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墨書 Inktalez
A flurry of snowflakes danced across the computer screen.
I knew I was about to witness the entire truth of the matter, and a wave of nervousness washed over me. I held my breath, staring intently at the monitor. The other two were just as focused, their eyes glued to the screen.
After a few seconds, the surveillance footage appeared.
The camera was positioned at a 45-degree angle, mounted just outside the door of Fu Yuehua's room. The image displayed a hallway, with stairs at the end. This was an Old Building, unlike typical structures; it had railings instead of solid walls on one side of the corridor.
The Security Chief explained, "This is the room at the far end of the third floor of the Reception House. The camera's hard drive is small, so it records daily and automatically overwrites itself. This footage is from yesterday."
The scene was set during the day, and everything appeared quiet. No one was in the hallway; after a minute or two with no activity, I was about to ask a question when Ah Huang interjected, "Were there any guests on the third floor of the Reception House yesterday?"
"No," came the reply. "In fact, due to the start of the school year, there weren't many guests at all. A few family members of teachers were on the first and second floors. We asked the students who accompanied Fu Yuehua; she didn't leave and nothing seemed out of place. She came back after lunch to switch shifts; those accompanying her were students from her dorm arranged by her counselor. Typically, one student would come back after lunch to take over for another."
"Then let's fast forward to just before the incident," Ah Huang commanded after a moment's thought.
"Understood," said the Security Chief, nodding as he reached for the fast-forward button to adjust the playback.
"Set it to Early Morning and drag it to ten minutes before the incident," Ah Huang continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. It was interesting; every time I worked with Ah Huang on a case, I could clearly see how much more capable and composed he had become. Reflecting on how he had been just six months ago—a green rookie—I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. It seemed that sometimes all a person needed was an opportunity to grow rapidly.
The Security Chief acknowledged him and began dragging through the footage. The images flickered as they moved frame by frame like a slideshow, showing daylight fading into complete darkness without anyone appearing in the hallway.
There was a light at the stairwell on the third floor—not very bright but sufficient to provide some visibility for this camera's position. While it couldn't compare to daylight, it still allowed for clearer viewing.
Suddenly, a thought struck me, and I turned to ask, "Does this surveillance have audio?"
The Security Chief smiled wryly and shook his head. "No, the price for one with audio is too high."
A hint of disappointment flashed across Ah Huang's face, but it was understandable. Not every camera held significant value, and there was no need for all of them to have audio capabilities.
The Security Chief quickly stopped dragging the footage, and the image stabilized. The three of us once again stared nervously at the screen. I glanced at the time: it was 2:11 AM.
The surveillance screen remained as still as before, with only the yellow light from the stairwell illuminating the area. Time ticked by without any sign of movement. I was growing impatient and looked over at Ah Huang, who was intently focused on the screen. I had no choice but to turn my head back.
The screen still showed no activity, and just as I was about to suggest that the Chief drag the footage again, I suddenly felt something move within the frame.
When you stare at a static scene for a long time, even the slightest change can catch your eye. That’s exactly what happened now; not just me, but the other two noticed it as well. Everyone perked up and shifted their gaze back to the screen.
The door we were watching opened outward, and we saw Fu Yuehua's room door slowly creak open.
A hand pressed against the door, gently pushing it ajar.
I held my breath, tense as I watched. After the door opened, the hand slowly retreated, and for a moment there was silence before a figure gradually stepped out.
We all leaned in closer; the lighting wasn't great, but we needed to confirm who this person was.
The figure wore a long white nightgown, her long hair cascading down as she lowered her head and walked slowly toward the railing across from her door. The corridor was only about two meters wide at most. She approached the railing and stood quietly, gazing outside.
"That's Fu Yuehua," both I and the Security Department Head said simultaneously.
"Yeah, keep watching," Ah Huang replied.
In the darkness, Fu Yuehua stood there, blocking the incoming light, just standing still.
What is she trying to do? I instinctively thought, quickly realizing she must be about to jump. But would she really just jump like that? What the hell! I pondered, this came without any warning. Sleepwalking? No way. I immediately dismissed that thought since there had been no signs indicating Fu Yuehua had a history of sleepwalking.
At that moment, Fu Yuehua suddenly moved. She slowly placed her hands on the railing, gripping it tightly, and then gradually lifted her right leg over it. With her entire body leaning against the railing, she hung there for four or five seconds before suddenly releasing her grip and falling.
The scene on the silent surveillance screen was eerie. Watching this unfold sent a chill down my spine.
I turned to look at the other two; they wore expressions of shock and disbelief. The Security Chief muttered repeatedly, "This is too strange, too strange."
Ah Huang remained silent, his face serious as he contemplated something. Just as I was about to say something, Ah Huang suddenly spoke up, "Rewind."
The Security Chief immediately complied, rewinding the footage and even slowing it down. We watched closely as the entire jumping process replayed before us.
Just as Fu Yuehua hung from the railing at the end, Ah Huang suddenly said, "Look at her mouth."
We exchanged puzzled glances at the screen. Was she saying something? I hadn’t noticed; I was too captivated by her actions. It seemed those involved in criminal investigations were indeed observant.
At that moment, the footage moved again. I focused on Fu Yuehua's mouth, and indeed, though her eyes were obscured by her long hair, her lips were moving. After saying something, she released her grip and fell.
What was she saying?
"What was she saying?" the Security Chief asked first.
"Let’s not rush; let’s continue watching," Ah Huang replied without haste.
We looked down again, estimating that the noise had startled the people on the first floor. They might have come out to see what was happening, and the light in the scene noticeably brightened.
Then, the lights in Fu Yuehua's house turned on, likely because the noise had woken up those accompanying her. Soon, people rushed out, screaming and covering their faces in distress.
There’s no need to elaborate on what happened next. Ah Huang shouted for one of the police officers outside to come in. "Get a recording and do a technical analysis. Find a lip-reading expert to see what the involved parties are saying."
After giving his instructions, Ah Huang sat down on the sofa and suddenly turned to me, asking, "Do you think it could be a mental issue with your student?"
I repeated what I had told the department head earlier and suggested they conduct an inquiry among the students to rule out any emotional issues that might have led to a suicide. Finally, I said, "From what I know about Fu Yuehua, it doesn't seem like sleepwalking or any mental problems, but I can't completely rule it out since she fainted during military training."
"What happened?" Ah Huang asked sensitively.
I glanced at the Security Chief, and Ah Huang stood up, pulling me out of the meeting room.
Once we were a few steps away, Ah Huang lowered his voice. "Brother, don’t tell me there’s something strange about this situation."
I looked at Ah Huang, unsure of how to respond. "Uh, well..."
My hesitation puzzled Ah Huang. "Just say it. Honestly, after knowing you for so long, I've seen my fair share of oddities."
Taking a deep breath, I recounted what had happened that day at the Old Building and shared the campus legends with him. Ah Huang gasped upon hearing it. "Could it really be something ghostly on campus?"
I sighed. "I can’t say for sure, but it certainly is suspicious."
Ah Huang pondered for a long time as if he had made a significant decision. He slowly said, "Now we can only wait for the family to meet and start an investigation. We need to see if this family has any history of mental illness, especially the person involved. A thorough investigation will yield results; if everything checks out normally, then we’ll have to consider the impossible."
"Well, then I have nothing else to do."
"You can't say that. The investigation will start today, and it should be quick. I suggest you don't go back. If we need your cooperation for any issues, we'll have to find you. Besides," Ah Huang glanced around. "Why don't you stay at school and see if you can find any special clues?"
I nodded silently. It was always like this; I could only play the role of a 'supernatural detective.' Unfortunately, I hadn't brought Little Farmer with me.
"How's the rescue operation going? Let me know if there are any updates," I finally said.
"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. Go ahead."
"Okay, you go ahead and get busy too."
With Jinghe by my side, I pondered where to go next.
To be continued, the next chapter will be even more exciting.
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