Chapter 15: 15

The robotic voice sounded in his mind but Han Fei was not distracted by it because the man’s entire focus was still on the television screen. The strange cartoon was still playing. On the screen, the monster made from human parts stood behind the couch.

That meant that if Wei Youfu and Ah Mei’s faces were damaged, or they lost their humanity again, Han Fei would be placed under fatal threat once more. ‘Dead people in real life have reappeared in this game. I am not sure what their current condition is but one thing’s for sure—they still retain part of their living memory. At least that was evidenced from Wei Youfu and Ah Mei’s ability to understand my earlier plea.’ Viewing the tormented monster on the television screen, Han Fei resisted the urge to turn around and instead said softly, “A blissful life together was ruined by that crazed murderer. Are you looking for revenge?”

Han Fei realized how redundant his statement was but he hoped that this would remind the monster of the actual culprit behind its current torment. That hopefully would shift the monster’s hostility away from him. It was not Han Fei who caused this tragedy, Wei Youfu and Ah Mei were faultless either, the real criminal was the person who murdered them. Even though Han Fei had not officially studied psychology, he had been to many psychotherapy sessions to deal with his social anxiety. He remembered the following from one of his many psychologists’ office walls—To understand a man, you’ll have to walk a mile in his shoes.

To console those in pain, it would be unwise to define their pain within one’s subjective understanding. Since he had not personally experienced those pain before, it would be presumptuous for him to give advice to them. A good psychiatrist was often a good and patient listener. Han Fei was not a trained psychiatrist by any means, but whenever the doctor assumed this attitude during their sessions, he would feel more at ease. Therefore, now he decided to put that practice into good use.

Inside a haunted house at 3 am, next to a Frankenstein’s monster, he chose to be its listener. He could not see the monster but he could hear the torture in the monster’s voice.

“I can’t imagine how long you’ve been trapped here already…” Han Fei pulled out these words from his counselling sessions. He screened through them and selected the ones most appropriate for the situation. Gradually, the cartoon in the television changed. The two faces that represented Wei Youfu and Ah Mei stopped fighting. They seemed to be touched by Han Fei’s words. The madness fell away from their faces to reveal some brilliance of humanity.

However, while Wei Youfu and Ah Mei slowly calmed down, the other faces headed down the other direction. It seemed to like they were ready to transfer the pain and despair they meant for Han Fei onto Wei Youfu and Ah Mei. The other faces were unaffected by Han Fei’s words. They were too deep in pain to be persuaded by his psychobabble. The ache in their hearts cut deeper than the killer’s first two victims. ‘The later they died, the deeper their pain? Why? What has the jigsaw killer done to them?’ The cartoon was a reflection of ‘real’ life. Seeing Wei Youfu and Ah Mei’s faces being torn apart, Han Fei knew he had to step in immediately. The two victims regained a trace of their humanity, that was key to changing everything. If they were consumed by the other victims, then Han Fei would come to face a monster who would be crazier and would not hesitate to consume its own kind!

Technically, Han Fei had already finished his New Player Mission so he could exit the game now but he chose to stay. “You’ve saved my life so I will not leave you and your wife to this fate. I shan’t leave on my own. If the other victims wish to vent their hatred, then I will get them a new target.”

Han Fei hurried to the front door. As he moved, so did the monster. The other five faces did not plan to let Han Fei go that easily. Pain and despair twisted their features. Smelling the blood in the air, Han Fei knew his neighbour was still there. ‘If my neighbour shows no intention to harm me, then I’ll try to communicate with him to get his help to detain this monster; but if communication is impossible, then I’ll have to lure him into the house and make him the target for the jigsaw killer’s victims.’

Wei Youfu and Ah Mei were by then almost devoured. The monster was at the verge of losing control. Han Fei knew he had no time to lose. He grabbed the front door handle and pulled it open!

The moment it did, a sharp knife plunged in through the gap. Han Fei, who was prepared, narrowly dodged the attack. The neighbour appeared to be privy of the situation inside this house so he did not follow up his attack. He stayed firmly outside the door. Han Fei noticed this as well. Just as his neighbour pulled back his weapon, Han Fei reached out to grab the man’s arm which was holding the knife and yanked the man forcibly into the house!

Bang!

The two men fell to the ground. His neighbour sensed something immediately and quickly got up but Han Fei reacted faster than he did. Han Fei did not try to escape, instead he used his body to ram against the front door and slam it close!

He locked both himself and his 6th floor neighbour inside the house!

The light from the television set casted a cold light on their faces. His 6th floor neighbour was lost in bloodlust during his pursuit of Han Fei but at that moment, he seemed to snap out of it. Sensing the new intruder in the room, the despairing faces turned to the latest arrival. This time Wei Youfu and Ah Mei did not intervene. A giant shadow loomed over the room. The monster inside the television charged out from the living room.

The 6th floor neighbour reacted fast. He instantly reached for the front door but Han Fei made use of this opening to knock him back. The two fell to the ground again. His despaired neighbour glared angrily at Han Fei. The bloodlust was gone from his eyes. What remained were anger and confusion. It was as if he was saying—‘Why did you drag me into this?’

The tormented monster grabbed at Han Fei’s neighbour. Pairs of deformed arms appeared to flail in the darkness. The neighbour struggled as best as he could. He directed a flurry of expletives at Han Fei.

Han Fei watched as the man was slowly dragged deeper into the house.

In response to the horrid curses flung at him, Han Fei smiled brightly at his 6th floor neighbor. “Pleasure to meet you. Glad that you’ve decided to stay with our big, happy family.”