As the chaos temporarily subsided, we began to carefully observe our surroundings. In front of us stood a decrepit building, bearing the appearance of a school long forgotten for decades. Moss and sprawling cracks covered the gray, lifeless walls. Right at the main gate, a sign with a vivid red arrow pointed straight inside, accompanied by a tattered sheet of paper hanging loosely.
On it were only a few words:
-Solve the riddle of the girl, An Yue.
While everyone was still whispering and hesitating at the threshold, a faint dripping sound echoed from above. I instinctively reached out to catch it-only to freeze in shock.
It wasn't rain. It was blood.
A downpour of thick, dark crimson began to fall from the grotesque sky. A nauseating metallic stench rose the moment the liquid struck the ground. The crowd, which had only just calmed, erupted into turmoil once more. Fear of something about to manifest within the rain-or some lethal plague seeping through skin-shattered the last fragments of composure.
They trampled over one another, rushing madly toward the building's gates.
-"Hey, let me in first! I have a child!"
-"Move aside!"
-"Stop pushing! Damn it, my designer shoes are ruined!"
Curses and cries tangled with the relentless sound of rain. I hurriedly stripped off my coat and held it over my head, forcing my way through the panicked crowd. Finally, carried by the surge of bodies, I was shoved inside.
I took a deep breath to steady myself. The smell of dampness and dust rushed straight into my lungs. The interior was terrifyingly dark; long corridors stretched endlessly without a single light, like enormous jaws waiting to swallow us whole.
-"What was that just now… That was clearly blood!"
-"So disgusting. Whose blood falls from the sky?"
The group's morale took another heavy blow, yet survival instinct forced them forward.
At that moment, I spotted another sign, its arrow pointing toward the staircase leading upstairs. The mission was likely waiting there.
I gripped the rotting wooden handrail and began to climb. Reckless? Perhaps. But I didn't believe the demons would attack immediately. If the rule of the Hell Gate were "enter and die at once," then this game would have no meaning. There had to be rules-loopholes binding them.
Seeing my resolve, the others gathered their courage and followed. The entire group crept through the darkness. Some trembled so violently they collapsed; others clutched their crying children tightly.
The staircase was unnaturally long, as if it stretched into infinity beneath our feet. For a moment, I thought we had fallen into some illusion. Only when the dim light of the second floor appeared did I finally exhale in relief. At least reality had not been completely distorted.
A long corridor unfolded before us, deep and silent like a tunnel with no escape. It split into two directions, but the sign with the dark red arrow pointed left. I trudged forward, trying to keep my heartbeat from spiraling out of control.
Suddenly, a rough, heavy hand landed on my shoulder. A low, hoarse male voice spoke:
-"Brother… aren't you afraid?"
I flinched and turned around. Before me stood a towering man, massive as a mountain. Bulging muscles and fierce tattoos stretching across his arms made me swallow nervously. Honestly, he looked more frightening than any demon I had imagined.
- "Of course I am. I'm scared out of my mind," I said, forcing calm into my voice. "This is my first time entering a mission in the Hell Gate."
He cleared his throat, his expression easing slightly.
-"Is that so? Me too. Let's team up."
Having an ally now was clearly good news. But judging from his intimidating, gangster-like presence, even if I wanted to go solo, I probably wouldn't have the courage to refuse.
- "Sure. I don't see a problem."- "Name's Chu Haocheng. And you?"- "I'm Zhao Tianxia. Nice to meet you."
I silently memorized his name. Contrary to his fierce appearance, Chu Haocheng seemed rather straightforward and open.
While we were talking, I suddenly felt my steps grow heavy. Looking down, I saw a pitch-black, sticky substance clinging to the soles of my shoes. It resembled melted tar or rotting rubber, emitting a foul stench. I clicked my tongue and ignored it, assuming the floor had decayed over time, then continued following the signs.
Before long, we stood before an old door marked in red: Room 23.
A few impatient people reached for the handle, eager to barge in and get it over with, but the more experienced players quickly stopped them.
-"Wait! Do you want to die? What if there's a trap behind that door?"-"Exactly. Check through the window first."
Chu Haocheng and I approached the window, obscured by a gray, stained curtain. Holding my breath, I carefully lifted a corner and peered inside.
The room was filled with old toys. In the center, a small girl sat on the floor, cheerfully swinging a stuffed animal in her hands. She looked strangely peaceful-completely at odds with the deadly atmosphere outside. This must be An Yue.
Seeing no immediate danger, the crowd began to relax. A few trembling individuals stepped forward, placing their hands on the cold metal doorknob and slowly turning it.
Click.
The door opened a narrow crack. A gust of cold air rushed out, raising goosebumps along my skin. At that very moment, the girl inside-who had been playing happily-suddenly froze. The stuffed animal stopped mid-swing.
Then, at a speed no human could match, she snapped her head around.
A full 180-degree turn. The dry cracking of vertebrae echoed in the air. Her pitch-black eyes, devoid of whites, stared straight at the gap in the door - at us.