Chapter 4: The Crying in the Elevator

It was a weekend, and it was almost noon, with hardly anyone around. After entering the elevator, Hu Zongren began pressing the buttons starting from the LG floor all the way to the 22nd floor, indicating that this building has 22 floors. After pressing the buttons, he shamelessly made a V sign towards the surveillance camera, which looked quite like a lobster. I carefully observed the interior of the elevator. The walls were covered with various small advertisements, mainly for services like plumbing, locksmithing, and document processing. On one side near the display screen, there was a device resembling a radio. Once the elevator started running, the radio began playing advertisements for things like emotional intelligence education or English training. The floor of the elevator was made of stone, and the surrounding walls were covered with frosted stainless steel panels, which eliminated reflections and significantly reduced the possibility of the elevator being haunted. The top of the elevator was quite dilapidated, with the lampshade for lighting completely missing, exposing bare fluorescent tubes. Surrounding the tubes was a vent with a small railing in the shape of a "口" character. This must have been the opening that once pulled the owner's hair.

It must be stated that this significantly narrowed the scope of our investigation. Thus, Hu Zongren and I made a relatively plausible conjecture, which is that this ghost specifically targets women, particularly those who are young and appear to be quite attractive. Furthermore, since it allows those elderly individuals to hear its cries, if it is not intended to harm or frighten the elderly, then it must be to attract their attention

Sister Zhang did not respond directly, but continued to say that the surveillance camera in the elevator was installed on the left rear side, covering all positions except for the blind spot at the top and the left rear corner. It was precisely because it could not capture the top that the few finger-like objects that suddenly appeared from above would seem particularly strange. If there were indeed something hidden in the surveillance blind spot, then those finger-like objects should not emerge from above at all.

Thus, Hu Zongren said to Sister Zhang, "How about this, let me borrow your computer, and we will watch the video again." For nearly the next hour, Hu Zongren and I squatted in front of the computer, repeatedly comparing those segments. As we watched, it seemed that we both began to notice some issues, because in the existing segments of the footage, we discovered several common points.

The first commonality is that all the victims of the hair-pulling phenomenon are female, and they all appear to be relatively young, looking to be under 30 years old. Among them, there are several who fit the preferences of He Zongren, as I can tell from the way he smacks his lips. Second, these affected women all have long, black, straight hair, at least long enough to reach the top of the elevator when combined with their height. Third, whether it is these female owners or the elderly individuals mentioned later by Sister Zhang who noticed the sound of crying, both the hair-pulling incidents and the appearance of the crying sound all occurred at 7:48 PM.

In addition, Hu Zongren and I also noticed that one evening around 7:48 PM, there was another person who took the elevator. This was a middle-aged man accompanied by a child who appeared to be in elementary school. The man was quite tall, and he stood in a position that was precisely the most susceptible to having his hair pulled. However, he seemed completely unaffected and exited the elevator on his floor. The fourth commonality, which we believe is the most critical point, is that all the residents who were affected or heard the crying sound live on the 10th floor or above of this building.

Upon reaching the LG level, no one was using the elevator. After closing the door, Hu Zongren said to me, "Use your compass to see what might be wrong." I took out the compass and began to search around, but strangely, I did not detect any trace of ghosts at all.

Hu Zongren interrupted Sister Zhang, saying, "But the elevator surveillance and the library only have images without sound. How can you find out who is crying?" Sister Zhang nodded and replied that initially she had considered this point, because the surveillance equipment in this community is flash memory-based, meaning it can record video footage for about a week. After a week, if no theft or serious incident occurs, the system will automatically delete the previous recordings to save space, which is roughly the idea. Coincidentally, during the time she began reviewing the footage, several residents reported incidents of their hair being pulled, which were identical to what the resident on the 17th floor had complained about. Then, after a week, if no theft or serious incident occurs, the system will automatically delete the previous recordings to save space, which is roughly the idea. Coincidentally, during the time she began reviewing the footage, several residents reported incidents of their hair being pulled, which were identical to what the resident on the 17th floor had complained about.

He exhaled a puff of smoke, then casually dug at his nostrils and said, "We need to buy wigs; we are going to dress as women"

In this way, the matter has already been determined. This means that Hu Zongren is guaranteed to profit from this sum of money. Consequently, Hu Zongren suggested that he would like to take a look at the elevator in person and also asked Sister Zhang to make a copy of all the unusual videos she currently has on hand, as we need to study them carefully. Sister Zhang, feeling a bit embarrassed, said that the elevator is located at the end of the hallway outside the office. When you arrived earlier, I led you through the stairs because I simply did not have the courage to take the elevator.

This should not have been the case. If the video that Sister Zhang showed us at that time was not fabricated, then even if that ghost is not currently in the elevator, it must have appeared here at some point. Since it has appeared, I should be able to find traces of it. The elevator continued to ascend to the top floor, yet there was still nothing unusual. So we took the elevator back down to the basement level. During this time, other residents entered the elevator, and we decided not to take out our compass nails to scare them. The elevator continued to ascend to the top floor, yet there was still nothing unusual. So we took the elevator back down to the basement level. During this time, other residents entered the elevator, and we decided not to take out our compass nails to scare them. After returning to Sister Zhang's office, Hu Zongren said that we had thoroughly checked the elevator. Not only did we not encounter the phenomenon of hair being pulled, but we also found no traces or signs of ghosts inside. Hu Zongren said this was very strange, but he could not figure out why for the time being. After returning to Sister Zhang's office, Hu Zongren said that we had thoroughly checked the elevator. Not only did we not encounter the phenomenon of hair being pulled, but we also found no traces or signs of ghosts inside. Hu Zongren said this was very strange, but he could not figure out why for the time being.

I continued to question him, what exactly do you intend to do

After finishing her words, Sister Zhang led us towards the elevator, but from her expression, it was clear that she was unwilling to enter the elevator with us. We carefully observed the layout; the entire basement level one consisted of the property management office and the security personnel's lounge. At the end of the corridor was an open space, with two elevator doors positioned side by side in the middle. Surrounding one side of the elevator shaft was a curved driveway, presumably intended for vehicles coming in from outside to access basement level two. After escorting us to the elevator doors, Sister Zhang pointed to the elevator on the left and said, "This is the one where the incident occurred; the other one is perfectly fine. I implore both of you to ensure that this matter is thoroughly investigated."

Neither Hu Zongren nor I spoke, so Sister Zhang explained that this building is a standalone structure developed by a small developer. Therefore, despite the relatively high number of floors, there are only two elevators. The businesses in the podium, such as car dealerships or supermarkets, do not use these high-rise elevators; at most, customers park in the garage and then go from the basement level to the LG level, which is the street level. Moreover, the complaints they have received are entirely from the residents above, with none coming from the businesses in the podium. When those elderly people mentioned the sound of a woman's crying, it caught Sister Zhang's attention. Thus, without alarming the other staff, she retrieved a significant amount of surveillance footage from the elevators for inspection

Hu Zongren and I walked out of the office and then walked to the ground floor. He asked me for a cigarette and lit it. I asked him if he had everything with him, what else did he need to prepare? Hu Zongren said, do you know where in Chongqing they sell costumes and props? I was still puzzled and replied that I knew, there are many around the area from Erlukou to Pipa Mountain, but what do you need to go there for? He still did not answer me and after thinking for a moment, he asked, how much money do you have on you? I was still confused and replied that I knew, there are many around the area from Erlukou to Pipa Mountain, but what do you need to go there for? He still did not answer me and after thinking for a moment, he asked, how much money do you have on you? I touched my back pocket, not because I was satisfied with my figure, but because my wallet was habitually placed in my back pocket. I said I only had a few hundred yuan, and I first said, oh, I definitely can't lend you money! He laughed and said, haha, that's not necessary, a few hundred is enough.

After speaking, he stood up and said to Sister Zhang, "Sister Zhang, we need to go out now to prepare some necessary items. Please don't rush to leave after work today; wait for us in the office. We should be back around 5 o'clock, and we may need your cooperation then." Sister Zhang, puzzled, replied, "What do you need my cooperation for? If I understood, why would I need to ask you?" Hu Zongren said, "All you need to do is lower the maintenance fence of the elevator to the ground floor and adjust the control line so that people cannot call the elevator." Sister Zhang, still confused, repeated, "What do you need my cooperation for? If I understood, why would I need to ask you?" Hu Zongren reiterated, "All you need to do is lower the maintenance fence of the elevator to the ground floor and adjust the control line so that people cannot call the elevator."

I glanced at the time; it was just past 1 PM. There was still quite a long time until 7:48 PM. Both Hu Zongren and I thought that if we were to seek out the traces of this ghost, we would probably have to wait until evening. After a moment of silence, Hu Zongren nudged me and said to come with him outside.

The surveillance footage indeed confirms what Sister Zhang said; if one does not pause or slow down the playback, it truly appears as if someone's hair is being pulled. However, when we slow down the speed or even stop to examine it closely, we unmistakably discover that it is merely a few fingers.

Upon reaching the second basement level, the area was densely packed with cars. At the elevator entrance, there was an elderly man specifically tasked with issuing tickets and collecting fees. He seemed puzzled as to why these two young men had chosen to come down and take the elevator from here. After Hu Zongren and I pressed the elevator button, we extinguished our cigarette butts, and as soon as the elevator arrived, we immediately stepped inside.

Thus, Hu Zongren pulled me along the vehicle passageway, and on the way, he asked me for a cigarette. While smoking, he complained to me that there wasn't even a single ashtray in the office, which was driving him crazy.

Hu Zongren asked Sister Zhang, "The elevator goes to the basement level 2, right?" Sister Zhang replied, "Yes, the owners with cars park and then take the elevator directly from basement level 2." Hu Zongren then asked, "So basement level 2 is the lowest level of this building, correct?" Sister Zhang confirmed, "Yes, below that is just the foundation and the septic tank, among other things." Hu Zongren nodded and said, "Alright, let's go to basement level 2." Sister Zhang reiterated, "Yes, below that is just the foundation and the septic tank, among other things." Hu Zongren nodded and said, "Alright, let's go to basement level 2."

Hu Zongren asked Sister Zhang, do you still have that video here? Sister Zhang replied that she did, and she had prepared it early knowing he would come. Hu Zongren said, well then, please show it to us.

Sister Zhang said that when she reviewed the footage from that day, she was very surprised to discover that at the moment when one of the homeowners' hair was being pulled up, a few long, slender objects, resembling fingers, appeared in a corner of the surveillance camera, flashing by. Hu Zongren said, so you suspect that this house is haunted, and that the ghost is lying on top of the elevator cabin, pulling people's hair when it finds someone displeasing, is that right

But why choose the elderly? There are many possibilities for this. So far, Hu Zongren and I indeed have no clue about it. Although children and the elderly represent the two ends of the life trajectory and are also the groups most likely to encounter ghosts, it seems rather unconvincing to jump to conclusions like this.

Sister Zhang then told us that it was not just like that. Initially, the management thought it might just be some mechanical failure. Since no one was injured and the cause could not be identified, they could only make do with it. After all, they couldn't spend a large sum of money to replace the elevator just because of the dissatisfaction of a few homeowners. However, later on, some elderly residents in the building mentioned that when they took the elevator upstairs, they occasionally heard the sound of a woman crying.

Sister Zhang said that she repeatedly froze the moment when the finger appeared, and in less than a second, when it appeared, the owner's hair was floating upwards, and when it disappeared, it seemed as if something had pulled it. As a result, Sister Zhang began to believe what the elderly people in the building said about the sound of a woman crying in the elevator