As the screen continued to narrate, it displayed a seemingly ordinary small villa. From the outside, it looked quite luxurious and well-maintained.
"This is Mobile Task Force Delta Squad. We are now entering the house for investigation."
Twelve heavily armed MTF operatives moved in formation. They were equipped with the most advanced weaponry and tactical gear, ready for anything.
Outside, a group of researchers monitored their progress, handling data collection and communication.
After confirming their status, the squad split into three teams of four, each covering different areas of the house.
The screen then followed one of the teams, showcasing their investigation process.
Inside the house, they found various paintings, expensive furniture, and antiques. It looked like an ordinary wealthy household, completely disconnected from the reports of disappearances and deaths.
Thud… thud…
Suddenly, a knocking sound echoed from the walls beside them.
The four operatives immediately went on high alert, weapons raised. However, there was nothing there—no movement, no sign of anything touching the walls.
And yet, the knocking continued, rhythmic and eerie, as if something unseen was persistently rapping against the wall.
"Open fire."
Following the squad leader's command, one operative unloaded a burst of gunfire at the wall. The bullets tore through the surface, charring and breaking it apart.
Only after the wall was completely destroyed did the knocking finally cease.
The four cautiously inspected the damaged area. The inner structure consisted only of bricks and support beams—there was no hidden space where someone could have been knocking from behind.
Still on high alert, they prepared to move on—
But at that moment, a pale-skinned boy suddenly darted from one room to another, disappearing into the adjacent room.
The operatives immediately pursued, splitting into pairs—two checked the room the boy had come from, while the other two checked the room he had entered.
Both rooms were completely empty.
It was as if the boy had never been there.
"Captain, did we just see a ghost? Or was that a hallucination?"
"Stop overthinking. Keep searching, and we'll find out soon enough."
Convinced the rooms were clear, they began leaving.
But as they exited, something terrifying happened—
From the ceiling of the room they had just checked, a humanoid figure suddenly dropped down, its head twisted at an unnatural angle as if it had been hanged.
However, none of them noticed.
Bzzz… bzzz… "Everyone, be careful! There's something here that isn't human!"
A frantic voice came through their radios.
Then, gunfire erupted in the background—
"Where are you?! I can't find any of you!"
"Squad leader, I'm in the first room on the second floor's east wing!"
"I'm standing in that exact room—I don't see you at all!"
"AAAAHHH! Stay away!"
The radio broadcasted screams, followed by static and disturbing whispers in an unknown language.
"@#￥￥￥#%#%&*"
Then, a chilling voice—low and female—began whispering directly into the four operatives' ears, as if someone was right behind them.
Frozen in terror, they spun around, searching their surroundings—
There was no one there.
"This is Delta Squad, Third Team! We suspect casualties! Should we continue the mission?!"
The squad leader urgently radioed their command center, sensing imminent danger.
"This is the external support team. Proceed with the mission."
A cold, emotionless voice responded with the order.
"…Received."
With no choice, the squad pressed forward.
As they passed a large mirror, they noticed something in their peripheral vision—
Their reflections were missing.
Instead, a long-haired woman in a white dress was walking past them inside the mirror.
All four stopped in their tracks, their bodies stiff with fear.
Slowly, they turned to face the mirror directly.
Now, their reflections were back, as if nothing had happened.
But they knew—what they had seen was real.
There was no way all four of them had the exact same hallucination.
Then, without warning—
A shoe cabinet behind them silently creaked open.
In the next instant, long strands of black hair shot out from inside, wrapping around the last operative in the line, yanking him into the cabinet.
The sudden motion made the other three spin around just in time to witness their teammate being pulled in.
SLAM!
The cabinet doors slammed shut.
For a moment, they were paralyzed. Then, instinct took over, and they rushed forward, throwing the doors open.
Inside—
Nothing but shoes.
It was physically impossible for a person to fit inside.
"Damn it! What the hell just happened?! Was that… hair?!"
"Where did he go?! He just vanished!"
"Stay calm! Panicking won't help us!"
The squad leader immediately grabbed his radio, trying to contact their missing teammate.
No response.
Then, he tried contacting the other squads.
Still nothing.
Even the external support team was unreachable.
"Damn it! Something's seriously wrong. We need to get out of here—NOW!"
Without hesitation, he ordered the remaining two to retreat.
But just as they reached the staircase—
A body suddenly plummeted from above, landing directly in front of them.
They almost opened fire on instinct.
But upon closer inspection, they realized something horrifying—
The corpse was wearing the exact same uniform as them.
And when one of them cautiously flipped the body over—
It was their missing teammate.
Dead.
Blood streamed from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. His face was frozen in an expression of pure terror, as if he had seen something unimaginable before dying.
All three of them sucked in sharp breaths, fear gripping their hearts.
Then—
"Captain! Look above us!"
One of them pointed up, his voice trembling.
The other two hesitated but slowly lifted their heads.
What they saw—
Would haunt them forever.
Seven corpses, all in MTF gear, were hanging from the staircase, arranged in descending order.
Each one had died in agony, their faces twisted with fear.
No one could imagine what horrors they had experienced before their deaths.
(End of Chapter)
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