With her small hands resting on the handrail of the stairs, Shen Ke could see the ancient shelf placed in the living room at a glance.

The shelf is an old huanghuali, which came from my mother Lu Hui's dowry.

The Lu family is a family of archaeologists, and Shen Ke's grandfather Lu Hang is well-known. A few years ago, during an archaeological operation, Lu Hang and his wife Zhao Miao disappeared in the desert and never came back.

Huanghuali’s old and learned airs were left behind by his old man.

There were many antiques on the shelf, some were accumulated by the Lu family, and some were recovered by Lu Hui later by chance.

The living room was very lively, and cross talk started during the Spring Festival Gala.

The mahjong was played with a clattering sound. The four of us, my parents and my grandparents, happened to be at the same table, and no one felt sleepy.

The little Shen Ke withdrew her gaze. She slowed down and walked gently upstairs. The creaking sound of the wooden stairs became quieter.

Her room is on the sunny side, the one closest to the stairs.

In the corner of the bathroom, there is a small copper stove, which looks a bit like a Xuande stove, but is a modern handicraft with incense tablets inside.

Shen Ke didn't pay attention. Her home had smelled like this since she could remember.

She brushed her teeth carefully and returned to her room. The bedside table lamp was on. Because the lampshade was Gothic and colorful, the light it illuminated was particularly mottled.

Shen Ke touched the "Collection of Deadly Chemicals" lying on the bedside, and did not continue reading, but lay down quietly.

She has been different from other children since she was a child, with excellent memory and learning abilities.

But she doesn't feel that she is too special, because everyone in the family has a good memory. Her father, Shen Zhaotang, graduated from a prestigious foreign university with a Ph.D. in chemistry. Even her grandparents who now raise flowers and grass at home have received good education. education.

This is probably due to family origins.

This time was too late for the child. Shen Ke rubbed his eyes and almost fell asleep next to the pillow.

Shen Ke couldn't remember clearly. She didn't know if her young self had a nightmare and woke up.

She suddenly opened her eyes, rolled over and got out of bed, and stepped on the carpet with her bare feet in a daze.

There was no more mahjong playing in the room, and the adults were silent. On the TV downstairs, the host was speaking enthusiastically and auspicious words.

Shen Ke raised his head and looked at the clock hanging on the wall. It would be midnight in a while.

She felt a little thirsty and walked towards the door. As soon as she put her hand on the armrest, she heard crisp footsteps.

That was the sound of high heels hitting the wooden floor, or the kind of stiletto heels with metal heads.

Mom Lu Hui also has high heels like this, but she only wears them on important occasions.

These are not mother's footsteps.

Shen Ke's face turned pale, and the hand holding the door handle seemed to be frozen by ice.

She could hear the sound of footsteps getting closer and closer, accompanied by the creaking sound of the wooden stairs, like a weird little tune with a wild tune.

Tuk...tuk...tuk, the footsteps are getting closer and closer.

Tuk...tuk...tuk, that sound is very rhythmic.

The young Shen Ke pursed her lips. She wanted to call her parents loudly, and she wanted to immediately turn around and crawl into bed and get under the quilt.

But she couldn't move at all, as if she moved, the beast staring at the rabbit would also move.

At this time, it's not like the sound of beep...beep...beep, but it's like grandma chopping dumpling stuffing, as fast as a rainstorm.

The footsteps stopped at the door.

Shen Ke felt it. The man put his hand on the door handle, and the door handle moved slightly.

She stopped.

The world seemed to have stopped and became quiet.

Shen Ke held his breath, but the pounding and rapid heartbeat seemed to be entangled with the breathing of outsiders, accidentally combining into one beat.

Beads of sweat appeared on Shen Ke's forehead.

She knew that the people outside the door knew of her existence.

As long as the person twists slightly, the door will open, and then the big-headed monster will open its bloody mouth and swallow her whole body.

"Crackling...sentence...bang!"

The window behind him instantly lit up.

I don’t know which family was impatient, but they quickly grabbed the New Year’s jackpot!

Immediately afterwards, a countdown sound came from the TV, and a more passionate "Happy New Year" came from downstairs!

Beads of sweat slipped from his forehead and dripped on Shen Ke's eyelashes.

The sound of high heels sounded again outside, but this time, it was much more rapid. The sound became farther and farther away, and suddenly disappeared.

Only then did young Shen Ke take back his hand and touch the sweat on his face.

She put her hand on the door handle for the second time. It was obvious that the door could be opened with just a slight twist, but she seemed to have no strength at all.

Tears flowed down her cheeks. She didn't hear any movement downstairs, nor did she hear her parents wishing each other happy New Year.

And the high-heeled shoes that stopped suddenly may still be downstairs and will sound again at any time.

She didn't know how long she stood there, until the world became quiet again, and the familiar voice of "Unforgettable Tonight" came from the TV downstairs.

The young Shen Ke just took a deep breath and opened the door.

There was no one at the door, not the ferocious smiling woman she imagined standing at the door.

But she knew that the world was different for her.

The strong smell of blood wafted over the floor, and even the incense couldn't suppress it.

She stepped on the wooden stairs step by step with her bare feet, and the wooden stairs creaked as usual.

There were two drops of blood on the stairs, one coming up from downstairs and one going downstairs.

Shen Ke, who was sleeping, was breathing rapidly, as if she was like a young Shen Ke, standing at the corner of the stairs. As long as she turned the corner, she would see a terrifying scene.

She pursed her lips, paused slightly, and walked away.

The living room was red and there was blood everywhere.

There were still four people sitting on the mahjong table. They were fixed to the chairs with ropes, and their heads were tilted to the side in a strange posture. They were all covered with a brand new red hijab embroidered with flowers.

Shen Ke held back her tears and took a step forward, but her foot slipped and she threw forward and fell to the ground.

She raised her hand and looked at it, and saw it was bright red.

…

It was 4:43 in the morning when Shen Ke saw a living person again.

At this point in winter in Nanjiang City, the sky is still dark, and the dazzling red and blue police lights outside the window are on, illuminating the snowmen outside half blue and half red.

"Hello, is there anyone? I am Chen Mo, a police officer from the Zhengyi Street Police Station. We received a call saying that your door is open. If you don't answer, I will come in by myself!"

"Hello, I am Chen Mo, a police officer from the Xinghe Road Police Station. I am coming in now!"


Chapter completed!