Chapter 10: The Ominous Rooftop

I laughed heartily: "I have heard of the hanging ghost, but I have never heard of the jumping-off-building ghost. Old Wang, you are just full of nonsense, not a single word of truth."

That is a Wolf Eye flashlight, purchased on Taobao during a special sale. After buying it, I hardly used it and just left it in the corner to gather dust. Looking at the flashlight, I suddenly had a thought and remembered what Old Wang said

Old Wang became angry: "I see that you are a good young man, so I kindly offer you a few words of advice. As the saying goes, good advice is hard to give to a stubborn person. If you want to go, then go ahead."

Upon entering the building's security checkpoint, I placed a plastic bag filled with snacks and drinks on Old Wang's desk, exchanged a few banterous remarks with him, and prepared to head back to sleep. Old Wang tore open a cigarette, sniffed its aroma, and wore a lewd expression: "Hehe, I didn't expect you to be quite savvy, kid. Let me just remind you one more thing: you must never go to the rooftop in the future"

Looking at this dark and silent corridor, I hurried home. I don't know why, but the more I walked, the more afraid I became, always feeling a chilling presence behind me, as if something were there. Perhaps I was just scaring myself. The faster I ran, the quicker I reached the door, unlocked it, and slipped into the new house I had just moved into.

Just thinking about the frightening encounter I had earlier makes me lose my courage again. After lying in bed for a while and finishing my cigarette, I turned over and got out of bed, picking up the flashlight. I pressed the button, and a strong beam of light shot out, leaving a large, blinding spot on the wall

I thought it would be unwise; one should not drink too much and lose consciousness, ending up sleeping in the corridor. It is so cold at night, and some of the windows in the corridor are not securely closed, allowing drafts from all sides. If one were to sleep here for an entire night, it would surely lead to a serious illness.

I toggled the flashlight button back and forth, it flickered on and off several times, and after a few attempts, I made up my mind to go to the rooftop

The roommate casually pressed the button for the top floor, but that button never lit up. He became a bit anxious and started tapping it frantically with his finger. Old Wang said: "You pressed the wrong one; that's not the 21st floor"

Old Wang repeatedly urged me not to go up to the rooftop, yet I truly want to go up and take a look

My roommate and I exchanged glances, and we didn't say much about the picture book. At that moment, the elevator arrived, and the three of us stepped inside.

My joints felt stiff, and I was afraid to turn my neck, fearing I might see something terrifying. My heart raced, and after a long while, I finally reached out to steady myself against the wall and slowly turned my head to look.

Upon reaching the 21st floor and stepping out of the elevator, I felt disoriented, seeing everything in double. My heart was racing inexplicably, pounding erratically, and my entire body felt hot. I staggered down the corridor, attempting to raise my hand to check the time, but my arms felt as heavy as lead, and I could not lift them at all

I descended from the window, heavily wiped my face, hesitated repeatedly, and with a sudden determination, walked to the door and pulled the handle. I wanted to try my luck; if the police had checked today, the door might not be locked. I tugged at it twice, but the door was locked very tightly. It then dawned on me that Lin Xia had died from jumping off a building, and her room was not the scene of the incident, so the police had no reason to investigate. In such a large city, there are at least eighty, if not a hundred, cases of accidental deaths by suicide in a single day; which police officer would be idle enough to dig deep into why a lovesick girl chose to jump? It then dawned on me that Lin Xia had died from jumping off a building, and her room was not the scene of the incident, so the police had no reason to investigate. In such a large city, there are at least eighty, if not a hundred, cases of accidental deaths by suicide in a single day; which police officer would be idle enough to dig deep into why a lovesick girl chose to jump.

The sound came without any warning, very suddenly, as if cold water had been poured over me, and in that moment, my blood seemed to freeze completely.

I even have the impulse to knock on each door, truly wanting to see if I am the only one here

Upon closer inspection, it turns out that the button for the 21st floor is the second one. Old Wang rubbed his hands and explained: "This building was constructed too early, and the elevator design has issues; the button for the top floor is useless and serves no purpose"

This design is quite peculiar; upon entering the second bend, there is still a long stretch of space inside, which is completely empty. It seems that a great deal of effort was expended to create such a large space, merely to accommodate the staircase leading to the rooftop

The room was cold and desolate, completely empty, and everything I touched felt icy. As I looked at the unfamiliar and frigid space, I felt extremely uncomfortable. In a moment of nostalgia, I recalled the hopelessness of my past life, and a sense of helplessness and desolation surged within me.

The staircase is hidden in the black doorway where I reside. To enter this doorway, one must turn two corners. The first corner leads to a small corridor containing the residents' rooms, while the second corner leads to the end of a pitch-black staircase.

I was lost in thought when I suddenly heard a sound in the room, faint and indistinct, resembling the sound of the wind. I pressed my whole body against the window, tilting my face to peer inside with all my might. However, due to the limitations of the angle, I could only see the kitchen. Beyond the kitchen door was a dark corner, where nothing was visible.

I waved my hand: "It's a long story, help me move it first and then we can talk."

I told my roommate to stay at my place tonight since he couldn't drive. He shook his head vigorously and said that he would only go to that haunted house of yours if he were to get his head caught in the door. I kicked him in the backside and told him to get lost, and he staggered off to take a taxi.

Old Wang, hands on his hips, paced back and forth in the room a few times: "Not bad, quite clean. Xiao Liu, go eat with your friend. I still have to keep watch. If you really want to treat the old man, just buy me some white liquor and bring a few chicken feet for dinner."

I took a look at the door number of this household; it was fine until I saw it, and I was almost scared to death: 2106

I stood at the stairway entrance, shining a flashlight upward. The stairs extended continuously upward, and at approximately three to four meters, they turned a corner and continued ascending

The three of us ran up and down several times, and after much effort, we finally piled all the things into the room. Looking at the messy space, I had no desire to tidy it up, so I waved my hand and said, "Come on, let's go drink."

The items for moving cannot use the main freight elevator of the building; they must be carried to the back freight elevator. By the time we reached the elevator entrance, my roommate and I were exhausted, panting like dogs, while Old Wang, holding the heaviest box, remained unfazed and unbreathless. He would occasionally mock us, saying, "Even this half-aged old man has better stamina than you young folks; you’ve become useless sitting in the office all day."

I felt every hair on my body standing on end, struggling to breathe, and a strong sense of fear nearly suffocated me. At that moment, I didn't know if I was just drunk or what, but I slowly walked over, leaned on the small skylight, squinted my eyes, and peered through the gap into the room

Feeling anxious, I quickened my pace and hurried home

After watching for a while, although I saw nothing, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. This gripping sensation is quite uncomfortable, akin to watching a poorly made horror film, always fearing that a woman's face will suddenly pop out to startle you.

In the evening, the weather was a bit cool. My roommate and I went downstairs to find a small hot pot restaurant outside the community. We ordered a table full of meat and a case of beer, and began to clink glasses and enjoy our meal heartily. We have been old friends for many years, so there was no need for formality. We ate so much that we barely lifted our heads or opened our eyes. This meal lasted until around 2 AM, with a table full of leftovers. We ate until we were stuffed and drank until our eyes were blurry. We embraced each other, burping from being so full. Although we had drunk quite a bit, I still remembered Old Wang. I brought him some chicken feet and pig knuckles, bought a bottle of white liquor, and casually picked up a pack of cigarettes.

Thinking too much is of no use. I turned on my flashlight and began to check inch by inch from the elevator entrance. I refuse to believe that I cannot find the way to the rooftop

On the right-hand side is a residence, with the main door tightly closed, except for a small skylight next to it that is slightly ajar. I rub my temples, wondering whether I was hearing things or if there really was a sound just now

Could it be that I am the only resident in this 21-story building

That rooftop is quite eerie. It is said that "he was sneaky, looking around furtively; in fact, there were only the two of us in the guard room. He deliberately created a sense of tension: 'It is said that there are ghosts of those who hanged themselves and those who jumped from buildings on the rooftop. They linger there, guarding, just to find a substitute for themselves, so they can be reincarnated. Lin Xia is the substitute they are looking for.'"

The staircase is surprisingly made of marble, unlike the concrete floor below, which feels somewhat slippery and hard underfoot. The staircase is very clean; I shone my flashlight around and could not see any debris or dirt anywhere, as if someone frequently cleans and tidies up.

I can't believe it's Li Damin calling me from the rooftop

Rubbing my head, I suddenly became more sober. A cold wind blew in through the window behind me, and I couldn't help but hug my shoulders and shiver.

I recall in detail that sigh, which sounded long and lingering, as if it carried immense worries. That kind of sorrowful entanglement was enough to tug at the heartstrings of anyone who heard it, bringing them to tears

At this moment, the moonlight is hazy, the lighting on this floor is becoming increasingly dim, and what is most terrifying is that the entire floor is silent, with only me wandering in the corridor

2106 is precisely the house where Lin Xia lived before her passing

As I reached the corner, I grasped the handrail, shone my flashlight upward, and leaned in to look; it was pitch black above, and I could see nothing.

Just as I was hesitating, suddenly the phone rang loudly, which sounded particularly jarring at such a tense moment. I was so startled that I let out a scream and nearly collapsed to the ground, and for some reason, I suddenly thought of Li Damin.

Why? I glanced at him sideways

But this is impossible. How did Lin Xia get up to jump off the building? Did she fly up there?

After taking just a few steps, I suddenly heard a woman's sigh coming from a window on my right: "Ah..."

First, taking advantage of the effects of alcohol; second, fearing that I might lose my courage in the future. Since today has already been unfortunate enough, I might as well embrace the misfortune completely

I hesitated for a moment, discarded the cigarette butt from my mouth, and began to walk upwards

In the afternoon, my roommate drove to help me move. I do not have many belongings, being a single man who does not care much about food or clothing; the only significant items I possess are several large boxes of books. I have a passion for reading and cannot put a book down every night, and over the years, I have unknowingly accumulated quite a collection. We both huffed and puffed as we loaded the car, then drove to the garden community and huffed and puffed again as we unloaded. Old Wang at the gate is truly a warm-hearted person; upon seeing me moving, he hurried out to lend a hand. We both huffed and puffed as we loaded the car, then drove to the garden community and huffed and puffed again as we unloaded. Old Wang at the gate is truly a warm-hearted person; upon seeing me moving, he hurried out to lend a hand.

I stepped out the door with a cigarette butt in my mouth and arrived in the corridor. Suddenly, I remembered something. Everyone talks about the rooftop, but where is the way to the rooftop and the library

The roommate stuck out his tongue and surveyed the surroundings: "Damn, Lao Liu, how did you end up in such a miserable place"

Don't say it, after going around in circles, I really found it

I carefully recalled the entire structure of the floor, and the chaotic information in my mind seemed to indicate that there really was no way to the rooftop

The 21st floor is indeed quite high, but the design of this freight elevator is truly lacking. It sways with every floor, and by the time I reach the 15th floor, I feel nauseous from the swaying, almost like being carsick. After enduring it all the way to the 21st floor, I stepped out of the elevator and leaned on the windowsill in the corridor, poking my head out to take a deep breath before I finally recovered

I also ignored him, scratched my groin, lifted my buttocks and let out a fart in the reception area, swaying side to side as I took the elevator back.

Standing still, I licked my lips and, gritting my teeth, decided to continue upward. At that moment, an unprecedented sensation suddenly surged through my body like an electric current, accompanied by a strong premonition that something might happen.

I walked through the living room with my head down, opened the door, and entered the room. Looking at the mess scattered all over, I thought about the grueling work I had to face tomorrow, and my mood sank to the lowest point. I was too lazy to tidy up, so I threw myself onto the bed, lay there for a while, wanting to sleep but unable to do so. I turned over and sat up.

Thinking of this, I swallowed hard, feeling a chill at the back of my neck. I regretted it deeply, wondering how I could have been so foolish as to rent this place, not knowing my own capabilities, just joining in the commotion. Alas, it is too late to say anything now

In the darkness, I took out a cigarette and leaned against the headboard to smoke. The room was particularly dark, with only the faint red glow of the cigarette tip flickering. My gaze fell upon an object in the box not far away.

Inside it was pitch dark, and by the faint moonlight, it appeared that there was a kitchen through the skylight. The area was relatively small, with a full set of kitchen utensils placed on the cabinets. It seemed that no one had lived here for a long time, giving it a lifeless atmosphere

This is not scientific. Lin Xia jumped from the building this morning. She had been living here all along; how could she have never used anything from the kitchen