Original Suspense Novel: 《ℬ𝓁𝒾𝓏𝓏𝒶𝓇𝒹 ℳ𝒶𝓃𝑜𝓇》 EP40

Someone recorded it. That tape is in Forensic Pathologist Zhou's hands." All eyes turned to Old Zhou. Old Zhou remained silent for a long time. The fire in the fireplace crackled, and the wind and snow picked up outside the window again. He slowly took out an old cassette tape from his pocket. The black plastic casing was already worn and faded, with a yellow label stuck to the side, bearing a date. September 15th, eighteen years ago. "I've kept it with me," Old Zhou said, his voice hoarse. "After I retired, it was the only thing I didn't hand back. Because I heard what was on it. I knew if I handed it in—" He didn't finish. "Play it," Chen Mo said. Old Zhou glanced at him, then stood up and walked over to an old-fashioned tape recorder by the bookshelf. The machine had originally been used as a decoration, but when Old Zhou pressed a switch, the indicator light came on. He inserted the tape and pressed the play button. At first, there was static. Then, the sound of wind, a distant wind. After that, a man's voice emerged—deep, slow, as if reciting something. It was Zhang Zhenyu's voice. "...The last night of the seventeenth year. The children of Fog Valley have left. But I stayed. I had to stay." "That room hasn't been opened yet. The key is still here. But the key doesn't know it's a key." "If he ever returns, please tell him—don't open that door. There's nothing he's looking for behind the door. Behind the door, there's only..." The tape cut off here. A long blank, and then (To be continued)