The People in the Walls, Chapter 16 (Original Fiction, Suspense)

10:40 PM. Wang Jing'an was alone in the consultation room, organizing audio tapes and Gao Zhenxiang's paintings. Suddenly, Gao Zhenxiang appeared, requesting one last session. During their talk, he brought up the basement from his dreams and recalled his father, mother, brother, and a man wearing a black ring appearing years ago. What shocked Wang Jing'an even more was Gao Zhenxiang remembering his mother preventing his father from harming his brother, and that the man seemed to have known his mother beforehand. As his memories gradually returned, Gao Zhenxiang recalled the truth about his injury at age eight. He hadn't fallen down the stairs but was taken away by the stranger and woke up in the hospital. This contradicted the medical records from that time. At the end of their session, three knocks echoed from behind the wall. Gao Zhenxiang, tears streaming down his face, called out "Brother," but only silence answered. Before leaving, he suddenly remembered his brother's last words to him: "Zhenxiang, don't believe the day you remember." Wang Jing'an stood frozen. If the past Gao Zhenxiang remembered was false, then the testimonies and medical records the police currently had might have been deliberately altered. Just then, Officer Zhou called. "Teacher Wang, we've found where Gao Zhenwei was last seen." Wang Jing'an's heart tightened. "Where?" There was a pause on the other end. "Not the Gao residence, and not the basement." Officer Zhou's voice became unusually low. "It was your consultation room."