luo Yan was still suspicious.
“Luo Yan! Are you home?” A familiar voice rang out from behind the door.
Once Luo Yan heard the voice, he let loose a long breath. It was Ai Yun, one of his few female friends. Although the two had a very good relationship and were both single, they had never gotten together for some unknown reason.
The light scattered on Ai Yun’s attractive face. Luo Yan looked at her and the haze covering his mind slightly cleared up.
“It’s this late. Why are you here?” asked Luo Yan.
“Late?” Ai Yun raised her willow leaf-like eyebrow. “It’s already morning.”
Only now did Luo Yan notice the faint light passing through the curtains. The outside was gradually restored to the usual hubbub, and the indistinct shouts of children could be heard. Luo Yan found this a little hard to believe. To him, it felt like only a few minutes had passed. He pulled open the curtains, and the glaring sunshine that followed made it somewhat difficult for him to open his eyes. He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already eight o’clock in the morning. He pulled down the clock. It seemed like he could only make sure he hadn’t seen wrongly by looking closer.
Could it be that he had stared at the music box for the entire night? He thought with all his might, but he still could not recall how he had spent the night.
Ai Yun noticed there was something amiss in Luo Yan’s expression and asked, “I heard about Jin Shuang and immediately came over. Did you… not sleep at all?”
Luo Yan vacantly nodded, his gaze leaving the music box. A strong wave of exhaustion flooded him, sending his mind even further into disorder.
Ai Yun saw all of this and sighed faintly. She walked over to him and directly pushed him onto his bed. She pulled the covers over him, then minded her own business and left, saying, “Don’t think about anything right now. Just get a good rest. I will go make lunch.”
Not waiting for Luo Yan’s reply, she closed the bedroom door and walked toward the kitchen.
Chapter 1 - The Music Box
Luo Yan yawned. He was about to finish the rest of the milk in his cup in one gulp, then throw himself onto the bed and get a good rest when his phone decided to tactlessly start ringing. Luo Yan glanced at the name displayed on the phone.
“Jin Shuang? He’s calling at this time?” Luo Yan thought aloud. Contrary to his words, there was a smile on his face.
He tapped on the answer button and was about to tease him, but then, he heard Jin Shuang’s frightened voice.
“Luo Yan, get over here… I’m afraid that I won’t live past tonight!”
“You’re joking.” The smile was still on Luo Yan’s face. Jin Shuang was his best friend. He had read too many horror novels and often liked joking with others by trying to scare them.
“I’m not joking this time!”
Jin Shuang’s words had a tone of panic and uncertainty, which gave Luo Yan a feeling that something was not right. Although Jin Shuang liked playing jokes, his acting was too horrible. It was impossible for him to pretend to be so terrified.
Luo Yan put away his joking attitude and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s that music box. Whatever you do, don’t open it, don’t listen to it… I don’t have much time left. Liu Wen, he…” Jin Shuang spoke. His words were full of impatience and unrest and lacked any logic.
Luo Yan had grown confused listening to Jin Shuang and was just about to inquire further. Suddenly, strange music could be heard coming through the phone. Able to send chills up one’s spine, its timbre was clear and bright, and its melody was cold and gloomy.
Alarmed, Jin Shuang cried out, “D*mn it! Don’t tell me it wasn’t loosened…”
Chaotic smashing noises mixed with the sound of Jin Shuang’s heavy breathing came from the phone. The urgent footsteps and a door closing could be heard immediately after.
Jin Shuang muttered to himself, “I cannot let other people hear it…”
In a dark room, Jin Shuang stared out the window at the nightscape with his back against the door. He breathed deeply a few time, soberness gradually returning to his eyes. He picked up the phone and said as if saying goodbye, “Luo Yan, my best friend, if I can’t wait for you, please hide this box where no one can find it. Don’t…”
Boom!
The sound of an explosion drowned out Jun Shuang’s words. Luo Yan’s heart contracted. He hurriedly shouted Jin Shuang’s name, but the only reply was a burst of static and, afterward, deathly stillness,
Something happened to Jin Shuang! Luo Yan realized the seriousness of the situation. He didn’t have the time to change out of his sleepwear and madly rushed out of the house.
The apartment Jin Shuang lived in was not far from Luo Yan’s. There was only a residential complex between them, and by bicycle, Luo Yan would get there in less than twenty minutes. It was already late autumn, the wind bringing with it a horrifying chilliness. However, Luo Yan couldn’t care less about such matters. He got on his bicycle and rode as fast as he could toward Jin Shuang’s home.
After passing a couple streets, the neighborhood Jin Shuang lived in lay in front of his eyes. Luo Yan discovered that the neighborhood’s gate was flooded with people. Many of which were peering in. When Luo Yan saw them all, the unknown premonition growing in his mind intensified.
“I wonder whose home was this unlucky. It unexpectedly caught on fire!”
“I live in the building across from that one. It seemed like someone was living in there!”
Hearing the dialogue, Luo Yan grew increasingly anxious. Not caring about everyone else, he rushed into the neighborhood, pushing aside anyone in his way.
“Whoever’s it is, please don’t let it be Jin Shuang’s! Please!” As he shouted to himself, Luo Yan pushed aside the public security blocking the way and ran towards the apartment Jin Shuang lived in.
The flames soared into the sky. It was the house across from Jin Shuang’s that was on fire.
Luo Yan carefully scrutinized the burning building. Only after verifying that he was not mistaken did he let out a breath. Just as he was about to enter the building, Luo Yan heard a shriek coming from above. Following that, he saw Jin Shuang appear on a balcony with a terrified expression on his face. As if he was mind controlled, Jin Shuang threw himself off of the balcony, falling down in front of Luo Yan.
Witnessing the miserable scene before him, Luo Yan’s mind seemed to have exploded into a blank space. He couldn’t keep himself from sinking to his knees.
Jin Shuang’s home was on the seventh floor. Having fallen down from that height with his head hitting the ground, there was no possibility of his survival. As he lay amidst the pool of blood, Jin Shuang’s hand still held onto a small, dark-colored box.
A firefighter walked over from behind and pulled the despondent Luo Yan out of the danger zone. While he was being pulled away, he vaguely saw the flames distort. They seemed to warp into a malevolent face, laughing at him!
Luo Yan couldn’t remember how he returned to his apartment. The encounter with his close friend left him in a disturbed state for a long time. That figure jumping off of the building and the face inside the flames continuously resurfaced in his mind like a reoccurring nightmare.
It was already deep into the night, but Luo Yan was not in the mood for sleep. He only blankly stared at the object on the table.
It was a palm-sized little box. It emitted an ancient smell and should have been rather old. The box’s base color was red, and the top of it was covered in a silver European-style flower pattern, like a flower growing in a sea of blood.
This should be an antique music box.
Luo Yan didn’t know why Jin Shuang had to give it to him, but Jin Shuang had held onto the box as he fell, so it was definitely an important object. Or, maybe… it was related to his death?
Thinking of this, Luo Yan unwaveringly stared at this music box. I felt that there was definitely some unknown secret hidden in this box. He examined every inch and every detail of the flower pattern. His gaze slowly shifted over to the handle that would activate the box’s spring.
Without his knowing, his grief slowly faded away. Luo Yan’s mind sank into emptiness, and an idea flourished and spread. He wanted to turn the handle, to listen to the music box’s tune. In the wake of this idea, his hand slowly reached over to the handle.
“Thump, thump!”
The sudden sound of door knocking startled Luo Yan, and his hand paused. Who could it be at this hour? After the passing of his good friend, Luo Yan was still suspicious.
“Luo Yan! Are you home?” A familiar voice rang out from behind the door.
Once Luo Yan heard the voice, he let loose a long breath. It was Ai Yun, one of his few female friends. Although the two had a very good relationship and were both single, they had never gotten together for some unknown reason.
The light scattered on Ai Yun’s attractive face. Luo Yan looked at her and the haze covering his mind slightly cleared up.
“It’s this late. Why are you here?” asked Luo Yan.
“Late?” Ai Yun raised her willow leaf-like eyebrow. “It’s already morning.”
Only now did Luo Yan notice the faint light passing through the curtains. The outside was gradually restored to the usual hubbub, and the indistinct shouts of children could be heard. Luo Yan found this a little hard to believe. To him, it felt like only a few minutes had passed. He pulled open the curtains, and the glaring sunshine that followed made it somewhat difficult for him to open his eyes. He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already eight o’clock in the morning. He pulled down the clock. It seemed like he could only make sure he hadn’t seen wrongly by looking closer.
Could it be that he had stared at the music box for the entire night? He thought with all his might, but he still could not recall how he had spent the night.
Ai Yun noticed there was something amiss in Luo Yan’s expression and asked, “I heard about Jin Shuang and immediately came over. Did you… not sleep at all?”
Luo Yan vacantly nodded, his gaze leaving the music box. A strong wave of exhaustion flooded him, sending his mind even further into disorder.
Ai Yun saw all of this and sighed faintly. She walked over to him and directly pushed him onto his bed. She pulled the covers over him, then minded her own business and left, saying, “Don’t think about anything right now. Just get a good rest. I will go make lunch.”
Not waiting for Luo Yan’s reply, she closed the bedroom door and walked toward the kitchen.
