Horror Game Designer

Chapter 30: The White Owl

As the darkness retreated, Gao Ming and Zhu Miao Miao found themselves abruptly transitioning from the eerie, shadow-laden world back to the familiar, yet now disconcerting, reality of their own world.

The pitter-patter of raindrops greeted them, a stark contrast to the silence they had just escaped. Zhu Miao Miao, her hands still tightly gripping a firefighter’s axe, felt her knees buckle beneath her, and she crumpled to the wet ground. The release of tension was overwhelming. With her raincoat hood down, she looked around in a daze, her eyes fixating on Building No. 4. This building held poignant memories for her; it was there that ten of their fellow investigators, including herself and Gao Ming, had initially convened for what was supposed to be a routine investigation. Now, only she and Gao Ming stood outside, drenched and exhausted. The faces of her colleagues, with whom she had shared rigorous training sessions at the Investigation Bureau, flashed through her mind.

Sensing her turmoil, Gao Ming, who besides being her partner was also a skilled psychological counselor, spoke up. “They’re not dead, just trapped,” he said, a note of conviction in his voice. “They’re fighting for survival in that other, shadowy dimension. We must recuperate, build our strength, and prepare ourselves. We have to venture back into that ominous world and rescue them.”

Zhu Miao Miao nodded, her gaze filled with admiration for Gao Ming. Despite his often detached exterior, he was invariably the one leading the charge in perilous situations.

Gao Ming broke the reflective moment. “We should get going,” he suggested.

“But we left behind most of our equipment,” Zhu Miao Miao pointed out. She threw the axe into a storage container and hurried back into the building, intent on retrieving their abandoned gear.

Thirty minutes later, the duo departed from the scene, Gao Ming leading on an electric scooter provided by the Investigation Bureau, with Zhu Miao Miao following closely in a truck. They took an indirect route, cautiously avoiding potential dangers, and eventually arrived near the Lishan Investigation Division.

Before they could even disembark from their vehicles, they were besieged by a crowd of anxious staff members. These colleagues bombarded them with a flurry of questions and expressions of concern about the whereabouts of the missing investigators, including the Deputy Head of Investigation Team One, whose whereabouts were now unknown due to a lost tracking signal.

Amid the chaos, a young man with a stern, unyielding expression stepped forward and briskly opened the back of the truck. His eyes scanned the interior, finding only equipment and no sign of the missing team members. His reaction was a mixture of shock and disbelief, which momentarily silenced the crowd and created a heavy, tense air around them.

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After a brief, heavy silence, he approached Gao Ming. “I’m Bai Xiao, leader of Investigation Team One. Bai Qiao is my sister. What happened last night?” His tone was sharp, betraying a mix of worry and frustration.

Gao Ming responded with candor, not sugarcoating the grim reality. “We underestimated the danger. The anomaly at Building No. 4 on Minlong Street wasn’t a minor Level 1 disturbance. It was, at the very least, Level 2, possibly even Level 3. The more fear and panic it provoked, the more lethal it became, as it had the terrifying ability to turn those fears into tangible threats.”

His gaze fixed intently on Gao Ming, Bai Xiao struggled to process this information. The concept of an anomaly that could manifest fears into reality was beyond anything they had encountered before.

“So, it was an error in judgment by Bai Qiao that led her and the reserve members of our team into this predicament?” Bai Xiao’s voice was tinged with a barely controlled mix of anger and concern.

Gao Ming carefully placed his helmet on the scooter, his expression somber yet empathetic. He tried to offer a semblance of comfort to Bai Xiao in the midst of the unsettling situation. “Anomalies are inherently unpredictable. Our understanding of them is still limited. It’s important not to be too self-critical. The team is merely lost in the shadows as of now. There remains a possibility for their safe return.”

Bai Xiao’s lips trembled slightly, hinting at the emotional turmoil he was struggling to contain, but he remained silent. With a heavy heart, he turned and retreated into the truck, seeking solitude to process the news.

Zhu Miao Miao leaned towards Gao Ming and whispered a cautionary note about Bai Xiao’s temper. Gao Ming simply nodded in acknowledgment, his mind clearly preoccupied with broader, more pressing concerns. The interpersonal dynamics seemed trivial in comparison to the larger plan he was formulating.

Upon their return to the division, Gao Ming and Zhu Miao Miao were ushered into a meeting where they detailed the recent events. They used their black rings, which recorded data from the incident, as a reference tool. Bai Xiao, along with the remaining members of Team One, listened intently, absorbing every detail.

The Division Chief, Chen Yuntian, arrived during the debriefing. The gravity of the situation and the loss of eight investigators weighed heavily in the room. After two exhaustive hours, the reconstruction of events was completed, and the compiled information was uploaded to HQ. This provided everyone with a more comprehensive understanding of the incident.

After the debriefing, Chen Yuntian pulled Gao Ming aside for a private conversation. “I had given you three days to adjust, yet you encountered this unexpected event. Your timely intervention prevented a complete disaster. The retrieval of information, regardless of the outcome, was crucial. That’s where the true success lies.”

Despite the evident pain in Chen’s eyes, his demeanor remained stoic. “You handled yourself well, Gao Ming. I recommend you take a few days to rest and integrate with your team. Building trust among each other is vital when dealing with such anomalies.”

After offering his advice, Chen quickly departed to attend to other matters.

Curious, Zhu Miao Miao followed Gao Ming, inquiring about the advice Chen had given him. Gao Ming, maintaining his usual composure, simply stated that Chen had advised him on managing interpersonal relationships within the team.

In the office of Investigation Team One, the mood was palpably tense. With only three veteran members and Bai Xiao present, the space felt eerily empty. Unperturbed by the somber atmosphere, Gao Ming took a seat at a desk that once belonged to Qin Tian. His focus was not on the benefits of his position but on utilizing the Investigation Bureau’s resources for his personal objectives.

As Gao Ming delved into his work, researching haunted houses and refining his strategies, he was momentarily taken aback when Bai Xiao approached him.

“This was Qin Tian’s seat,” Bai Xiao observed, taking a seat opposite Gao Ming.

Without diverting his attention from his research, Gao Ming responded, “I’m aware. His name is still on the folders in this desk.” His tone was matter-of-fact, indicating his acceptance of the ever-changing dynamics within the Bureau.

As Bai Xiao’s voice wavered slightly, a veil of vulnerability momentarily overshadowed his usual stoic demeanor. “Every investigator knows what they’re signing up for the moment they join. Facing death is part of our job. Qin Tian, Bai Qiao, and I, we all understood that risk,” he said, his words tinged with a mix of resolve and hidden sorrow. “It’s not right to project our pain onto others. As a new member of Team One, I want to make it clear to you that you won’t face isolation or betrayal here. Our fight is against the anomalies, not each other. It’s only with this mindset that we can save more lives in the face of these disasters.”

Gao Ming, genuinely surprised by Bai Xiao’s candidness, finally lifted his gaze to meet his.

Bai Xiao continued, extending his hand in a gesture of camaraderie. “Qin Tian and I are both from Xinhai. We’ve stood shoulder to shoulder in life-threatening situations, so I have immense trust in his judgment.” His hand outstretched, he added, “Welcome to Investigation Team One.”

Gao Ming observed Bai Xiao closely, noticing the subtle sincerity in his expressions. This interaction marked the first time he truly felt the profound strength of human connection. He reflected on how humans, often perceived as weaker than ghosts, possessed a unique resilience, especially in the face of looming catastrophes.

Bai Xiao then turned to Zhu Miao Miao, handing her a fresh uniform. “New reserve members are expected to arrive this afternoon. There’s a joint operation in the Eastern District, so you two will need to stay on duty here tonight.”

Gao Ming mulled over the significance of the Eastern District, a place known for its prosperity, and the Bureau’s dedication to safeguarding it.

Pausing for a moment, Bai Xiao’s voice carried a somber tone as he shared more details. “We’re dealing with a suspected Level 4 anomaly there – the first ever in Hanhai. We’re mobilizing experienced investigators from all divisions.” His expression darkened slightly. “That’s where Qin Tian lost his life.”

Gao Ming, now grappling with the gravity of the situation, inquired cautiously, “Should we join the operation tonight?” He understood that a Level 4 anomaly represented a threat akin to those found in horror stories, a far more severe challenge than the prematurely triggered events like the one involving Zhao Xi.